Page 79 of Upon an April Night

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

The guilt and shame struck him again, and he closed the Bible and went back to bed.

Chapter 31

This was the day. The day Jamie would learn whether she was carrying a boy or a girl. All morning, she’d been jittery and anxious to see the baby on screen again.

Normally, any day she got to see Duncan was a good day, but she still wasn’t happy with him about Max or Denver. So when she opened the door to head to her appointment and saw him walking up the sidewalk, she was taken aback. “I thought we were meeting at the hospital.”

“I thought we’d go together. Is that okay?”

“I guess.” Her answer was clipped as she locked the door, then turned to face him, only to discover him standing in her personal space. He smelled so good, and she angled past him before she did something foolish, like lean in and inhale his scent.

“We can take my car.” He rushed ahead and opened the door for her, which would’ve been sweet if she wasn’t still annoyed. Duncan wasn’t hers and never would be, so she knew she shouldn’t get used to this special treatment.

On the drive to the hospital, Duncan chattered nervously, talking about his latest design job, mostly, and she let him talk, because her bladder was full for the ultrasound, and his random story was working as a distraction.

“You’re quiet,” he stated. “Are you still mad at me for asking you to move to Denver?”

“Yes, but that’s not why I’m quiet. I have to go to the bathroom really bad.”

He chuckled. “We’ll be there soon. You can go before the appointment.”

“No, I need a full bladder for the ultrasound.”

“Oh. I didn’t know.”

“I feel like I might pee my pants.”

He laughed at that.

“I’m not joking. Not even a little.”

“Don’t pee on my seat.”

“Don’t make me laugh,” she snapped, “or I will.”

A few quiet beats passed between them.

“You know I want to know my baby, right? And I want the baby to know me. That’s why I asked you to move. I don’t want to miss out on things.”

His words warmed her heart, but there was no easy solution. “We’ll have to send each other videos and figure out a visitation schedule that works.”

“This is just … really hard.” His fingers tightened on the steering wheel.

“I know it is. We should pray about it. I’m sure God has a better plan than we could come up with anyway.”

He didn’t respond to that.

When they parked at the hospital, he jumped out and rounded the vehicle to help her out. “Do you need a wheelchair?”

Jamie raised an eyebrow at him. “Seriously? I have to pee. I didn’t lose my ability to walk.”

“Don’t pregnant women get wheeled into the hospital?”

“I’m not in labor, Duncan.” Jamie winced. “Oh, stop making me laugh.”

“Just trying to be helpful.”

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