Warrior (First to Fight #1)(15)
It’s at that moment when I promptly motion him with my finger to hold on a moment, while I proceed to throw up in his trash can.
THE DRIVE TO the doctor’s office took a small eternity, even though it’s usually possible to get anywhere in Nassau within ten minutes. Both Jack and Dad had offered to come with me. Even Sofie wanted to take off work and drive down. I told them all the same thing I’d repeated since I told them I was pregnant: I could do it myself. None of them believed me. Dad even threatened to show up anyway. “Tough shit,” he told me. I managed to convince him not to follow through, as long as I called him right afterwards with the news about the gender.
I smooth the skirt of my maternity dress with clammy fingers. My knees tremble as I open the door to the cool interior. The person behind me pushes it open more fully and I turn to thank them, until I see Jack’s familiar face.
My jaw drops. “What are you doing here?”
I throw my hands around his neck and he responds in my ear, “You should know better by now than to think I would let you do this alone.”
Tears threaten, but I urge them away with a few deep breaths. “Thanks, Jack.”
“Anytime,” comes the rumble from his chest. He sets me back with his hands on my arms and nods. “Let’s do this.”
I check-in with the nurse at the front desk and head over to the waiting area where Jack sits in a too-small chair with a pinched look on his face. His obvious discomfort makes me smile and I forget the anxiety that had begun to build on the drive over.
“What exactly are we doing today? There isn’t—” he clears his throat. “You aren’t going to be getting naked or anything, are you?”
I laugh. “They’re just going to do an ultrasound, make sure the baby is still developing as he or she should.”
“He,” Jack says. “It’s definitely a he. There’s no way Ben’s sperm made a girl. That boy is jacked on testosterone. You should come see him next time he’s at the gym. He’s a f*cking powerhouse.”
I elbow him in the ribs when a mother shoots him a stern look. “Watch your mouth,” I whisper-scold , “The last thing I need is for the kid to come out cussing like you guys.”
Jack just grins and I know that’s exactly what is probably going to happen.
The tech calls us back and either my nerves or the baby make my stomach flutter. I’m going to ignore the nerves and focus on the baby. Either way, I can’t wait to find out what I’m—what we’re—having.
The exam room is separated into two different areas with a green paper curtain dividing them. The tech indicates the farthest table and I hop up, my clammy hands resting on my lap in front of my little stomach.
“Why don’t you lay back?” the tech suggests with a small smile. “Then we’ll take a looksee.”
Jack takes the chair by the table and places my hand in his.
I pull up my top and settle back. The tech squirts the gel on my stomach and I flinch a little at the cold.
“Sorry about that,” she says.
A blurry image appears on the screen and I squint to discern some type of body shape, but I don’t recognize anything at all.
“What the hell is that?” Jack says, leaning over me for a better view at the monitor.
I sigh and resist the urge to tell him to shut up. Thankfully the tech laughs him off and wiggles the gelled wand on my stomach. “Ah,” she says. “There we go.”
The picture coalesces and I recognize the roundness of a little belly and what looks like and arm…or maybe it’s a leg. Either way, my eyes grow wet and I press a hand to my lips.
I’ve always treasured the Walkers. To me, they are my family, no matter what. But the moment I see my own flesh and blood, I realize that there has always been a part of me looking for that connection; something I know is wholly mine. It floors me to find it in such a small person. I’m speechless as the tech points out each body part and prints off the photos. I don’t even notice when she stops speaking or when she leaves the room.
Jack, who remained quiet the whole time, finally pipes up. “I don’t know why you’re over there crying. It looked like an alien to me. Are you sure you weren’t abducted?”
I don’t even smack him this time.
When the tech returns, it takes me a moment to sense the seriousness of her demeanor. But the downward pull to her lips is unmistakable. My elation starts to melt away and I feel my heart start beating more quickly in my chest.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
“I don’t want to worry you, Mrs. Walker, but there were some areas that I felt Dr. Hamilton needed to take a look at. Just a precaution,” she explains as though to stem my growing worry.
I appreciate the sentiment, but it doesn’t ease my fear. Jack squeezes my hand. I return it, probably cutting off his circulation in the process.
Doctor Hamilton, a stout older man with grey hair and a matching a no-nonsense mustache appears with his white lab coat billowing behind him.
“Mrs. Walker,” he says.
“Ms.,” I correct, my voice faint.
“Ms. Nothing to worry about, but let’s just take a look and see what we’re dealing with.”
He settles down in the chair with the tech hovering behind him. Everything in my vision narrows to the little monitor that I’d been watching so reverently only moments early. Now, a feeling of doom settles in my stomach and it makes me want to snatch the wand away from the doctor and throw the monitor out of the nearest window.