Page 59 of Cherished Union

“Mrs. Gallagher, from what you’ve said and based on your last known period, I’m going to do an ultrasound. If you can lift your top, I’ll be able to apply the gel and hopefully get a good look at your little baby.”

I do as she instructs and lift my top and wait. The gel is a little cold as it’s applied to my stomach, but I don’t react. My gaze is firmly on the screen to my left. She rolls the wand thingy over my stomach, and I suck in a sharp breath when I see my baby on the screen.

“There we go,” the doctor announces happily. She takes measurements as I continue to stare at the screen, letting the sound of my baby’s heartbeat fill my heart with joy.

“Can I record the heartbeat?” I ask, coming up with a plan.

She nods, and I reach for my cell that’s in the pocket of my yoga pants. I hit record as both the doctor and I listen to it. I’m shell-shocked. While I understood this could have been a possibility based on my symptoms, I never thought it possible for some reason, and yet here I am.

I don’t think I’ve ever felt so much love. The moment my baby came onto the screen, my heart swelled with love and happiness.

Once I end the recording, I thank the doctor and continue to look at the screen. My baby. I swallow back the tears, not wanting to cry happy tears right now.

“You’re measuring at eleven weeks, Mrs. Gallagher,” the doctor tells me, and I blink. Holy crap.

“Is the baby okay?” I ask, wondering if I’ve hurt it by not knowing.

“The baby looks fine. He or she is growing perfectly.” She presses a few buttons and there’s a weird whirring noise. “I’ve printed out some pictures so that you can show your husband.” She removes the wand from my stomach and wipes the gel off. “You can sit up when you’re ready.”

She moves back over to the desk and sits down and types away on her computer. I fix my top and gingerly get off the bed.

“Mrs. Gallagher, here are some leaflets for you to browse at your leisure. They’re great information on the changes your body is going through. You’ll need to start taking prenatal vitamins…" She continues on and on about everything I’m going to need to do and what to expect throughout my pregnancy. I’m trying to keep up, but my head is swimming with information and I’m not sure if I can keep it all straight. I’m still reeling from discovering I’m pregnant.

“If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me,” she says as she gets to her feet, handing me all the leaflets and pictures she has. “And congratulations, Mrs. Gallagher.”

I smile at her. “Thank you, Doctor.”

I leave her office in a daze. Annemarie’s waiting for me with a bright smile. Both Matty and Emile are waiting on me too. Thankfully, I managed to put all the information and pictures the doctor gave me in my purse before I left her office.

“Are you okay?” Annemarie asks as she reaches me.

I nod. “I’m happy. A little overwhelmed, but happy.”

She grins at me. “Let me guess, she gave you so much information that you can barely remember any of it?”

I nod and she laughs. “Don’t worry, whatever you need, you can always call me or even Edwina, but most importantly, the price of this doctor, you can call her.”

I link my arm through hers as relief washes through me. “Thank you, Anna, I really appreciate you being here with me today.”

“Always, Ade. Whenever you need me, just let me know. We’re sisters now. Have you decided how you’re going to tell Hayden?”

I nod. “Yeah, I recorded the heartbeat.”

Her eyes brighten. “That’s so cool. That’s not something I’ve ever done. Once you’ve let him listen, I’d love to, if you wouldn’t mind?”

I adore that she doesn’t want to do anything before my husband.

“Definitely. I want to get a teddy bear with the sound in also. I’ve seen them online and think they’re really cool.”

She nods. “Definitely. We’ll find out where they are made, and I’m getting you one.”

I frown. “No—"

“Yes,” she says, cutting me off. “Let me do this for you, please.”

I nod. “Thank you.”

“No, Ade, thank you. You have no idea how much it means to me and Hayes that you have let me be a part of this. Not that he knows. He’s just happy we’re spending time together.”

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