Toe the Line(66)

Over the past two weeks, Noelle had seemed to find her groove working from home in the office space I’d set up in the corner of her room. We hadn’t gotten to hang out as much as I’d hoped, though. Clancy had been sick, so I’d spent more time than usual hanging out at Mariah’s. Not to mention, the restaurant had been booked solid lately. On a couple of nights, I’d dropped off food from Fontaine’s for Noelle and Roz, who’d become fast friends, but I hadn’t had much time to stay and chat.

I looked up when a nurse finally called us into the doctor’s office. We followed her to a room down the hall. And then it was more waiting. Why do they do that? They make you wait in one area, then call you into another room to wait again—even longer.

I reached for Noelle’s hand when I noticed her legs bouncing. Even though I was nervous, too, I was fighting not to show it.

The door suddenly opened, and we straightened in our seats.

Dr. Burns came right out with it. “Hi, Noelle.” He took a seat and opened his laptop. “So, your test is negative. There’s no pregnancy at this time.”

Fuck.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

My heart broke into a thousand pieces.

Noelle nodded, and I squeezed her hand.

“This is certainly not unusual. In fact, it’s not all that common to conceive the very first time. Each cycle has anywhere from a ten to twenty-percent success rate.”

Despite his assurance, I felt like a fucking failure. “You okay?” I whispered.

“Yeah.” She forced a smile. “It is what it is, right?”

“The more attempts, the more likely it is to happen,” the doctor said as he typed something into the chart. “So we do have you down for another cycle. We’ll get your appointments squared away on the way out.” He looked back up at us. “I understand that the two of you are not together, correct?”

“That’s right,” she said. “We’re friends.”

Dr. Burns nodded. “I tell my married clients that it never hurts to supplement with regular intercourse to maximize the opportunity the window of ovulation presents. But of course, I understand that’s not an option for you at this time. If anything…changes, that’s one of the things to keep in mind.”

Tell me something I don’t already know, Captain Obvious.

Noelle nodded again, her cheeks turning pink.

Just like that, the doctor excused himself, and our appointment was over. It felt almost wrong that we had to leave so fast after getting that kind of shitty news. They needed to have a room with fucking candy and alcohol or some shit where they could put people like us to decompress first.

Even worse, I had to work this afternoon and couldn’t spend the day with Noelle. I would’ve loved to take her mind off this disappointment.

After we confirmed our next appointments at the front desk, we stood facing each other outside the building.

I pulled her into a hug and held her close. “I’m sorry.”

She spoke into my chest. “It’s okay. Truly. This was to be expected. That’s why we have another appointment.”

We’d agreed to three tries. If she had to move on to IVF—something we hadn’t discussed—that would be financially tough. IUI was much more affordable.

I took a step back. “What are your plans today?”

“I have to finish writing a script that’s due by the end of the week. Ironically, it’s a story on quintuplets.”

“Of course.” I sighed. “I wish I had the night off to hang out with you, even if you were working. I could’ve made you dinner.” Then I got a bright idea. “Would you want to do your work at the restaurant tonight? I could set you up in a corner with WiFi.”

She rubbed her arms. “I’m okay being alone, Archie.”

“Maybe I’m not.” I grinned.

She smiled. “If you want me to come to the restaurant, I will.” She tugged on my shirt. “But you have to make me that artichoke appetizer you told me about.”

“You got it.”

After stopping at the house to pick up her laptop, we drove straight to Fontaine’s.

Once I got her settled at a table, I granted her wish for maple-glazed artichokes.

I set the plate before her with a smile and promised to come back with another appetizer shortly. It made me feel good to offer her a distraction tonight. She had to feel as let down as I did.

The second appetizer I brought out was calamari, followed by an entrée of eggplant parmesan. Whenever I had a free moment, I’d peek out from the kitchen to watch Noelle enjoying the food I’d prepared.

When I finally brought her a piece of chocolate cake, her eyes widened.

She wiped the corner of her mouth. “Are you trying to kill me?”

I sat across from her and leaned my arms against the table. “No, I’m just trying to make you happy, and the only way I know how to do that is with food.”

She took a bite. “That’s not true. There are many ways you make me happy.” She smiled. “This reminds me of the last time I ate chocolate cake with you.”

“That was a hot mess express, wasn’t it? I still have the drawing of you from that night.”

“Thank you for this,” she said with her mouth full. “It did help not to be alone today, and all the special attention was very sweet.”