Page 59 of More Than Enough

Jessica saw it and took it from her friend’s hand, turning it over and over. “What’s this?”

Elizabeth looked at Jessica and shrugged her shoulders. “It’s the ultrasound from a couple weeks ago. I’ve never opened it. I was hoping Brady would want to open it with me, but now he isn’t interested, and I’m really considering looking at it without him.”

“You could facetime him. If he answers, you can open it with him on the phone. If he doesn’t answer, open it anyway. Just do it.”

Taking a deep breath, Elizabeth got up her courage. “You’re right. I should just do it.”

“Do what?” Mrs. Parks entered the room and involved herself in the conversation. Jessica filled her in. The excitement was evident in Mrs. Park’s eyes. “I agree with Jessica. Just do it and see what happens.”

Looking between her two favorite women gave Elizabeth the courage she needed. She picked up her phone, dialed Brady’s number and waited to see if he would answer, even though she didn’t expect him to.

The phone rang and rang.

She was getting ready to hang up, when there was a click, and Brady’s face filled her screen.

Her heart leaped in her chest when she saw his image. A smile filled her face, and her features lit up with the excitement of seeing him.

She couldn’t mistake the fact that she missed him. He looked so good. His bruises were gone, and his scratches were healing.

She could tell that he was at a desk, and it looked like he was in a small room. It must have been his office.

“Hey, Elizabeth. Is everything alright?” He asked her.

“Yeah, it is. Are you at work? Am I bothering you?”

“Yeah, I came back to work yesterday. I’m on desk duty and just making phone calls and answering emails. I can’t do much else. You caught me at a good time.”

“How are you feeling? How’s your leg?”

Brady faced his camera down. There was a cast on his leg and he had it propped on a stool under the desk. “The cast is a bit bulky and very uncomfortable, but I’m able to move around, so I won’t complain much anyway.”

“I’m glad to hear that. You look good, Brady.”

“Thanks. You’re looking great yourself.” He smiled at her.He paused and looked behind him saying something she couldn’t understand.

“Sorry. My dad just came to the door. We have a meeting in a littlebit. Anyway, what’s up?”

She held the envelope in front of the camera. “I got this at the appointment I asked you to go to, quite a while back. You didn’t show up, and I didn’t open it. I was wondering if you wanted to know if we are having a son or daughter.”

Brady was silent for a bit, and just stared into the camera. He finally found the words he needed. “Really, you’ve been waiting to open it with me?”

She nodded her head. He looked away from the camera, really seeming to think of the possibility. Then, turning back to face the camera, he nodded his head. “Yeah, let’s do this.”

Elizabeth shot a look of excitement over her phone at the two women who both smiled encouragingly at her.

She took a deep breath, “Here it goes.”

She placed her phone against her mug of tea, and tore the envelope open, pulling out the picture inside. The picture was a black and white photo of a baby. On the bottom was typedbaby boy Parks.

Elizabeth smiled a huge, excited grin and held it in front of the camera to focus only on the ultrasound photo. Brady was as quiet as she was, probably taking it all in.

“Brady, can you read it?” She asked this just to make sure he was still there.

“Yes, I can.”

She turned the camera back to focus on her face, so she could see him. “It’s a boy, Brady.”

They made eye contact as much as you could through a phone screen.

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