Page 64 of Learn the Play
“Thank you,” Bellamy says.
“Is this your first?” Tina asks as she gets busy setting up the machine.
“Baby, and an ultrasound,” Bellamy replies.
“Perfect. Now, we do offer the 3D option, but that’s an additional charge. I can do the regular, and if you want the 3D, we’ll do it after.”
“What’s the 3D?” I ask.
“Oh, it’s amazing.” Tina picks up a book and shows us some sample images.
“Wow,” Bellamy breathes.
“We want that, too,” I tell her.
“It’s not normally covered by insurance,” Tina says.
“That’s fine. We don’t care about the cost. We want that.” I nod to the book still in her hands.
“Great. Let’s get started.” She beams at us. She gets to work, pulling up Bellamy’s gown and tugging down her pants so that her baby bump is exposed. She then squirts gel on my dream girl’s belly and starts moving a wand around while clicking on the computer screen that we can’t see. “I’m just getting some images and measurements for the doctor,” Tina explains, before asking. “Are we going to find out the gender?”
“Yes,” we reply at the same time.
“Today,” Bellamy tells her. “No huge gender reveal, just mom and dad and baby.”
“I love that.” Tina smiles kindly. She clicks a few more times and then turns the screen to face us. “Mom and Dad, meet your little one. This is the heartbeat.” She points to the screen, pointing out limbs and facial features. “And look at that, your baby girl is waving at you.” She grins.
My heart stops.
I knew it. I fucking knew it. I blink hard, fighting against my emotions, but when my eyes find Bellamy’s and I see that she, too, has tears in her eyes, I don’t bother fighting them. This is us. This is real and raw and life-changing. I squeeze her hand gently before bending and pressing a kiss to her lips. “My girls,” I murmur, and she laughs through her tears.
“You were right, Daddy,” she says, smiling, her eyes once again glued to the screen where we watch our daughter.
“Now, let me print some of these, and then we’ll do the 3D,” Tina says.
Throughout the entire experience, I don’t let go of Bellamy’s hand for a single second. When Tina finally sends us on our way with a video and lots of pictures from both ultrasounds, I feel asif I’m floating down the stairs as we make our way to my truck. I lift Bellamy into the passenger seat, slide my hand behind her neck, and pull her into a kiss. I try to tell her everything I’m feeling. Everything I can’t seem to find the words to say.
You’re everything.
Thank you for this life.
I love you both more than anything.
There are so many things I want to say. There are things I need to say, because above all else, I need her to hear me say the words. I try to show her every day, but I also need to tell her. But not here. Not in the parking lot of the doctor’s office.
When I pull back from this kiss, her eyes are once again misty with tears. She places one hand on my cheek, and the other rests over mine that’s cradling her belly, while my other hand still grips the back of her neck.
“A little girl.” She smiles.
I kiss her one more time, because I need to, like I need air to breathe, then make sure she’s buckled up and race to my side of the truck.
“Who do we call first?” she asks as I start the truck to get the heater going.
“Our parents.”
“Okay, let’s call yours first,” she suggests.
Not needing to be told twice. I hit my mom’s contact, and the phone rings out in the cab of the truck.
