Page 19 of Unbound

“Three brothers, one sister. They’re all in Texas.”

“And they know about us and the baby?”

“Yeah, they know.”

“And they’re not mad at you for marrying a random stranger?”

He shrugs. “No. Why would they be mad?”

“I don’t know. It’s a little crazy to marry a girl you just met so she can get insurance and house-sit for you?”

“My family isn’t like that. We’re all a little crazy in different ways. They know I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t have a good reason. They would’ve been mad if I’d just left you there or kicked you to the curb. Plus, I’m eating fresh bread and incredible salmon instead of microwaved shit.”

“You like it?”

He leans closer to me. “This is the best thing I’ve ever tasted in my entire life.”

A tinge of awareness runs up my spine. I don’t know why, but the way he looks at me heats my core from the inside out.

7

STERLING

The paper on the exam table crinkles underneath her. I’m tapping my foot, staring at the posters on the wall that depict the uterus.

Eden’s new doctor is late.

She seemed surprised when I told her I was going to come with her to the appointment. I’m honestly not sure why I wanted to. It just felt like the right thing to do. She shouldn’t have to be alone for this.

Finally, the door opens, and a gray-haired man in a white coat walks in. He smiles at Eden and shakes her hand before turning to me.

“I’m Dr. Shiner. Great to meet you.”

I shake his hand firmly. “Sterling. The pretty one is Eden.”

“Good-looking couple,” he says.

A nurse follows in behind him.

“This is Sandra. She’ll be doing your ultrasound to confirm the pregnancy and make sure we have a heartbeat and all that good stuff. Is this your first?”

Eden nods. Her face is pale, and she’s clenching her fists. I wonder if I should go stand beside her and hold her hand, but the nurse is setting up the ultrasound machine, and there’s not much space.

“Lie back, honey. Lift your shirt up,” Sandra says. She turns to me with a smile. “Come closer, Dad. Plenty of room over here.”

Eden and I stare at each other, but neither of us bothers correcting her. I step up to the exam table next to Eden, reaching out to grab her hand. She squeezes it tightly. The nurse squirts clear lube on her belly. This is the first time I’ve seen her bare stomach, and there is a small bump starting to form.

“Any questions or concerns? Fire away,” Dr. Shiner says.

I wait for Eden to speak up, but she simply stares at the monitor. She looks too overwhelmed to speak right now, like this is all becoming very real. Sandra starts rubbing something that looks like a remote with a cord attached to it over Eden’s stomach.

“She’s taking a prenatal vitamin. We go on a walk every day. She isn’t throwing up as much as she was, but she’s still feeling sick sometimes.”

The ultrasound machine has a blurry black-and-white circle on it. Eden squeezes my hand tighter when a steady thumping fills the room.

“Hey, there’s the little guy. The heartbeat sounds strong.” The doctor is making notes on his clipboard.

Eden and I watch as the bubble on the screen becomes more of a clear shape with a head and body. My throat dries up when I see the outline of a tiny hand wiggling around. I look down at Eden. A tear slips out of the corner of her eye.