While Jon wasn’t too happy with her last call, he knew which battles to choose when she had her mind set. His issue wasn’t about whether she return to work after the baby, he had no problem with that; it was about her letting go. Lili left her a sizable bank account and when she was ready, she could start her own company like they had talked about.
They had more important things they had to deal with at the moment, like finding a doctor in the States and their living arrangements. With Jeanie’s help they had the names and addresses of a few doctors in New Jersey, and after some research they had an appointment with one for shortly after they landed in New Jersey.
Ari was skeptical at first about involving Jeanie, but Jon trusted her with his life and assured her that Jeanie wouldn’t tell a soul. It had nothing to do with her loyalty. The ten plus years proved that. It had to do with the fact that if Ari couldn’t tell her best friend, then why should she know. So, he made another comprise and explained to Jeanie that Ari was coming back with him and needed a doctor for some womanly issues.
Her current living arrangements. This was the battle he chose to fight. A battle he would not budge with. They had spent a good part of the flight arguing about it, too. She made it perfectly clear to him she would not stay at the house with him. That a hotel would be just fine. Jon told her she was just being ridiculous and under no fucking circumstances would he let her stay in a hotel, not when he had a perfectly big house all to himself. With his feet planted firmly in the sand with this, it was Ari who finally agreed that she would stay at the guest house, for now.
The woman was more stubborn than a mule sometimes and it drove him crazy, but it was one of the things he loved about her the most. She would always stand her ground, and when her mind was made up, there was no changing it. It had been a while since they argued like this, but it was good to see the ‘I’m not taking your shit’ girl he’d met way back in 1984. He knew under all her insecurities was a very strong woman who was slowly starting to show herself again. Maybe the baby was just what she needed. He or she was giving her something to fight for.
As the plane touched down, Jon groaned and rolled his shoulders. Giving a slight moan at the relieving pops that ensued, he looked around the plane and rubbed his eyes, all the while searching for Ariana. She was curled up on the couch, headphones in as her fingers busily pecked at the keyboard of her laptop.
“Hiya there.” Looking over at Jon, Ari chuckled as he tried to speak and yawn at the same time.
“Mmf. Hey. How long have you been up?”
“Not very long, 'bout twenty minutes.”
“Okay...well, time to go back to real life I suppose.” He stood and went over to stand by Ariana’s seat. Placing his hands on her shoulders, he squeezed them comfortingly.
“I suppose so.” Standing, she closed her laptop and turned to lean against Jon.
He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close as Vicky made her way through the plane, clearing them to exit as she passed by.
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"Ariana Moretti."
Ariana lifted her head when she heard the woman call her name. Nervously, she ran her palms along her thighs, gave Jon a half of a smile and stepped through the opened door.
"Room 4, first door on the left." The nurse pointed down the hall.
Ariana climbed up and took a seat on the exam table. The nurse asked routine questions while she took her vitals and charted it all down.
"I'm going to get some blood and I'll need a urine sample." She handed Ari the empty plastic cup and two toilet packets. "Restrooms are across the hall, you can place it in the box when you're done. Then everything below the waist comes off.” The woman handed her a freshly laundered sheet from the cupboard. “You can use this to drape over you."
“The doctor will be in shortly.” She closed the door behind her.
Ariana sat on the table in the sterile office, anxiously awaiting the results when a knock sounding on the door making her jump. A blonde-haired woman about Ariana, age, maybe older, stood at the opened door.
“Hello. I’m Dr. Barnes.”
“Hello.” she extended her hand. “Ariana Moretti.”
“It says you’re here today because you think you may be pregnant. Well, I can officially tell you, congratulations.”
Ariana sighed and smiled.
“Why don’t you lie down and put your feet in the stirrups and I can take a look.”
Ariana did as she was told. The metal stirrups felt like ice, sending a chill through her body. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes as she felt the woman’s hands moving around.
“According to your chart, this is your first pregnancy?”
“Um, yes.”
“Do you have any medical issues?”
“No.”
