Page 106 of Time Out

“Since you’re almost through the first trimester, we’ll try to check baby’s heartbeat externally. If we can get a good reading, we won’t need to do the internal this time, okay?”

“Sounds good.”

“Dad, how about you move up to the edge of the table there.” She pointed to where I was shuffling my head toward the pillow.

As I lay down, I lifted my shirt to beneath my breasts and pushed down the waistband of my leggings.

“This will feel cool,” she reminded me and then covered my belly with a clear, jelly-like liquid.

“Heartbeat,” Davis muttered, and he had my hand in his again.

Gone were his clammy hands, and now they were so hot he might have had a fever, but as he grinned down at me, nothing else mattered. We would both be nervous. We would both have moments of fear.

But we would get through them together.

I winked at him, and he chuckled right as Sally clicked the machine on and then ran the wand in a small circle on my stomach.

“This is safe, right?” Davis asked.

She grinned up at him. “Totally and completely. I prom—”

She cut off as the rapid thump of quiet drums came through the speaker in her hand.

My hand tightened in Davis’s as I squeezed him tight.

“There we are.” She smiled at me. I loved this woman. She was so kind, so sweet and reassuring. She almost appeared as happy as I was to hear the baby’s heartbeat, even though she had to hear dozens every single day.

“Wow,” Davis breathed out. “That’s…”

“That’s your baby’s very strong, very healthy heartbeat. One hundred and forty-two beats. Sounds absolutely perfect to me.”

“Oh my god. I’m going to be a dad.”

Numerous emotions raced through Davis’s face, from fear to elation, and then a softness settled over him as Sally removed the wand and handed me paper towels to wipe up the goop.

“I’m going to be a dad.”

“Yeah, you are.”

“Thank you,” he murmured and bent down, kissed my forehead while Sally moved back to the small desk and worked on the chart.

“I think you did all the work,” I whispered right back.

Davis’s grin stretched, and he kissed my forehead again before pulling back. “Good thing I have you to help me with all the rest.”

“Yeah. You have me for sure.”

“Okay then.” Sally stood. “Everything looks great. We have your next couple of appointments scheduled, and you should see a burst of energy as you settle into the second trimester. As long as you watch what you eat, get some exercise, feel free to continue with any other normal activities. But remember, if you feel any cramping, or see any spotting, make sure you call us immediately.”

“Will do, Sally.”

“Thanks, Doctor.”

She left Davis and me alone in the room, and it heated as he helped me sit up and threw away the paper towels for me.

“That’s it?” he asked.

“That’s it. As long as things are good, I’ve been told these monthly check-ups are usually pretty quick.”

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