I felt the air leave my lungs. I turned away, buckled Eli in the back seat, didn’t look at anyone. Eli hummed softly to himself, oblivious. I wanted to be that calm.
The drive was silent except for Eli’s humming and the low thrum of the engine. Syd scrolled her phone. Cal stared straight ahead. I stared out the window at palm trees whipping past, thinking how wrong this all felt.
At the clinic Syd tried to follow us inside. I stopped her at the waiting room door.
“No,” I said. Firm. Louder than I meant. “Only me and Cal.”
She blinked. “I’m just....”
“The midwife said patient and partner only.”
Cal shifted behind me. “Syd....”
She cut him off, voice rising just enough to draw eyes. “You’re really doing this? Kicking me out? After everything I’ve done for you? For all of you?”
The receptionist glanced over. I ignored her.
“You’re not my family,” I said. “You’re his. And right now, this is mine.”
Syd’s eyes filled fast. She turned to Cal, lip trembling. “You’re letting her do this to me?”
Cal looked between us. Jaw tight. Then he stepped closer to her. Put a hand on her arm, gentle, familiar.
“Hey,” he murmured. “It’s okay. Just wait here. I’ll be right back. Promise.”
She sniffled. Nodded. Shot me a look that could’ve cut glass.
I walked past them. Didn’t look back.
The midwife was older, kind eyes, no-nonsense voice. She let us into the exam room. Dim lights. Paper on the table. Gel bottle warming on the counter.
Cal stood by my head. Hands in his pockets. Didn’t touch me. Didn’t speak.
I lay back. Lifted my shirt. Cold gel. Colder wand.
The midwife moved it slow. Then, the sound.
Fast. Tiny. Thumping through the speakers like a drum under water.
The heartbeat.
I cried. Couldn’t stop it. Tears slid hot down my temples, into my hair. I laughed at the same time, shaky, broken.
“That’s… him?” Cal asked. Voice rough. Barely above a whisper.
“Or her,” the midwife said gently. “Strong heartbeat. Everything looks perfect.”
I laughed again through tears. “Yeah. That’s our baby.”
Cal stared at the screen. Face blank at first. Then something cracked. His throat worked. Eyes glassy. He didn’t wipe them. Just watched until the image froze.
The midwife printed pictures. Handed them to me. I clutched them like they were gold.
After, in the hallway, Syd was waiting. Arms crossed. Eyes red.
Cal walked straight to her. “Hey. It’s okay.”
She buried her face in his chest. “I just wanted to be there.”
