Keira helped her sit on her couch and walked away. Pandora knew she was still in the house because she could hear the other move around the house. She was speaking to someone, but Pandora had no idea who it was.
“Here, have some tea,” she said, placing a cup in Pandora’s hand. Her hands lingered. “You got it?” she asked and Pandora looked down before tightening her grip on the cup.
“I’m going to have a baby?” she questioned, still thinking that the universe was playing a cruel joke on her.
“You are,” Keira confirmed.
“This is real, right? It’s not a joke.”
“No, it’s not a joke.” Keira rubbed her shoulder.
“I’m going to be a mom?”
Keira squinted, reevaluating Pandora’s sanity.
“Derrik and I tried for years and nothing happened. I didn’t even mistake myself to be pregnant. But I sleep with a random guy and I am immediately pregnant?”
A stranger whom she didn’t remember, whose face she had forgotten, let alone what his name was.
“What’s wrong, honey?” Keira asked, worried.
“I don’t know who my baby’s daddy is. I am going to end up like those girls on reality television whom we laugh at to relieve stress.”
“Stop, Pandora. It’s going to be okay. What do you know, we could place an ad on Craiglist or F******k and find the man,” Keira stated bluntly.
Pandora’s sobs stopped abruptly and she glared at her friend. “What are we going to write? A recently divorced woman went to Vegas for work. She wanted a good time and went out to club, got drunk, and slept with a stranger whose name she doesn’t know. She does remember what his eyes and his body look like.” Pandora scoffed. “Give the date and ask him to call the divorced slut because she has some shocking news for him?”
Keira frowned at her, but Pandora raised her head and stared at the ceiling.
“How am I supposed to find him? I don’t know how I could do it without feeling any cheaper than I already do. He should know, even if he runs away after hearing the news. He has a right to know that he has fathered a child, right?”
Keira sighed and pulled Pandora into her arms. She didn’t have any of the answers, so all she could do was comfort her pregnant and distraught friend.
- - - - -
“I have an appointment with Dr. Parks?” Pandora said to the woman behind the desk of the hospital.
“What’s your name?” she asked without looking up.
“Mrs. Pr—” She cut herself off and cleared her throat. “Leonard,” she said as the woman looked at Pandora over the rim of her glasses.
“Well, Mrs. PrLeonard…” Pandora frowned at the snide sound of her voice, but because she felt terrible, she chose to let it go. “You will need to fill out these forms.” She shoved a clipboard into her hand and then looked back down at her screen.
Pandora sat down and filled in her details. At the mention of her next of kin, she put down her father’s name. Her father who had another family. She wrote and let out a small groan, knowing she would have to tell her father. She knew her father would support her, but the man was conservative. Marriage came before babies in his mind.
“Mrs. PrLeonard?” a nurse called and then confusion overcame her. “Am I reading your name right?” she said.
Pandora cast a disdainful look at the woman behind the desk. She clearly knew it was a slip of the tongue, but she still screwed with her pregnant patient. “My surname is Leonard,” Pandora said as she stood up.
The nurse nodded before motioning for her to join her down the hall. Pandora followed her into the room.
“Doctor Parks will be with you for a new patient consult. Please wait a few minutes.”
The nurse walked back out and Pandora started looking around. Her usual doctor had retired and Dr. Parks had recently taken over her position. She didn’t know the man but she did see a picture of him on the desk. She lifted it up unconsciously and ignored the pang of pain in her heart as she appraised the picture. It looked like the doctor’s wedding photo. She doesn’t look old enough to be married but the stunning man next to her looks at her with fondness. The man was definitely older by a few years.
“Sorry I took so long,” a man says, making Pandora jump. She turned to see that she didn’t have the woman in the photograph. Instead, the handsome man who looked fondly at the woman stood before her.
“Hello,” Pandora stuttered and stood up quickly as he walked in her direction.
“Hello, I’m Doctor Parks,” he said immediately, holding his hand out for her to take. She went to take it and groaned inside when she realized she was holding his photograph.
“I’m so sorry,” she muttered before placing the frame down and then going back to shake his hand.
“I’m Leonard… Uh… Pandora Leonard,” she cleared her throat. She pressed her eyes closed when she heard him laugh. He must have known about the little slip-up outside.
“Please take a seat, Mrs. Leonard.”
