Page 37 of Keeping Our Secrets

“Warn me next time if she’s gonna be here and we’ll make other plans.”

“It was that bad?”

“Yeah.”

“Sorry man,” he replied. “I thought that she just showed up at the door, but after she left, I asked Darren about it and I guess he told her you were coming here. Neither of us knew Mairi was coming with you, so she wouldn’t have had the warning.”

“I’ve talked with her numerous times about how we were just friends and that’s it would ever be, but she just won’t get it through her head.”

“She’s had it bad for you since we were in our pre-teens.”

“And I feel bad about that, but I didn’t lead her on. We tried to date because we had so much in common, and we were good friends. It just didn’t work.”

“Not like you and Mairi?”

“Mairi is different. I don’t know what it is, but we clicked.”

“I get it, I do,” he responded. “I can’t believe you’re gonna be a dad.”

“Me neither. It wasn’t in the plans, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

“Let me know the next time you’re free and we can go for drinks. I’ll make sure Darren knows Miranda isn’t welcome.”

“I don’t want you guys to stop being friends with her because of me.”

“She’s changed since high school. I don’t know what went on, but I don’t really hang out with her anymore.”

“I hope that’s not on my account.”

“Not at all.”

“Alright, well I should go before Mairi thinks I got lost coming inside.”

“Talk later.”

I ended the call and went inside.

CHAPTER 15

Mairi

Liam was good to his word and drove me to my first doctor’s appointment. He even took the time to find me a female doctor a short drive from where we lived. The waiting room was filled with other pregnant women, who looked up when we came in. My heart raced as we approached the front desk to check in. The receptionist wrote my name down and had us take a seat. Liam was uncharacteristically quiet, but I completely understood. This appointment was more nerve-wracking because today I’d actually see and hear our baby for the first time.

My hands were trembling, so I grabbed a magazine to distract myself. I tried to focus on the pages as I turned them, but it was hopeless. I couldn’t focus on the words, but I continued to turn the pages until I heard my name called.

Standing, I immediately turned to Liam and asked, “Will you go in with me?”

Eyes wide, he responded. “You want me to?”

“I don’t want to go alone.”

“I didn’t think you would want me in there.”

“Of course I do, you’re the father.”

The receptionist placed my medical file in a slot outside the door and ushered us inside.

“You can change into this and then get up on the table,” she handed me a hospital gown before she closed the door.

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