Page 10 of His to Keep

Whitney tilted her head, observing me. “Nah, they told me it could wait until next appointment. That’s the big one where they look at all the body parts.”

I nodded, my chest humming with warmth as I mentally added that to my list of ‘things I have to make sure I do before I told her the truth’. The list was really fucking long.

The doctor bustled in a moment later, a short, stocky man who quickly focused in on Whitney, asking her a list of questions, chatting about what was coming next. And then finally, he asked her to lie back. “Just the heartbeat” he said, pulling out a small doppler and reaching out to help Whitney lie back.

He missed, though, since I’d moved immediately, her hands soft as I laid her back. I noticed again that her shirt was a little tight, and I wondered briefly if she was avoiding maternity clothes or just hadn’t thought of it yet.

Pleasure at the realization that my baby was growing right there, just a few inches from my hands, pressing out against her skin, made me bite back a smile. She was going to be beautiful with her big belly.

I hoped she embraced it. If she was really mine, I’d be begging on a regular basis for more babies.

She obviously didn’t understand my train of thoughts, because as she released my hand, I saw her fingers nervously bunching around her shirt as he prepped the doppler and turned it on. I mentally added to my list to make sure that after everything, I would make sure she understood that she was stunning like this.

A real man loved his woman in all her forms.

I would worship her in this one, just as I would’ve when I met her, flat belly or big.

The doppler spread across her skin, and for a moment, everything in the room froze. I was expecting the soft heart, the one that the technicians had emailed me after the first ultrasound. But instead, just static.

I was patient, not realizing anything was wrong until the doctor cast a wary look at Whitney. “Roll over a little, Ms. Bryant. Baby might be hiding today.”

Might.

Something ice cold swept over my chest. This was not what I expected. Distantly I knew that sometimes babies hid from the little dopplers, but that didn’t stop my heart from skipping a beat. Whitney moved a little, shifting her weight as she stared up at the doctor.

More static.

“Um…Dr. Kelsey?”

“I’m having problems finding the baby’s heartbeat.” He paused, glancing at the doppler once more. “Perhaps I’ll consult Dr. Taki. Can you wait here?”

The short man shuffled away, his face emotionless.

“Gates?” Long, soft fingers wound through mine again. “What’s going on?”

I growled, and the doctor paused as he reached the door. “You are scaring her,” I said. “If you can’t find the heartbeat like this, we would like an ultrasound done.”

Dr. Kelsey looked between us. “An ultrasound?”

“Now,” I practically snarled at the man, who ducked out into the hall.

“Where is he going?”

“Either to call security to kick us out or to get an ultrasound ready.”

“I hope it’s the second one.”

I rolled my shoulders, feeling the clench in her fingers as I slowly sat her up again. “If it’s the first, that’s fine. There are a thousand doctors in town who would gladly look at your baby for us.”

I reached over to grab a paper towel and, without thinking, leaned in and wiped the ultrasound gel from her belly. The firmness surprised me, but a bolt of pleasure struck, even in this moment. Because I was touching not just her, but also my child.

I loved this baby; I’d been obsessing over them since the moment they were created. Now I was finally allowed the chance to come along with the journey.

The nurse from earlier popped her head back in. “Hello again, Ms. Bryant. The ultrasound technician has time now. Let’s take a look at your baby.”

Relief swept over me, and I was sure I wasn’t the only one. Whitney gripped my arm, and I tugged her back to her feet. After a short walk, we were draped in darkness as a kind-faced technician swept an ultrasound device over Whitney’s belly once more.

This time, I didn’t even bother dropping her hand. Instead, I dropped into the designated “Dad” spot by her shoulder and let my thumb sweep back and forth across her hand.

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