“It states here, your mother died during childbirth. Do you know if she had any health issues?”
“None. As far as I know, she was healthy. From what I was told she died from severe hemorrhaging.”
“How old was she when she had you?”
“Twenty-five.”
Dr. Barnes tossed the latex gloves in the trash bin and washed her hands. “Why don’t you get dressed and then we can talk in my office.”
♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱
A watched pot never boils.
Jon’s legs bounced impatiently as his eyes alternated between his watch and the door. How long did it really take to pee in a cup anyhow? What could take so long? As if someone read his mind, the door opened and the nurse who came to get Ariana announced to him.
“Dr. Barnes will see you now.”
Jon kept in time with her quick step till they reached a room at the far end of the office.
“Right in here.”
She motioned at the opened door of the office where Ariana and the doctor were waiting. He immediately noticed two things, the smile on Ariana’s face and the surprised expression of the woman he assumed to be the doctor as she lifted her head.
Taking a seat in the leather chair next to Ari, Jon reached for her hand and held it in his. They waited for the doctor to finish gathering some papers and put them in the pastel-colored portfolio in front of her.
“Got any plans for July?” Ari smiled.
“Yeah, we’re having a baby.” Jon brushed her lips with a soft kiss. Ariana pulled away at the sound of the woman clearing her throat.
“Dr. Barnes, it's a pleasure to meet you.” She extended her right hand across the desk at Jon.
“Likewise.”
Jon wasted no time explaining what he expected from the doctor and her staff. He was adamant regarding the confidentiality regarding the matter. Even asked that an NDA be signed by everyone who had worked in the office.
He explained to her what the months ahead looked like for both of them and wondered if that would present any problems. Dr. Barnes shared her opinions, and he assured her he would do whatever she deemed necessary.
With the formalities surrounding the sensitivity of their situation out of the way, the three spent the rest of the time discussing what they should expect. She informed them both about the pros and cons, along with the risks of having a baby at Ariana’s age.
They talked for quite some time about what had happened to her mother and Ariana shared her fears of it happening to her. While Dr. Barnes couldn’t promise Ariana everything would go well, she reassured her that the technology and medicine have improved since then and they would watch her closely.
Comfortable that all her questions were answered Ari and Jon stood to leave.
“Thank you, Dr. Barnes.”
“You’re welcome.” The woman handed Ariana the pastel folder which contained a literature packet on what to expect over the next few months, her prenatal vitamins prescription and her appointment calendar with her next few appointments. “If you have any questions, feel free to give me a call.”
“I will. And thank you again.”
♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱ ♱
They barely made it to the car when Jon’s phone rang. It was the school; Romeo was sick, and they could not get ahold of Dorothea. Ari listened as Jon talked to his son, telling him he would be there soon. The softness in his voice as he told him that the belly monsters would go away if he did what the nurse said and lie down till he got there. A few more reassuring words, and Romey finally put the nurse back on. Jon let her know he was on his way and would be there as soon as he could.
“Baby, I gotta go pick up Romey. We will celebrate as soon as I get back,” He cupped her face with his hands. “I promise.”
Jon waited until she was settled and buckled before he closed the door and rounded the car. With the mid-November weather kicking up, Jon blew on his hands to warm them before putting the key in the ignition.
“Is he alright?” Ari tucked her hands in the sleeves of her coat while she waited for the car to warm up.
“He’s belly hurts, but he doesn’t have a fever. I’ll just bring him home and stay until I can get in touch with Dorothea.”
“He needs you. Just drop me off, I’ll be fine.”
Ten minutes later Ari watched out the window as the car pulled down the long driveway past the main house towards the guest house. Jon pulled the car in front of the house and put it in park. Turning to open the door, Ari placed her hand on his arm.
“Jon, I can go in by myself.”
“You sure?” He took her hands in his.
Ari smirked at him. “I’m pregnant, not an invalid. You go and I will see you when you get back.”
“Love you.” He planted his own kiss on her bottom lip. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“Love you too.”
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