A few weeks later, Jake got a message from Gloria’s doctor.  “Hello, I’m calling to confirm an appointment for Miss Gloria McCallister, for tomorrow at 10 am,” the voice said. 

Why was Gloria’s doctor calling him to confirm her appointment, unless Gloria had given the doc his phone number?  But Gloria had been gone for six weeks already.  When had this appointment been made?    Jake decided to go to the appointment the next day to find out more.

“Hi, I’m here to see Miss McAllister’s doctor,” Jake told the receptionist.

“Do you have an appointment?” the receptionist asked.

“I don’t but Miss Gloria McCallister does for today at 10 am,” Jake said matter of fact.

The receptionist raised her eyebrows.  “You’re here in her place?”

“Look, I’m her boyfriend and she couldn’t’ make it today.  I would still like to see her doctor and talk to her though,” Jake said.

“I’m sorry, we can’t allow that because of doctor-patient confidentiality,” the receptionist said.

“I just want to ask her doctor a few questions.  Isn’t there any way I can do that?” Jake pleaded.

The receptionist looked at him and said, “If she filled out a form to be able to share her medical information with you then yes,” she said.

“Can you check? Jake asked impatiently.

“What was your name again?” she asked.

“Jake Wilder,” he spat out.

“Just a moment.”

Jake prayed that Gloria had filled out the so-called form.

The receptionist turned back to Jake and looked up at him.  “Yes,” she said.  “She filled out a form allowing us to share her medical information with you.  Please wait a moment while I inform her doctor.”

Jake breathed in a sigh of relief.  He waited for what seemed like an eternity before they called his name.  Finally, the nurse led him back to the doctor’s office.

“Hello, Mr. Wilder.  I’m Doctor Smith.  Please have a seat,” she motioned for Jake to sit down.  “I hope everything is fine with Miss McCallister.  How can I help you?”

“I wanted to ask you what Gloria was seeing you for?” Jake asked.

Dr. Smith raised her eyebrows.  She cleared her throat and said, “She was scheduled to have an ultrasound done.”

“An ultrasound?” Jake repeated.  “For what?”

Dr. Smith looked at Jake curiously.  “She hasn’t told you?   I assume you’re the father?”  She said without waiting for a response.

“Gloria is pregnant?”

  Dr. Smith raised her brows.  “She was here to have an ultrasound of the baby to get measurements and other information to better accurately tell when her due date will be,” Dr. Smith told him

Jake’s face went white.  Is Gloria pregnant?  Oh God, he thought.  Gloria was having his baby.  What must have been going through her mind?  He was ecstatic but deathly afraid at the same time.  Gloria would not take off to some unknown place while pregnant without letting anyone know of her whereabouts.

Jake left the doctor’s office with a heavy heart.  He was excited about having a baby but scared to death for Gloria’s safety.  He had to find her.  Some way somehow he had to.  When he did find her, he would marry her and they would have their baby and many more, he thought to himself.

Weeks, then months passed, and still no sign of Gloria.  Eventually, Jake quit his job at the university and moved out of his apartment.  He couldn’t stay there anymore.  Everything there reminded him of Gloria.  Where could she be?  He hated the idea of Gloria being out there alone and pregnant.  He prayed every day that she would come back to him.

Jake eventually finalized his divorce with Giselle after a long battle.  He had to concede and give her more of what she wanted but in the end, it was worth it to get her out of his life for good.

As the years passed, Jake slowly came to terms with Gloria not returning.  She was gone.  He had to accept it.  She probably hated him for not telling her about Giselle.  He hoped that she and the baby were safe and doing well wherever they were. 

Eventually, Jake had to stop thinking about Gloria in order to function.  He ended up moving to Seattle and getting a new job as a grade-school teacher.   He just couldn’t go back to teaching at the college level.  Everything about the college scene reminded him of Gloria and he just couldn’t handle it.

Slowly, Jake began to settle into life in Seattle.  He liked his job as a 3rd-grade teacher.  Working with kids was uplifting and made him smile.  Their natural curiosity about the world and energy level gave him something to look forward to every day he was teaching.

Next Chapter: Chapter Ten - Stephanie