Page 62 of Upon an April Night

“It’s an orange now?” Duncan asked.

“Yep! Fifteen weeks is the size of a navel orange.”

He grinned as he reached over and lay his hand on Jamie’s midriff. “I like that.”

Butterflies flitted every which way in her stomach. It was the first time he had touched her there since that night.

Their eyes locked, and she swallowed hard.

The door opened then, and Duncan took back his hand.

“Hi there,” the doctor said. “How are we feeling today?”

“Fine,” Jamie replied.

“Let’s have you hop up onto the table and lie down, and we’ll give baby’s heart a listen.”

Jamie did as the doctor requested, and he squirted a warm gel onto her abdomen and proceeded to press a fetal doppler against the area until a steady whooshing sound filled the room.

“There we have it,” the doctor announced. “147. Nice and strong.”

Duncan stood and moved to stand beside Jamie, his eyes filled with wonder. “That’s the baby’s heartbeat?”

“Yes, it is,” the doctor replied.

Jamie reached for Duncan’s hand just as he reached for hers, and they held on tightly.

“Oh my gosh,” Duncan said. “That’s so fast. Is it supposed to be that fast?”

“Completely normal,” the doctor explained. “A good range, and exactly where we want it to be at this point in the pregnancy.”

Jamie didn’t hide the tears that had welled up and were now spilling down her cheeks.

The doctor continued with routine questions and measured Jamie’s belly. “Everything’s right on track, Jamie. We’ll get your ultrasound set up to see how the baby is developing, and we’ll see you back here in a month.”

“Okay, thank you.”

The doctor shook Duncan’s hand on his way out. “Congratulations.”

“Thank you. Oh, hey, one more thing,” Duncan said before the doctor left the room.

“Yes?” He looked back from the doorway.

“Is it okay for her to drink coffee while pregnant?”

“A cup of coffee is okay on occasion,” he told Jamie, “but make sure you’re drinking plenty of water too.”

“Of course,” she said.

“Thanks,” Duncan said.

When the doctor left the room, Jamie started laughing. “Now, to find a way for me to get free coffee from you.”

“That won’t be happening,” he replied.

“We’ll see about that.”

Duncan walked Jamie to her car after the appointment, and they stopped by her door. She wasn’t sure whether to hug him or just get in, but then she remembered something.

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