Chapter 32
Beth had fully expected to be uncomfortable. Junior’s determination to accompany her to the doctor had taken her off guard. So had the way he’d acted so relaxed when he’d sat beside her in the waiting room.
She was pretty sure that only Junior Lambright could walk into the middle of an obstetrician’s office as nonchalantly as if he was in a feed supply store.
While she’d checked in with the receptionist, he’d nodded to the pair of women sitting across the room.
Then, ignoring their stares, had started reading a magazine.
When she’d sat down beside him, he’d studied her expression. “You okay?”
“Yes. We might have to wait a couple of minutes, though.”
He shrugged. “We got time.”
“Thanks for coming with me.”
His eyes warmed. “I wanted to be here.”
Everything inside of Beth seemed to shift when his words registered. Junior wasn’t giving her a line. He meant what he said. He wanted to go to this appointment because she mattered to him.
Just like she’d wanted him to be there because he was important to her.
Still processing that truth, when the waiting room door opened and the nurse called her name, then asked if Beth would like Junior to come back with her, she nodded.
As they walked down the hall, Junior chatted with the nurse about the weather. He stepped to the side when she was weighed, and waited in the hall when she had to run into the bathroom.
Next, she was sent down the hall for a blood draw, her least favorite part of any doctor’s appointment.
“Right or left arm?” the tech asked.
“I don’t care which arm. I just don’t want to see it.”
“Let’s do your right, then.”
As the tech efficiently poked and prodded, she averted her eyes. Inhaled.
“Breathe,” Junior murmured. “Yeah?”
At last she exhaled. When she eased, he leaned a little closer and reached for her free hand.
To Beth’s amazement, Junior had managed to do everything for her in a quiet, unobtrusive way. He hadn’t looked uncomfortable, but it had also been obvious that he didn’t want to get in anyone’s way.
Not as surprising was the fact that nearly every nurse and tech they saw had smiled at him.
Beth didn’t blame them. Junior was handsome.
The light green shirt he was wearing accentuated his hazel eyes.
Plus, there was something about his personality that was so giving and warm.
Within five minutes of meeting him, it seemed almost everyone wanted to be his friend.
Beth was starting to feel a little like an odd duck, since she’d had quite a different reaction to Junior the first time they’d talked.
Then, too, was the memory of him driving her to her grandparents’ house and she being so surly.
Back then, she’d judged him unfairly and had barely listened to a word he’d said.
Looking back, she realized that so much of her crossness had been based on how she’d felt inside. She’d been so scared and unsure and wanted to lash out at anything and anyone she could.
Now Beth was beginning to think that their rocky beginning had forged a stronger connection.
After all these weeks of working together, they were embedded in each other’s lives.
Whenever they didn’t see each other on the weekends, she missed him terribly.
Sometimes she even tried to tell herself that she should stop thinking about him so much.
But that didn’t seem possible.
After Junior had stayed out in the hall for the beginning of her doctor’s appointment, she’d wanted him by her side when they did the sonogram. For every other one she’d been by herself, even though Kelsey, Treva, Patti, and Mommi had offered to come. She’d refused because she’d felt so alone.
No longer.
“Let’s see how this little one is doing,” Dr. Summers said, interrupting her thoughts.
After they’d listened to the heartbeat and the doctor explained the numbers she was recording, she turned to Beth. “Are you ready to find out the sex of your baby, Beth?” Dr. Summers asked. “Or have you elected to wait?”
Did she want to know? Discovering that she was going to have either a son or a daughter somehow made everything suddenly seem too real.
She turned to Junior. “What do you think?”
“I think it’s your decision, Elizabeth.”
“I know. But do you want to know?”
“Yes, but I’m a planner by nature.” He looked a bit sheepish. “But more than that, I want you to be happy most of all.”
His words meant everything. And, just like the way his presence eased her in the waiting room, his calm acceptance of her decision helped to erase all the doubts she had.
“All right, then.” Fortifying herself, she turned back to Dr. Summers. “Yes, we want to know.”
The doctor smiled. “You’re going to have a boy.”
“A boy, Junior.”
Eyes on the screen, Junior stepped closer. Linked his hand with the one closest to him. Squeezed gently. “That’s wonderful. Nee, wunderbar.” Turning back to Dr. Summers, he added, “How . . . how is he? Healthy?”
“I believe so. Now, this is his head, obviously. Here’s the spine . . .” As she continued, she pointed to the various body parts, sometimes pausing to explain something.
