“Almost wrapped up. Just some final preparations. I'll
be working all day tomorrow.
I’ll be prepping early morning”
“ Wait, you are coming to the doctors
appointment tomorrow aren’t you?” he asked.
“ Oh my god! Is that tomorrow?”
“ Mel. I reminded you like ten times,”
Roy said exasperated.
“ What time do you have to be there?”
Melissa asked.
“ It's at eleven,” he said frowning.
“ I can't make that appointment. There's no
way anyone else can run the event. I completely forgot,” she
replied.
“ Are you kidding me Melissa?” Roy said
angry now. “This is very important. We find out the sex of the
baby tomorrow.”
“ Well I'm sorry,” Melissa said a
little irritated herself. “I had a lot on my mind. This is a
big client for me. If I do well I can secure them every year.”
“ Melissa, it's not like we need the money,”
Roy said moving her feet and standing up.
“ It's not about the money Roy,”
Melissa said standing herself. “This is about me and my
accomplishments. This is about me feeling like I have a purpose.”
“ And what about the baby?” he snapped.
“Is the baby not a purpose too? He or she has to come first
every single time!”
“ Of course. You don't think I know that?”
she said. “But my career is important too.”
“ It's always your job first Mel. I really
need you to be there. I didn't say anything when you missed all of
the other appointments but this one. I need you and don't look at me
that way. We're supposed to be in this thing together,” he
fumed.
“ We are in this thing together,” she
retorted.
“ Well it doesn’t feel that way.”
“ So I am a horrible person because I have
other priorities?” Melissa questioned, her face flushing red.
“ I didn’t say that. Why do you always
go there? We discussed this. At length. You said you wanted this and
you were supposed to make this a priority too. And it’s not
just about us. Ettie is involved. We can’t just change our
minds now.”
“ I'm sorry I'm not the perfect mother,”
Melissa said her arms crossed. “I'm sorry I'm not like Ettie.”
“ Don't bring her into this. She has nothing
to do with it. This is about us. You do realize that this baby is
ours. Not mine and Ettie’s. Yours and mine. And whether you
like it or not this baby is on it’s way.”
“ How dare you! Obviously I know that. I am
on board but I also have a life outside of this child. I’m just
not obsessed like you are,” Melissa spat.
“ Obsessed? Melissa, I love our baby. If you
didn't want this then you should have spoken up.”
“ And what disappoint you as usual?”
Melissa taunted.
“ Don't you do that now. You said you wanted
this family just like I did.”
“ I do. At least I thought I did. But my
career is finally taking off. People are starting to recognize me for
myself and not just as Roy Gardner’s wife. And I'm sorry but
that's important to me. I want this baby. I do.”
“ Are you going to be there tomorrow?” Roy asked softly. “I don’t want to fight with you.”
“ I don't know if I can make it,”
Melissa said finally.
Roy looked at Melissa in a way that she never saw before. Finally he
turned from her and turned the television back on.
“ Oh, so I’m just dismissed Roy?”
Melissa questioned.
“ Have I ever treated you like that Mel? I
don't want to discuss it now. I'm just thinking.”
“ What are you thinking about?” she
said her eyes tearing up.
“ I just don't know what you want anymore.
You're so distant lately. You don't come home until late. You don't
answer my calls. You’re not excited when I talk about the baby,
you change the subject every time I bring it up. And now you forget
one of the most important appointments. What's really going Mel? It’s
not what I’m thinking. What are you thinking?”
“ Nothing is going on,” Melissa
protested. “I just... I just have a lot going on at work. I’ll
figure something out.”
“ I hope you