79 The Divide

Amy set the test strip on the bathroom counter. She brushed her teeth and her hair while she waited. She glanced down and saw the two pink lines staring back at her. Pregnant! She and Calvin were having a baby!

She was so excited that she couldn't wait to tell Calvin. She took special care while dressing. She felt like a special occasion deserved extra effort.

She went downstairs and Auntie Ellen, their cook, told her breakfast was ready.

"Thank you, Auntie! I'll eat it on the way!" Amy grabbed the egg wrapped pancake and rushed out to her car. Her driver took her to the company. Calvin still hadn't let her return to work yet.

"As your husband and your boss, I want you to stay home and rest awhile. I can afford to raise you, you know." He had told her.

She took the elevator to the familiar floor.

"The President is in the boardroom preparing for a meeting with several departments." His secretary told her.

She hurried to the boardroom, hoping to catch him before the meeting started. She rushed in and froze.

Oh my gosh, she thought. He must have started early, because instead of finding him alone, a room full of employees were staring at her with curiosity and surprise.

Calvin stood at the front of the room at his podium. He, too, was staring at her.

"Amy, is everything okay?" He asked kindly.

"I'm so sorry! I thought I was catching you before the meeting started!" She told him and started to back out of the room.

"It's alright. Come in. Tell me what made you rush over here. Did something happen?" He asked her, as though at least seventy-five people weren't watching them with fascinated interest. Their CEO was usually a man of mystery. This was rare indeed.

"Um, it can wait. Until you're finished." She felt awkward.

"Nonsense. Come sit by me and tell me what's on your mind." He instructed her. He may not want her working yet, but he was always excited to see her. She approached him, and when she stood directly beside him she whispered in his ear, "I'm pregnant."

"You are? Really?" He asked.

"Are you pleased?" She asked hesitantly, suddenly afraid.

He pulled her into a gentle hug and kissed her tenderly.

"I'm thrilled! I'm so happy. You've made me so happy!" He was almost giddy.

"Everyone! My wife is pregnant! We're having a baby!" Calvin shouted to everyone in the meeting.

The room erupted into cheers and applause. Amy buried her face in Calvin's chest, embarrassed about all the extra attention.

He had her sit with him for the duration of the meeting and when it was finished, he insisted on taking her to the hospital for a maternity check up.

"Amy Zhou? Come with me." A nurse led them to a room for an ultrasound. The doctor glided the wand across her flat stomach and smiled as a grainy image appeared on the screen.

"Looks like you're close to five weeks. Baby seems to be developing well." The doctor told them. Then she glanced at Amy's medical records.

"Wait...have you had recent heart surgery?" The doctor asked.

"Yes, about three months ago." Amy said.

"And you plan to keep the pregnancy?" The doctor asked.

"Yes!" Amy said.

"Should we?" Calvin said at the same time.

"Your heart no longer functions at full capacity according to your records. If you continue the pregnancy there are risks to you and your baby. You'll need a team with a cardiologist and obstetrician working together to keep you both as safe as possible." The doctor explained.

"We can terminate." Calvin said.

"What? No! I won't do it!" Amy shouted at him.

"Amy, it's alright. We don't have to have baby. I've already raised two." Calvin said.

"Well I haven't!" She yelled.

"We can adopt." Calvin reasoned.

"No! I won't kill our baby!" Amy insisted.

"Amy, I won't allow you to risk your life like this." Calvin said sternly.

"It's not your choice to make. It's my body, and I want this baby! You can't stop me from having it!" Amy shouted, wrapping her arms around her belly as though protecting it.

"Mr. and Mrs. Zhou, I encourage you both to speak with your cardiologist and then come to a decision.

Amy came off the table and glared at both of them.

"I don't care what anyone says, I'm having my baby. That's it." She stormed out of the room and headed toward the exit, not waiting for Calvin.