Page 95 of Nanny for the Doctor

It’s been a while since Reed left to find the scans, and I’m going crazy waiting for an update. I’m unsure exactly how long it’s been, but obviously long enough that Johnny fell asleep in a chair by the window.

I’m not upset that he did. If dread weren’t still keeping my nerves on edge, I’d have passed out from exhaustion long ago.

The doctor who first saw me when I arrived came in a few minutes ago and said I’m being kept overnight for observation. I’ll most likely be discharged in the morning.

But I still don’t know how the baby is doing.

“Mae.”

I snap my attention to the door, and Reed comes in holding a long, skinny printout of something.

“Did you get them?” My heart hammers, and I’m seconds from crying again.

Reed nods. “Yeah.”

As he walks over, Reed smiles, and I can tell he’s fighting back a swell of emotion.

“I didn’t look. I wanted to see the pictures with you, but the tech said everything’s fine.”

Relief floods through me like a dam breaking, and the crying starts up again.

“I can’t seem to stop.” Mopping up my face, I feel Reed sit next to me. “Damn hormones.”

Reed chuckles softly, holding the images face down. “You ready?”

“Yeah.”

As he turns them over, Reed says something about everything being right on track, but I don’t hear him, not really.

There’s a tiny little bean in front of me that looks like it’s wearing a circle on its head. A tearful chuckle escapes, and I squeeze Reed’s hand.

“They’re just fine, Mae. The baby is safe and healthy and very small. You’re not far along. A few weeks.”

I’m weeping uncontrollably now as I stare at the pictures of the human growing inside me, and I feel like the Grinch when his heart grows three sizes.

“Why are they wearing a hat?”

Reed laughs. “That’s the yolk. It’ll disappear. But they’re in there. All safe and sound. It’s too early to tell a gender or anything, but—”

“They’re perfect.” I laugh hard through a huge sob, tears streaming down my face. “They’re better than perfect.”

I look over at Reed, who’s all tears and snot, too.

“We made a little person.”

He laughs as he wipes his face, pulling my knuckles to his lips and kissing them.

“I was so fucking scared, Mae. I thought I might lose you, both of you. And it nearly destroyed me. It still might if you leave and never come back.”

Blinking to clear my eyes, I hold Reed’s gaze, letting him say all the things he’s been holding on to.

“I haven’t been good at this. Relationships are really hard for me, but that’s not an excuse. You deserve a lot better than I gave you. You deserve the entire world, Mae.”

He shakes his head, glancing at the pictures and then back up at me.

“I want to be the man you deserve. I want to be better. For you. For Henry.” He nods down. “For them.”

“Reed.”

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