Page 46 of Sometimes You Fall

Her eyes whip back to mine, widening just as the doctor knocks on the door. “Is everyone decent?” she asks through the door before Scottie answers her with a squeaky reply.

“Yes. Come in.”

A woman who looks about the same age as my mom shuffles through the door, pushing her glasses up her nose before glancing at both of us. “Good afternoon, you two. How are we doing today?”

“Great,” I reply as Scottie says, “A little nauseous.”

The doctor laughs. “Well, that’s to be expected momma-to-be.” She casts her gaze to me, dropping her eyes down my entire body before looking away and clearing her throat.Yeah, I get that reaction from women a lot.“I’m Dr. Rivera, and I’m honored to be caring for you during your pregnancy.” She smiles at Scottie and then glances down at her chart, flipping the page over. “Now, it seems you’re about twelve weeks along?”

“Yes, based on my calculations,” Scottie answers.

Dr. Rivera’s eyes dart to me once more. “And I take it this is Dad?”

“No, I’m her brother,” I deadpan.

The doctor glares at me slightly just as Scottie smacks my arm. “Grady!”

Dr. Rivera chuckles and then sets the chart down on the counter before wheeling over a machine that has a small screen and attached keyboard sitting right underneath it with far too many buttons to make sense. “It’s okay. I appreciate sarcasm, but for the sake of Scottland and your unborn child, answering questions with honesty will allow me to give her the best care.”

“Noted. My apologies.”

Dr. Rivera does a few routine examinations, looking under the flimsy paper sheet covering Scottie’s legs, and for a moment, I’m jealous that she’s got a front-row seat to Scottie’s pussy right now.

Fuck, something is really wrong with me.

Once the doctor is finished examining her cervix, Scottie lifts her dress above the sheet to expose her stomach. Dr. Rivera squeezes clear gel onto Scottie’s skin and then takes a handheld device, moving along her abdomen as an image begins to form on the screen.

“Since you’re further along, we should be able to see something on an abdominal ultrasound.” She rubs the device around, clicking a few buttons until a white, kidney bean shape appears in the middle of the screen, followed by a rhythmic whooshing sound that fills the room and a flicker in the center of the figure.

“Is that…” I start to ask, but the words die on my tongue as the image of my child comes into view. I move closer to Scottie on the reclining bed, reaching for her hand instinctively as the sound of our child’s heartbeat echoes around us. “Holy shit.” I swear my heartbeat thrashes faster than the one on the monitor. I know how this all works but seeing and hearing it just makes this all more fucking real.

There’s a human—a tiny, fragile human growing inside the woman beside me. Suddenly, the world as I know it feels like it’s shifted, with Scottie and this little baby becoming the center of mine.

“Definitely twelve weeks,” Dr. Rivera says, taking snapshots as the image moves on the screen, pulling me back to reality. Our baby puts on a show, kicking and wiggling, making Scottie laugh.

“Already full of energy,” she murmurs, garnering my attention. When my eyes find her face, her eyes are full of moisture. I squeeze her hand, forcing her to look at me.

“That’s our baby, Scottie.”

Her smile is small, but it’s there. “I know.” Our eyes lock, and I’m held captive and speechless, forgetting we aren’t alone until the doctor speaks, breaking the trance.

“Everything looks great, Scottland. Measurements are right on track. Your due date appears to be around September thirteenth.” The sound of a printer fills the room as the doctor extracts a few pictures from the bottom of the machine and hands them to Scottie. “Here’s a keepsake. You’re doing a fantastic job growing that baby. Just keep up with your bloodwork, try to get in movement and plenty of water, and rest when you can. You are older now than during your last pregnancy, and while I wouldn’t classify you as high risk, your body is going to react differently with age, so just be prepared for that.”

“What about gestational diabetes?” I chime in before Scottie can say anything. “I know the risk increases with age.”

Dr. Rivera’s eyes flick over to mine as she takes her gloves off. “As long as Scottie eats a balanced diet, she should be fine. Routine blood work will let us know if there’s cause for concern.”

Scottie glares at me, but I don’t give a shit. I have a right to ask questions too. “Thank you.”

The doctor grabs the chart and makes a few notes before moving to the door. “You’re welcome. I’ll see you back in about four weeks. Take care, you two.”

She leaves the room and Scottie turns to me once more. “I take it you’ve been reading?”

“I’m on book number two, Scottie,” I reply, holding up two fingers. “I told you, I’m in this.”

She gestures for me to turn around so she can get dressed again, and I oblige, even though I think it’s bullshit. But one obstacle at a time. “I appreciate the concern, Grady, but…”

“But nothing, Scottie. You and this baby are my responsibility now,” I grate out, trying to keep my composure, though my pulse is thundering in my ears. Seeing my baby just now caused something in me to snap.

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