Page 77 of SnowBound

I napped during the second half of the drive and woke up to the scent of the burgers Ellie had grabbed from a takeout joint. We arrived in town just in time for my sonogram appointment.

“It’s okay, right? If I come in?” Ellie asked when the nurse called my name.

“Yes. Please.”

“Cool.” She looked nervous, her hand crushing mine, as she walked next to me toward the exam room. “Can we know the sex?”

“It’s possible...I think. According to the motherhood book I’m reading, it should be.”

“You wanna find out?”

I debated the idea in my head. “Not sure. Everything has been a surprise so far. And learning the sex is something I would have wanted to share with Andy. If he were here.” My shoulders sagged forward as if I carried the weight of the world. “Somehow it feels wrong to know it while he’s not aware of anything.”

“I get it.”

“I have a hunch it’s a boy, but let’s not find out today.”

The nurse took my vitals and some blood work before I met with the doctor, and he asked a bunch of questions. The entire time, my heart pounded in my chest. He looked reassured when I admitted I would be moving into the Baby and Me shelter, and Martha would look after me.

After he handed me packs of vitamins and other supplements, he led us to the sonogram room where I lay on my back and exposed my stomach. With a towel protecting my clothes, the doctor applied some blue jelly to my skin and talked us through the images on the black-and-white screen.

Ellie’s grip on my hand tightened when we heard the baby’s heartbeat.

We looked at each other, both of us crying when we watched tiny feet and arms waving on the screen while the doctor took some measurements.

“This is so amazing,” my friend said, her jaw hanging open.

“Do you wanna know the sex?” the doctor asked as he handed me a series of printed images of my baby.

I inhaled a deep breath and shook my head. “Nah. I think I’ll wait.”

Ellie and I exchanged a watery smile. “Can I have a picture too?” she asked. After I nodded at the doctor, he printed her a copy. “I’ll be the best auntie in the entire world, I swear.”

I laughed through my tears. “I have no doubt.”

We hugged after the doctor left us so I could fix myself up before meeting him in his office for a final conversation.

* * *

“We need to celebrate,” Ellie said as we returned to our hotel.

“Celebrate? What occasion?” I gestured around me with my hand. “My new living arrangements? My emancipation?”

“No, silly. We saw your baby today. And it was the most magical thing I’ve ever witnessed. And we went on a road trip together and finished first on trivia night. We’re also celebrating the new chapter of your life. It may not seem like it’s what you want right now, but believe me when I say it might be what you need.”

I halted and pivoted to face her. “What do you mean?”

“Like a blessing disguised as a warped situation. Something you need to go through in order to get where you gotta be. Does it make sense?”

I assessed her words in my head for a minute. “Yeah. Kinda.” I squeezed her hand. “I hope you’re right.”

“When was the last time I was wrong?” She cocked a brow, and we both burst out laughing. “So, celebration?”

“Yes. And I know just the place.”

An hour later, we sat facing each other at Wild and Country, one of the most popular venues on Broadway. No matter how much time I spent away, every time I came back to town, I remembered why Nashville was my favorite place to be. And it wasn’t just about the music, but also the energy, the people, the vibe. I loved everything about my hometown.

“What are we having?” Ellie asked.