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“Preeclampsia.”
“Yeah, that’s it’s Preeclampsia —which is very dangerous for both the mother and the baby— and eating dark chocolate reduces that risk by about seventy percent.”
“No shit?” Riker looked dubious.
“Definitely no shit!” Gia huffed imperiously.
While the muscle in Riker’s jaw continued to clench and Gia’s eyes continued to narrow, Doc Gideon decided to step in. “Alrighty then, how about if we move this appointment right along. What do you say we all go into the examining room and listen for the little tike’s heartbeat!”
Riker peered over the goop that covered Gia’s belly and tried to read the expression on Doctor Gideon’s face. It had been a good ten minutes and the doctor hadn’t been able to locate any sound.
Gia had reached for Riker’s hand and clutched it tightly while they both watched the instrument the doctor calledThe Dopplercircle around in the cold, clear, sticky goop that covered her belly. Starting from about her pubic bone, the doctor gently glided the probe upwards towards Gia’s belly button. The he began to slowly rock the probe, covering every part of her stomach so that he could find the fetus.
“Sometimes, it just takes a while. Or sometimes the baby is lying in a position where the instrument can’t hear the heartbeat. There is really no cause to be concerned.” Doctor Gideon said calmly. “This is not unusual, but let’s set up an ultrasound just in case.” Doctor Gideon made a motion to pull the instrument away from Gia’s stomach.
“Riker…” The panic in Gia’s voice sounded like a three alarm fire.
“Give it a couple more tries” Riker demanded.
Where another physician might have been put off, offended even at the tone, Doctor Gideon had been dealing with Prosper’s boys long enough to know that it came with the territory.
“Okay. Sure. Let’s give it another try.” Doctor Gideon said with infinite patience and the tension in the room immediately ebbed.
Another excruciating long moment of circling Gia’s abdomen with the Doppler and then…
Choo choo choo.
“Ahh here we go.” Doc Gideon said triumphantly. “There’s your baby’s heartbeat. Nice and strong too.”
Gia gave Riker’s hand a tight squeeze then called out happily “It sounds like a little train!”
Riker let out the long breath and listened to the miracle that was the steady beat of the tiny heart.
I think I can I think I can I think I can. The sound reminded Riker of the story about that little engine. As a kid, it had been his favorite book. Riker had made his mother or one of his older sisters read it to him again and again and again.
Damn right you can, little one. You can do, and be, and have, anything in this world you want. I’ll be there to make fucking sure of it. Your pop has got you covered.
Gia closed her eyes and reveled in the sound of the baby’s heartbeat. The feeling of joy that filled her was so powerful, so complete, so absolute that all the self-doubt and fear of being too stupid, or too selfish or too stubborn to be a good mother all melted away. Gia knew, in that moment, that she would do anything, become anything, sacrifice anything to be the kind of mommy her baby needed her to be.
“Gia! Are you awake?” Riker came bounding up the stairs two at a time.
“Now I am.” Gia frowned at him. “What’s going on?”
“That fucking uncle of yours!” Riker paced the floor and ranted.
“What? Where?” Gia hopped out of bed like a jackrabbit caught in McGregor’s garden.
“On the phone just now. But I set the fucker straight!”
Gia looked at Riker with wide eyes.
“We are talking about my Uncle Gianni, right?” Gia managed to squeak out.
“One in the fucking same.” Riker spat out.
“Please tell me you did not call him a fucker.” Gia had visions of waking up one morning to find Riker slumped over on the floor with a bullet in the back of his head—shot execution style.
“Came close.” Riker snarled.
