Never Too Late (27 page)

“Yeah. That bald head might buy us some time.”

Sarah laughed in spite of herself.

“Go ahead. Laugh. Great Aunt Sarah.”

She gasped. “She's not…” A sudden, horrible image of she and her fifteen-year-old niece going into the maternity ward together suddenly flashed before her eyes.

Maggie shook her head slowly. “I don't think so. But we're here to find out for certain and rectify what we can.”

“Did you do one of those home tests?”

“Immediately. It was negative.”

“Well, that's something. I guess.”

The nurse stuck her head into the waiting room. “Mrs. Traviston? You can come in now.”

Maggie leaned toward Sarah. “They should just call me Mrs. Travesty.” Then she went with the nurse.

Dr. Corvis was a lovely woman of about forty. She seemed made up of comforting lines, safe brown eyes, unpanicked mouth. She was behind the desk and Lindsey, dressed again, was sitting in one of the two chairs in front of it. Two chairs. They should be for the husband and wife, hearing the happy news. Not for the mother and daughter.

“Have a seat, Maggie. I think we're all set here. I did
a thorough exam and pap and told Lindsey that once she becomes sexually active she'll need to be examined annually. I also tested for STDs and we'll have those results back right away. I've prescribed emergency birth control that will take care of any pregnancy that may have occurred during the past few days, and a prescription for a very reliable contraceptive pill. However, and I can't stress this enough, Lindsey, so I hope you hear me. Condoms are necessary—these pills will not prevent sexually transmitted disease and people do
die
of them. It's not worth it to do without. Not worth it.” She started writing on the chart. “Now, you'll need about two weeks for these pills to become effective, so if you please, no unprotected sex.”

“Believe me,” Maggie said.

Dr. Corvis folded her hands on her desk and looked at Maggie, then Lindsey, then said, “Ladies, you cannot unring this bell. This happens to most women at some point in their lives. We like it not to happen to women who are too young, but the only thing we can do is act responsibly. The best situation is to have children you plan. Are we all on the same page here?”

“Yes,” Lindsey said.

“What about a little lecture on Lindsey being too young for sex?” Maggie wanted to know.

“I believe she is,” Dr. Corvis said. “And I said so. But we're beyond Just Say No. We're right up against, Do Not Skip A Pill. And, thankfully, Lindsey appears to be completely healthy.” The doctor stood up. “It would be in your best interest to tell your daughter that if she ever feels nervous talking to you about a medical issue like birth control or a sexually transmitted disease, she can always call me. Any questions?”

Maggie didn't have any. Case closed.

But in her heart she was sick that her daughter had crossed this threshold so young, and she knew the doctor was right, there was no going back. She might have celibate periods in her young life, but once the nectar had been tasted, it was drunk whenever it seemed right. Much as she hated this, to Lindsey, this young high school senior seemed right. Bllllkkkk!

“Lindsey, give me a second with Dr. Corvis? Please?”

“Don't plot behind my back,” she said sternly. And left.

“What's up, Maggie?”

“God,” she said, rubbing her forehead. “I don't know how to do this.”

“Something I should know about Lindsey?”

“No. Something you should know about me. Bob and I haven't…It's been…I don't know if it's me…? I don't know…”

“How old are you?”

“Forty-three. And coming into my prime, they say.”

“And Bob?”

“Forty-sex. Forty-six.”

Dr. Corvis chuckled. “Get him to the doctor, Maggie. He needs a physical. And if there is a problem, it's probably easier to fix than you realize.”

“I don't know,” she said, shaking her head. “It isn't that he can't. It's that he just isn't in the mood. He works so hard, gets too tired…”

“Oh bull. Men can do it in their sleep. Make a doctor's appointment.”

 

Sarah sat on the exam table, whimpery though she wished to be strong. “How can this happen?” she asked the doctor.

“Ninety-nine point nine percent effective, Sarah. It's extremely rare.”

“Why couldn't the point one percent be some nice married lady?”

“You have many choices, but let's talk about that later. For now, let's do an ultrasound. Lie back down, dry your tears. It's not the end of the world.” She revved up the machine, punched a few buttons and gelled up the probe. Dr. Corvis inserted the wand slowly and carefully; the machine bleeped in harmony. “Sarah, turn your head. Look,” she said softly, almost reverently. “There he is. This little mass here has a beating heart.”

She saw this little tadpole moving around inside of her and gasped. “It's a boy?”

“We can't tell yet. But what I can tell is that you're actually about six weeks. Six weeks and change. At three months you'll see arms and legs.”

Sarah, in awe of the squirmy little creature, did the math in her head. Dear God, she probably got pregnant that first time. She hoped that meant something—like it was kismet or something. “My God,” she said, reaching a hand out toward the monitor.

“We'll print out a copy of what you see on the screen. Everything seems perfect, Sarah.” The doctor looked at a chart. “How does August twenty-fifth sound?”

“Like a million years from now.”

“You won't believe how fast it will come round.”

“Right now, I'm a little more worried about the next couple of days.”

 

For once, time played on Sarah's team. Sam worked overtime on Saturday, so she only saw him briefly when he stopped by the shop. There was only a little kissing
in the back room. Sunday he took Molly to the slopes. Monday was ski day, after which they would meet at the inn.

All afternoon as Sam patrolled and Sarah skied, he was randy and playful. He'd sneak up on her and whack her on the butt, grab her and pull her behind a tree and plant a deep kiss on her, treat her to that dimpled grin, and the twinkle in his eye said that, as usual, he couldn't wait. Couldn't get enough. Oh boy, did she hate to throw a wet blanket on this party.

