"THERE SHE is. She has no respect or manners. You should fire her!" As I walked out of the restroom, I saw Mr. Gobin standing beside McConnon, while he shouted foul language across the room. Why can't this day be over with already?
"Alyssa, are you okay?" McConnon asked. I must have looked green, and miserable for him to have such a concerned look on his face.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I just want to know what the problem is here. Should I be worried?"
"No, no," McConnon placed his hand on my shoulder, "Mr. Gobin was just leaving."
"What? What kind of law firm is this?"
"One where we respect our own. Now kindly leave, before I call security," that guy had some issues. He stormed towards the elevator screaming out profanities. I guessed there was a valid reason why his wife cheated on himâhe was insane.
"Fuck, he shit on my day," I grumbled. McConnon walked me into my office, and closed the door.
"You don't look so good. Take the day off, come back better tomorrow," he said. I nodded. I really needed to get out of there.
"Thanks, boss," I sighed, "and I'm sorry aboutâ"
"Don't sweat it. Someone like him isn't worth the money. You're a star in this firm. And you're priceless, remember that," he clicked his fingers, and walked out of my office. That's nice to knowâI'm not replaceable.
"Miss Masters, what was that about?" Meggie rushed into my office, as soon as McConnon left. I sat down, and inhaled a deep, steady breath.
"The cons of the job. Don't worry about it. I'm heading home early today. Do I have anything important to do first?"
"Just a meeting with a potential client. Should I arrange for someone else to fill in?"
"Yeah. Get Carolina to do it. And if she's busy, you choose someone," I grabbed my handbag, and threw my phone inside of it, "I'll see you tomorrow."
She watched, as I left my office. I pressed the button for the elevator, and waited for the doors to open, "hope you're doing okay, Alyssa," someone said from across the room. I looked around, and noticed that everyone's eyes were on me. Did that asshole cause such a big scene? The doors opened, and I walked in, placing my hand over my face in agony.
I PICKED up a pregnancy test from the minimart a block away from my apartment. The cashier looked at me with a grin on his face.
"That'll be all?" I nodded and took my credit card out of my wallet, "great."
After paying, I walked to my car with a brown paper bag containing the result of my future. A little nugget could be growing inside of me this very moment! I began to panic. And I've been chugging down wine like an idiot! Fuck. I had to see a doctor. What if I screwed up my baby's brain cells!
I rushed home, and slammed my apartment door behind me. Okay, I'm freaking out. I tried to calm down my raspy breathing, but it just made my anxiety worse. Stripping down butt naked, I turned on the water to fill the tub. A good soak would have done me some good.
As much as I wanted to know the results, I was too scared. What if it's positive? How am I going to manage a career and a baby? I closed my eyes, and allowed my head to slide into the water, covering my entire body for a minute. When I had to breathe, I raised my head, and took a deep breath, before plunging in again.
Mistakenly, I took a breath, causing water to rush into my nostrils. Fuck. I raised my head, and blew my nose. Placing my hand on my stomach, I realized that if I was pregnant, I needed to take better care of myself. No more starving myself. I have to eat balanced meals. And no drinking...
I got out of my bath, and dried my skin. Picking up the pregnancy test, I took it out of the box, and just stared at it. There's no going back when I do this.
My phone began to ring, and I picked it up. What does my mom want? "Mom?"
"Allie! Glad you answered. You usually don't," with good reason.
"Yeah, is everything okay?" She wouldn't call me unless she needed something, or if there was a family problemâlike when my uncle got into a car accident, or my grandmother died.
"Can't I check up on my only daughter?" You seem to call me only when I'm feeling at my worse. Was that motherly instinct? Maybe I'd have that too.
"Sure. How's dad and grandpa?"
"We're all great. Guess who gave me a call after all of these years?" I have a bad feeling about this.
"Just tell me, Mom," I placed my hand over my eyes, and rubbed my tear ducts with my thumb and middle fingers.
"I've always liked Ricky. He's such a catch. I don't know why you ever broke up with him," oh no. Why did she always have to make my day worse?
"He called you?" What the hell is his problem? He should know better than to piss me off.
"Yeah. He wanted your number. I told him you changed it a few years back. It's so strange, isn't it? Maybe faith has a way of bringing you two back together."
I gritted my teeth. My stomach felt woozy again, "I broke up with him for a reason, and he left for a reason. There's no faith or reconcilement, Mom. If he ever calls you again, tell him you'll call the police!"
"Don't be ridiculous, Alyssa. He's a good man. Why would you give up such aâ"
"You're fucking unbelievable! Can you take my side for once? I'm not desperate enough to date that piece of trash again."
"Alyssa! Language. You've always been too picky. You're getting old, honey. You need to settle down sometime."
"Doesn't mean I should settle down with him," I rubbed my temples, "I am a well accomplished woman. I don't need a man in my life to feel complete. I have to go, Mom."
"Come on, Alyssa. Give him a chance. He's successful and handsome andâ" I turned off the phone, before she could complete her sentence. Slamming my phone down, I got on my knees, and discarded all of my disgust into the toilet.