Chapter 7: The Date She Couldn't Explain
Nia stared at Dr. Carter as if the question had taken the air from her lungs.
“Were you certain of the date of your last menstrual period?”” the doctor repeated gently.
Marcus stood beside the examination bed, his eyes fixed on his wife.
Nia's fingers twisted the bedsheet.
“I thought I was,” she whispered.
Dr. Carter pulled the chair closer.
“It's not unusual for dates to be uncertain. Stress, irregular cycles, and other factors can make it difficult to estimate a pregnancy's beginning. That's why we compare the information from different examinations.””
Marcus nodded, but his expression remained tense.
“Can the earlier scan tell us anything different from today's scan?””
“It gives us another measurement to consider,” Dr. Carter explained.
“But I want to review the original images and the dates recorded by the clinic before drawing a conclusion.””
She placed the report on the counter and checked the information again.
Nia watched her every movement.
“Doctor,” she asked, “does the baby look healthy?””
“The heartbeat remains reassuring. We'll continue monitoring you because of the pain you experienced earlier, but the measurements alone do not suggest that we should assume something is wrong with the baby.””
Nia exhaled shakily.
Marcus squeezed her hand.
“That's what matters right now.””
She looked at him, grateful for the kindness in his voice.
Then Dr. Carter asked another question.
“Nia, did you take a pregnancy test before your appointment at the first clinic?””
“Yes.””
“Do you remember when?””
“About four months ago.””
“Was the result positive?””
Nia nodded.
“Did you tell anyone before you told your husband?””
The question made Nia look down.
Marcus noticed.
“Nia?””
She swallowed.
“I told Vanessa.””
Marcus slowly released her hand.
Dr. Carter remained professional.
“That's helpful information. I'll document it, and we'll compare the records as accurately as possible.””
She finished reviewing the report and explained that they would need to confirm the dates with the original clinic. Then she left the room to arrange the next steps.
The door clicked shut.
Marcus remained standing.
“You told Vanessa before me.””
Nia's eyes filled.
“I told you as soon as I knew.””
“You just told the doctor you told Vanessa first.””
“I took the test at home. I called Vanessa because I was panicking. I wanted someone to help me calm down before I told you.””
Marcus looked at her in disbelief.
“Why would you panic about being pregnant when we'd spent months trying to have a baby?””
“Because I wasn't ready for it to happen so quickly.””
He stared at her.
“You said you wanted a child.””
“I did.””
“You said you were ready.””
“I thought I was.””
Marcus stepped away from the bed.
Nia reached for him.
“Please don't walk away.””
He stopped but didn't turn around.
“I'm trying to understand how many versions of the truth there are, Nia.””
She began to cry.
“There is only one truth.””
“Then tell me why it keeps changing.””
Nia wiped her face with a tissue.
“When I took the test, I was alone. I looked at those two lines, and I felt happy. Then I felt terrified.
I kept thinking about my job, the mortgage, everything we'd have to change. I didn't want you to see that fear and think I regretted our baby.””
Marcus turned around.
“You could have told me you were scared.””
“I know.””
“You didn't have to perform happiness for me.””
“I know, Marcus!””
Her voice cracked.
She covered her mouth, breathing through another wave of tears.
“I was ashamed,” she whispered.
“I thought a good wife would be excited without being afraid.””
Marcus looked at her for a long moment.
The explanation sounded painfully human. It also left the central question unanswered.
“Did Vanessa help you calculate the dates?””
Nia nodded.
“She looked at the test date and asked when my last period had been.””
“And?””
“I couldn't remember exactly. My cycle had been irregular.””
Marcus folded his arms.
“What did she tell you?””
“She said I was probably farther along than I thought.””
His face tightened.
“How much farther?””
Nia shook her head.
“She didn't know. She said we should wait for the ultrasound.””
Marcus looked toward the monitor.
“And now she's acting like she knows something the doctor doesn't.””
“I don't understand why.””
A knock sounded.
Before Nia could respond, the door opened, and Vanessa stepped inside.
She had changed out of her bright-red dress into a cream-colored jacket, but her makeup remained flawless. Her eyes moved from Nia to Marcus and then to the medical report on the counter.
“Well,” she said, “have we finally started talking about the dates?””
Marcus immediately moved between her and the bed.
“You shouldn't be here.””
Vanessa lifted her eyebrows.
“I'm her sister.””
“And you frightened her badly enough that she ended up in a hospital.””
“I didn't cause her pain.””
“You created a scene that could have waited until we were somewhere private.””
Vanessa glanced at Nia.
“Would she have told you privately?””
“Get out.””
“Not until I know she's told you the truth.””
Marcus pointed toward the door.
“I'm not asking again.””
Vanessa placed her handbag on the counter.
“You keep protecting her without asking why she needs so much protection.””
Nia pushed herself higher against the pillow.
“Stop it, Vanessa.””
Her sister turned toward her.
“Then answer me. Did you tell him what you told me before the party?””
Nia's face drained of color.
Marcus noticed immediately.
“What did she tell you?”” he asked.
Vanessa smiled without warmth.
“Ask your wife.””
Marcus's voice hardened.
“I'm asking you.””
Vanessa opened her handbag and removed a folded sheet of paper.
She placed it on the counter beside the medical report.
“This is a copy of the calculation I made when Nia first told me she was pregnant.””
Marcus glanced at it.
There were handwritten dates, a few notes, and a circle around a week on the calendar.
He picked it up.
“Where did you get this?””
“I made it.””
“You're not a doctor.””
“No, but I can count.””
“Then you should know that pregnancy dating isn't as simple as counting backward from a test.””
For the first time, Vanessa's expression faltered.
Then she recovered.
“Fine. Let the doctor explain it. But ask yourself why Nia told me before she told you.””
Nia's tears fell silently.
“Because I was scared,” she whispered.
“I already explained that.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“No. You were scared of something else.””
Marcus turned toward her.
“What does that mean?””
Vanessa looked directly at Nia.
“Tell him why you called me the night he came home from London.””
Nia clutched the bedsheet.
Marcus felt his heartbeat quicken.
“You told me you called Vanessa because you were upset,” he said.
“What aren't you telling me?””
Nia looked at him, her face crumpling.
“I told her I had taken another test.””
Marcus went still.
“Another test?””
Nia nodded.
“It was positive.””
“Why didn't you tell me that?””
“I was going to.””
“When?””
She couldn't answer.
Vanessa folded her arms.
“And what else did you tell me that night, Nia?””
“Stop.””
“Tell him.””
“Vanessa, please!””
Her sister leaned forward.
“You told me you were afraid the dates wouldn't make sense.””
Marcus looked from one sister to the other.
The medical report remained on the counter between them.
Dr. Carter returned before he could speak.
She took in the scene with one glance.
“Vanessa, are you a member of Nia's care team?””
“No.””
“Then I need you to step outside while I discuss my patient's medical information.””
Vanessa opened her mouth to protest.
Marcus pointed toward the door.
“You heard her.””
Vanessa picked up her handbag, but before leaving, she looked at Nia one final time.
“You can keep hiding behind medical explanations,” she said.
“But you know why I asked you to tell him.””
Then she walked out.
Marcus turned toward Nia.
“What did she mean?””
Nia stared at the closed door.
For several seconds, she couldn't speak.
Finally, she whispered, “She thinks I knew the dates were wrong before you came home.””
Marcus's expression tightened.
“Did you?””
May you like
Nia looked at him.
And her silence lasted just long enough to make him fear the answer.
