Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 82163 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82163 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
My hand comes up to grab the paper from her, and I look down at it. You see the side view of the baby in black and white. My finger rubs his little cheek as all I can do is stare at it. I don’t even hear Abigail get off the table until she clears her throat, and I look up at her. She looks beautiful as always, but her eyes are puffy and look tired.
“Thank you so much, Dr. Emmy,” Abigail says to her. “I owe you.”
“Let’s just say this was the highlight of my day.” She puts her hands in her pockets. “Tristan, it was great meeting you.”
“Likewise.” I nod at her. “Thank you for this.”
“See you two in a month,” she says, turning and walking out of the room.
I turn back to Abigail and smile at her shyly. “Thank you for giving me this.”
“I’m sorry,” she says, two words she said yesterday also. “I know this doesn’t cancel what I did, but I thought it would be a good time for you to have your first ultrasound.”
I smile at her. “It was everything,” I declare, my chest bursting with all the emotions in the world. “I think we need to talk.”
“I think that is a good idea,” she agrees softly. “There are some things you should know.” She folds her hands together now, and I know she’s nervous.
“I have to get Penelope,” I say when the alarm on my phone rings. “Do you want to come with me?”
“I don’t want to intrude,” she tells me, and I just chuckle.
“You are never intruding,” I tell her the truth. “We can go and get her, and then why don’t we have dinner together?”
“Okay,” she agrees, and I can hear the nervousness in her voice.
We walk out of the office together, and I look over at her. “Do you have your car here?”
“Yes,” she admits, “but I can come and get it later.”
“No.” I shake my head. “Why don’t you follow me to my house, and we can go get Penelope.”
“Or,” she counters, “how about I meet you at your house for dinner?”
“I’d really like to be with you right now,” I admit to her, not ready for her to be out of my sight.
She smiles shyly as her head falls forward, and she tucks the hair behind her ear. “Okay.”
“I’ll drive you back to get your car later,” I tell her, or tomorrow, my head screams out.
We walk over to my SUV, and I open the door for her. “Thank you,” she mumbles, getting in.
I walk around the SUV to the driver’s side, get inside, and start the car. I can’t help but look over at her. “We are having a boy.” I shake my head in disbelief. “A boy.”
“Apparently, the old wives’ tale is true,” she says, and I just look over at her. “Dylan said I was having a boy because I was still pretty.” She laughs. “Apparently, if you are pregnant with a girl, you are less pretty because she is taking all the beauty from her mother.”
“What the fuck?” I snort in shock.
“Yeah, that’s what I said.” She laughs, putting her purse on her lap.
“That’s a bullshit superstition,” I tell her, pulling out of the parking lot. “I’ve known you for six years and you’ve been beautiful every single one of those days.” I don’t bother looking over at her. “You’ve been especially beautiful the last couple of times I’ve seen you.”
“You’re just saying that.” She tries to ignore my words. I let it be, knowing this isn’t the time and place to let her know how I feel about her. There is a lot to talk about it and having this conversation five minutes before I get Penelope isn’t enough time.
She gets out of the car with me when we get into the parking lot. I want to hold her hand but there will be so many questions, and I don’t even have the answers. When Penelope sees me, she smiles and then looks over and sees Abigail, and her smile becomes even brighter. “Abigail!” She runs over to us going straight for Abigail, hugging her. I watch the girl who owns a part of my heart hug the other woman who owns a part, and all I can do is feel like I’m complete. Abigail kisses Penelope’s head. “What are you doing here?”
“Well,” she starts, looking down at my daughter with the same love in her eyes that I have for her. “I missed you and asked your dad if I could come over and visit.”
Penelope’s eyes go even bigger. “Are you staying for dinner?”
“If that’s okay?” she asks, and all Penelope can do is nod her head.
“Do I get a hug?” I laugh at her, and she comes over and gives me a side hug. “How was your day?”