Page 134 of More than Friends

We sit in silence for a minute and then she says without looking at me. “I’m just worried something is going to be wrong.”

I can’t resist. I grab her hand. I’m a little surprised but she doesn’t move away. She looks up at me, tears in her eyes.

“Whatever happens, we’ll get through it,” I say, squeezing her hand.

Before either of us can say anything else, the ultrasound tech walks in. I don’t move my hand and neither does she.

The tech goes to work. We both stare at the screen. Of course, neither of us would know if anything was wrong. We have no idea what we are looking at. The tech takes all kinds of measurements. I worried that Maggie isn’t breathing.

“Everything is looking great,” the tech says without taking her eyes off the screen. The doctor will have to look over everything, but nothing stands out to me right now.”

Maggie lets out a deep sigh.

“Mom, Dad, are you wanting to know if baby is a boy or girl?”

“Yes,” Maggie says.

The tech changes the position of the wand a few times. “Let’s see if this one will let us get a good look.”

“There,” she takes a picture and then zooms in. “Do you know what you’re looking at?”

I lean forward. “A penis.”

Maggie jerks her head up toward me. The ultrasound tech smiles. “That’s right, Dad. You’re having a boy, congratulations.”

Maggie gasps and covers her mouth with her hand. She’s blinking back tears. “A boy?”

My hand is still on hers. I squeeze it again. “I think Micah will be happy.”

“Yeah, he sure will.”

Sterling Family Group Text

Declan: I’ve got news to share.

Eli: You’ve finally decided to get a job.

Declan: I have a job.

Brooklyn: Do you?

Declan: Yes.

Juno: You do?

Zadie: Are you sure?

Declan: Do you want to hear the news or not?

Eli: Yes. But we’d also like to know about your so-called job.

Declan: I’m ignoring that.

Declan: I’m going to text you a picture from our ultrasound today.

Zadie: A penis!

Eli: I like that the ultrasound tech circled it and labeled it for us.

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