“Pandora,” she told him quietly. It had been almost a month since she had changed her name but it still sounded weird to be called by her maiden surname.
Doctor Parks nodded and picked up her paperwork. He looked through it while Pandora appraised him. He didn’t look much older than he did in the photograph, so it must have been taken a year or two prior. His head tilted up and she got the feeling that he was looking at her, but with his thick, tinted glasses, Pandora couldn’t be sure.
“All your paperwork is in order. I see a history of severe endometriosis, so we will need to keep a close eye on how your pregnancy proceeds. Today, I will look you over and check everything. I would also like to perform a scan and draw a blood sample. How does that sound to you?” His smooth voice made her feel dizzy and weak.
“Sounds good,” she agreed quickly. With how good his voice sounded, she would agree to anything he asked her to do.
“Please get changed in the small room there. Once you are done, go through the other door into the examination room,” he ordered while pointing to a door.
Pandora got up quickly and changed into the ugly down. When she walked out, she saw him and the nurse already in the examination room.
They charted her vitals and the nurse walked away momentarily.
“Do you mind if I draw your blood myself?” Dr. Parks asked and she frowned at him. “Most people don’t like doctors to draw their blood because we don’t do it as often as nurses. I like to keep my skills up to par and do it once a day. One never knows when it will come to use.”
“Carry on,” Pandora urged, feeling at ease with him. When he stuck the needle into her, she turned her head to the nurse. The woman was definitely swooning because the expression on her face was dreamy.
“With that done, I can examine you and then we will perform the scan. Most doctors sent patients to a tech, but I like to do it myself for my higher-risk patients. Please lie down on the table,” he said, offering her a hand to help her lie down on the bed.
She followed his words. Even the part where she had to put her legs up on the stirrups. She was well-groomed but that didn’t mean she wanted to be stared at.
“If you are ready, we can begin with the breast exam?” he asked but she got the feeling that he was staring at her. Pandora looked his way but his head was not positioned in a way that he could look at her. “I will be touching you now. My hands are warm.”“That’s fine,” she said nervously. “It will be hard for you to do the exam without touching me.”His soft hands touched her breasts, sending tingles throughout her body. He took his time as he pressed and moved his fingers over her. Once he was finished, he covered her back up with the sheet provided. Of course, by this point, her nipples were hard and tenting the sheet in two spots.“You have a small stature. Is your husband tall?” Dr. Parks asked.Pandora frowned, looking up at him. “He’s—” She cut herself short as Derrik wasn’t her husband any longer. How did she answer that question? The doctor obviously didn’t need her explanation but she was curious as to why he needed to know how tall Derrik was.“Is he over six feet?”Pandora
“Have you lost a baby before?”She shook her head. “After the diagnosis and surgery, I was told that the chances were slim that I would get pregnant.”Dr. Parks sighed before nodding. “I take it that you have been trying for a while, then?”“Yes, we tried for years, starting as soon as we got married. But nothing and now—” she said but stopped herself from blurting out her dirty secret. She felt his hand touch hers and she opened her eyes to see a silver wedding band on his finger. The image of him being so happy in his wedding photo hit her again and only made her cry harder. Again, she asked herself why she had to choose and marry an asshole.“I can’t promise that everything will be okay, but I will watch over you. I would like to see you every week until you give birth. According to the scan, you look about eight weeks along. That means you have another seven months to go.”Pandora agreed, feeling a little better that he was willing to watch over her so carefully.“Do you work?” h
Pandora looked at her dad’s house, taking a few deep breaths, trying to muster up the courage to go inside. ‘I am a grown woman with a job, a car, and a house!’ she told herself, but she also had that small voice in the back of her mind repudiate. ‘Did you forget the ex-husband whom your father asked you not to marry?’ Pandora groaned, knowing she was about to start her engine and just leave with how conflicted her thoughts were.She jumped when she heard a sharp knock on her car’s window.“Sorry,” Nina smiled as she looked through the window. Pandora let out a nervous laugh and opened her car door. “Is everything alright?” Nina asked as she looked her stepdaughter over.“Yeah,” Pandora muttered and shut the door.Nina and she walked to the house the older woman shared with her father. They had known each other since high school. They went from being close friends to raising Pandora together. Nina’s husband cheated on her ten years ago and Pandora’s father, Walter, stuck by her side
