The next morning Ellie woke up early.  She didn’t sleep well.  She knew today she had to call the doctor.  She got up and went to the bathroom.  Ellie had been lucky so far; she hadn’t had any morning sickness.  In the beginning she did gag brushing her teeth every morning but she really couldn’t complain. 

Ellie showered, dried her hair and did her makeup.  She started to get dressed in the clothes she had laid out the night before.  When Ellie pulled on her pants she could tell they didn’t feel right.

“There is no way!”  Ellie muttered to herself as she tried to button her jeans.  “It’s only been a week since I wore these last”, Ellie said to her reflection.

After 20 minutes of searching Ellie finally found a skirt she could button. She picked up the phone dreading the call she was about to make. 

“Dr. James Stevens’s office,” a professional voice on the other end said.

“Uh hi.  I…I need to uh make an appointment,”  Ellie said nervously. 

“What kind of appointment do you need?”  The voice asked. 

“I don’t really know.  I’m pregnant…I think and I haven’t seen a doctor yet.”

“When was the first day of your last period?”

Ellie was really uncomfortable talking to a stranger about this.  “Um I’m not really sure it’s been several months.,  She finally choked out.

“Can you give me a guess as to how many months?’  The voice asked.

“Three or four I guess.” Ellie answered.

“Okay let me look at today’s schedule.  Your in luck we had a cancellation for 9:00 this morning.  Can you be here in an hour?”

“So soon?”

“Yes you really need to be checked and start on some prenatal vitamins.”

“Okay I’ll be there,” Ellie said hoping Ava could still take her.

“Your name please,”  The voice asked.

“Ellie Nash.”

“Okay Ellie we’ll see you soon.”

Ellie hung up and immediately called Ava.

“Hello,” Ava answered the phone.

“Ava, do you still want to take me to the doctor?”  Ellie asked in a rush.

“Who is this?”  Ava teased.

“Ava it’s me Ellie”

“I know El I’m just kidding.  Of course I’ll take you.  Did you get an appointment?”

“Yeah, it’s in an hour”

“Wow that was quick.  Well I’m ready how but you?”

“Yeah I’m ready too,” Ellie said.

“Give me directions and I’ll come on over and we can get breakfast before the appointment.” 

******

After breakfast Ellie and Ava walked into the doctor‘s office.  They were a little early.  “So Ellie you have a hard decision to make.  Have you thought about what you are going to do?”  Ava asked.

“What do you mean?”  Ellie said not really paying attention.

“Well have you thought about if you are going to have the baby and if so are you going to keep it?”

“I don’t think I can not have it you know?”  Ellie asked unsure.

“I know Ellie, I felt the same way.  Well what about keeping the baby?  Do you think your parents will support you?”

“Ellie Nash,” the nurse called from the door before Ellie could answer.

Ava smiled and gave Ellie’s hand a squeeze.  “I’ll be right here,” she said.

******

When Ellie came out she was pale and looked like she was in shock. 

“How did it go?”  Ava asked as she put an arm around Ellie’s shoulder and led her out to the car.

“I’m four months pregnant.  That’s 16 weeks. He said in a few weeks I can find out if it’s a boy or girl.  I heard the heartbeat Ava it was so fast,”  Ellie was rambling.

“Ellie is everything okay with the baby?”  Ava asked trying to get Ellie to listen to her.

“I’m keeping it,”  Ellie blurted out.

“Okay El, did everything with baby look good?”  Ava asked again.

“He said the baby was fine and healthy,”  Ellie said with a smile.

“Ellie are you alright?  I know this is all overwhelming,”  Ava asked.

“I’m okay a little scared but I actually feel better about all this no,.”  Ellie said surprised by her feelings. 

“I do have one problem though,”  Ellie said remembering how tight her skirt was.

“What is it Ellie?”  Ava asked worried.

“My clothes don’t fit anymore.  Ava don’t laugh.  I’m serious.  I don’t have the money for more clothes.  I don’t think my mom will buy me any either,”  Ellie said beginning to worry again. 

“Ellie are your parents going to support you in this?”  Ava asked

“My dad’s in Afghanistan and my mom and I barely speak.  She is a recovering alcoholic and I just don’t trust her any more,” Ellie said with sadness in her voice.

“Ellie it will be hard without your parents help but I promise you can make it.  It’s going to be alright.  I have tons of maternity clothes you can have.  So don’t worry about that anymore.  Let’s go to my house now and we can go through them and find you something to go to school in that’s not so tight,”  Ava teased while looking Ellie up and down as she said it.

“Shut up!”  Ellie said feigning hurt feelings.  “Thanks Ava for everything.”

“You’re welcome,”  Ava said with a smile.