Page 54 of Finding Forever

did

not

like

it!

Not one goddamn bit.

The doctor’s lips were moving, but he couldn’t hear her. Didn’t she know how noisy it was? Why wouldn’t she turn the volume down? How the fuck was he supposed to hear a damned thing she was saying? She seemed to be talking to Fern, who appeared able to hear her just fine, since she was also speaking now. Neither of them were paying the slightest attention to Cade.

He fumbled behind him, reaching for the chair he knew was there, and dragged it over to sink into it slowly, hoping they wouldn’t recognize that it was because his legs were no longer able to support him. It was sit down or fall down.

He remained there, slumped in his seat, shattered, eyes fixed on the screen, ears deaf to everything but that relentless heartbeat, wondering how much longer this would go on for, when the noise suddenly ceased.

And he was immediately filled with absolute panic.

“What happened?” he demanded to know, furiously pinning the doctor beneath his stare as he lurched to his feet. “Why did it stop? What’s wrong?”

His eyes swiveled first to Fern who was staring at him warily, then back to the screen, where the image appeared to have frozen.

The silence—after the relentless tattoo of that heartbeat—was terrifying and absolute. And then broken by Fern’s tentative voice.

“Cade?”

He blinked, eyes dropping to her abdomen, the doctor was wiping the gel from Fern’s skin with a paper towel.

Oh. The ultrasound was over.

He once again looked at the doctor, who was eyeing him with a knowing little smile.

“As I was saying,” she said, clearly meaning the words for Cade only. “Everything appears to be fine right now. Fern’s blood pressure is lower than I’d like, which we’ll have to keepan eye on. Your fetus is about nine weeks old and was conceived on or around the twenty-fourth of August”—the exact date of the gala—“and is due mid-to-late May.”

“Uh—” Cade valiantly tried to unscramble his brain before asking, “How much longer will the nausea and dizziness last?”

“Morning sickness should all but dissipate in the second trimester. So, another month or so and then it’ll hopefully start to taper off. The dizziness is likely due to your low blood pressure, Fern. We’ll start you on iron, B12, and folic acids, tweak your diet a bit. It’s also important that you rest when you need it.”

“Could you tell if it was a girl or boy?” Fern asked and Dr. Khan smiled.

“Let’s save that for your next ultrasound, it’s not easy to tell at this stage. Now if you don’t mind, Fern, just one last test…” She handed Fern a cup and directed her to the bathroom. “I’m sure you’re dying to empty your bladder, but save some urine for me. Hand the filled cup to Lee-Anne. We’ll be waiting for you in my office.”

Fern took the cup, a slight flush on her cheeks… she was so ridiculously shy about everything. Cade and Dr. Khan watched as she retreated.

“Uh… I was wondering,” Cade murmured, feeling awkward as fuck.

“Yes?”

“About sex?”

He grimaced, not sure why he felt so uncomfortable about asking. He was a grown ass man and Fern was his wife. And yeah, they weren’t going to be having sex. But… there was no harm in finding outjust in casethat changed.

“I don’t see a reason for you not to carry on as normal,” Dr. Khan replied matter-of-factly. “In fact, I encourage it. Baby will be fine, mom will be fine. Suffice it to say not only will it help maintain intimacy throughout all the stages of the pregnancybut it can be highly satisfying for both partners. A woman generally becomes a lot more sensitive and receptive as her pregnancy progresses resulting in easier orgasms.”

His face heated and he shoved his hand into his pockets before rocking back on his heels and nodding.

“Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” She led him back to her office, where they waited for Fern to return.

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