‘Yes, she’s my sister. Do you know her?’
‘Kind of,’ said the man vaguely.
After scrolling through until he found Violetta’s number he left a message when she didn’t answer. By the time Violetta arrived at the hospital, the man had gone, not leaving a forwarding address or contact number.
The doctor ran tests and then came into Carlotta’s cubicle. He drew the curtains.
Carlotta sat holding Violetta's hand. ‘So what’s going on?’ she asked the doctor.
‘Well, it’s not a flu as you thought.’
‘What is it?’ asked Carlotta.
‘You’re pregnant. I just got the blood tests back.’
Grace rushed through the door, Violetta having called her.
‘What’s happened?’ asked Grace, her face clouded with concern. ‘What did the doctor say?’
Carlotta burst into tears. ‘I’m pregnant,’ she cried.
‘Oh darling,’ said Grace, and held her as Violetta made a face to her sister.
‘Stop making faces, Violetta,’ said Carlotta from Grace’s chest.
‘How can you see that?’ asked Violetta.
‘I just know,’ Carlotta said, pulling away. ‘What the hell am I going to do?’
‘Who is the father?’ asked Grace.
‘Chris,’ said Carlotta forlornly.
‘Chris? Chris Koch? Pajaro Chris?’ asked Grace.
‘Yes, don’t judge me, you dated a bike courier,’ Carlotta said, and put her hand in her lap like a small child.
‘I wish you would all get over that! I’m not judging you, I get it. Chris is sexy,’ said Grace knowingly.
Violetta snapped her fingers at her. ‘Well look at you, Miss Thang.’
Grace shrugged. ‘He is.’
‘Well, he may be sexy but he doesn’t believe in relationships or marriage and he already has a daughter.’
‘Do you love him?’ asked Violetta.
Carlotta sat in silence. ‘I don’t know. I like him. I just don’t know him that well and yet here I am pregnant by him. Jesus!’
‘What do you want to do?’ asked Violetta, ever practical. ‘You going to keep it or tell him or have an abortion or what?’
‘God, Violet, you’re so unemotional,’ said Grace.
‘Well, it’s her life. I’ve had a termination. I wasn’t ready,’ she said easily.
‘I don’t know anything yet. I just want to stop feeling sick,’ Carlotta said.
‘Come on, chicken, let’s go home,’ said Violetta.
