Page 41 of Falling Together

I scrub a hand over the back of my head.

“Same. Didn’t think this is how I was going to see you again.”

That earns me a half-smile. “Sorry to burst your bubble, but I am glad you’re here with me.”

I reach out and squeeze her bicep. It’s the briefest of touches, but I feel it everywhere. Based on the way her eyes are locked on to my hand, she felt it too. But we don’t have time to worry about that as she spins on her cowboy boot and heads into the office.

A few people are sitting in the waiting room as Georgia goes to check in. Pictures of happy babies and families line the walls. The clean, antiseptic smell permeates the room.

I drop into a plastic seat in the back corner and wait as Georgia comes to sit next to me. Her knee is bouncing right next to mine.

“It’s going to be okay,” I say, placing a hand over her leg.

“Sorry.” She winces.

“Don’t apologize.”

“It’s just…” She shoves a hand through her hair. “I’ve never done this before.”

“If it helps, I haven’t done it in over fourteen years, so I have no idea what to expect.”

She spins and faces me, her knee brushing against mine. “You don’t?”

I shake my head. “I have no idea what’s changed since my son was born. I’d like to say not much, but I really don’t know. We’ll figure it out together.”

“Are you sure?” she asks, worrying her bottom lip between her teeth.

“What do you mean?”

“Georgia.” A nurse steps into the waiting room and calls us back.

Whatever she was going to say will have to wait. The nurse takes her vitals before showing us into a room.

“There’s a gown you can change into and the doctor will be in to do the ultrasound and get some more information for you.”

“Thank you.”

Georgia smiles at her before she leaves the cold, sterile exam room. I eye Georgia as she starts to unbutton her shirt.

“Yeah, I’ll just…”

I drop down onto the stool and spin around to give her some privacy. It’s not like I haven’t seen it before, but it feels different here.

The ruffling of paper tells me she’s back on the exam table.

“You can look now,” she says.

Turning back to her, there’s now a nervous smile fixed firmly in place.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” I ask.

“I want everything to be okay.”

I hold my hand out to her and she takes it. Her palm is warm and calloused. Probably from riding.

“Squeeze if you need anything, okay?”

The door opens and an older woman with graying hair walks in. “Hi, Georgia. I’m Doctor Rhodes and I’ll be doing your ultrasound today. Based on the information you gave the nurse, it looks like your due date is the fifth of January.”