Chapter 410

With that, Teresa turned and walked away. A nurse called out, “Number 13, Jennifer. Are you still going through with the abortion today?”

Jennifer watched Teresa leave, then quietly shook her head. She decided to wait, tore up the form, tossed it in the trash, and hurried after Teresa.

Teresa arrived at the Golden Bay Complex in Lonisburg. She rang the doorbell. Cheryl shuffled over in loose overalls; her belly was huge and round as she moved slowly to open the door. She peeked through the peephole and saw only Teresa, not realizing Jennifer was right behind her.

When she opened the door, Cheryl clicked her tongue. “Wow, both my sisters-in-law showed up? What’s the occasion?”

Jennifer walked in, giving Cheryl a cold stare. “First, Teresa isn’t your sister-in-law anymore. Second, if you still think I am, why do you always make things harder for me at the worst possible time?”

Cheryl looked completely lost and turned to Teresa. “How did I mess things up?”

Teresa waved her off. “Don’t mind her. She’s just having one of her moods.”

Hearing that, Jennifer remained silent.

Cheryl didn’t take it to heart. “Alright, you two sit down. I’ll get you some water. Ugh, this belly makes everything a struggle.”

“Just sit down already,” Teresa said, still surprised at how big Cheryl’s belly was. After all, it had been months since they last saw each other. ‘Maybe everyone’s pregnancy is different,’ Teresa thought. When she was pregnant with Michael, even in late pregnancy, her belly was never this big.

Cheryl eased herself onto the sofa, rubbing her back. “My back is killing me. Teresa, do you think I’m about to give birth?”

Teresa pointed at Jennifer. “Ask the expert here. She’s a gynecologist.”

Jennifer pursed her lips and glanced at Cheryl’s belly. “How many weeks along are you?”

Cheryl counted on her fingers. “With today included, it’s thirty-eight weeks and five days. The doctor said I could check in, but I didn’t want to go in too soon. I thought I could manage a few more weeks.”

“A few more weeks? Seriously?” Jennifer said to Cheryl. “With a belly like that, your due date’s basically any day now. How’s the baby been moving lately?”

“About the same, I guess. I haven’t really paid attention. The baby moves a lot at night. Oh, and I’ve been having more contractions at night these days. Maybe it’s because I’ve been going for night runs? Maybe I overdid it,” Cheryl replied.

“Night runs?” Teresa blurted out. “You’re this pregnant and still running around at night?”

Cheryl bit her lip, looking a little aggrieved. “The doctor said some exercise helps with smooth delivery, so I’ve been walking and jogging slowly. I don’t want to be like those TV dramas where it takes three days to give birth. I just want it over in three minutes.”

“Alright, enough,” Jennifer interrupted, sounding annoyed. “Go pack your things. We’re taking you to the hospital.”

“What? The hospital? Now?” Cheryl asked.

“You want to wait until your water breaks? By then, it’ll be too late,” Jennifer replied.

Honestly, Cheryl’s belly was huge, almost alarming. Jennifer was a doctor, after all. Cheryl couldn’t argue with her.

Teresa, on the other hand, was really worried that Cheryl might have a tough delivery. Cheryl was just a young girl, fresh out of college and pregnant with a guy’s baby. She had been hiding it from her family and was living alone in another city. After everything she had been through, nothing could go wrong now.

On the road, Teresa was driving. Jennifer sat in the front passenger seat, and Cheryl was in the back where it was more spacious.

Cheryl said, “Jennifer, I missed your engagement to my brother last time. My parents didn’t give me a hard time about it, did they?”