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Nick’s mind flashed back to his brother, Caiden, and that day when everything changed. The usual heavy feeling of guilt showed up and threatened to weigh him down, but he mentally shook away the thought. He wasn’t going to bring his heavy baggage here. Today he was going to hear his child’s heartbeat for the first time—maybe even see the sonogram picture.
With due respect to Caiden, he locked memories of his late brother in the recesses of his heart as he followed Becca through the maze of stations and stops, where they performed tests and took her vitals before finally showing them to an exam room.
“The doctor will be right in,” said the nurse. “Make yourself comfortable.”
Becca settled herself on the exam table. Nick didn’t know how anyone could be comfortable sitting there.
“Are you sure you don’t want the chair?” Nick asked, surprised by the protective feelings that had come to life inside him.
“Oh, no, thanks,” she said. “I’m fine here. They’ll do a sonogram. So I’ll need to be on the table for that. I might as well stay here.”
“How often do you have to come in for checkups?” he asked.
“Once a month right now, but the closer I get to my due date, the more often I’ll have to come in. You’re a doctor. You didn’t know that?”
“In case I forgot to mention it, obstetrics isn’t my specialty.”
“Yeah, I think you mentioned it.” She smiled at him. “Nick, I’m really glad you came with me today. I know this probably seems a little overwhelming, but having you here has made it so much easier for me.”
“I haven’t really done anything.”
“Yes, you have. Just by being here.”
She looked small and fragile sitting on that table. Nick had to fight the overwhelming urge to pull her into his arms and tell her he was willing to do anything he could to protect their child. But he didn’t want to lead her on, and he didn’t want to promise her anything he wasn’t 100 percent certain he could deliver.
Memories of Caiden rattled that cage in the back of his mind, reminding him it probably wasn’t in anyone’s best interest—certainly not Becca’s or the baby’s—to promise more than financial support.
Becca had no idea how foreign the concept of family closeness was to him. Very few things scared him, but that was one of the things that did. Only because it was so big and so crucial—and in his experience, very unforgiving. One misstep and not only did you screw up your own life, but the person, the people who were counting on you, too...
Stop. You’re not doing this now.
“By the way, I’m off Friday night,” he said, taking his thoughts in a 180-degree turn.
Her face brightened. “Do you want to go to the football game?”
“That would be fun.”
“It’s a high school game. Is that okay? But the entire community turns out. I can’t think of anything more typically Celebration than that.”
“Sounds...fun.”
“Did you play when you were in high school? Or even college?”
“Who, me?” He shook his head. “No. I didn’t play sports.”
“Too busy studying? When you were in high school, were you one of those übersmart guys who ruined the grade curve for everyone else?”
He’d ruined a lot of things for a lot of people when he was a teenager, but the bell curve wasn’t one of them.
“No, I had to work much harder just to keep up. I had a part-time job that edged closer to full-time when I was in school, and then right after high school I joined the marines.”
Her eyes widened, and her mouth formed an O. “Yet another thing I didn’t know about you. You’re a constant surprise, aren’t you?”
He winked at her. “I try my best.”
“Well, during football season the whole town shows up for Friday night football games. This year, Celebration High has a pretty good record. It’s the first time since I can remember that they’ve been contenders for the district championship. It should be fun. I’m glad you want to go.”
“What time does the game start?”
“Seven.”
“Would you like to grab a bite to eat before the game?” he asked.
“That would be great. If you’re up for the full experience, we could grab something there. The band boosters grill burgers and hot dogs and sell chips and sodas.”
“Sounds like a meal fit for a king. How about I pick you up at six?”
