Page 121 of Space Balls: Houston, We Have Liftoff
“Well, seeing as we don’t know when the IUD shifted or because of her IUD the last true menstrual cycle, it isn’t exact.” She shrugs. “And, of course, some babies like to come early and some like to come late, but at this point, and with an intravaginal sonogram, August eighth should be accurate give or take two weeks on either end.” She scrolls on her phone. “August twenty-second if the baby is running late and July—”
“Twentieth,” I finish for her. The date engrained in my head and circled on my calendar.
Rose looks up from the sonogram pictures. Sensing something’s wrong from my expression, she frowns. “What’s wrong?”
“Ah…” I stall, trying to figure out how to word this without making her upset. But I must take too much time to think because Rose goes into full panic mode.
“Is it the conception date?” Her voice rapid fire. “Because that would put it around the time of the wedding. We were together then.” Throwing a leg out of a stirrup, she nearly karate kicks Dr. Barrios across the face as she swings it over, spinning her butt on the exam table to face me. “This is your kid, Vance. I swear it.”
“Rose.” Placing both hands on her shoulders, I pull us together, our foreheads almost touching. “I amone hundredand fifty percent positive this is my baby. I have never, not once, doubted that.”
She nods fast, swallowing. “Okay, yeah, good.”
Even though I’m worried about her reaction, I continue to hold her eyes. “It’s just that July twentieth is the day of my flight.”
Understanding dawns, her eyes and mouth expanding. “Oh.”
“Which means I’m scheduled to be in Moscowat leasttwo weeks beforehand, if not more.”
“Oh,” she says again, and this time her nod’s slow. “I see.”
“In another six or seven weeks, I should be able to doublecheck the due date for more accuracy,” the doctor offers, rolling her chair back and standing. “Maybe the baby is measuring small today but—"
“No.” I don’t want to give Rose false hope. “The first time we had sex was the first Saturday of November. So the due date makes sense. If anything, it would be later, not earlier.”
“Ah.” She pauses, letting that sink in, then looks at Rose. “In that case your next appointment won’t be for another four weeks, and you can schedule it today when you check out or call when you’re ready.”
“Thank you,” Rose says softly, staring at my chest.
“Yes, thank you, Doctor.” My hands still rest on Rose’s shoulders.
She washes her hands again and leaves us to discuss things.
“I’ve always hated math,” Rose finally says, raising her head. She’s smiling, but it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “I always get it wrong.”
“This is my fault. I don’t think I told you when the flight date was, butIknew. I just…” I drop my hands expelling a large breath. “I just didn’t put two and two together.” I fist my hair and pull, angry at my brain. “Ishould’ve,though.”
Rose takes a smaller breath and sits up, looking completely composed. “It’s okay.” She pats my shoulder and slides off the table. “I’m not mad.”
I back up so she can retrieve her clothes.
Stepping into her panties, she catches my dubious look. “Your flight was scheduled long before this pregnancy happened. So really, it’s okay.I’llbe okay.”
“Well,I’mnot okay.” I drop my head to the exam table. “Day one of giving you everything and I’ve already let you down.”
“Aw.”
Still resting on the table, I turn my head at her sympathetic tone, catching a glimpse of her black and white checked panties as she pulls up her denim shorts.
“Remember. I know the difference between leaving for yourself and leaving for work.” Buttoning her jeans, she slides her bare feet into her sandals. Her toenails are painted blue.
I wonder if she’s hoping our blob is a boy.
“And besides,” Rose continues, “neither Jules nor Jackie are going with you on that flight, so they’ll be here. And Trish.” She snorts. “And let’s not forget my brothers.”
I do not look forward to telling Holt and Flynn I won’t be here when their little sister goes into labor.
She bends down to me, still hunched over and depressed, and rubs my back. “I’m going to have plenty of people to choose from to be in the delivery room with me.”