Junior listened intently. Beth had a feeling if she quizzed him about the doctor’s explanation, he’d be able to recite all sorts of things right back to her.
For her part, she felt dreamy. And, well, a bit shocked, too. Since Kiran wasn’t in the picture, she’d begun to only think of the baby as hers. And because of that, she’d latched on to the baby looking just like her. Her very own mini-me.
But now the reality was shifting things a bit. Instead, she was having a boy. Would he look like Kiran? What would she do if he did? How awkward would that be?
And . . . he’d said he didn’t want to be a father. But what would he do if he actually saw his son? Would he change his mind and suddenly try to take him from her?
“Elizabeth?”
“Hmm?” She was startled to discover that Junior had crouched down and was gazing at her in concern. “What’s wrong?”
“You started looking a little pale.”
“Are you feeling all right, Beth?” Dr. Summers asked.
“I’m fine. It . . . well, I guess reality just hit me hard.” She attempted to smile. “I’m good now.”
After wiping her stomach, Dr. Summers helped Beth pull back down her dress and pull up her tights. Then Junior on her other side helped her sit up and finally get to her feet.
“Thanks, guys, but I’m good now.”
“I printed a few pictures for you to take with you,” the doctor said. “Here you go.”
Moments later, Dr. Summers left and Junior was helping her put on her cloak. “You know what? I’ve heard a lot of good things about the diner that’s around the corner. How about we go get something to eat.”
Eat? She kind of felt like she was on the verge of throwing up. “I don’t know . . .”
“Elizabeth, this is a pretty big day. It would be a shame not to celebrate it. Don’t you think? I heard the pancakes are fantastic.”
“You’re right. Pancakes sound like a good way to celebrate this boy.”
“Good. Come on, then.” After retrieving everything, he walked her out to the reception area, double-checked the date of the next appointment, and then he guided her to the elevator.
When they were alone, he said, “What’s gotten you so rattled?”
“I always imagined that this baby was a girl. It’s caught me off guard.”
“Do you really not want a boy?”
“Oh no. It’s not that at all. I think a little boy would be adorable. It’s more . . . well,it makes me wonder if the boy will look like his dad.”
“I reckon he might.”
“But . . . what if that makes Kiran change his mind about being involved?” She knew she was focusing on her greatest fears, but what could she do?
Junior shrugged. “If this man wants to be involved in your boy’s life, I reckon that is a good thing. That means he loves him.”
“Maybe,” she said as the elevator doors opened and they stepped out.
As they passed two nurses in the hall, Junior motioned her to one side. “What are you thinking?”
“I’m worried that Kiran will suddenly want more rights or try to take this baby from me . . . or, I don’t know.” Tears started to fill her eyes as all her worries compounded, strengthened, and seemed to threaten to take her breath away.
Reaching for her hand, Junior whispered, “I thought you told me that you and Kiran were friends.”
“We were.”
“Did you think he was a terrible or unreasonable person when you were friends?”
“No, of course not.”
“And didn’t he agree to get a lawyer involved and sign paperwork?”
“He did. But I also promised to let him know if anything important happened or if I needed his help.”
“I think it’s best you focus on the positive, then. When you get back home, give this Kiran a call and tell him that your babe is a boy.”
“And then what?”
“Listen to what he has to say. But I reckon he won’t be all that surprised. I mean, there was a fifty percent chance that was going to happen, ain’t so?”
“I suppose.”
Lowering his voice, Junior added, “Please stop worrying. No matter what happens, you’re not alone. We’ll handle the future together. Okay?” After she nodded, he exhaled. “Gut. Now, let’s go eat.”
“You make everything seem so easy.”
“Life ain’t easy, but you can’t be borrowing trouble, Elizabeth. Let’s choose to think good things. I feel certain that a great many good things are coming our way.”
As they walked to their table in the diner, Beth sat down across from him with a big smile.
“Aren’t the two of you cute?” the server asked as she came to take their order. “I haven’t seen a couple look so happy together in ages. And . . . are you expecting?”
Elizabeth’s cheeks were pink, but it was obvious that her flush was from happiness, not embarrassment. “I am.”
“Do you know what you’re having?”
Turning to Junior, she shared a smile with him. “We’re having a boy,” she said.
“A boy! Congratulations!”
“Thank you,” Junior said. “We’re very happy.”