Page 46 of Guarded from Treachery

As we make our way into the hospital, I keep her close to my side, my free hand resting on the gun inside my shirt. We wouldn’t normally be allowed to carry inside a hospital, but after some quick work hacking into the hospital computer system, I was able to get written authorization that will let us keep our weapons on us.

Once we’re through security, we stand off to the side waiting for Erik to join us. Isla is still squeezed up against me, clutching my hand. Her breath comes rapidly, and when I glance down at her, I can see her pulse fluttering in her neck.

“Matt?” It’s almost a whisper. Her teeth dig into her lower lip as she looks up at me. “I was wondering—” She stops. Shakes her head. “Nevermind.”

“What, honey?”

“Well… I was wondering if…” She pauses. Then in a rush, the rest spills out. “Would you go into the exam room with me? Like before? Unless you don’t want to?”

I don’t hesitate. “Of course I will. If you—” Guilt slams into me again. “Are you sure?”

She nods quickly. “I’m sure.”

Which is how I end up standing beside Isla thirty minutes later as a doctor spreads a clear gel across Isla’s belly. And while I know I shouldn’t think about Isla’s body at a time like this, it’s hard not to. Not when I’m looking at her creamy skin and her sweet little bellybutton and the tiny tattoo of a dove on her hip. It’s not that I haven’t seen her skin before—it’s early fall in Texas, which means shorts and dresses are pretty much all Isla wears. But this is different. This is a part of her body she doesn’t show to everyone.

And she’s trusting me. Not Rhiannon or Erik, but me.

I can’t let her down again.

“Okay,” the doctor says. “I’m just going to use this wand?—”

“A transducer?” I ask.

The doctor glances at me, a surprised smile curving her lips. “So the dad’s been doing his research, huh?”

My ears go hot. “I just wanted?—”

“Matt likes to learn about everything,” Isla interjects. She gives me an affectionate look. “He’s always researching stuff. Any time I have a question, he finds me the answer.”

Oh.

My heart flips over.

There’s no judgment in her tone. Just pride.

“Well, you’re lucky,” replies the doctor. “To have a partner that’s so involved.” She takes the wand—the transducer—and starts to move it across Isla’s belly.

Isla goes pink. Flustered, she starts, “Well, he’s?—”

But I interrupt her as I say, “I just want to know everything. So I can make sure Isla’s healthy. And she’s getting the best care.”

Yes, I know I could have let Isla tell the doctor the truth. That I’m not the partner, or even the father. But I don’t want to.

“Oh, look,” the doctor says. She moves the wand until a little humming sound is audible. After a beat, she adds with a bright smile, “It’s the baby’s heartbeat. Nice and strong.”

For a moment, that’s all we can hear in the room. The soft fluttering of the baby’s heart, still strong after everything.

Isla covers her mouth with her hand. Tears spring to her eyes. With a hint of wonder in her voice, she asks, “That’s my baby’s heartbeat? She’s really okay?”

“Yes.” The doctor pats Isla on the shoulder. “Everything looks normal. Two arms and legs, tiny fingers and toes, and a sweet little face. See?” She tilts the ultrasound monitor so Isla can see better. “And your baby looks to be about eleven weeks along. It’s a little too early to tell the sex reliably, but in another few weeks we should know for sure.”

Isla’s gaze is glued to the monitor. Tears run down her cheeks. But unlike the other times I’ve seen her cry, I don’t think these are sad ones. “Matt,” she breathes. Her hand tightens around mine. “She—or he—is perfect.”

Inexplicably, my eyes burn.

“You’re right.” Without thinking, I brush the tears from her face. “Your baby looks absolutely perfect.”

And just for a second, this breath stealing certainly comes over me.

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