Page 57 of Single Chance

My heart was racing. My bladder was so full I was afraid I was going to embarrass myself, but that thought disappeared the second the screen filled with unidentifiable black and white blobs. I knew enough to understand I wouldn’t be able to recognize a tiny human-shaped fetus yet, but that didn’t preventme from tensing up as I waited for the tech to give some indication of what we were looking at.

“What can you tell us?” Chance asked, speaking my thoughts aloud.

The tech was quiet for a few seconds as the images shifted. I held my breath and squeezed the hell out of Chance’s hand.

“There’s the fetus,” the tech said, and I exhaled audibly even though I couldn’t tell exactly what we were seeing. She pointed to a tiny blob on the screen. “Everything looks intact so far. I’m going to measure it to see how we’re doing for growth.”

I kept my eyes locked on the screen even though I couldn’t tell much about what she was doing. I couldn’t help noticing Chance’s gentle fingers brushing my hair away from my face. I wasn’t sure he realized he did it, but it calmed me.

A short knock sounded on the door. Then it opened a crack, and Dr. Shah poked her head in. She seemed to study the screen across the room for a couple seconds, then smiled. Somehow that smile reassured me even more.

“Do you mind if I come see?” she asked.

“The more the merrier,” Janie said. “Measurements are exactly where they should be.”

“Look at your little bean growing in there,” Dr. Shah said as she came up to Chance’s side.

For the next couple of minutes, Janie pointed out parts of the fetus—little buds that would become limbs, the head, the black areas in it that would become the brain.

I kept my emotions under lock and key, waiting, breathing shallowly, just in case. I was afraid to jump to any happy conclusions prematurely. Maybe they could still spot a problem?

“There’s that tiny heart,” Dr. Shah said with awe in her voice.

I studied the screen, unsure where to look until Janie pointed out an area where the white seemed to pulse.

My mouth fell open as I tried to comprehend how that minuscule little pulsing would become a full-fledged human heart. The entire fetus was the size of a blueberry, but that little speck was beating away right before our eyes.

My eyes were brimming with tears, I realized. I could barely comprehend this moment and how significant it was.

Before I was ready, the screen went dark, and the viewing session ended.

“Everything looks good, Rowan,” Dr. Shah said, her eyes sparkling, giving me confidence. “The body is a wondrous thing.”

“Thanks for coming in,” I said, knowing that wasn’t the norm. She and I had been through a lot together. She’d known me for more than half my life.

“I wouldn’t miss it.” She glanced at Chance, who we’d told her was the father without explaining our relationship, or lack of one. “I’m really happy for you two. Breathe easy, rest a lot, and give yourself a break whenever you need it.”

I nodded and thanked her again.

When I was alone, I quickly got dressed, then opened the door. Chance had waited outside, and he stepped into the room and enfolded me in his arms before I knew what was happening.

I wound my arms around him, closed my eyes, breathed him in. Soaked in the moment, the comfort, the sense that we were in this together. Partners in the most incredible, unimaginable journey.

My friends were supportive, but there was nobody else on this road with us in exactly the same way. We’d created a child together, and the two of us alone were responsible for…everything.

“Thank you,” I said into his strong, comforting chest.

He let out a quiet chuckle. “For what? I didn’t do anything.”

“For being here.”

He kissed the top of my head, his arms still around me. “Of course, Rowan.”

For how haphazardly we’d found each other on New Year’s Eve, he was turning out to be a caring, kind man. I felt incredibly lucky because I knew, from personal experience and from listening to the single teachers I used to work with, the planet was crawling with assholes and jerks.

Chloe’s words to describe Chance echoed through my head.Solid. Not hard to look at. Beyond that, I knew he was a loving father, even if he and Sam were somewhat disconnected currently. He was generous, unselfish, and smart as hell at his job as well.

Was I attracted to him? Hell to the yes. Even now, as we held on to each other, my blood hummed with desire.

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