Page 22 of Waiting for Her

I say nothing because he already knows the answer and there’s nothing else to say. He opens his mouth to say something else, but the doctor knocks on the door, interrupting whatever thought was passing through his brain.

“Everyone ready?” the doctor asks, her smile genuine as she takes in Max and me standing side by side. “You can get on the table and we’ll get started.”

I nod, trying to get myself onto the table, but when I begin to struggle Max rushes over, lifting me gently and kissing my forehead gently before taking my hand and waiting for the ultrasound to start.

It doesn’t take long before the doctor is lifting up my gown and places the gel on my stomach. I wince as the coolness hits my skin and Max’s fingers tighten around mine as he mouths, “Are you okay?”

I smile, nodding.

“So Addison, last time you were here it says here you didn’t want to know the sex of the baby. Is that still what you want?”

I smile, nodding because I know I want it all to be a surprise.

“Okay then, let’s take a look at your baby,” she says before tilting the monitor so we can see the baby.

“Is that?” Max whispers, his eyes never leaving the screen as my stomach flips.

This is what I was missing these last few months. The awestruck look on Max’s face is like a drug, it shows me just how amazed he is by what he’s looking at, and that is something I always wanted to share with the father of my children. And here I am with the man that is determined to be that father, no matter if the child is his or not.

“Your bloodwork came back and it looks good, but I do want to check your blood pressure just to cover my bases.”

I nod, sitting up slightly as she fastens the cuff on my arm and begins pumping. As much as I’ve done this over and over again, I still hate the feel of the cuff squeezing my arm.

“Okay, it’s still a bit high, so I want you to rest, stay off your feet as much as possible and go to the hospital if something feels out of the ordinary, okay?”

I nod, knowing the drill, but Max sits still beside me.

“Is she going to be okay?” His voice cracks and the hand that isn’t latched to mine begins to shake.

“Yes, she will be fine. This happens sometimes during the final months with all the stress that comes with the pregnancy. But I still want you to be cautious, so make sure she doesn’t do any strenuous activity.”

Max looks at me, a blush on his cheeks before peering back at the doctor.

“What about… you know…” He gives her a look before the doctor laughs, putting down her file.

“Sexual activity is encouraged actually. There are some studies that say it can actually help with lowering blood pressure. But just make sure you’re not overdoing it, okay?”

Max nods as she places the ultrasound photos in my hand and exits, letting me get dressed.

“Max?” I whisper, his eyes still trained on the pictures in my hands.

I want to make fun of him for asking permission to have sex with me, but when I open my mouth, the words get stuck once I notice the look on his face.

“Can I?” He holds out his hand as I place the photos in his palm.

As his eyes peer down at the pieces of paper resting in his hands, I take a moment to watch him. The way his eyes scan the photos, the way his finger traces the outline of my child’s face, is breathtaking and at that moment, I know I will marry this man. Maybe not right now, maybe not even in the next few years, but it will happen. If this man can love this child this much from a photograph, then imagine what that love will look like once they’re here.

“Are you okay?” I break the silence as I get up, picking up my pants and wiping the gel from my stomach before dressing quickly.

“Can I ask you something?” he asks quietly, handing me the photos as his eyes flick to mine. I nod, leaning back against the table as he gathers his thoughts. “Why don’t you want to know the sex of the baby?” I smile, chuckling softly.

“I was wondering when you were going to ask me about that. Honestly, I’m surprised Drew hasn’t asked me the same thing after all these months. But the short answer is that I love surprises, and so I wanted this to be the best one.”

“And the long answer?” I chuckle, taking his hand in mine and taking a deep breath.

“The long answer is that I haven’t had much say over this pregnancy from the get-go. I’ve been left to fend for myself and this whole time I’ve felt so out of control, and so this small aspect is taking back some of that control.”

Max’s eyes soften as he leans in and kisses me softly.

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