Page 59 of Agony of Our Regret

“She’s been going to and from the new school location every few weeks,” I replied. “We decided I shouldn’t, given my condition and the threats.”

“Good,” Noah agreed.

When we arrived at the doctor, I checked in and then sat between them in the lobby decorated in warm neutral tones and pictures of happy families, waiting for my name to be called.

My favorite thing about my doctor was that she was also a member of the Society, and no one in her practice batted an eye when I showed up with multiple men, or new ones in this case. I didn’t have to explain or come up with lies. They simply smiled and got on with the appointment.

“Avalon?” a smiling nurse called, as she held open the door.

She paused on our way back to take my weight before I followed her to the exam room. She went through the standard routine, checking my pulse and blood pressure while asking me questions.

When she was done, she sat in front of the computer. “There’s a note that you asked to move up your appointment. Did you have a specific concern?”

Noah put his hand on my knee as I nodded. “I’ve had some cramping and discomfort. I’m probably being overly cautious––”

“With your first pregnancy, it’s to be expected.” She smiled warmly. “You’re due for another ultrasound, so I’ll have the tech come in and take a look before Dr. Gracie sees you.”

“Thank you.”

She left us alone for only a few minutes before another woman came in.

“Good afternoon.” She grinned. “I’m Stacy. Go ahead and hop up here.” She patted the exam table.Each room I’d been in was painted a different shade of blue, this one closer to purple, but instead of the familiar charts and posters of the growing phases of babies, there were paintings of the female reproductive organs as flowers. It was an unexpected, but appreciated, distraction from the worry in my mind.

“Hi.” I stood and unbuttoned the top of my pants before lying back in the now familiar position. I pulled my shirt up to uncover my growing belly. Sky beamed, and Noah stared. It didn’t look much like I was pregnant yet, more like I had a big lunch, or was bloated from my period.

Stacy moved the ultrasound machine closer and drizzled the gel over my stomach before pressing the wand to my skin. She moved it around for a second before a loud swooshing filled the room.

Sky and Noah were on their feet, moving next to me while staring at the screen.

“That’s the baby’s heartbeat,” she announced.

“Wow,” Sky whispered.

Noah shook his head. “It’s incredible.”

My heart swelled. They were seeing our baby.

Shit.Our?

Was I letting them back in so quickly?

I wanted to.

Did they still have to prove themselves?

Vince should be here.

Double shit.

I had to stay strong with him. We had no future if he didn’t work through his demons.

Maybe by the next appointment, he could come.

“...and there is the left foot.”

I only caught the end of what Stacy was saying.The guys were frozen, staring at the screen and soaking in the images.

“We can try to see if we can tell the baby’s gender if you’d like?” She looked at me.

---