Karen didn’t even want to think about those kids. At least at seventeen, Becky was close to adult age. Fourteen-year-olds shouldn’t be having sex. Even Karen had her limits. She thought of her own father and closed the image from her mind. Some kids didn’t have a choice about sex.

Becky slipped back in the room holding her gown closed with one hand, her clothes and the plastic urine-filled cup with the other.

Karen helped her with her clothes, while the nurse took the sample away. “The doctor will be here in a minute.”

Becky wiggled up on the small exam table, her legs dangling.

On the walls were posters showing the different stages of pregnancy. There were hotline numbers to help lines, runaway shelters, and adoption agencies.

“Have you been to a gynecologist before?”

Becky shook her head. “No.”

Her parents really hadn’t done their job in preparing this girl for life. “Well, it’s not that bad. And remember, the doctors do this all day.”

They stopped talking when the door opened and a petite brunette stepped in wearing a lab coat.

“Hello, Rebecca,” the woman said with a smile. “I’m Dr. Grayem.” The doctor held out her hand for Rebecca to shake.

“Hi.”

Karen waited for the doctor to turn her way. “And you are?”

“A friend.”

“Not her mother?”

Karen shook her head and noticed Becky stiffen.

“No.”

Dr. Grayem sat on a rolling stool and dropped the questions about who Karen was.

She looked at the chart and asked questions. “Your last period was twelve weeks ago?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“You have normal periods?”

“Yes.”

Dr. Grayem made a few notes on her paper. “Any morning sickness?”

“A little.”

“How much did you weigh before you realized you were pregnant?”

Becky told her and the doctor nodded. “Do you know who the father is?”

Becky sucked in a breath. “Yes. I-I’ve only been with him.”

Dr. Grayem stopped writing notes and glanced up at Becky. “I’m not suggesting you sleep around, Rebecca. I want to know what risk factors you might have. Is your boyfriend involved now?”

She nodded.

Karen snuck her hand next to Becky’s and the girl grasped on.

The doctor asked several more questions, mostly confirming what Becky had already indicated on the history form, but in doing so, Becky was growing more anxious.

Dr. Grayem snapped the paper in her hand closed and set it on the table behind her. “I’m going to examine you now and tell you everything I’m doing before I do it, OK, Rebecca?”

“Is it going to hurt?”

The doctor smiled. “No.”

Karen backed away from the table but stood close enough to assure Becky that she was there. Becky closed her eyes during the pelvic exam and winced at the coldness of the doctor’s hands. All the while Dr. Grayem talked about what to expect over the next month, about what to watch for, cramping, bleeding…the usual suspects of complications. The exam was brief, after which the doctor washed her hands and walked toward the door. Instead of leaving, she called for a nurse to bring an ultrasound machine into the room.

“Is everything OK?” Becky asked.

“Everything is fine. You’re already into your second trimester. Do you want to see what your baby looks like?”

Becky blinked, tears started to gather behind her eyes.

“If you think you want to give the baby up for adoption, I can—”

“No! I’m not giving my baby away.”

Karen smiled and stepped aside when the nurse rolled in the ultrasound machine.

“All right then. Let’s take a look.”

Dr. Grayem rolled the chair beside Becky, and the nurse dimmed the light in the room to see the monitor better. Karen stood at Becky’s side and held her hand.

After they applied a thick layer of gel on Becky’s abdomen, the sound of the machine picked up a heart rate.

“That’s you,” Dr. Grayem told them. “Notice the slow pace…well it’s a little fast, but too slow to be your baby.”

Becky was watching the monitor with wide eyes as the black-and-white images swam past.

Then the room filled with a much faster heart rate.

“There we are.”

The doctor kept the wand on Becky’s belly stable and pointed to the monitor with her other hand. “See there. Just a flutter.”

Then the image on the screen twitched.

“Baby’s waving. Saying hi.” Dr. Grayem clicked a few buttons and moved the wand, then clicked a few more.

Becky was squeezing Karen’s hand and smiling like a mother should.

Dr. Grayem pointed out the big head, the heart, and the little legs. So tiny, so precious.

Karen fished her phone out of her pocket. “Want me to take a picture, send it to—”

“Yes,” Becky interrupted her before she mentioned Nolan’s name.

“I’ll print one for you here, too.”

Karen watched the joy on Becky’s face when the doctor told her when she wanted to see her again, and how in a couple of months they could determine the sex of the baby if they wanted.

Karen attached the ultrasound picture to a text to Zach with a message.

Tell Nolan mom and baby are fine.

Karen stepped out of the room with the doctor so Becky could dress.

“She’s lucky to have a good friend,” Dr. Grayem said.

“She’s a good kid. Gonna be a great mom.”

“Where did she get the black eye?”

Karen had no problem relaying what she’d been told. “Her parents weren’t happy with the news of the baby. And they won’t be involved from here on out.”

Dr. Grayem shook her head and cussed under her breath. “If Rebecca needs a statement from me, call.”

Dr. Grayem fished a business card from her pocket and handed it to Karen.

“Thank you.”

Karen paid for their visit in cash, added a donation for those who couldn’t pay along with it, and walked with Becky to the rental car. Once there, her phone buzzed.

Zach’s reply to her text was, Wow. Didn’t think I’d see a grown man cry. Call when you get a minute alone.

I will.

“You made Nolan’s day,” Karen told Becky.

Becky just stared at the picture of her baby. “I’m really having a baby.”

“Yep. You’re really having a baby.”