She quickly got out of the tub and put on her bathrobe before grabbing her cell phone. Instantly, she jumped as it started to vibrate in her hands. She hissed when she saw Derrik’s name flashing on her screen. She pressed accept to answer the call and forewent all formalities when she spoke.“That better not be you at the door!” she stated as she went to the window.“Get your ass here and let me in!” Derrik sneered.“Fuck you,” she hissed out and disconnected the call. Right away, she dialed the emergency number. “I warned the asshole, this is on him,” she muttered as she waited for someone to respond. “Pandora!” she heard Derrik yell and he started pounding on the door again.“What is the address of your emergency?” The monotone male voice asked over the phone.“Pandora!” Derrik yet again bellowed followed by the pounding on her door.She stated her address, her voice breaking.“Answer the fucking door, you stupid bitch!” Derrik screamed again, continuing to pound on the door.“What
“Where is my bracelet?” she asked herself as she looked through her jewelry box. She groaned, unable to find it. She closed her eyes, trying to remember where she had last worn it. But she wasn’t fully awake and after a night of no sleep because of Derrik, it was hard to function.Just as she was about to give up, she imagined the bracelet on her wrist. She could feel someone touching her softly and with so many emotions that it made her whole body tingle from that one spot on her wrist.“Where did you get this?” a smooth voice with the smell of alcohol asked, and her eyes sprang open.“Vegas,” she declared and she shuddered. She moved to the closet and got her bag. She took out the small jewelry bag she had taken with her. She dumped everything out and grabbed her bracelet. As she put it on, a silver ring caught her eye.“Where did that come from?” She lifted it up to inspect.It was a simple silver band. She frowned at it and turned it around in her fingers. Suddenly, what looked li
“See! You don’t pull over for an unmarked car. Similarly, you shouldn’t be talking and going with a person who doesn’t have a uniform on. Part of why I am in the Special Victim cell.”Pandora looked at him playfully. “Well, I shouldn’t be talking to you right now.”“Here it's fine. This is the police station, after all.”“You have a point. I am taking that you wear a uniform to the first meet and greet. Then once they know you are the real deal, you walk out wearing a suit. It’s a bit like a superhero, isn’t it?”“Batman. I like batman, thank you,” he said. “Of course, the best detective in the comic universe.”They walked into his office and Milton pulled out a seat and gestured for her to sit down. Once she was settled, he pulled out a seat to sit down next to her.“Your ex was let out an hour ago. He was not happy. But I did make it clear that he would be in trouble if he went anywhere near your home or work.”Relief overwhelmed her.“Now, we need to work on the restraining order.
“Of course not. He’s married,” she said with a nervous laugh, which everyone picked up on.“Okay, spill,” Keira demanded. “During my exam, I—” she stopped talking. “You what?” Keira prodded.“I got aroused,” she whispered, her face hidden in her hands. She closed her eyes and dropped her eyes, her embarrassment building as the girls started to laugh.“Do you think he could tell?” Sia asked after controlling her laughter.“I am sure he did. He was down there.” She pointed downward. “And I was really wet.”“How wet are we talking?” Keira asked excitedly.“I would have been a water slide if I got any wetter.” They laughed, making Pandora groan. “But he didn’t say anything. I am grateful for that.”Sia took hold of her hand and made her look. “Come on. A lot of women become turned on, more so during pregnancy. I am sure he has seen and dealt with that situation before. Don’t be embarrassed.”Pandora nodded, trying to feel better about the situation. “Anyway, it is better than drooling o
“I don’t like how I needed to hear from the DA that my daughter was threatened. You had better report him if he comes near you or even tries to make contact with you again. I mean it. He is not all there in his head, I think we know that by now.”“Again, I’m sorry. I promise I will. I plan on getting a full restraining order, too,” she said, hoping to amend the situation and make her father less worried.“I am not happy about this, Pandora,” he stated. Pandora closed her eyes, knowing he was just worried about her. “So, what is the officer’s last name?”“Dad,” she moaned out. Her father wanted a full report on the officer in charge and would probably give a stern talk to him.“Don’t argue with me on this, please. I want him to go over and check out your security at the house. I need to know my daughter is safe. If you’d rather I come down and do it myself, say so.”Pandora cleared her throat. “You don’t have to do that, Dad. Milton already said he would check over the house and the pe