Sam didn't seem to notice that she was somewhat preoccupied. But then, probably all the blood had drained from his brain to keep that powerhouse between his legs serviceable. They rode the lift together and he licked her ear and said, “I am dying for you.”

“Well, stop it. You're no good to me dead.”

When she got to the inn, she didn't wait in her usual inviting lack of attire. She was fully clothed. When Sam entered, he seemed not to notice. He rushed to her, grabbed her, lifted her up into his arms, whirled her around and devoured her with kisses that were hot and strong. He fell with her onto the bed and asked, “Want me to undress you with my teeth?”

“We have to talk,” she said.

He froze. “When a woman says that, it is almost always unpleasant.”

“I have absolutely no idea how you're going to take this, Sam. I had an accident. I'm pregnant.”

Again, he froze. Shock registered on his handsome face. “How?”

“I was on the Pill. It didn't work. I don't know why.”

“Well…how long have you been on that pill?”

“Years. But…I wasn't putting it to the test.”

“Okay, you said it had been a while since your last boyfriend, but—”

“Years, Sam. Years.”

He swallowed hard. “How far along, Sarah?”

“As near as the doctor can determine, it might have happened that first night.”

Sam sat up on the bed. His feet were planted on the floor and with his elbows resting on his knees, he dropped his head into his hands. “Well, that figures. I think we set some kind of record. I think my biceps are actually bigger.” She touched his back. He glanced over his shoulder at her. “This sucks.”

“Yeah. I'm sorry.”

“It's not like you did it on purpose. Just give me a second to absorb this.”

“Take your time. I've had a couple of days.”

“Why didn't you tell me right away?” he asked. “The minute you knew?”

“Because I wasn't going to tell you on the phone, and when I saw you on Saturday, you were on the job. Today you were working. I didn't want this on your mind, with what you do—you just can't afford to be distracted. I thought we could probably use some time alone.”

“Jesus. Let me think.” He put his head back in his hands. “Let me think why it never occurred to me to use a frickin' condom!”

“Well, it was pretty spontaneous. And I doubt you could have carried enough of them in your wallet for that particular night.”

“Yeah,” he said. “I was like a runaway train.” He turned and looked at her. “Do you want to have it?”

Now it was Sarah's turn to look shocked. Before she answered, she asked, “Do you want me not to?”

He shrugged. “Well, it's an option. It would give us a fresh start.”

She put her hand on her flat stomach. “I saw it. On the ultrasound. I saw it moving around inside me. Its heart is beating. I'm thirty-three and I really didn't think I'd ever have a baby. Yes, I'm having it.”

“And that's another option,” he said. “Not real convenient, but hey.”

Well, that was a relief. She sighed audibly; it almost sounded like “whew.” “Tell me something—how would you feel if I'd said I wanted to have an abortion?”

“I wouldn't feel good about it,” he said. “But at the moment, I don't feel good, period.” At the look on her face he said, “I'm sorry, baby. I know you don't feel good about it, either. Do you want to get married?” he asked.

“Is that what you want?”

He raised one leg onto the bed, turning toward her. “Sarah, what I want isn't exactly a factor here. We have a situation.”

“You haven't said you love me,” she pointed out.

He smiled and touched her hair. “I will love you every night, until you beg me to stop.”

She sat up. “That goes without saying. You're insatiable. But do you love me enough to marry me? I think that's a
factor
in this
situation.
”

“Sure, Sarah. Of course.”

She stared at him for a long moment, reading his eyes. “No, you don't.”

“Sarah, we've been together about as long as you've been pregnant….”

“There were some weeks before that. Drinks at the pub. You know. Getting to know each other….”

“Sarah,” he said almost sternly, “six weeks and four
hours. But that's not the issue—I love you. We can do it. I'll make you happy. I already make you happy. I can give you a good marriage. A secure marriage. When I give my word, I don't break it. You don't have to ever be afraid that I'd change my mind or screw around.”

“Oh, God,” she said. She punched the bed. “This is
exactly
why women make men say they love them before they screw their brains out! Because point one percent of the time the damn Pill doesn't work!”

“Hey look, we're going to be all right,” he said, trying to console her. “The rate we're going, it's only going to get better. Stronger.” He rubbed her arm. “We're good together. We'll be okay.”

“Okay,” she said. “I'll wait for that.”

“Well, hell, I haven't heard you say it.”

“Don't you know
anything?
Don't you know you were being chased down like hunted prey? I was after you, you idiot! I stalked you! God, the second I saw you I nearly fainted. Sam, you had to have known!”

He had a very serious look on his face. “Maybe you did do it on purpose.”

She slugged him in the arm. “Asshole.”

He rubbed his arm. “Okay, I guess I did know,” he said. “Because I'd just sworn off women for life, and you came along, getting more irresistible by the hour. Okay, here it is. You're having a baby. Our baby. We'll do whatever you want.”

“I don't know…” she said, shaking her head.

“We have to do this together, one way or another. If you're going to have it, it's going to have a father.”

“Well, I'm not going to marry you just because I'm pregnant. I'm not marrying anyone who thinks we'll be okay!” She huffed and thought, if I cry, I'm going to be
very pissed. “Is this just about Clare? Are you still stuck on my big sister?”

“Oh, don't even go there!”