The Italian's proposal

The consultation passed without her noticing.

She had only gone to the first appointment at her parents’ house without them noticing her visit to the doctor.

She had started taking the prenatal pills as she read about the symptoms and stages of pregnancy on the internet.

When she confessed this to Dr. Troy, his eyes widened wildly, and he wanted to jump off the nearest bridge.

“Poor baby!” he exclaimed.

That alone made Melody feel like the vilest of mothers.

“I don’t have health insurance. I didn’t know what else to do,” she defended herself. She felt it was the only thing left for her to do.

Timothy was sitting in a chair next to her. He gave the impression of being uncomfortable, but he hadn’t wanted to leave when she proposed.

“I’ll stay and check in with the doctor,” he had told her.

She trusted the angels that he would not judge her, as the OB/GYN was doing.

“I’m not saying you’re a bad person.”

“You’ve made that quite clear,” she attacked him.

“Not intended Ma’am...Miss,” the man scratched his head and continued, “Melody.”

“No. I’m not married either. Is that bad too? I thought we were in the twenty-first century, where women can be single mothers. How old are you? Thirty? You have an uncanny knack for bringing out my temper.”

“That’s a lot,” she heard Timothy mutter.

She let out a snort and raised her eyes to the ceiling.

“Let’s get on with it,” the doctor said after a few seconds of awkward silence.

She answered every question the doctor asked, about dates of last period and when she had last had sex. This question made her cough and Melody could see Timothy smile.

“What?” she asked him, crossing her arms. “Do you want to be beaten by a pregnant woman?”

“I didn’t say anything,” Timothy defended himself by mimicking her arms-crossed gesture.

“You seem to be amused by when was the last time, I had sex, do you also want to know where I did it and what positions I did it too?”

Melody’s eyes were twinkling and her nose, though small, was flaring with the air coming out. She was angry and it showed right away.

“Let’s focus,” the doctor said interrupting Melody and Timothy’s staring exchange.

“What else do you want to know?” she needed to get that over with to get the hell out of there and avoid further embarrassment, at least for the day.

She had this incredible knack for falling over, dropping things on herself, hot, cold, temperature-wise. She was a real spectacle of a clumsy person.

Since she was a little girl, she had always had clumsy feet and hands. Everything slipped, especially when she was distracted.

“Do you know if the father has any degenerative family diseases or special conditions?”

Melody felt Timothy’s eyes on her again, and she felt judged again.

“Timothy,” she heard the doctor address him for the first time since they greeted each other as they entered the office. “Would you be so kind as to leave us for a moment? I think there are things that it’s better for Melody to feel more relaxed.”

question looked at them both and after a long moment without saying anything, mumbled something in Italian

she

man,” the doctor defended

knew that firsthand. Timothy Giannato was a good man. Irritating and flirtatious, bringing out her temper and overwhelming her ideas, but he was certainly a good man. To be willing to pay for a medical consultation and stay to make sure she wasn’t charged, far from it, said quite a bit

no business giving her his help. More so to her who he knew was not someone easy to get along with or to be

told her

no one love you. You must

even if I say anything, because they will know I

willingness to put up with slights from the people we love,” her

from Timothy, although there was no other man like

hair on both sides of his head, a piercing, curious look, blue eyes, and a slightly broad nose. His chin had a little stripe down the middle,

his throat, “is the father

understand

on the baby and its development;

him in confusion. “Just like Timothy told you, I’m just coming in for a quick checkup, so you can tell me everything is okay, because I felt a pain a while ago while I was

out any abnormalities. You look fine to me, to be honest. To me, you’re just finishing the first trimester and

me, but don’t call it a little spasm,” it pissed her off that he

don’t. You’re right Melody, but I also know quite a bit about babies and pregnant women. I’ve delivered over twenty children in less than three years. I have quite

and wombs,”

corrected her, smiling.

“I’m sorry.”

why Timothy is with you,” the doctor said smiling and shaking

she didn’t know how the doctor had come to that conclusion, no one in their right mind seeing the two of them, would think that someone like her would be with such a rich and attractive guy, as Timothy was.

Let’s get back to what

reined him in. Opening her eyes wide and accentuating each word. “Timothy

the doctor was looking at her with his curious eyes, as

father? Any

mind and heart. The doctor had played with her thoughts and

was how long it had been since he

She liked the Italian!

know anything about the father,” she said feeling slightly embarrassed.

you have any illnesses I should know about? Do you suffer from anything? Diabetes? Rheumatism?”

“Aside from my bipolar...”

without

write that,” she begged him, laughing.

“I see.”

nervous,” she excused herself. “I talk a lot

talk more,” the doctor interrupted, smiling. “Don’t worry. It’s normal. You’re a new mom. It’s normal

course!” she

to someone who is as young as you are

young. Twenty-two is not being young. Five hundred years ago

families at thirteen and got pregnant immediately to consummate

not giving up my son, I’m not giving him away, I’m having him

called out to her looking worriedly at

really sick of people thinking I’m going to ruin my life

admirer,” he gestured for her

give it up. I won’t

get you weighed and go get an

little white paper prescription signed and

okay?” questioned Timothy as soon as

out. Thanks for all this Timothy, you don’t have to stay.

fall apart because I missed a meeting,” he told her as he shoved his hands in his pockets.