Chapter 41 #2
Claire lay back on the padded table, her blouse lifted just above her abdomen, the gel cool and slick on her skin.
The sonographer moved the wand with a practiced sweep across her belly.
The screen to the right flickered. Gray and white static gave way to an unmistakable shape.
Not just a blur anymore, but a little human.
Reid sat beside her, one hand gripping hers, the other resting over his knee. His posture was rigid at first like he didn’t quite believe he was allowed to be here for this part. But when the faint whoosh-whoosh-whoosh of the heartbeat kicked in, his hand tightened on hers and didn’t let go.
Claire looked at the screen, throat catching. “That’s… fast.”
Tuck’s voice came from just behind the tech’s shoulder. “One-forty. Right on target.”
Claire turned her head slightly, catching sight of him now, dressed in black scrubs, chart in hand.
The most overqualified PA in women’s and children’s medicine, and also the chief facility director of Chase Medical, watching his niece-in-law—at least that was what he called her—and nephew like they were both patient and family. Which they were.
Reid said nothing, still staring at the screen.
Claire whispered, “That’s our baby?”
Reid nodded slowly. “That’s our baby.”
The sonographer gave a quiet smile. “I’m just capturing stills here… Spine looks good. Femur length within normal range. Head circumference normal… Um, do you want to know the sex?”
Claire looked at Reid. “Do you?”
He raised a brow. “Do you?”
She nodded. “There have been too many surprises.”
Reid laughed. “Tell the lady what she would like to know.”
Tuck smiled. “It’s a baby girl.”
Claire and Reid stared at each other, both a bit overwhelmed.
Tuck stepped closer and peered at the screen, something tightening in his expression. His drawl, always thicker when he was tired or concerned, came low. “Placenta’s a little low.”
Claire turned her head. “What does that mean?”
He didn’t sugarcoat it. “Could be nothin’. Could be startin’ a previa.”
Reid glanced over. “What is that?”
Tuck sighed. “Placenta implants low, near or over the cervix. Could cause early bleeding. Could mean early bed rest. C-section if it doesn’t correct. Happens. But we’re catchin’ it early, and I’m gonna watch it like a hawk.”
Claire swallowed. “Okay.”
Tuck kept scanning the screen, then lifted a page in her chart. “Also, you’re anemic.”
“Am I?”
“Mhmm.” He fixed her with the full Tuck Hanlon Look. “Your chart says you’ve been losin’ weight, not gainin’. You takin’ your prenatals?”
Claire hesitated. “Mostly.”
Tuck arched a brow. “Mostly.”
She tried to smile. “I’ve been… working.”
He clicked his pen. “Claire, I’m gonna say this once, and I’m sayin’ it as both your provider and your kin.
That child don’t give a damn how many hours you’re clockin’.
You’re carryin’ a life. That comes first. Iron-rich foods.
Three full meals. You miss a pill, you double up next dose. You don’t skip again.”
Her cheeks flushed. But his voice didn’t rise; it just landed with certainty.
Reid reached over and rested a hand on her belly. “We’ll do it together.”
Claire nodded slowly, everything catching up to her. “I’m sorry.”
Tuck softened. “Don’t be sorry. Just do better.
” He turned to the tech. “Print me everything. I want fetal measurements, dopplers, and cervix length. I’ll flag a follow-up in two weeks.
” Then he looked back at them. “Print a pic of their baby girl for the momma and dad. Y’all are gonna be just fine. But we do this my way.”
Reid smiled faintly. “Your way or no way, huh?”
Tuck tipped his head. “Damn right.”
Claire closed her eyes for a moment. Not long ago, she’d been sitting by Reid’s ICU bed, uncertain if he’d ever wake up.
Now here they were, watching the shape of their future squirm beneath a wand and listening to its heart beat like a war drum.
And for the first time in weeks, she let herself believe they might make it.
Reid sat beside her on the narrow couch in the post-exam room, Claire’s hand still resting across her abdomen like she was trying to hold the sound of the heartbeat inside her.
He couldn't stop looking at her. Not at her face, but at her body.
Her too-thin wrists, the slight curve of her belly, the faint smudges under her eyes where sleep had clearly been second to everything else.
He had seen blood spill from her body before. Seen her broken and gasping in his arms. He’d rather take another knife to the gut before he watched that happen again.
“You have to eat.” His voice surprised even him. It came out low, not unkind, but edged.
Claire glanced at him. “I do eat.”
He didn’t let her dodge. “Not enough.”
“I’ve been—”
“Working.” He shook his head once. “I know. You’re brilliant. Tuck showed us your chart. I saw your numbers. And I saw that screen.”
She didn’t argue.
Reid shifted, turned toward her, and took her hand in both of his. “That’s our little girl in there. And I know you’ll fight for her when it matters because that’s who you are. But right now, it matters. Every hour. Every bite. Every pill.”
Her eyes filled, not with argument but exhaustion.
He gentled his tone. “I need you to promise me. You protect what’s ours. And I’ll protect you.”
She nodded slowly, blinking. “Okay.”
“No shortcuts,” he added, softer now. “I mean it, Claire. I didn’t crawl my way back to lose either of you.”
She pressed her forehead to his, breath warm. “I hear you.” She kissed the tip of his nose.