She leans back in her chair, folding her hands over one another. “All we want is for the baby and you to be healthy, and if for some reason it does drop lower, I don’t want you to worry. There is medication we can give you to help. All your tests came back negative, so we know it’s not an underlining to something more severe.”
Shane lets out a breath; I know this was something that was worrying him. He did the worst thing possible and searched for low blood pressure on the internet. The results did not ease his worry in the slightest.
“Now, are we ready to see that beautiful baby?” She grins, clasping her hands together.
“Yes,” Shane and I answer simultaneously.
A few minutes later, I’m lying down, belly exposed, with Shane at my side holding my hand. Dr. Carlson squirts some gel over my belly then brings the monitor over and presses it down in the center of my round stomach. “I’m going to start off by taking some measurements to make sure this little baby is up to speed. Are we finding out the gender today?”
Shane and I look at each other, making sure we’re still on the same track. When he nods at me, I smile. “Yes, please.”
“All right, let’s get started.” She moves the wand around in every which way as we watch the screen with amazement. After a little moment, she speaks up again. “Your little one is in great health, good weight and just the size we’d want it to be at. Are we ready, Mom and Dad?”
Shane’s hand tightens in mine as I feel my emotions rise, making me unable to speak, so he takes the lead and answers for us. “Yes, we’re ready.”
When the image on the screen changes to the legs, they part as if granting us access to what is hidden there. At first, I’m unsure of what I’m seeing, but then it hits me.
“That’s not a penis,” I blurt out, instantly turning red. “Emma said that you could clearly see it by the shape. This doesn’t look like one,” I clarify.
Shane chuckles and drops his forehead to my shoulder. “You’re right, Angel. That’s not a penis.” He kisses my skin next and whispers against it, “We’re having a girl.”
“We are?” My voice squeaks as tears fill my eyes. I quickly look over at Dr. Carlson for confirmation.
She nods with a joyful smile. “Congratulations, Mom and Dad, you’re having a baby girl.”
A sob falls from my lips as I look at the image of our daughter on the screen. I wipe my tears quickly, my vision blurring every two seconds from the onslaught of emotions coursing through my veins.
I’ve never felt this, this pure joy and kind of love. This happiness. It’s like I ripped my heart out of my chest and handed it over to my daughter. The love and happiness I feel for Shane is one thing, but this, this is all-consuming in an entirely new way.
When I turn my gaze to Shane, his eyes match mine, filled with tears as he lets out a wet laugh before leaning in to kiss me. “We’re having a girl,” he whispers again.
“We’re having a girl.” I kiss him back.
~ The Next Day ~
“So, what’s the plan for today, future mama? Are we staying in for the rest of the day or heading back out?” Lionel asks as he toes off his shoes by the door.
We just got in from the bakery, after a small three-hour shift. I feel guilty for cutting my hours so drastically, but Clara assured me it was fine, that mine and the baby’s health came first. She actually promoted Octavia to assistant manager to take over my missing hours after I suggested it. Clara knows Octavia was my right-hand woman and knew everything already about the job.
It only took a few hours of training and she had it all mapped up. She’s been in her new position for almost two weeks now, and she loves it. Plus, the bigger pay is really helping her out with her mom.
“I’m not sure yet.” I had planned on seeing maybe one of the girls, but they all seem busy. I get it, they have their own lives now. I can’t expect them to always be available.
Morgan has a doctor’s appointment with Trinity and Theo, her twins. Emma was going over to her father’s house with the kids. Cecilia is working. And Ronnie has to take Blubber, their sphynx, to the vet for his shots and a general checkup.
“Okay, well you let me know. I’m going to call my daughter back.” Lionel waves his phone and begins to walk up the stairs toward his room on the second level. She had called while we were in the car, and he didn’t want to be rude even though I insisted it was fine.
I walk over to the kitchen, grabbing myself a small bowl of Froot Loops without milk and waving hello to Antoine and Marianne. Then I head over to the living room and turn on the TV. I’ve started binge watchingThe Originals, now that Morgan got me hooked onThe Vampire Diaries.
My phone rings from beside me on the couch and I turn it over, expecting to see Shane’s name to tell me they just arrived at their hotel, but instead I see Hailey’s. We exchanged phone numbers after Shane’s birthday party and texted once or twice, but she’s never called me before.
I swipe to accept the phone and bring it up to my ear. “Hi, Hailey.” I greet her with a friendly tone.
“Hey, Aubrey. How are you?” She sounds cheerful.
“I’m good, and yourself?” I frown a bit confused as to why she’s calling me.
“I’m doing great. Hey, I was wondering, are you busy right now?”
