Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 95307 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95307 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 477(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Son of a bitch. Her confession ramps up my desire. “If we’re not careful, she’s going to know we both are,” I say, shifting my stance to make room for my growing erection.
“Seems fair.” She giggles.
Unable to resist, I bend down and kiss the corner of her mouth. “When we get home, I’ll make the ache go away,” I promise.
“Harrison…” My name is a whispered plea, doing nothing to douse the desire coursing through my veins. She meant it as a warning but missed the mark. Why should we both suffer? I can take care of her, in every way.
“Winnie,” I counter.
“Knock, knock,” Dr. Taylor says, entering the exam room and leaving Winnie no time to reply. “This is Kim, and she’s going to be performing the ultrasound. Do either of you have any questions?”
Winnie looks up at me and I shake my head. “No, we’re good,” she replies to Dr. Taylor.
The next few minutes are a flurry of activity. Dr. Taylor tells Winnie to lie back on the exam table and place her feet in the stirrups. Then she tells her to move farther down on the table. Her legs are spread wide, as are my eyes. My grip on her hand is strong as I watch Dr. Taylor pull back the blanket, which is more of a thin sheet, and expose my girl to them.
“This might be a little cold,” Alison says, holding up what looks like a dildo.
“Uh—” I start, but Dr. Taylor is quick to assure me that it’s completely safe for both my wife and our baby. I nod and after a quick glance at Winnie, decide to keep my mouth shut. She’s not worried about what they’re doing to her. No, her eyes are glued to the screen, the one that will show us our peanut. It’s not that it’s unsafe, but that has to be uncomfortable for her. I know they used the same method at the ER, but I just thought that was because they just found out she was pregnant. Obviously I have a lot to learn.
The room is quiet, except for Alison clicking buttons on a keyboard. “A little pressure,” she warns Winnie, but it’s as if she doesn’t hear her. Her eyes are still glued to the screen.
“There,” Dr. Taylor speaks up. “See that small flutter—” She points to the screen. In the center of a little black blob is a tiny flutter. “That’s your baby’s heartbeat.”
“Wow.” I bring our joined hands to my lips and kiss her knuckles, all while leaning in closer to get a better look at the screen. The blob is small, but the flutter is fast. The last time we were in this position, I was still processing the fact that we were having a baby. This time, I’m soaking it all up like a sponge.
“That’s normal, right? For the heartbeat to be that fast?” I ask her. I know the Emergency Room doctor assured us, but babies aren’t their specialty. Call me paranoid, but it never hurts to get a second opinion.
“Yes, currently it’s one hundred and forty-six beats per minute. Right in the middle, nice and strong,” she assures me.
“Measuring right at six weeks,” Alison says. She pushes a few more buttons. “I took some pictures for you,” she adds, removing the wand from between Winnie’s legs, and the screen goes black. Winnie pulls the cover back over her lap so that she’s no longer exposed.
Dr. Taylor reaches under the table and extends it. “You can take your feet down,” she instructs Winnie. She does as she’s told. “Now, the fun part. As I said, don’t be alarmed if we don’t hear the heartbeat. It’s still early, but I like to try, it’s an experience you will always remember.”
We already heard the heartbeat at the emergency room, but I don’t tell her that. I want to hear it again, so I keep my mouth shut. I watch with rapt attention as she pulls down the sheet, and pulls up Winnie’s gown, just enough to expose her belly. “This might be cold,” she warns as she spreads gel all over Winnie’s belly. “Our warmer has been acting up,” she says, taking a small machine and moving the gel all around.
Glancing down at Winnie, I don’t think either of us are breathing, for fear we might miss it. Dr. Taylor moves the wand this way and that. But still, I hear nothing. Until I do. The fast whooshing sound flows from the tiny speaker, and I swallow back the emotion clogging my throat. I was scared when she couldn’t find the heartbeat, but there it is. Fast and strong.
“Nothing’s wrong? Right?” I ask for clarification.
“Nothing. Mom and baby are perfect.” Hearing those words lifts a ton of bricks from my shoulders, and the happiness now outweighs the fear. Fear of losing one or both of them.