Bianca hoped she was making the right decision.
*****
Alex walked to his car, bewilderment marring his face. Bianca was right about them moving quickly, he had only met her earlier in the day and he already was picturing a future with her. But what was wrong with that if what they had worked? Alex dated a lot of women and never felt after three months what he felt for Bianca in one day. That had to mean something. Shaking his head, he unlocked the door to his SUV and climbed in, turning over the engine.
The whole way home he pondered her request. He’d give her a few days but he missed her already and it had only been twenty minutes. How was he going to make it for three days? Alex knew he was foolish to fall hard for a woman he barely knew but there was something about her that he just couldn’t get out of his mind. Three days, then she would be his; he’d make sure of that.
*****
Bianca walked around in a funk for three days. How could she miss someone so much that she just met? She was being ridiculous. Glancing at her reflection in the mirror she patted her hair, the natural curls framing her heart shaped face. Today was her first day back to work and she didn’t want to be late or make a bad impression because she was hoping they would hire her as a full time teacher when she had finished her classes. She loved being a teacher’s aide for the kindergarten class but it would be so much nicer to have her own class and make lessons. Two more classes of student teaching left and she would be a teacher. One last pat of her hair and she was ready. Snatching her bag and purse from the counter as she walked by, Bianca made her way out the door with a lot of time to spare. She hated being late, it gave her anxiety.
Once in the car, she began to think about Alex again, driving on autopilot to the school she had been a teacher’s assistant at for four years. Why was she torturing herself by staying away from him? That’s right, self preservation. Too many times had she been burned by jumping into a relationship too soon. But this feels so different, she thought as she pulled into a parking spot behind the school. Sighing, Bianca looked out over the playground where the little ones were having morning recess. It was more of a way for the parents to drop off and the kids to burn some energy before they had to be inside all day. The school was tiny, kindergarten through third grade with only one classroom for each grade, but she loved the school and the faculty and didn’t want to be anywhere else. Bianca waved at the kindergarten teacher she worked with, Mrs. Jensen, as she approached the school.
“Good morning, Bianca,” She called, wrangling children into a line.
“Good morning, Mrs. Jensen,” Bianca responded, the woman was old enough to be her grandmo
ther and Bianca felt strange calling her by her first name.
The old woman smiled, patting her bluish gray helmet of curls as she hurried the children inside. Bianca’s heels clacked on the concrete as she made her way around the front of the school. She didn’t have to wear heels to be a teacher’s assistant but it made her feel more professional. The front office was abuzz as Bianca entered the building. The school secretary was signing kids in late already and taking parent packets while the children talked noisily, catching up with friends they missed all summer. Bianca waved at them and signed in, then hurried down the hall to her classroom. When she entered the room, Mrs. Jensen was gathering the kids around the carpet for the announcements and prayer. Bianca slipped into the small back room that Mrs. Jensen used for an office and locked her purse and bag inside of the closet. She smiled broadly at the little faces that greeted her when she took her place on the carpet next to Mrs. Jensen. Their eyes were wide with wonder, excitement and some fear at their first full day of school as ‘big kids’. Bianca just loved teaching kindergarten and even though it was a lot of work she enjoyed every minute of it.
After announcements and the pledge, Bianca began to set up the first activity while Mrs. Jensen herded the children to the tables. She set out paint and aprons and began to pour it into the cups set into the six easels at the back of the room. Needing more red paint, Bianca walked back to the closet where her purse was stored, hoping there was a second bottle. Mrs. Jensen was notorious for ordering supplies too late and they went without certain colors for months at a time in previous classes. Just as she was about to close the closet after locating and retrieving the paint, Bianca’s phone rang. Normally she wouldn’t answer her phone at work, but she was expecting a call from her doctor sometime this week with test results. Figuring that was likely the call she set the paint down on the floor and answered her phone.
“Hello?” She answered, hoping it was the doctor with her results.
For several months Bianca was having issues with her reproductive health. She would miss periods, have them for a long time or they would be so bad she had to call off from work due to cramping and excessive bleeding. Something was wrong and she had the desire to figure it out now so that having children wasn’t an obstacle later.
