Free Cancelled by Elizabeth Ann West Page B

off the mother for sustenance, but we're at—” Dr. Harper flipped Kellie's chart to read the LMP date “fourteen weeks of gestation? At this point, the baby is getting just about anything Kellie puts in her body, so drug use now could affect organ development, brain development, and cause a whole list of other issues.”
    “Does your office drug test?” Johnathan asked.
    Dr. Harper looked from his patient to her companion, then back to his patient. Kellie's face was turning red and tears brimmed in her eyes.
    “By law, we test for drugs at various stages in the pregnancy. Is there a problem I'm not aware of?”
    Johnathan relaxed his shoulders from a rigid position. Kellie snapped her head towards him and glared as she spoke. “No, there isn't a problem. I'm clean.”
    Johnathan pulled out his cell phone when it buzzed in his pocket. He had a response from Alex.
    LEAVING IN HOUR STOPPING BY HOME.
    It was almost 4 PM and he needed to get home to start the corned beef. Quickly calculating in his head, with a stop at home, Alex would be there at seven, not eight. Johnathan put his phone back into his pocket and flushed at both the doctor's and Kellie's looks of annoyance.
    “As a general rule, we don't allow cell phone use during exams.” Dr. Harper didn't wait for a lame apology from Johnathan. “Kellie, so far your numbers look great. The front desk will schedule your ultrasound and we can go ahead and do the amnio. With any luck, I will be able to tell you the baby's gender, but the amnio will be definitive.”
    Dr. Harper closed the chart and before opening the exam room door, he gave Johnathan a cold expression. “Mr. Michaels, the front desk will also give you instructions on how to give a sample for the lab to check against.” He didn't respond to Johnathan's quiet thanks before leaving the exam room.
    “I can wait outside for you to get dressed.”
    “I've got a ride. You can go.”
    “Are you sure?” Johnathan was relieved she didn't need him to drive her home, as he needed to get back into the city as soon as possible.
    “My mom is already here.” Kellie glanced at her cell phone and tossed it back into her bag. She pulled off the paper sheet giving her modesty, and pulled her underwear and jeans back on in front of Johnathan. He turned away in embarrassment.
    “I don't want you to come anymore.”
    “Why not?”
    “Why? Why? You accused me of drug use! I'd have to change doctors if Dr. Harper wasn't cool.”
    “I will come to the appointments.”
    “You don't want to be here. No one is forcing you do anything but write a check. And I'm not even forcing that!”
    Johnathan spun around and stared hard at her. She wouldn't understand. Her parents were still married. “As long as this baby is mine biologically, I will be here to be its father. If that changes with the results from the testing, trust me, you'll never have to see me again. Email me the ultrasound date.”
    Johnathan left her to finish dressing and found his way back through the waiting room. Once outside, he squinted and wrinkled his nose at the late afternoon sunlight and smell of damp asphalt. The quick rain shower had also dropped the air temperature by a few degrees. Walking to his car, he kept his arms telescoped as close to his body as he could.
     
     
    A knock on the apartment door at 7:37 PM made Johnathan smile. Alexis shimmied into the apartment underneath Johnathan's arm and dispatched her coat, duffel bag, and brief case into the nearest chair. Johnathan expertly poured a glass of Guinness and handed it to her.
    “Beer?”
    “It's Saint Patty's Day. Drinking anything else is sacrilege!” He grinned. Using tongs, he placed the corned beef brisket onto a platter to let it rest. The cabbage and potatoes continued somersaulting in a large stock pot on high heat. In two minutes, the timer would go off and he could drain.
    “You can smell the cabbage from the elevator.” Alex glided over to Johnathan and hugged him from