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“This is so exciting.” I squeezed his hand in mine and beamed up at him. His eyes softened, warming my heart. He really could be as sweet as his brother if he wanted to be. “Thank you for this.”
He shook his head and brought my hand up to his lips, pressing a kiss to the back of it. “Don’t thank me, baby. Just enjoy this. That’s all the thanks that I need,” he promised.
I leaned up on my tiptoes and pressed my lips to his. “I love you,” I whispered, my lips brushing his.
He laced his fingers in my hair and deepened the kiss. It was the first time I’d ever said the words to him.
“Always, baby,” he told me. “You’re never getting rid of me.”
My smile widened. “I don’t mind,” I assured him.
He laughed and pressed a quick kiss to the tip of my nose before he led me further down the paved trail.
29
BABY APPOINTMENT
Ally
My doctor stepped into the room, smiling warmly at me as she closed the door behind us. Apparently, she was Meghan’s doctor throughout both of Meghan’s pregnancies, and Meghan highly recommended her.
She held her hand out to me. “Hi, Ally. I’m Stacie. I’ll be your doctor.” She took a seat on the stool, looking at Christian and Caiden. “Boyfriends?” she asked.
My cheeks burned as I nodded. Christian held his hand out to her. “I’m Christian—the father of the baby.” He gestured to Caiden. “This is my brother, Caiden.”
She smiled at both of them. “It’s great to meet you both.”
Caiden grabbed my hand in his, sensing my nervousness, and gave it a gentle squeeze. I looked up at him, his dark eyes clashing with mine. He silently released my hand and reached up, trailing his fingers along my jaw before he lightly tapped my chin with his knuckles. “Chin up, baby.”
A smile tilted my lips. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to the top of my head. I turned my attention back to the doctor, my cheeks instantly lighting on fire at the smile on her face as she ran her eyes between me and Caiden.
She grabbed her folder. “Okay. First things first, I need a list of medications that you’re taking,” she told me.
I swallowed thickly, my face paling a little. Christian turned my head to face him. “Easy, baby,” he soothed. “She’s a doctor; she’s not going to judge you.”
I ran my eyes over his face before I nodded and drew in a slow, deep breath. I looked back at Stacie and quickly listed off all seven medications I took. There was no hint of judgment in her eyes as she ran her eyes over the list she created. “Do you see your therapist regularly?” she asked me.
I nodded. “I see Dr. Gresham in person every Monday and Friday, and we do virtual sessions every Wednesday.”
She smiled. “Dr. Gresham is an excellent doctor. You’re in great hands with him. And all of these medications are safe to take while you’re pregnant, so you’re okay there.” She stood up. “I want to do a breast exam and a pap smear as well as check your cervix. Then, I want to do an ultrasound, pinpoint your due date, and get you set up for regular check-ups.”
The thought of her feeling the scars on my chest and my breasts made me sick to my stomach. I shot my panicked gaze to Christian. He grabbed my hand. “Easy, beautiful. Remember, she’s a medical professional. She’s here to make sure you’re healthy and that our baby is healthy—nothing more.”
“Is there something I should be made aware of?” Stacie asked.
Caiden trailed his fingers along my spine as Christian brushed his thumb over the back of my hand. “She was in a bad accident a few weeks ago,” Caiden informed her. “It left behind some scars.”
Stacie shot me an understanding smile, and somehow, I knew she’d known what I’d gone through. I wanted to cry, and it took everything in me to hold my tears in. “Honey, I’m here to make sure you and your baby are well and healthy, just as Christian told you,” she assured me. “I’m not here to pass judgment. I’m here to be supportive.” She grabbed my folder. “Now, I’m going to step out of the room. I’ll come back in a few minutes. I need you to take your clothes off and cover yourself with these paper sheets,” she said, grabbing two out of the closet in the room.
Christian took them from her. She nodded once at me and slipped out of the room, closing the door behind her. Caiden gripped the hem of my shirt and pulled it over my head, and Christian unclasped my bra, taking my shirt from Caiden afterward.
Caiden leaned down and pressed his lips to the scars covering my chest. “Still so perfect,” he whispered. He pressed his lips to mine. “Be strong, Ally.”
