Short Story: Joy and Trey Part One

Joy left her weekly appointment a little more worried than normal. Dr. Colin always left her with promising words, but today as she left, he seemed distracted by her folder. She saw the nurse and the technician writing rapidly, and heard them talking outside of her room's door. She tried to think nothing of it, the clinic was abnormally busy today which must've made the employees overwhelmed.

Joy hobbled out of her car with her hand on her back for the extra support. She never knew carrying a baby could make her body be in so much pain. She had asked her best friend, Grace, if it was normal since she has two kids of her own. Joy hopes to be just like her in about two months, give or take a week. Joy has read every parenting book out there. She wasn't quite expecting to get pregnant, but her and Trey had been together for years. It wasn't the most ideal thing, but Trey was beyond excited when he found out. He reacted a lot better than Joy thought he would at least.

Joy opened the front door and was greeted by Sadie, her sweet golden retriever pup. She heard clanking in the kitchen, so she threw her coat on the coat rack and peered around the corner. "Mmm. It smells great in here hun," Joy said with her sniffing nose raised high in the air. "Whatcha makin?"

"Spaghetti! Your favorite!" He replied with a purse sense of accomplishment. Joy smiled and gently pursed her lips on his warm cheek. Joy began to set the plates and silverware out, and Trey was moving the food over the serving tray on the dining table. They both sat down and just smiled at one another. They picked up their utensils and began eating. After dinner was over, they both picked up their plats and put them in the dishwasher. They both found their way back to the table.

"What time did you get off work today?" Joy asked him.

"Oh, it was about three I would say. It's starting to get darker sooner, so we won't be working as late. How'd your appointment go? I'm sorry I couldn't be there."

"It went okay," Joy said. "At the end, I heard Dr. Colin and the nurses whispering outside my door. It made me a bit nervous. I told them about the abdominal pain I've been having in the middle of the night."

"Did they say anything? I'm sure it's nothing."

"Nothing? How is abdominal pain nothing?"

"I didn't mean it like that Joy. I'm not dismissing your pain. I guess I'm just being hopeful that nothing is wrong." Trey said.

"You say it's nothing is dismissing my pain Trey. I appreciate you making dinner and all, but if you're just going to ask ignorant questions, I just want to be left alone."

"Left alone?"

"Yeah, left alone. You weren't even planning on having a baby, so I understand this has to be a burden to you." Trey's face grew angry.

"Oh, don't pull that card Joy. You know that I am more than happy about this baby. I'm still learning though, you have to understand that."

"Still learning? I know you are, I am too! But that doesn't mean I'm asking you stupid questions or dismissing when you have pain or anything else. And you better start catching up, because we only have about a month and a half left till the baby is here. I worked most of the day, went to my appointment, and I'm nervous about what they were whispering about Trey. I don't need you to add to my plate right now."

"Add to your plate? Wow Joy. That's a new low." Joy's serious look stuck even with his comment and the hurt in his eyes. Trey shoved the chair out and walked down the hallway into the bedroom. Joy's phone rang. She got up and walked across to her purse and pulled out her phone. Dr. Colin's name was flashing on the screen.

"Is it my phone or yours?" Trey asked. Joy didn't answer him, and she slid the button on her phone to answer the phone call. Trey began to stomp down the hallway. "Jesus Joy, really? You're going to ignore me now?"

"Dr. Colin?" Joy said shakingly.

"Hi Joy, yes, it's me. I'm sorry to be calling you after hours. I ended up staying later and stumbled upon your file. We got some test results back. I really need you to come in tomorrow if you can. I would bring Trey too."

"Is everything okay?"

"I... I think it's best if we talk in person. Does tomorrow work?"

"I work tomorrow, is there any way you can just tell me now? I won't be able to sleep if you don't tell me what is going on." Trey began to walk closer to Joy while she was pacing back and forth.

"Well, it looks like there is a little issue right now with your pregnancy." Joy's face began to sink and she began to feel nauseous. Her body began to sway back and forth and finally her phone slipped from her hand and crashed on the floor. She felt her back press against the wall and she sand down to the floor.

"Hey, hey, hey. Baby. What's wrong? Joy. Talk to me. Joy! Joy!" Trey's voice was muffled in her head. She wasn't hearing him, and then tears began to flood out. Trey got right down next to her and wrapped his arms around her. "Baby, it's okay. What did Dr. Colin say? Talk to me."

Joy sniffled and wiped her eyes. "Something is wrong. With the baby. They don't know if she is going to make it full-term."

"She?!" Trey questioned. They didn't know the gender yet, they were waiting to be surprised. "It's a girl?"

"Oh wow, I didn't even thin about it when he said it. Yeah, I guess it is a girl." She let out a quick smile that rapidly changed into uncontrollable tears.

"What do you mean she isn't going to make it full-term? What else did Dr. Colin say?"

"I didn't hear a thing after he said she might not make it. I guess we go in tomorrow morning to find out what is going on and what our options are." Trey just leaned over and held Joy, a little tighter than usual. Tears began to fall down his face.

"Everything will work out Joy. We will get through this together. We will go to Dr. Colin's first thing in the morning. I'm sorry about before. I didn't mean to upset you in any way. I'm so sorry baby." Joy just shook her head and let out a fake smile.

"Yeah, I guess so." Trey just kept hanging on to her, and Joy just sat there with a blank stare and tears streaming down her cheeks. She put her hands on her stomach and looked down. All she could do was curl up in Trey's arms and cry.