Page 118 of One Reckless Night

She exhaled sharply, her shoulders relaxing just a fraction. “Thank you,” she whispered.

I gave her a small smile, one that felt more genuine than any I’d given in years. “You’re in good hands,” I said.

Mr. Langford reached out and shook my hand. “We trust you,” he said.

“I won’t let you down,” I said quietly.

I glanced at my watch and realized it was almost time for my next meeting.

Amelia had an OBGYN appointment at the clinic on campus, and I wasn’t about to miss it. I’d flown in her OBGYN from Miami just to make sure she was getting the best care possible. It was probably overkill, but I didn’t care. Amelia and the baby were my top priority, and I wasn’t taking any chances. Amelia and I both agreed the doctor was good. Amelia was comfortable with her and that’s what mattered to me.

When I got to the clinic, Amelia was already in the exam room, lying on the table. She looked up when I walked in, her face lighting up with a smile. “Hey,” she said, her voice soft.

“Hey,” I replied, crossing the room to stand beside her. “How are you feeling?”

“Like a whale,” she said, laughing. “But otherwise, okay.”

The doctor chuckled, shaking her head. “You’re doing great, Amelia. Let’s take a look at this little one, shall we?”

Yes, we were doing another ultrasound. This would be the last one until he arrived. The doctor wanted to make sure everything looked good. I wasn’t going to be too bummed about getting another peek at my little guy.

The ultrasound began, and I found myself holding my breath as the image of the baby appeared on the screen. He was bigger now, more defined, and I could see his tiny hands and feet moving. It was incredible. I couldn’t help but smile.

“Everything looks perfect,” she said, her tone reassuring. “The baby’s growing right on track, and Amelia’s doing great. The placenta and amniotic fluid are good. After a little scare, I think we’re out of the woods. We certainly don’t want to get too crazy, but bed rest isn’t necessary. I don’t want you running marathons, but moderate activity is okay.”

“Thank, God,” Amelia sighed.

“We can start talking about delivery plans soon,” the doctor said.

Amelia glanced at me, her eyes shining. “What do you think? Natural birth or C-section?”

I shrugged, trying to play it cool, but the truth was, I’d already read every book and article I could find on the subject. “Whatever you’re comfortable with,” I said. “But if you want my opinion, I think a natural birth might be the way to go. Less recovery time, and it’s better for the baby.”

Amelia nodded, her expression thoughtful. “I’m up for anything at this point. I’m already getting tired of being pregnant.”

The doctor laughed. “That’s normal. But the good news is, you can come off bed rest. Just take it easy, no heavy lifting, and listen to your body.”

“Absolutely,” Amelia nodded.

“Trust me, if she doesn’t listen to her body, I will.”

After the appointment, we decided to take a walk on the beach. The sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the water. It was a mild day. Amelia walked beside me, her hand resting on her bump. I couldn’t help but smile. She was beautiful, even like this—maybe especially like this.

“It’s so beautiful here,” she said. “And it feels so good to be walking. I swear my muscles were starting to atrophy.”

I chuckled, slipping an arm around her shoulders as we walked. “You’re glowing, you know that? Pregnancy suits you.”

She rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide the smile tugging at her lips. “You’re just saying that because you’re biased.”

“Maybe,” I admitted, leaning down to press a kiss to her temple. “But it’s true. You’re stunning, Amelia. Always have been.”

She glanced up at me. “You’re not so bad yourself, Dr. Welch.”

I grinned, squeezing her gently. “Glad you think so, Dr. Pritchard.”

We walked in comfortable silence for a while. It was moments like these that I cherished the most. They reminded me of how far we’d come from the first moment we met.

“Do you ever think about what comes after? After the baby, I mean.”