Page 22 of Oh My Secret Christmas Baby
“It’s your house, so if you say so.” I laugh.
“You’ll be helping decorate. Is three too many to decorate? I don’t want to overwhelm you.”
“I suppose I don’t have any plans, but don’t you?” He’s not only the mayor, but he also has other projects he works on. I don’t want to make him get behind. I’m already about to throw a wrench into his life.
It’s safe to say that Hollis will want to be a part of the baby's life. He’s that kind of man. That also means I might need to move here no matter how this plays out.
Hollis is the one with a whole life. I’m not tied to anywhere. I’ve been in limbo, but this town is special. It would be no hardship to live here. Also, I really like the idea of our child growing up in a small town.
"The party planner might want to do the entryway one. If there is a theme."
"How about we do two, and if we're up for the third, we can do that one too."
"That sounds like a plan." Hollis pays for the three trees, having them set up to be delivered too.
"How about the bakery next? I'm sure you're getting hungry."
"There is always room for pastries and hot chocolate." I rub my belly.
"I agree." He takes my hand as we walk down the sidewalk. I don't miss the glances from people that let me know who is local and who is a tourist.
A lot of them stop and introduce themselves. It was surreal at first. I think I have lived in the city for so long that I’m jaded to people being so friendly. It’s not that city people are unfriendly; it’s just busy all the time.
"Hollis." A woman stands up from a bench she was sitting on. She appears to be in her forties. There is a smile lighting up her face as she looks from Hollis to me, and I swear her eyes drop to my stomach momentarily. No one else has noticed, at least not that I'm aware of.
"Dr. Parks." Hollis greets her back. "This is Candy, the woman we spoke about."
"Oh, I've put that together." She holds her hand out to me. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm the local doctor." Dr. Parks nods to the building she was sitting out front of.
"It's nice to meet you, too."
"Would you two like to step in for a few minutes? Everyone is gone for the day, so it's only me here," she offers. I worry my bottom lip between my teeth.
"We can do whatever you want," Hollis tells me.
Dr. Parks glances up and down the sidewalk before leaning in so we can only hear what she says next. “I have a sonogram machine.”
“Okay,” I blurt out. “I would love that so much.” My eyes start to sting with tears. I have only seen the baby once, and it was really early on. All my trust has been broken with the fertility clinic at this point. Who knows if they even showed me my own baby? I believe nothing from them now.
“Come on in.” She opens the door for us, follows in behind, locks the door, and pulls a cover down over the glass door window. “We’re going to room four. That’s where the machine is.”
My excitement grows more when we enter the room. "Do you think we might be able to tell the sex?"
"Let me get a look, and if we can, I'll tell you. But know I'm generally careful because I don’t have the most advanced technology. I can do the basics, but when you get further along and want a hospital birth, I would suggest going to the city."
"That's okay." I'm thankful she's doing this at all.
"I'll step out for a moment to grab a few things. Just take your coat off. We can lift your sweater."
"Thank you."
"No need to thank me." She winks at me before leaving the room.
"I'm sorry," Hollis says the second she's gone.
"Why?"
"I told her about you. She's the town doctor, and I thought?—"
