Page 74 of Replay
“He’s a stubborn ox.” She reaches over and holds my hand.
“I know,” I reply with a self-deprecating laugh. “And so am I, which is why I’m waiting for things to calm down before I tell him.”
Freya’s eyes go wide. “Has it become serious between you two?”
I bite my lip and nod. “Starting to.”
“Then your brother will understand.”
“He will. I just think if I play it cool for a week or two and stop running off to snog Santino every spare moment, then he’ll see I’m good, and we’ll be in a better place before I tell him about us. I want him to like Santino, Freya. Ineedhim to like him.”
“Oh, Tilly.” Freya says my name sweetly. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were in love.”
My eyes go wide at that offhanded remark when suddenly Belle opens the door and comes striding in. “My favourite patient!” She smiles over at me. “Oh, hi Tilly! No Mac today?”
“I’m afraid not,” Freya says with a sigh. “Work thing he couldn’t get out of. He’s gutted to miss this appointment. I think I heard him weeping in the shower this morning.”
Belle’s face falls. “We could have rescheduled.”
“Heavens no!” Freya tuts. “You said this is the scan that might get me off bed rest completely, so I refuse to delay that wondrous act for a single moment.”
Belle nods knowingly. “Well, let’s get this show on the road then.”
Freya gets situated with her gown up and the blanket over her lap as Belle spreads gel all over her belly before running the wand along her taut skin. The baby’s very obvious shape comes into the frame, and he’s wiggling all over the screen like he’s doing an Irish jig.
“We might have a dancer here,” Belle says, pointing at the screen and chasing the wee one around with her wand.
“Or a trick pony rider.” Freya glances at me and winks. “I’m getting Tilly hooked onHeartlandas soon as we finishBridgerton.”
Belle laughs and begins taking measurements and typing everything into the computer. After she’s done, she offers Freya a warm smile. “Well, Freya, you’re twenty-four weeks pregnant, the baby is hitting all his right growth markers, and that subchorionic hemorrhage that we saw a couple of months back is almost completely gone. There are only traces of it left, barely enough to measure.”
“Oh my God!” Freya squeals excitedly.
“All that resting you’ve done has paid off,” Belle replies, touching Freya’s hand gently as Freya’s eyes fill with tears.
She sobs a happy sound. “I’m fixing to burst I’m so happy!”
“You should be happy. Baby looks perfect.”
“We’re calling him Fergie,” Freya offers, touching her belly affectionately as she sniffles. “Short for Fergus. That was his great-grandfather’s name.”
Belle smiles. “Fergie looks like a strong little guy, and I can’t wait to meet him. But for now, I feel very comfortable taking you off bed rest completely.”
“Thank good heavens for that!” Freya exclaims enthusiastically as Belle and I help her sit up on the exam table. “I’m just going to pop into the loo to change and call Mac with the good news!”
“Brilliant,” Belle says, wiping the wand off with a smile. “And Freya, if you guys want to come in next week for another scan, I can set it up. That way you can show Mac the bleed is fully gone and hopefully ease his mind a bit?”
“Would you really do that?” Freya asks, sliding off the table.
“Of course! You’re practically family.”
“You are the sweetest pie I’ve ever tasted.” Freya hugs Belle tightly and shuffles off to the attached bathroom to call Mac.
As Belle grabs her medical chart and prepares to leave, she pauses in front of me and gets a sneaky look on her face. “So, I’m sorry, but I have to ask. What did you think of Ronald? You left so quickly. Was he that horrible? He can be a pompous ass sometimes, but I really think he’s changing.”
“Oh God, no. He was nice!” I reassure, feeling horrible how that must have looked for her. “I mean, we didn’t talk much, but for the small bit we did, he seemed great.”
“Oh good.” She exhales a sigh of relief and bites her lip nervously. “Should I maybe give him your number?”
