Page 9 of Savage Hearts

When we pulled into the parking lot, Michael glanced over at me.

“Any thoughts about what you want?”

“Yeah… one.”

He laughed. “Not what I meant, but I can understand that sentiment. I don’t know how Vin and Riley survive.”

“No shit. If the doctor tells me there are two inside my belly, I might pass out. Seriously. I’m terrified about one baby. Two would send me to looney town.”

“Okay… but what do you want thatoneto be?”

I’d thought long and hard about whether I wanted a boy or a girl and decided didn’t care as long as they were healthy and only one.

“I don’t think I care as long as he or she is healthy and, of course… alone.”

“Well, my sweet girl… let’s go find out.”

The receptionist checked us in, and soon, we were being led back to the ultrasound room. I laughed when the nurse asked if Michael was my husband.

“Um... no. This is my brother-in-law. Daddy’s away right now.” I patted my belly.

“Oh. It’s nice you came with her. This can be exciting and scary for women. Having a support system in place makes a huge difference. Alright. You hop up there, and I’ll let the tech know you’re ready to go.”

Michael smiled at the woman and shot me a weird look.

“What? I don’t feel like explaining I got pregnant and dumped.”

He shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t think it’s anyone’s business about your private life. I’m actually kind of shocked you didn’t tell her to fuck off.”

“I’m not Cat.” I pointed at myself. “Though I may turn into her the way these hormones are making me crazy.”

Michael helped me onto the table and stood beside the bed just as the ultrasound tech came in.

“Hi Miss Anastasi, I’m Evan, and I’ll be doing your scan today.” He glanced over at Michael and smiled. “And you’re?”

“Uncle Michael. The baby’s father could not make this because of being detained out of town, so I’m filling in.”

“Great. Have either of you ever seen or had one before?”

“Nope,” we said in unison.

“Alright.” Evan laughed as he adjusted the monitor. “Well, you two can watch there.” He pointed to a large screen tv on the wall at my feet. He raised my shirt and squirted some gel on my abdomen.

“Wow, I was expecting it to be cold.”

“Nah. I only break out the cold stuff if your baby is being shy. Let’s hope he or she wants the world to see their bits and shows off.”

I watched the screen and gasped when a 3-D image appeared.

“That’s my baby?”

“I sure hope so, or we have a major problem. I’m going to grab some measurements, then we’ll see if this little bugger will flash us. Do you prefer a gender?”

“I just want him or her to be healthy. There’s just one, right?”

“Yeah.” Evan chuckled. “I don’t see any indicator of one hiding. Alright. Measurements look good. Your baby is developing right on target. You ready to find out what you’re having?”

Michael squeezed my hand as I nodded. Evan moved the wand around, pressing down on my belly. He’d almost given up when the baby did some kind of somersault in my gut.

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