Page 79 of The Silencer

"Don't worry, love.This is the exciting part," the technician assures me as she spreads gel on my stomach.

As she moves a wand over my abdomen, I hold my breath.And then, suddenly, there it is on the screen—a tiny baby with a flickering heartbeat.

"There's your baby," the technician says softly."Looks to be about twelve weeks along, just as the doctor estimated.Everything looks perfect."

Tears spring to my eyes as I stare at the screen.That's my baby.Mine and Emmanuel's.

The technician begins to measure everything, making sure everything is okay.I’m unable to pull my gaze from the screen.God, so beautiful.I never expected this to happen.Sure, a few years down the line, maybe, but now?No.But watching our baby on the screen, I can’t believe that we’re going to be parents, that the beautiful baby is ours.

"Would you like a picture to take home?"the technician asks, pulling me from my thoughts.

"Yes, please," I manage to say through the tears.

It takes a while to get cleaned up, but I leave the clinic clutching the ultrasound photo.I honestly don’t think I’ve ever been so happy.I just pray Emmanuel will feel the same.

Entering the apartment, it’s already dark outside and I hate driving in the dark, but I’m so excited to head back to Dublin and spend Christmas with everyone I love.The past three years, I’ve spent Christmas here in Galway with Emmanuel.Tammy joined us last year and I promised her I’d be in Dublin this year.I start to pack my bags.I’ll be in Dublin for at least two weeks.I only have six months of college left and then I’ll be back in Dublin full time.I have no idea what I’m going to do with my degree in business management but that will come once I actually complete my degree.

I also want to visit my family at the cemetery.It’s been so long since I went.I still miss them every single day, and my heart hurts knowing they’ll never meet my baby or see me walk down the aisle, but I know they’ll be happy that I am and I hold that close to me.

I zip up my bag, taking one last look around the apartment to make sure I haven't forgotten anything.I have my purse, which holds the sonogram picture, something I can’t wait to show Emmanuel the moment I see him.As I grab my keys and head for the door, I pause, my hand resting on my stomach.

"Well, little one," I whisper, "are you ready for your first road trip to Dublin?"

I can’t stop the smile that forms on my lips.This is going to be one of the best Christmases I have ever had.

Climbing into the car, I see it’s almost eight p.m.I’m going to have to stop off and grab something to eat on the go.It takes around three hours to get there, so it’ll be almost eleven o’clock when I arrive in Dublin.The only positive thing about this is that it’ll be late and the traffic won’t be as bad.

I quickly send a text to Emmanuel, letting him know I’m finally leaving.

God, this day is perfect.I’m so damn happy.

TWENTY-EIGHT

emmanuel

"Congrats, Mav,"Danny says as he slides onto the stool beside Maverick."Lis is over the moon that you and Lisa are engaged.I swear she pierced my ear drums with the scream she let out when she got the text."

No one knows that I proposed to Clodagh three months ago.Right now, we’re not going to announce it as Clodagh doesn’t want to take the spotlight away from Lisa and Maverick.At this stage, I’m all for getting married before we tell anyone.But I know Clodagh will want Lisa there.Firstly, she’ll have to tell her about us and the fact we’ve been together for almost three years.

"Thanks, man," Maverick says.“Although, I think half the neighbourhood heard Melissa screaming on the phone to Lisa."

"Lis adores Lisa.Though I gotta say, my wife is in a mood.Apparently, she feels neglected that she didn’t get a proposal.”

“So how did you manage to get Melissa to marry you?”

"She was pregnant," Danny says simply.“When’s the wedding?”

"The fucker has chosen Valentine’s Day,” Denis says, laughing.“Now we’ve got to listen to our wives talk about how romantic this shit is.”

Freddie chuckles.“He’s only doing it on Valentine’s Day so he doesn’t forget the date.”

"Two months, though, Mav?”I say with a raised brow.“You sure that’s enough time?”

“With Lis and Callie involved,” Danny sighs, “you’ll not need to worry about it.They’ll organize everything.”

"Yeah, I'm counting on it.Lisa's already mentioned they've started a group chat for ideas."

"God help us all," Denis groans, taking a long swig of his beer."Remember Chloe’s wedding?I thought we'd never hear the end of it."

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