Page 7 of This I Promise

I return to the office just long enough to check my messages and let my assistant know I’ll be taking the afternoon off. Abby has another prenatal appointment, and this is the first time I’ll get to see the baby with the ultrasound. I’m pretty stoked about it. I can’t wait to see the little nugget.

I pull into the parking garage of the medical building and rush toward the elevator. I’m meeting her here, and I don’t want to be late. As soon as I walk into the office suite, I see Abby sitting in one of the waiting room chairs.

“You made it.” She smiles when I take the seat next to her.

“You know I wouldn’t miss it. Did you check in already?”

“Yeah. They should be calling me back any time now.”

We chat about our day for a few minutes before a nurse calls out Abby’s name. Then we follow the woman through a short maze of hallways as she guides us to an open exam room.

A thought occurs to me as Abby lies on the cushioned table. “The ultrasound doesn’t hurt, right? I should’ve looked that up before we got here.”

She chuckles at me and smiles. “No, Scraggle. It doesn’t hurt. The gel they use is a little cold, but it kinda tickles.”

There’s a quick knock at the door. Then Dr. Cadigan comes in. “Hi, Abby! How are you feeling? The morning sickness getting any better?”

“A little bit. Other than that, I feel okay.”

“That’s great. Just make sure you’re getting enough nutrients and water,” Dr. Cadigan cautions while looking over Abby’s medical chart. “And who do we have with us today?” Her eyes are kind and warm when she addresses me. She’s younger than I thought she’d be, wearing a stylish blouse and matching ankle pants.

Abby glances in my direction and places her small hand on my forearm. “This is my?—”

I know she’s going to saybest friend, but I don’t want to hear that right now. And besides, it’s not important. What matters is that Abby isn’t alone, and I’ll be here for every appointment from now on.

“I’m Evan. Pleasure to meet you.” I shake the doctor’s hand. “You’ll be seeing a lot of me.”

“That’s what I like to hear. Now, shall we get a look at your baby? All my techs are tied up at the moment, but I think I remember how to work this machine.” Dr. Cadigan winks and it instantly puts us at ease.

Abby lifts her shirt and slides down the elastic waistband of her leggings just enough to expose the smooth, tanned skin of her stomach. I hold her hand, and her grip tightens for a moment when the thick gel is squirted onto her abdomen.

My eyes are locked on the TV screen on the wall where the ultrasound image is being projected. I see nothing but gray and black splotches, and have no idea what I’m looking at. I stare anyway, hoping I’ll see something I can identify.

Then, the doctor stops moving the wand and points to a little blob inside what looks like a giant jellybean. “There it is. That’s the fetus.” She presses a button on the machine and a rapid thumping sound fills the room.

Abby’s breath hitches as we listen to the baby’s heartbeat. “It’s so fast,” she murmurs when she looks up at me standing next to her. “That’s my baby, Evan. Can you believe it?”

My heart stutters, and my chest fills with warmth. I gaze into her big brown eyes and suddenly feel a bone-deep longing for more. It’s like the world as I know it has changed, and for the first time, I find myself wanting a different kind of relationship with this woman. The urge to kiss her forehead is strong, so I give in to it.

I may not be the biological father, but this baby is mine.

5

ABBY

Carrying a copy of the ultrasound pictures, I hike up the three flights of stairs to the apartment I used to share with my mom. It’s not much and long overdue for an update, but it’s homey and I have a lot of good memories of this place.

Today is one of her rare days off, and I’m excited to see her. Even though she hasn’t had to support me since I was eighteen, she still works two jobs so we don’t get to catch up much. She said she needs to work while she can because she won’t always be able to, and she doesn’t want to work until she’s dead. I’ve reminded her that if she doesn’t slow down, she’s going towork herselfinto an early grave. That’s when she always rolls her eyes at me and we laugh.

I texted her that I was on my way, so it’s no surprise she’s waiting for me with outstretched arms when I walk inside my former home. I hug her tight, inhaling the familiar scent of her amber floral perfume.

“I have something for you,” I announce as we pull apart. I raise the strip of black-and-white images into the air with a wide grin, and my mom gazes at me with glassy eyes.

“My baby’s having a baby.”

“It’s nothing like how I imagined it, but I’m happy.”

Mom grips me by my shoulders and stares at me. “The best-laid plans don’t always get you laid where you planned, kiddo.”

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