She howls with laughter, and I reluctantly smile.
When we get to the medical building, she pulls up to the entrance. “I’ll just wait in the car.”
Great idea. “Thanks for the ride. It hopefully won’t be too long.”
The office is cold and has that terrible smell I always associate with dying. I’ve been thinking a lot about my dad lately, ever since the trip to the hospital and that guy who croaked in the room next to mine. I wish my mom had let me see my dad more before he passed. Because now he’s gone forever, and I’ll never get another chance.
After I check in, I go through the rigamarole of getting weighed. When I see the reading on the scale, I want to fling myself out the window. Some days pregnancy feels like an exercise in humiliation.
When Dr. Perkins enters, she reviews my chart and asks me a million questions about how I fell down.
After several minutes of silence while she jots down notes in my file, I wipe my sweaty palms on the ugly paper gown. “So, Doc, can I go back to class?”
“Yes, but you need to watch your hydration levels, and I want to see you back here in a week. In the meanwhile, avoid unnecessary activities, get plenty of rest, and let me know if you experience any more Braxton Hicks contractions.”
I hate that I have to ask this question. “Is sex considered an unnecessary activity?” Not that I’m in the mood because I feel like a beached whale, but thanks to my idiot brother, there’s a gulf of distance in my relationship with Olly. Maybe sex would help.
“Let’s see where things are next week. Typically, I’d say that should be fine, but you’re carrying twins, and I want to make sure you’ve recovered from your fall.”
“Makes sense.”
When Amelia and I pull up to my house, I’m surprised to see Olly pacing by his car. He looks up from his phone just as mine dings.
I’m here for your doctor’s appointment. Where are you?
He helps me out of the car. “My appointment was at twelve.”
“Last night, you said it was at two.”
“No, I didn’t. I said twelve.”
Amelia stands there staring at Olly until he turns to her. “I gave your girlfriend a ride to the doctor’s. See? I’m not a terrible person.” And then she stomps off to the casita.
“I have to buy her a milk frother and make her breakfast as payment,” I say.
He rubs both hands up and down his face. “She was your only option?”
“I don’t have enough money to call an Uber if I want to pay my utility bill. Who else am I supposed to call? The guys are never home, Charlie didn’t pick up, and Sienna lives across the state. Bubbly person that I am, apparently I don’t have many friends, which I never really thought about until I had to beg a girl who hates me for a ride.”
I waddle off to the house, and Olly catches up to me. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here. I could’ve sworn you said two.”
“It’s fine.”
“I could’ve paid for your Uber.”
“I don’t want your money.” Truer words were never spoken. Ever since his parents flipped out, I’m extremely self-conscious about this issue. The last thing I want is for them to think I’m a gold-digger.
“Magnolia, why are you so stubborn?”
“I’m not stubborn, Michael. I’m gestating two children and my feet hurt. None of my clothes fit anymore, and I feel like an overstuffed sausage. And I just spent the afternoon with your ex-girlfriend, who hates me, after getting my vagina explored by my doctor. Forgive me if I’m a little surly.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry. I’m not trying to start a fight.” Thank God for small mercies. “How did your appointment go?”
I’m curious to see how he reacts to not having sex. “She said the amniotic fluid looks good, and I can go back to class, but I need to minimize other activities. So no sex. I have another appointment in a week where the doctor will determine if I can bang again.”
He nods slowly, his face completely neutral. “Okay, well, that’s progress, right?”
I don’t know why, but I’m bummed he’s not bothered more by the idea of being celibate for the foreseeable future. Why isn’t he upset? I’m upset about it because I don’t know how else to mend whatever broke in our relationship when Sebastian stormed up my driveway last weekend. “Right. Progress.”
