Page 74 of The Way We Score

“Yes,” Liv answers. “Dr. Beck did the initial testing, but he referred us here for the ultrasound.”

“My nurse Arati will handle that, and we’ll meet up to discuss when you’re done.”

With a smile, he stands and walks out of the room, closing the door softly.

Liv’s head snaps to me, and she’s clearly pissed. “So what is his point? He just sits behind a desk and reads results?”

Yep, I know my girl pretty well. We won’t be seeing this guy again.

I don’t have a chance to answer when a pleasant young woman in pink scrubs enters the room.

“Hi, there, I’m Arati. I’ll be doing your ultrasound.” She takes out a half moon-shaped device. “I’ll just need to uncover your belly and apply some gel. We’ll move this over your stomach and see what we can see. Okay?”

Liv nods, moving the paper blanket aside, and I can tell by her cooperative smile, she likes this young nurse a lot better than that old doctor. I can’t say I disagree.

“I got this good and warm…” Arati squeezes blue gel onto Liv’s skin then rests the half-moon wand against her stomach.

The room immediately fills with a loud swishing sound like being underwater. A black-and-white image appears on the screen, and we both lean forward.

After a few seconds, the swishing turns rhythmic, and Arati’s calm voice cuts through the noise. “That’s your baby’s heartbeat.”

My chest tightens, and a knot forms in my throat. It’s a strong, rhythmic strumming, and when my eyes meet Liv’s, hers are watery.

“All I do is cry now,” she whisper-laughs.

Leaning closer, I take her hand in mine, kissing her knuckles. “It’s pretty damn incredible.”

What’s incredible is how in one moment, your entire life can change in the best possible way.

15

Olivia

We step out of the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream shop into the crisp fall air. I’m holding a cup of Cherry Garcia, and Garrett has an Americone Dream.

“I’m moving back to Newhope.” It’s the first thing I’ve said since we left Dr. Anderson’s office. “I need to be home now.”

Hearing the baby’s heartbeat then going to the doctor’s office and getting an estimated delivery date made it all seem very real, and I decided it was time to make the changes I’ve been turning over in my mind like pages in a book.

“How can I help?” Garrett doesn’t miss a beat.

Reaching out, I squeeze his arm. “I’ll hire movers, so it shouldn’t be a lot of work. I didn’t take much with me when I left Warner’s.”

“I’ll like you being at your mom’s better than at your tiny apartment.” He frowns, thinking about it. “Or would you get your own place in Newhope?”

“I’ll start off at Mom’s.”

Looking down, I stab my spoon into the ice cream, thinking about the things I’ve dreamed of doing and about changing course, what that would look like with a baby.

“What about being made partner?” Concern laces his tone, and I almost lean my head against his shoulder.

He’s being so good, so supportive. I hoped he would be this way, and having him actually do it, fly down here for the ultrasound, hold my hand the way he did… I’m pretty sure hearing that strong, determined heartbeat changed us both.

“I’m not interested in working for anyone now. I want to have my own practice.” I do a quick mental inventory of my open cases. “I can probably keep a lot of my clients, since I’m not leaving the state, but we’ll have to send a letter and give them the choice.”

He nods, lifting his eyebrows. “It sounds like you’ve been thinking about this a while.”

We’re at the car, and I stop, finally scooping out a bite of ice cream and putting it in my mouth. The sweet vanilla mixes with the chocolate covered cherries, and it’s so good.

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