I felt Keela’s hand grip mine. “Aideen,” she whispered.
I swallowed down the lump in my throat and fought back the tears that suddenly wanted to burst free. “I know.”
“Baby is measured at twelve weeks exactly, expected due date is January 1st.”
I widened my eyes. “January 1st?”
The nurse nodded her head.
“Oh, my God,” I whispered and used both of my hands to cover my mouth.
Keela grabbed hold of my hand and smiled with me. Her eyes began to well up with tears.
“Does that date mean something to you?” the nurse asked, curiously.
I nodded. “It’s me ma’s birthday.”
The nurse smiled. “That’s a clear sign she is watching over you. That’s lovely.”
I smiled wide as pride filled me. “Thank you so much.”
“It’s my pleasure. I’ll print out some scan pictures for you to show family and friends.” She placed some tissue on my stomach and said, “You can clean away the gel now.”
I did just that. I swiped away the cold gel, folded the tissue over and repeated the action until my lower stomach was dry and gel free. I gave the tissue to Keela who binned it for me. I tugged my jeans back up, buttoned them up, then got up off the bed.
“Here you go,” the nurse said and handed me a large white envelope.
I peeked inside and saw a few scan pictures.
I gave the envelope to Keela and I said to the nurse, “What happens now?”
The nurse smiled. “We will pick a follow-up appointment date for you and you will receive a letter in the post within the next week. It won’t be until you’re twenty weeks. The appointments are spaced out so you don’t have to come in as often, but don’t confuse it with not coming in if you need to. This room is always open; a nurse is always on duty for the emergency room.”
I nodded my head in understanding.
“You can also attend your local medical centre for weekly check-ups. We have a nurse there who will listen to the baby’s heartbeat and give your tummy a feel. We have classes here at the hospital for parents or mothers-to-be and friends who you can sign up and attend whenever you like. They get you prepared for birth and for the arrival of the baby. I’ll give you some pamphlets that you can read up on, and if you decide on a class just go to our website, login, and sign up. Your patient number is your username and your date of birth is your password. Please allow twenty-four hours for you to be registered.”
I took the pamphlets she held out to me—which had a sticker with my name, address and patient number on it—and thanked her.
“My pleasure. Congratulations.”
I smiled for the umpteenth time and thanked her.
Ten minutes later I found myself back in my car. Keela and I didn’t speak when we got inside. We were silent for a few minutes until I said what I was thinking.
“I’m keepin’ her.”
Keela smiled. “Her?”
I shrugged. “I dunno, feels right sayin’ her.”
Keela reached over and gave my hand a squeeze. “Our family just got bigger.”
My eyes welled up. “I’m really havin’ a baby! I’m goin’ to be a mammy!”
“Oh, my God!”
I burst into laughter and began crying at the same time. I reached over and hugged Keela as tightly as I could. This was huge for me. Huge. I was having a baby. A real baby.
Holy fuck.
The entire journey home we talked about the baby, my being pregnant and how everyone would react. It was only when we walked into Branna’s house that we shut our mouths.
“Where have you two been?” Alec asked us as we walked into the kitchen.
Keela and I shared a look then looked around the room and found Alec, Ryder, Nico, Branna, and Bronagh staring at us. It was very late, past eleven pm, and it was weird that they were all sitting around the table together.
What was going on here?
“The garage to get sweets and petrol for me car,” I replied.
Alec cocked an eyebrow. “For three and a half hours?”
Were we gone that long?
“We went on a drive after it... Havin’ some best friend time... you know?”
Alec didn’t believe me when I spoke. I could tell by the frown that he gave me.
“What’s goin’ on here?” Keela asked as she sat down next to Alec.
I chose to remain standing.
“We’re bein’ questioned,” Bronagh said, rolling her eyes.
“Questioned?” I asked. “About what?”
Bronagh sighed, “Dominic wants to know—”
“I want to know which fucking one of you is pregnant!”
Oh... Crap.
“I’m sorry, what?” I asked, pretending I didn’t hear Nico’s question.
He glared at me, his eyes burning holes into me. “I said, which one of you is pregnant? No bullshit, each of you better answer the question.”
Bronagh held up her hands. “You know it’s not me. You made me drink two litres of water then piss on ten bloody tests.”