Chapter 39
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
isaac
We’ve barely had time to recover from Christine’s visit of doom when two young women in pink scrubs come to retrieve Elena for the ultrasound to check on the baby.
They introduce themselves by name but all I catch is Labor and Delivery.
“Okay if I come, too?” I ask as Elena climbs into the wheelchair the tech insists on taking her down in while holding the back of her gown closed.
The nurse nods but I’m looking at Elena. I don’t know how invasive this is going to be and if she’s comfortable with me being there.
She nods. “Yeah. Of course.”
Relief floods my chest as we walk down sterile fluorescent lit hallways until we reach a darkened room.
Once we’re settled inside, Elena lies back on the narrow raised platform like a car about to get an oil change, pale blue hospital gown pulled up, a thin paper-like sheet covering her lower half and knuckles white around the edges of it.
I stand beside her, wishing I was holding her hand but not sure if she wants that right now.
The tech, who introduces herself as Lisa, smiles softly. “This might feel a little cold.”
Elena flinches as some blue gel is spread over her belly. I reach for her hand. She takes mine without looking at me.
Lisa grabs a wand-thing and presses it to Elena’s skin.
The screen flickers on. There’s static then mostly shadows. I’m probably already a terrible Dad because I can’t see shit.
Then I can. A tiny flutter. A rapid rhythm flashing steadily on the screen.
Lisa angles the wand. Adjusts the monitor.
“There we go,” she murmurs. “That’s your baby.”
Your baby. In my mind, the words echo around the room like thunder.
Elena gasps. My chest expands.
My heart pounds so loud it seems to fill the room with a whooshing sound.
“That’s the heartbeat,” Lisa confirms, smiling. “Strong and steady.”
Elena blinks hard. “Wow. He or she is really in there.”
“Yeah,” I whisper, squeezing her hand. “Look at that.”
She glances at me. No sarcasm. No armor. Just wide, stunned eyes.
I stare at the screen. Mesmerized by that little flicker. The pumping steadily filling the room.
I’ve branded cattle, wrangled panicked horses, stood over my dad’s grave trying to name emotions I’d never had before.
But nothing has ever felt like this.
“It’s real now,” she says, voice breaking.
I give her hand a squeeze.
Lisa gives us a moment. Closes the door behind her.
Elena’s eyes meet mine. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“Don’t think I’d be able to stay away.”
She looks back at the screen. I study her face.
“I’m still kind of scared,” she says.
“Me too,” I admit. “But we got this.”
Her fingers tighten around mine. “Promise?”
I lean in. Rest my forehead against hers. “Cross my heart.”