“I would like to stop all treatment today.”

“Are you sure?”

I nod my head and let out a clear firm, “Yes.”

*****

“Running late will be there in a few.”

I stare at the screen for a minute, not believing my luck. Landon is probably stuck in the meeting still, meaning he is going to arrive at the tail end of the appointment if he arrives at all. The irony does not escape me that I am grateful for my husband’s absence. Most women throw ragging fits when work keeps them late. I pocket my phone when the nurse calls my name.

“Will it be just you today?”

“My husband’s on the way. He’s stuck in a meeting.”

The nurse gives me a sympathetic look, as though she has seen this scenario many a time, and leads me to the back room, where I am introduced to Dr. Green. We go over a typical questionnaire for a while.

“We’ll have you come in for an ultrasound when you’ve reached fourweeks or so.”

I nod.

“You look nervous about something; do you have any questions?”

I do not know why my palms are sweating so much or why I am so nervous to tell a doctor about my condition. I never tell anyone about it, and that is a habit I am going to have a hard time braking. I clear my throat.

“I have Wilson’s disease.”

“Oh, dear, that changes things a little bit, don’t it. Have you stopped treatment?”

“Yes, but my first two weeks of pregnancy, I was still being treated. Will that affect anything?”

“It shouldn’t, as long as you don’t continue. Are you sure you want to continue with the pregnancy?”

“Yes, absolutely.”

The doctor nods. “Well, we will have to monitor you a bit more closely than normal. I’ll need your specialist’s contact info so as to get any info I might need so I’ll need you to fill out some paperwork giving me the okay to do so.”

I nod. “There is one more thing. Err…my um…husband doesn’t know I have Wilson’s disease.” The doctor gives me a shocked look. “And I’d like to keep it that way for now.”

“Of course, you have the legal right to do so, but may I ask you what your plan is for after you deliver? Wilson’s is a rapidly growing disease. You would be in a very late stage by then.”

“Yes, I know. I fully intend to tell him, and he will take care of the baby, of course, I just…can’t…yet.” I fight with my hands.

“Very well, then. I’ll get you that paperwork and then you can be off. Please stop and make an appointment for your ultrasound on your way out.”

The door opens just then and a very stressed-looking Landon walks in.

“Awe, you must be the husband. Congratulations!” The doctor shakes London’s hand.

“Yes, and it looks like I’ve missed the entire appointment.”

The doctor chuckles. “Well, it’s nothing exciting today. Just an informative getting-to-know-you session. However, her ultrasound will be an appointment you won’t want to miss.”