Chapter 21
“You ready?” he asked and Pandora looked around at him. He wiggled his brow and she grinned, nodding. The door to the elevator opened and he looked both ways. His smile broadened and then he ran down the hallways with her giggling in the wheelchair the whole time.
“Doctor Parks?” someone called, making him come to a halt, ending the exhilarating ride.
“Yes?” he answered.
“Is this Mrs. Leonard?” a woman asked but there was a lightness in her voice.
“Ah, Emily, this is Pandora Leonard. Pandora, this is Emily.” It took Pandora everything not to groan. She recognized the woman immediately.
“Pandora?” Emily sounded surprised to see her. “Hi,” she carried on.
“You know each other?” Dr. Parks asked.
“We went to the same high school,” Emily answered for both of them.
“Well then, Emily, can you take her to her room and get her settled? I will be in to hook up the IV myself in a few minutes. I am going to go and get the scan scan equipment ready for me to do a full scan on her,” Dr. Parks said before his eyes fell on Pandora. “I will be right back.”
She nodded at him and he turned and walked away.
“I am a little surprised to see you here,” Emily admitted, her voice soft.
“You are not the only one,” she muttered as Emily wheeled her into the room.
“I heard about Derrik and you breaking up. I am surprised you stuck it out with him as long as you did.”
Pandora frowned a little and Emily helped her stand up.
“We are not in high school any longer, Pandora. But for what it is worth, I am sorry. Not only for what happened with Derrik, but for how I treated you in the past.”
Pandora bobbed her head as the other helped her sit on the bed. She made quick work in helping Pandora get her clothes off and into a hospital gown. She was about to walk away but turned. “Out of sheer curiosity, how come you are written down as Mrs. Leonard?”
Pandora tried her best to answer. “I accidentally went to say my married name, and quickly corrected it, but never corrected them on me no longer being a Misses. It doesn’t help that it’s sort of embarrassing to be divorced and pregnant with the dad not being around. I mean, I’m old enough to know better.”
Emily placed her hand on hers. “I need to correct your paperwork and don’t worry, the doctors don’t look at those things. He will not notice and neither will the nurses. Just so you know this… it is more common than you think. You are a wonderful woman, and I know you will be an amazing mom. You need to get rid of the crap that Derrik put in your head over the years.” Her voice was filled with so much compassion that it took Pandora a moment to connect this woman with the snarky bully from highschool.
“Thank you,” she whispered to her and she winked in return.
Emily left the room and came back a few minutes later with a wristband. “Dr. Parks called. He will be with you soon.”
Pandora bobbed her head in acknowledgment. “Do you want some food or any ginger ale?”
“Please,” she replied desperately. It had been a long time since she had eaten something. Pandora returned with a couple of cups and toast a few moments later.
“Eat slowly and try not to worry if it will stay down or not.”
“So, what have you been up to these past ten years?” Pandora asked, trying to make conversation.
“I’ve become a nurse. The pay isn’t great but I do love my job. I am currently dating someone from our class and he would be jealous if he knew you were here.”
Pandora shook her head. “Is it Taylor? You can tell him but why would he be jealous?” she asked. Emily looked at her with shock.
“He had a huge crush on you throughout high school.”
“No way.” Her mouth dropped open.
“You must have known. He was always following you around like you had abandoned him.”
Pandora laughed lightly again and shook her head.
“He still thinks that you are the one who got away. Maybe I shouldn’t tell him. He might come running,” she teased.
“He was always into you in my opinion. That’s how I guessed with one word from you,” Pandora stated.
“If you say no. I just can’t believe you didn’t know-”
Pandora cut the words off by covering her mouth and looking frantically for a place to throw up. Emily grabbed a basin and rubbed her back as she brought up everything she had just eaten.
“Sorry,” she said before taking a deep breath.
“Don’t be silly. This is part of my job,” Emily stated, handing her a warm wash cloth to clean her face.
After cleaning her face and rinsing her mouth, she rubbed her sore tummy.
“How is everything in here?” Dr. Parks asked as he walked in.
“She just brought up some toast and ginger ale,” Emily reported.
“Okay. Pandora, do you feel up to seeing little bean?”
Happiness radiated from her. “Yes, please.”
“Back in the chair.”
Emily and Dr. Parks helped her and they walked along the hallway.
After settling her in, he spread the warmed gel on her belly and then put the wand against her skin. He moved it around and hummed along with it. She watched him push some buttons. He hummed again and she felt that this scan was taking much longer than the one before.
Just as I thought. I found you, you little rascal,” Dr. Parks sang out and Pandora swallowed and looked at Emily, who was smiling happily.
“Found what?” she asked and Dr. Parks looked at her with a huge grin.
“Not what, Pandora, but whom,” he said.
Pandora grumbled. “Too tired,” she told him.
“I found Bean’s partner in crime.”
Pandora couldn’t follow what he was saying.
“You’re having twins, Pandora,” he said, turning the screen around to her. And sure enough, there were two bean shaped things there.
“Oh my god!” Pandora exclaimed, covering her mouth.
