Page 78 of If the Ring Fits

The nurse leads us into a brightly lit room filled with unfamiliar equipment. A large screen dominates one wall, and in the center stands the examination table, complete with stirrups that cause my stomach to clench. Are those comfortable? Will Rowena have to undress? Maybe it was a mistake to tag along, I don’t want to make her uncomfortable.

Rowena seems to sense my unease, giving my hand a last squeeze before letting go to greet the doctor. He’s younger than I expected, with a friendly smile and a firm handshake. “Ms. Taylor, great to see you again.” Turning to me, he adds, “I’m Dr. Raikes. And you must be the father-to-be?”

I start to correct him, but Rowena beats me to it. “This is Adrian, my…” She hesitates, glancing at me uncertainly.

“Partner,” I finish for her, the word feeling right as it leaves my mouth. “I’m her partner.”

Dr. Raikes nods, unfazed. “Nice to meet you, Adrian. Rowena if you could lie down and lift your shirt for me.”

As Rowena settles onto the bed, I hover nearby, unsure of my role. Dr. Raikes must notice my nervous energy because he gestures to a chair beside the bed. “Why don’t you have a seat right here? You’ll have a perfect view of the screen.”

As I sink into the chair, Rowena reaches for my hand again.

Dr. Raikes explains the NT scan procedure, his voice calm and reassuring. “We’ll be using ultrasound to measure the fluid at the back of the baby’s neck. This, along with a blood test, helps us assess the likelihood of certain chromosomal conditions.”

I nod, trying to take it all in, but my mind is racing. Chromosomal conditions? Risks. Today isn’t just a cute photoopportunity. It’s about the health and future of the baby. Of Rowena. Their lives could be crushed today—mine too.

As if sensing the direction of my thoughts, Rowena catches my eye, her gaze steady and sure. “It’s going to be okay,” she mouths silently. I’m supposed to be the one helping here, and instead, I’m the one needing encouragement.

I press my lips together, vowing to keep my cool and not become another thing she has to worry about.

Dr. Raikes squirts gel onto Rowena’s belly and she inhales sharply. I watch in fascination as the doctor places the probe on her skin, moving it in slow, deliberate strokes.

A grainy, black-and-white image flickers to life on the screen. I stare in awe at the curve of a head, the delicate arch of a spine. Tiny arms and legs, waving and kicking in the amniotic fluid. It’s a full body. Even if, at twelve weeks pregnant, Rowena told me this morning that the baby is only the size of a lime.

“There’s your baby.” Dr. Raikes points to the screen. “Looking nice and active.”

Rowena’s eyes are shining with tears as she stares at the monitor, transfixed. I swallow hard against the lump in my throat, overwhelmed by a dangerous need to claim both Rowena and the baby as my family.

Dr. Raikes takes measurements, the clicks of the keyboard punctuating the hushed reverence of the moment. I can’t tear my gaze away from the screen, from the life growing inside Rowena.

A life that has started to feel inextricably tied to mine.

Rowena’s grip on my hand tightens. I glance down to find her eyes trained on me, a tentative smile on her lips. “Pretty amazing, huh?”

“Amazing doesn’t even begin to cover it.” I lift our joinedhands to press a kiss to her knuckles. “Thank you for letting me be here.”

“Always,” Rowena replies, her voice hushed. There’s an unspoken promise in that single word, a future we’re tentatively circling around, like satellites unsure of the gravity that tugs at us. The idea of a forever doesn’t scare me anymore. But I have to earn it. A plan begins to form, but for now, I concentrate on the present.

Dr. Raikes’s voice is a soothing backdrop as he continues the scan, pointing out the baby’s features with a kind smile. “Would you like to hear the heartbeat?” he asks, glancing between us.

Rowena nods enthusiastically. “Yes, please.”

I lean in closer, our shoulders brushing as the doctor adjusts a dial, and suddenly, the room is filled with a rapid, rhythmic thumping sound.

Thump-thump-thump. Fast and strong, the heartbeat echoes in my ears, resonating deep in my chest.

A fresh wave of emotions slams into me: love, protectiveness, a fierce sense of belonging. It’s not my baby, not biologically, but in this moment, none of that matters. The only word pulsing in my mind is ‘mine.’ This precious life, this incredible woman—they’re mine to cherish, to protect… to love? Could I?

Tears slip down Rowena’s cheeks and I reach out instinctively, brushing them away with my thumb. She leans into my touch, her eyes never leaving the screen, and I press a tender kiss to her temple.

The heartbeat fades as Dr. Raikes turns off the machine, the sudden silence almost jarring. He hands Rowena some tissues to wipe away the ultrasound gel and I help her sit up, my arm around her shoulders.

“I’ll give you two a moment,” Dr. Raikes says kindly, stepping out of the room to compile the results.

As soon as he’s out, I gather Rowena into my arms, holding her close as she buries her face against my chest. I kiss her hair, my eyes stinging.

“That was… incredible,” I murmur, my voice rough. “You’re incredible.”

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