Page 70 of Don Caselli

“Don’s birthday is this weekend. Did I ever tell you that?”

My mother snorted. “Yes, when you were drunkenly telling me that he was your soulmate because your birthdays were a few days apart,” she reminded me of our drunken night.

“Dang… we were tore up that night.”

“Yes, you both were. It was cute seeing you be silly again. You’ve been in your head the past year, babes. Don seems like a great man, and you light up whenever you see him.”

I blushed. “I do like him.”

“Uh huh. I know what those looks are. I give them to your father.”

I covered my ears. “Mommy, please!”

“What? How do you think you got here?” She continued to tease me as the doctor came into the room.

“Hi, Ms. Perkins. I’m Dr. Devoe,” she greeted me, and then looked over at my mom. “Hi, a friend?”

“That’s my mom.” I laughed.

“Gul, don’t be telling people I’m your mama. Let ‘em think I’m your fine friend.”

My mom and Dr. Devoe shared a laugh together. “I know that’s right.”

I looked over at the doctor as she walked toward the stool. Her long curly hair pinned back with a clip, her ebony skin glistened under the fluorescent lights, and the dress pants she wore hugged her curvy frame.

“Ms. Perkins?—”

“Navy,” I corrected her.

This doctor had my future in her hands, and I wanted her to see me as more than a young woman. I wanted her to see herself in me, what she would do if she was in my shoes. What she would have wanted or hoped from her doctor. Dr. Devoe wasn’t too much older than me.

“Navy,” she corrected. “Before we further talk about your decision, can you give me your reasons?”

“I don’t want children. I’ve never wanted children, and I have known that since I was young. As I’ve become older, I realized that I don’t desire to be someone’s mother. I love children, but I also love to give them back and spoil them.”

“Okay.”

“Are you gonna ask me about future hypothetical husbands?” I sulked, knowing that question was coming next.

She sat with her hands folded over the file and looked at me. “Why would I ask about what a man wants with your body?”

The tears fell down my face as soon as the words left her mouth, and my mother got up and rubbed my back. “I’m sorry, Dr. Devoe. This has been a long journey ofno’sfor her. A lot of no’s and mentions of husbands that she doesn’t even have.”

“Understandable. I have women come into my office and ask to get their tubes tied without children all the time. I am supportive of women knowing they don’t want to be mothers and protecting themselves from ever becoming one. Navy, you are pregnant.”

My head shot up and my mouth became moist, as I looked at the doctor like she had pulled out a crack pipe and sparked up in front of us. “What?”

“Your pregnancy test came back positive.”

“God, no!” I screeched, as my mother held my hand.

Dr. Devoe remained calm. “I guess the next question is how you would like to proceed. I never want to push anything on you, and know you need to process this.”

The fact that I had sex with both Antwan and Landon unprotected made me want to scream. I hadn’t been as consistent with my birth control as I should have been. With everything going on, and then meeting Landon, everything kind of took off.

I should have been, but I wasn’t thinking about any of those things. “I want an abortion.”

She nodded her head, never trying to convince me otherwise like some doctors would have. My mother remained quiet but continued to hold my hand. “We can schedule your abortionand tubal ligation at the same time. Of course, you will need to undergo some preoperative testing.”

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