Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 53521 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 268(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53521 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 268(@200wpm)___ 214(@250wpm)___ 178(@300wpm)
There’s a knock on the door and the doctor walks in. “Hi, Felicity. How are you?”
“I’m good, Dr. Kass. How are you?”
“Spent my morning delivering babies, so I can’t complain,” she says, laughing. “So, let’s just go over a few things. I see the prenatal vitamins were making you sick. How has it been since taking them before bed?”
“Yes, I’ve been fine since.”
“Great. Eating and drinking fine?” She taps away at the computer in front of her.
“Yes.”
I glance at Shepherd and grin because it’s just what he asked me. He doesn’t return it though, he’s laser focused on the doctor.
“Do you have any questions or concerns before I check you out?”
“No, I don’t think so,” I reply.
“Are we going to hear the heartbeat?” Shepherd asks.
Dr. Kass turns her head and smiles at him. “Yes. Are you the father?”
“Yes, sorry. Dr. Kass, this is Shepherd,” I rush out, embarrassed I didn’t introduce him right away.
“It’s great to meet you, Shepherd. I’ll get the exam over with quickly and if you’d like you can record the heartbeat on your phone.”
He grabs his phone out of his pocket and a small grin plays on his lips. “Thanks.”
Dr. Kass measures my stomach and feels around, telling me everything seems to be right on track. She explains that next month we’ll do our first ultrasound and once I’m six months I’ll be coming every two weeks. It’s a lot to take in and I can’t imagine being here that often, but one thing at a time.
That’s what I’ve been telling myself since I peed on the stick—one thing at a time.
“Well, everything is great. How about we listen to this little one’s heartbeat?” She grins at me and turns her head toward Shepherd. “You can come closer so you can get a good recording.”
He moves toward my head and I turn to look up at him. His dark eyes are staring at my exposed stomach and damn if it doesn’t cause those butterflies to return.
Dr. Kass squirts the gel on my belly and I suck in a breath.
“Are you okay?” Shepherd asks, worry clear in his voice.
I glance back up at him and smile. “Yes, it’s just cold.”
“Okay, get that phone ready, Dad.”
Hearing Dr. Kass call him Dad has tears swimming in my eyes. I knew he was the father, but hearing someone call him dad feels different.
Once she puts the doppler on my stomach she only searches for a moment before the heartbeat is loudly beating around us. As we listen, Shepherd reaches down and grabs my hand, linking our fingers together. I close my eyes to keep the tears from spilling because it may seem like nothing, but it means so much to me in this moment.
“Should it be that fast?” Shepherd asks.
The doctor nods. “Absolutely. It’s a strong fetal heart rate at 155.” She pulls the doppler off, but looks at Shepherd. “Did you get that, or should we do it again?”
He squeezes my hand and says, “I got it, but I wouldn’t mind hearing it again.” As we listen again, he kisses the top of my head. “That’s our baby.”
A tear slips out this time as my emotions take over. “Yeah, it is,” I whisper around the lump in my throat.
Dr. Kass smiles as she pulls the doppler off and wipes my stomach clean. “You can feel the love between you two. It’s so clear to see how emotional this is for you both. If either of you have any questions or concerns at any time, please don’t hesitate to call. In the meantime, continue doing what you’re doing and I’ll see you again next month.”
I hate to move, but I need to pull my shirt back down and it causes Shepherd to take a step back. “Thanks, Doctor. It was great meeting you,” he says, sticking his hand out.
She shakes it and grins. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Shepherd. Take good care of your girl.” With that she leaves and I suddenly feel overwhelmed.
The doctor who is going to deliver my baby thinks Shepherd and I are in love. I hope she’s better at delivering babies then she is at reading relationships.
Feeling awkward after everything she said, I stand up and force a smile. “So, how about that food?”
Wow, did I just really say that?
Chapter 14
Shepherd
I listen to the recording of my baby’s heartbeat over and over while Felicity steps into the restroom at the doctor’s office.
I send the recording through to the group chat with my brothers and Griffin (who’s practically like one of my brothers).
That’s my baby’s heartbeat.
Callum: Should it be that fast?
Griffin: Anya says fast is a good thing. Congrats man, I can’t believe how real this is getting.
Paxton: Is the baby good? Everything look okay? What did the doctor say?
Everything’s great. Next appointment we’ll be able to see the baby and determine the sex.