Page 82 of Coming Up Roses

I pullinto the parking lot, only to find Cash ready and waiting for me, coffee in hand. This man—gah! “Well, hello, handsome. That for me?” I nod, gesturing toward the coffee.

“Sure is. I read online that caffeine can help the baby be more active during an ultrasound.” Oh. Oh, my heart.

“Well, look at you. All thoughtful.”

“Always for you, darlin’. Now let’s go. I’m ready to lay eyes on my boy.” Seriously, I must have done something awfully right in a past life to have this man here and now.

After jotting my name down on the sign-in sheet, Cash and I take a seat toward the back of the waiting room. We’re both anxious, all drumming fingers and tapping feet. Thankfully, we don’t wait long before my name is called.

The nurse leads us back to the ultrasound room and instructs me the same as last time—on the table, shirt lifted, waistband rolled down. Belinda squirts the warm gel onto my belly and starts expertly shifting the wand around.

“All right, here we go.” She moves the wand, applying pressure. “Ten little fingers. Ten toes.”

The whoosh of my bean’s heartbeat fills the room, and Cash sits up straighter. “Is that—”

“Yes, sir, that’s your baby’s heartbeat. A perfect one hundred and thirty beats per minute.”

“That’s not too fast?” The worry in his voice tugs on my heartstrings, reminding me that I’m keeping secrets from him.

“No, sir, his heartbeat is one hundred percent within a normal and healthy range.” Belinda continues about her measurements, but instead of watching the screen, I’m watching Cash. His cheeks are damp with happy tears.

“All right, Miss Myla, I have some images for you and Dad to take home. Dr. Mills—”

“I’m sorry, Doctor who?” Oh, Jesus. Guess I shoulda told Cash who my doctor is. Not that he’s anything like his wife or his son.

Belinda’s eyes dart between us uncomfortably. “As I was saying, Dr. Mills isn’t quite ready, so y’all can head back out to the waiting room. A nurse will call you.”

I grab Cash by the hand, tugging him along behind me, seating us as far away from other people as possible in the small space.

“Your doctor’s related to Taylor how, exactly?”

“Don’t get mad, okay?” His mouth is tight, but he nods. “Dr. Mills is his dad.”

“His dad? You have to be kidding me, Myla. Really?”

“But he’s so different from Kathy and Taylor, I swear it, Cash. I think he might love this baby too. I mean, he’s never outright said that. He’s never been anything but professional, but I just know it.” Reaching for his hand, I take a trembling breath. “I promise, babe, I wouldn’t come here otherwise. Trust me?” Those two little words almost make me puke, because why should he trust me? I’m a liar. He just doesn’t know it.

“I know. Fuck, I know. Just don’t like it. Can I come to the rest of your appointments?”

“Sure, if it’ll make you feel better.”

“It will. It so will.” His features return to normal, and he relaxes back into his chair. His easy trust in me has me feeling lower than the floor.

Fifteen minutes later, the nurse calls my name again, and we head back with her. “Sir, you can head on to the exam room, and as soon as your wife finishes with the nurse, she’ll join you.”

I’m about to correct her, but Cash just smiles and thanks her.

Five minutes later, I’m joining him in the exam room, and shortly after that, Dr. Mills is knocking on the door.

“Come on in.” He enters the room, seating himself on the swivel stool in front of his computer.

“Not alone today, I see, Ms. McGraw.”

“No sir, this is Cash Carson.”

His eyes widen at the name, and a barely-there smile graces his lips. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Carson. Glad to see someone’s looking after these two.” He clicks around my file for several minutes before standing. “Go on and lie back, and we’ll listen to little man’s heartbeat and double-check how he’s measuring.”

I follow his instructions, and he works in silence. Though it’s not an awkward silence like you’d expect, just a calm kind of quiet. “All right, Ms. McGraw, you’re measuring right on time. The girls at the desk will get your next appointment set up. Have a nice afternoon, and it was very nice meeting you, Mr. Carson.” And just like that, he’s out the door and on to his next patient.

---