Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 86632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Brystol’s voice pulled me from the memory. “What are you thinking about?”
I smiled. “The conversation we had with our parents. I thought being here today, I’d be filled with guilt, but feeling the baby just now… I desperately want to be a father, and there’s no one else on Earth I’d want by my side on this journey than you, Brystol. I know she…or he…isn’t biologically ours, but from the moment you found out you were pregnant, something inside of me said this child was going to change our lives. In a way, this whole situation kind of brought us together.”
Brystol bit down on her lower lip. “That’s true; I never thought about it like that.”
I leaned over and kissed her. The brief knock on the door had me pulling back just in time for Dr. Lark to walk in.
She smiled after she greeted us. “Everything okay?”
We both nodded. “I just felt the baby kick,” I answered.
“What wonderful timing.” Her smile faded a bit before she said, “I’m so sorry for the loss of Evelyn and Denny.”
“Thank you,” We both replied at the same time.
After a few moments, she grinned. “Are you ready to take a peek at your little one?”
“Yes!” Brystol and I replied at the same time.
Dr. Lark laughed and helped Brystol onto the table. Once she was comfortable, the doc pulled up her shirt. She squeezed gel onto Brystol’s stomach, and we both stared at the large screen where Dr. Lark was projecting the ultrasound.
“Oh my God,” I whispered, as I saw our little peanut.
“Okay, so right here is the tip of the baby’s nose. See that?”
“I see it,” Brystol said, a giant grin on her face.
“The chin is right here, and the top and bottom lip.”
I let out a disbelieving laugh. “That is crazy!”
Dr. Lark moved around a bit more. “There’s one eye and the other.”
“Is she sucking her thumb?” I asked.
Dr. Lark nodded. “Sure is. Oh, now they’re grabbing their hands.”
The next thing we heard was the sound of the baby’s heartbeat filling the room. I blinked rapidly to keep my tears at bay. When I looked at Brystol, she was smiling at the screen.
“Heartbeat is good and strong. Let’s look at all the organs.”
I held my breath as she showed us each organ, and when she said everything looked normal, I exhaled loudly.
“I was holding my breath too!” Brystol laughed.
“Do we want to know the gender?” Dr. Lark asked.
“We do,” Brystol said, as she squeezed my hand.
“Guesses?” the doctor asked.
Brystol looked at me and winked. “We both think it’s a girl.”
Dr. Lark smiled. “You’re both right! You are growing a healthy baby girl.”
Brystol lost her battle and started to cry. I leaned over and buried my face in her neck, crying as well.
“Evelyn would have been so happy!”
I kissed her on the forehead. “I love you.”
She placed her hand on the side of my face and brushed a tear away. “I love you too.”
Dr. Lark handed us both tissues.
“I know this is a happy and sad time for you both. Do either of you guys have any questions for me?”
Brystol shook her head.
“Not that I can think of right now.”
Dr. Lark reached for Brystol’s hand. “Congratulations, Mom.” Turning to me, she said, “And Dad. You’re going to make wonderful parents.”
It took everything I had not to cry again. Christ, who was the pregnant one here?
As if reading my mind, Dr. Lark winked at me.
“I printed out a few photos for you here. One of them says ‘it’s a girl’ on there. I also made a video; Carol, at the desk, will give it to you when you check out.”
After cleaning up Brystol’s stomach, Dr. Lark hugged us both and told us to go celebrate.
We walked out of the office hand in hand with our printed ultrasound photos and video.
“I think we should celebrate,” I said as I opened the car door and Brystol slipped in.
When I got into the car, Brystol asked, “Please tell me your celebration involves food. I’m starving.”
I laughed. “Yes, it involves food. First, tell me how you’re feeling.”
She smiled. “I’m so happy, Gavin. I mean, sometimes I still can’t believe we’re going to be raising this child. I think the best thing we ever could have done is agree to therapy.”
“Me too.”
“It’s really helped me to navigate these mixed emotions. There are so many. I mean, neither of us was ready to be a parent yet, but here we are. I’m happy, and still so sad. I feel blessed, yet I can’t help but wonder why Evelyn and Denny didn’t get this opportunity.”
Reaching for her hand, I gave it a slight squeeze. “We’re figuring it all out as we go along, but as for your last question, I don’t even think the therapist has that answer.”
She nodded. Then grinned. “Who do we tell first?”