Page 104 of Loving Whiskey

As Grace and I sit next to each other in the waiting room, she continues to pick up her phone, check emails, close it, only to open it up and go through the same procedure again. We’ve only been sitting here for eight minutes, and she’s checked her email at least six times. I’m not saying she’s not busy, but I think it has more to do with nerves than anything else.

Putting my hand over her own, I stop her from sliding the screen open again. “It’s okay. Everything is going to be fine. There’s been no more blood, no more cramping, and there is no reason to think anything is wrong.”

She breathes in deeply and looks up at me. “What if us having sex hurt the baby?”

I have to bite my lip to keep from laughing. I know women tend to get a bit overemotional and nonsensical during pregnancy, not that I’d ever say that out loud, but Grace is a sensible woman. She has to know that couples have sex throughout pregnancy without a problem. “Grace, I like to think that I am extremely well-endowed in that department, but even I have to admit that my,”—I clear my throat and look down—“isn’tthatbig.”

My attempt at self-deprecation works and Grace giggles. She leans her head on my shoulder. “I’m sorry. You’re right; it’s not that big.”

I squeeze her and she laughs harder. Before I can come up with a reprimand, Grace’s name is called. She looks at me, stands up, and waits for me to take her hand and follow.

“Hi, Grace, how are you feeling today?” the nurse asks. She’s young, possibly early twenties, with a big smile and a bounce to her step.

“I’m okay. Just looking forward to confirming the baby is doing okay,” Grace answers honestly. I squeeze her hand in mine, and she offers me a small smile.

The woman brings us to a room and tells Grace to get on the scale. She looks at me sheepishly and I glance at them both. “How ’bout I go outside, and you call me when the doctor comes?” I offer.

Grace shakes her head. “It’s fine. I’m thirty-six. Before I was pregnant, I weighed one hundred and sixty pounds give or take. If you’re going to be around for this, you might as well be around for all of it.”

I shake my head and laugh. “Is that your way of saying you want me to be there when you give birth?”

The nurse smiles, clearly unaware of the very real conversation Grace and I are having. “Oh, you guys are too cute. Most couples that come in here barely talk. The man is always on his phone, or he doesn’t show up at all.” She takes down Grace’s weight, without announcing it, and turns back to Grace. “Okay, now put this on,” she says, pointing to a white piece of paper, “and the doctor will be right in.”

As soon as she’s gone, I point at the outfit. “You gonna get a few of those to go? You could surprise me in my office in them. That seems to be your MO. Crotchless panties poolside, lingerie in my office…lets add this to the roster…”

Grace lifts her arm to smack me, but I grab her hand before it makes contact and pull her toward me, stealing a kiss. “You hear that? I’m a good boyfriend,” I say as I wiggle my brows together.

Grace rolls her eyes. “Gosh, we sound like we’re fifteen. Going steady. Myboyfriend.”

My hands move down to her ass, and I cup both cheeks, squeezing. “Don’t care what you call me, as long as I’m yours.”

She leans up on her tiptoes and kisses me again. “You got it, Whiskey. Now help me unzip this dress so I can put on my fancy lingerie.”

Moments later, Grace is changed and sitting on the table waiting to be examined, and I’m pacing, unsure of what exactly I’m supposed to be doing.

“Cash, you told me it was going to be fine. You are not exactly instilling confidence right now.”

With my hands in my pockets, I spin and look at her. “I’m sorry.” My shoulders sag and I move closer, pushing her legs apart and moving between them as I rake my hands through her hair and force her face up to mine. “I’m just unsure of my role here. What am I supposed to do? Sit next to you? Ask questions? Just hold your hand?” I eye her, waiting for guidance.

Before she can respond, the door swings open and a male doctor walks in with a tablet in his hand. When he sees us, he smirks, having caught me looking as if I’m about to ravage his patient. “Grace, how are you doing today?”

I push myself to the side, and Grace closes her legs, although she looks a lot less embarrassed than I feel. “Anxious to see the baby.”

The doctor smiles. “Well, then let’s get right to that.” He puts down his computer, washes his hands, and walks over to Grace’s side. “Is this Dad?” he asks her.

Grace turns to me and grabs my hand, pulling me so that I’m on the other side of her. The doctor is staring at a computer-like screen. “Yes, this is the daddy, Cassius James.”

The word daddy sneaks up on me. My chest gets tight, and I feel immense love, pressure, and like I want to beat on my chest like a caveman.

The doctor looks up at me and smiles. “Nice to meet you, Cassius. Congratulations. Now let’s check on your baby.”

I stare back at him stupidly, still lost on that one damn word.

“Are you ready to see our baby?” Grace asks, squeezing my hand reassuringly.

The doctor lifts Grace’s gown and rubs a clear jelly-like liquid onto her stomach. I’ve seen movie scenes with this, but it all feels foreign right now. The doctor slides the wand over Grace’s belly, and I hear an almost galloping sound come out of the machine.

My eyes dart to the screen, and I stare at the circular image with what very clearly shows a head, two arms and two legs in the shape of an alien-like creature.

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