“Hello, is this Bianca Mason?” The person asked.
“Yes. What can I help you with?” Bianca wondered, getting nervous.
“This is Amanda calling from Dr. Gabriel’s office. I have some test results for you but the doctor would prefer for you to come in person to discuss everything and your options.” The woman explained without pausing or taking a breath.
“Um, okay. I’m at work now but I’ll see if I can get off a bit earlier for the appointment.” Bianca’s heart sank. This was not a good sign.
She talked with the nurse for a bit longer, making an appointment for late afternoon and hung up. Her heart was aching at the possibility that it was really bad news and she had cancer or something terrible. Unable to focus on work, Bianca floated through the morning with her head in the proverbial clouds. After over pouring juice in two of the children’s cups at lunch time Mrs. Jensen spoke up.
“Bianca, dear, what’s wrong?” She asked, resting her hand on Bianca’s forearm in a motherly fashion.
Bianca forced a smile, “I’m a bit distracted. I’m sorry. I have an important doctor’s appointment this afternoon and I’m a bit shook up about it.” She responded, her throat getting tight.
“Oh dear. Maybe you better head on home then. I think we will be okay without you the rest of the day,” Mrs. Jensen said, gesturing around the room.
“If you’re sure I think I’ll take you up on that,” Bianca agreed, walking to the back room to gather her things.
“I hope that everything turns out ok, dear. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Mrs. Jensen waved goodbye as Bianca slid from the room.
On her way out, she stopped by the front office and spoke with the secretary about what was happening and they both agreed she would be better off at home. Smiling in thanks, Bianca waved goodbye and headed out the door, her heart aching at the possibility that something serious was wrong with her.
Chapter 3
Bianca walked out of the doctor’s office in a daze. She couldn’t believe what he had told her. It didn’t make sense, but she guessed it wasn’t supposed to make any sense; she was only thirty. Unfairness ringing through her, she thought back to when she walked out of the school and drove straight to her appointment, two hours early. She didn’t care that she was early. Being home alone and wondering if she was dying from cancer was not an option. Bianca needed to be in that office until they called her name, even if it meant she sat there fretting about what may or may not happen for two hours.
When she arrived at the doctor’s office, the receptionist greeted her with confusion; she was two hours early after all. Bianca waved to her and took a seat in the far corner, clutching her purse to her chest tightly. The purse was acting as a shield to her heart, protecting her rioting emotions and fear of the unknown. She stayed that way for almost an hour, her arms cramping. Only then did she relax a bit, her appointment time drawing nearer. Every so often the receptionists and nurses would give her a strange look but she ignored it. It’s not like she was doing anything wrong. The last time she checked it wasn’t illegal to show up for an appointment two hours early. Finally setting her purse down, Bianca stole another glance at the clock, forty-five minutes left. She had the sudden urge to call Alex. The odd stirring to call him for support surprised her. There were many reasons why she shouldn’t even consider calling him. First, they just met, she barely knew him and he her. What would he think if she called him and asked him to meet her at a doctor’s appointment? He would probably think that she must be desperate or that she doesn’t have any friends. The last reason was obvious, she told him to leave her alone for a while yet she wanted to contact him? It didn’t even make sense when she thought about it so it definitely wouldn’t make sense to him.
With a sigh, she settled back in her chair, resisting the urge to snatch her phone from her purse and dial his number. The next forty-five minutes passed with agitation and Bianca fighting the need to call Alex. She had given up on sitting still and paced and roamed the room and halls of the building until ten minutes before her appointment. Just as she returned into the office a nurse walked out and called her name. She didn’t miss the look of pity that crossed the woman’s face before she turned and began down the hall. Bianca followed, terror clenching her heart at the prospect that she could be dying from cancer. The nurse led her into a small, sparsely decorated, pastel walled exam room. She motioned for Bianca to sit on the exam table. In silence, the nurse took Bianca’s blood pressure and other vitals, told her to relax, and left the room. Bianca scowled at her back as she retreated. I’ll relax when this is all over, she thought, wringing her hands.
Another twenty minutes passed before the doctor entered the exam room. By that point Bianca was wound so tight with agitation she felt like she would snap at the slightest movement.