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.”

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

man,” she muttered inadvertently aloud.

good man,” the doctor defended

good man. To be willing to pay for a medical consultation and stay

his help. More so to her who he knew was not someone easy to get along with or to

mother always told

You must think everything through before

loves me, they will, even if I say anything, because they will

up with slights from the

although there was no other man like

thirty, had whitish receding hairline of what was obviously gray 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, the kind that is

“is the father involved with the

and I don’t understand

record on the baby and its development;

a record because I’m not coming back,” she told him in confusion. “Just like Timothy told you, I’m just coming in for a quick checkup, so you can tell me everything

be honest. To me, you’re just finishing the first

it a little spasm,” it pissed her off that he minimized her pain, as she, and only she

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

wombs,” she

he corrected her,

“I’m sorry.”

I can see why Timothy is with you,” the doctor said smiling and shaking his head back and

conclusion, no one in their right mind seeing the two of them, would think that someone like her would

It’s none of my business. Let’s get back

wide and accentuating

curious eyes,

The father? Any

uncomfortable with the feeling that was beginning to take over her mind and heart. The doctor had played with her thoughts and now

more. That was how long it had been since he

She liked the Italian!

about the father,” she said feeling

I should know

“Aside from my bipolar...”

without laughing and began

write that,” she begged

“I see.”

sorry. I’m a little nervous,” she excused herself. “I talk a lot when I’m nervous. Well normally I talk

talk more,” the doctor interrupted, smiling. “Don’t worry. It’s normal. You’re a new mom. It’s normal to be nervous. You’re going to do fine. Do you plan

she exclaimed

I have to ask to someone who is as

young. Five hundred

pregnant immediately to consummate their marriage and have

only know about animals and books. Of history I don’t know,” she got up with the intention of leaving. “I’m not giving up my son, I’m not giving him away, I’m having him and I’m sick of people

out to her looking

thinking I’m going to ruin my

got an admirer,” he gestured

give it up. I won’t give my baby to

get you weighed and go get

little white paper prescription signed and stamped by Dr.

soon

to get an ultrasound and I’ll be right out. Thanks for all

missed a meeting,” he told her as he shoved his hands in his pockets. “Let’s