Page 57 of Penn

He parks and holds my hand as we walk into the clinic. The waiting room is half full after we’ve checked in, and he helps me ease into the oversized chair.

“The perks of being at an OB/GYN office is the larger chairs,” I say.

“A lot more comfortable, too,” he says, his voice quiet as we get looks from the others in the room.

The biker and the pregnant woman. Apparently, they assume they just knock women up and leave them to handle everything on their own.

Except he didn’t knock me up.

But he’s not letting me do this on my own.

“Dixie Knapp?” a nurse calls out.

We stand together, and we’re led into a small exam room. Penn helps me onto the table even though I don’t need the assistance, and I let him because I know how much he wants to feel helpful. The paper crinkles underneath me as I lean back, and he pulls the chair close to hold my hand.

Dr. Alvarez comes in a few minutes later, and he’s all smiles. Normally, I show up alone, and I haven’t mentioned anything about the father. I know he’s making assumptions, and when he says them aloud, I’ll correct him.

“How are we feeling?” he asks, pulling up my chart on the computer.

“Nervous,” I admit. “But excited. We’re getting closer to the finish line, but it’s a little scary.”

“I’d be concerned if you weren’t feeling that way. Now, let’s check out this little one.”

Lifting my shirt, I brace for the cold gel. He runs the wand over my belly, and I flinch. “So cold.”

“I’m sorry,” he says.

Penn’s hand tightens around mine, and the machine shows the outline of a baby on the grainy black-and-white screen. When I look over, he’s staring at it like he’s watching the final inning of the World Series on TV.

“Here’s the head,” Dr. Alvarez says. “And the spine. Looks good. Strong heartbeat.”

“I know I wanted to wait, but can you tell the gender?” I ask.

Up until now, I wanted to be surprised. But ever since Penn said he thinks it’s a boy, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. My gut told me it was a girl, but now I don’t think so. I think he might be right.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

He moves the wand, and he studies the screen with professional concentration. “Looks like we’re having a… boy.”

The words land somewhere in my chest as I spiral a bit. A boy. Penn squeezes my hand, and I look at him as I’m at a loss for words. His eyes are bright in a way that makes my throat constrict. He looks so happy. And he doesn’t say anything. He just lifts my hand to his mouth and kisses it.

“A boy,” I finally say.

The baby moves, and I want to believe he knows we’re talking about him. And then I feel the familiar kick against my bladder. Such a sweet boy.

“Everything looks healthy,” Dr. Alvarez says. “We’ll get you set up for your next appointment, and you can start the fun task of thinking of names.”

Names. Holy shit. I have to come up with a name.

“We’ll figure it out,” Penn says. “I have a few ideas.”

“I’m sure you do,” I say with a laugh.

“Do you have any questions?” Dr. Alvarez asks. “Either of you. Dad, feel free to speak up.”

I’m about to explain that Penn isn’t the father, but he jumps in. “I know I haven’t been to any appointments until now, but is there anything I need to be looking out for? Any changes that indicate something’s wrong?”