Page 60 of Losing Hope

“Come this way, Mr. Flynn.” The tech pointed to the table beside the bed. “You’ll be able to see the screen from there.”

He moved over and clutched Hope’s hand in his. She was surprised to feel it was clammy and cold. She squeezed it gently and looked up at him. “Hey, youokay?”

He nodded down at her. “Excited.”

“Okay, this might be a little cold.” The tech had lifted her shirt and was squirting light blue gel onto her belly. She placed a white tool onto the goo and started sliding it around. All of a sudden, through the static, they could hear quick thumping.

“That’s the heartbeat,” the tech said, smiling as she looked up at them. “It’s nice and strong. It’s right at a hundred-thirty beats a minute.”

“Is that good?” Concern laced Gage’s voice.

The tech smiled at him. “That’s verygood.”

Hope looked up at him, beaming. The tech pointed out the actual heart and took measurements of the baby’s body, head, and spine, again noting everything looked perfect. “It looks like you are nineteen weeks along, making conception right around the beginning of October. Do you want to know thesex?”

“Yes!” Hope and Gage both answered in unison, causing the tech to laugh.

“It makes it easier when parents agree. You’d be surprised how many don’t.” She swirled the instrument around on Hope’s tummy for a moment and then stopped. She pointed to an area on the screen that, quite frankly, just looked like a v shape to her and smiled.

“You’re having a daughter.”

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