Page 66 of The Un-Apparent Heir

“Change in medications? Psychiatric medications of any sort?”

“I must report those to command. No. Absolutely no change.”

“Any over-the-counter meds?”

“Nope.”

“Date of last menstrual period?”

Natalie stared, deer-in-headlights. “Uh… umm…”

She couldn’t come up with a date. She was so busy lately between her two jobs that she hadn’t kept tabs. What shedidknow was that it wasn’t recent.

“Fuck. I don’t remember. But at my age… I’m thirty-six… it cannot be pregnancy. My husband and I cannot have children. It’s an impossibility.”

“Early menopause is very unlikely unless your mother started it early.”

“My mother had a child at nearly forty, so no,” Natalie said. “Another impossibility.”

“Only one way to be sure!” Marian smiled. “Run a test.”

“It would be the easiest way to know,” the doctor shrugged.

Natalie walled herself off in the loo. She wee’d in a cup and handed it to a tech who would run her sample, same as anyone’s. It was bizarre. She was certain this was all madness. All the while, she spent the time trying to remember when she’d had her last period. She wished she could call her private secretary and ask, but she wasn’t likeLucy. And ever since Lucy left her service, so had that familiarity and absolute trust. There was no need to raise eyebrows over potentially nothing.

The physician returned.

“Colonel, if you could leave us a moment, please,” he said.

Something was the matter.

“I’ll wait out there for you. Call me when you need me, Nat.”

Natalie nodded. “Thanks, mate.”

Marian left. The door closed and the doctor said, “Impossibility or no, your HCG is positive. You are pregnant. I will need to report this. Because you will not be cleared for flight.”

“Fuck,” Natalie said.

First, she was angry at being benched. Then, she was confused. Joy was not the word. Natalie spent the last three years thinking she would never produce children. She swam upstream trying to live happily without the possibility. Everything changed. In a snap, she had hope. But with hope came fear of loss. With fear of loss came an unwillingness to see the world differently. They were so happy. Would Ed be relieved? Would he be as frightened as Natalie? She couldn’t be sure. She had to tell him.

“I will make an appointment with the midwife,” Natalie said. “And I will let my CO know. You’re sure I’m pregnant?”

He nodded. “Cheers! You’re going to be a mum.”

Natalie said nothing. She wasn’t sure a congratulation was in order.

16

ONLY GOOD NEWS

Ed watched telly while waiting for Natalie to get home and make dinner. He wanted to see her after a long day on the road. He’d been gone for a week without her. Their reunions always felt so sweet these days. She would be in a good mood. They’d make a nice dinner, have a shag, and cuddle on the couch. It was the very definition of marital harmony he’d always sought. Things were perfect.

Natalie’s Porsche appeared outside. Ed greeted her at the door. As she climbed out, he waited in the doorway. The January wind hit his face. Wales could be brutal. He’d always escape to the pool in the mornings, safe under its enclosure. He looked forward to the next morning spent in the warm water, swimming his laps. He was preparing for his second season of open-water swimming. Last year, he’d surprised even himself with his stamina. It was a brilliant way to clear his head, even if the water was freezing and intimidating at times.

He went to kiss Natalie, but she pulled away, shaking her head. “I… I need to talk to you about something.”

Confused, Ed followed her in.

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