Page 31 of Coming Up Roses

Myla Rose

Today’s the day—mysixteen-week appointment, and hopefully, I’ll get to find out if I’m having a boy or a girl. I should be overflowing with excitement, but my attitude is still a bit sour from how last weekend ended.

I know I need to move on and get over it. The fact that I care, that I’ve been stewing over it for this damn long, really irks me.

According to the girls, I’ve been a straight-up bitch. As far as Seraphine goes, I've chalked it up to hormones. No reason to have both of them on my case about my knickers being in a knot over Cash Carson.

I mean, Lord have mercy, who does he think he is, flirting with me and kissing me like that when he's not really interested? Men are nothing but jerks, all of them.

Though, if I’m honest, it’s all too easy to get caught up in him. With the way he says all the right things—you know, aside from apologizing after our kiss—and the feel of his strong arms around me, with his lips hot on mine and his all-male scent swirling around me like a haze. It’s a lethal combination, one that had those foolish thoughts of mine flaring right back to life.

Well, no thank you. I’m gonna stick those thoughts right back up on the shelf, where they belong. He made me feel like a damn fool after our kiss, cementing the fact that those feelings were clearly one-sided.

* * *

"Myla Rose McGraw.”The nurse calls my name.

Gathering up my purse, I head over to where she’s waiting. “Yes, ma’am, that’s me.”

“How are you today, dear?” she inquires as she escorts me to the ultrasound room.

“I’m doin’ fine—excited for this appointment!”

“I bet you are. Go ahead and hop up on the table and lift your top. The ultrasound tech should be joining us any minute.”

I do as she tells me, and sure enough, by the time I’m comfy, the tech is here and ready to get started.

She has kind blue eyes and introduces herself as Belinda. After squirting some of the warm gel onto my stomach, she begins pushing around the wand, making notes and taking measurements as she goes.

“Are you finding out the gender today?”

“Yes, ma’am.” My voice comes out a bit louder than this small space calls for. “I would love to know.”

“All right, let’s see what we have here then.” She begins to move the wand and press on my abdomen. This goes on for what feels like an eternity, and I’m quickly losing hope that I’ll find out today. I’m working on firming up my resolve to wait another month to find out when she blurts out, “It’s a boy!”

She shows me on the screen, and goodness gracious, is she right. My little man is showing it all off, proud as a peacock. I’m overcome with emotion, tears of joy streaming down my face. I’m getting my little prince after all. I’m so high on cloud nine, nothing can bring me down.

“Are you okay, sweetheart?” Belinda asks, softly giving my arm a little squeeze.

“Oh! Yes, ma’am, I’m just so-so-so happy.”

“Oh, good. I hate seeing mothers disappointed. A healthy baby is the real goal here." She smiles before telling me that I can head back out to the waiting room because Dr. Mills isn't quite ready for me.

Back in my chair, I flip through the ultrasound images Belinda gave me before digging my phone out of my purse to call Azalea with the news. Lord knows, she’ll kill me if she isn’t the first to know.

“It’s a beautiful day at Southern Roots! This is Seraphine, how may I assist you today?” Her creative greetings always amuse me.

“Well, hello there, Seraphine. Is Azalea with a client?”

“Myla Rose! Did you find out? Do you know? Hang on, I’ll go grab her!” I hear her drop the phone to the desk without putting me on hold, and within a few seconds, they are both yelling into the receiver. “Myla, we put you on speaker. Now, did you find out? Do you know?”

“I do.” I let my words linger.

“Are you gonna tell us?” AzzyJo barks.

“Yup.” I keep on with the short answers just to ruffle her feathers.

“Myla Rose, you tell us right this instant, or I’ll—” her threat is cut off by the nurse calling me back to finish the rest of my appointment.

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