Chapter 20
twenty
HARPER
“Y ou all right?”
Finn’s deep voice draws my attention from the million thoughts swirling through my head.
“Yeah, why?”
His large hand lands on my knee, preventing it from bouncing up and down as it has been doing since we checked in and sat down.
We’re in the waiting room, waiting to see Aunt Stella for my first official doctor’s appointment related to my pregnancy, and I’m nervous. What if she says there’s something wrong with the baby?
“Sorry, nerves, I guess.” I give him a tight smile.
He fixes me with his hazel eyes, rimmed with dark lashes. “I promise, everything will be fine. Whatever happens in there, we will figure it out, okay?”
The weird thing is, I believe him. “Yeah… okay, thanks.”
A few minutes later, we’re called into the office, and the nurse tells me to remove everything from the waist down.
Finn’s eyes widen, and he looks away from me, thumbing over his shoulder. “I’ll um… wait outside.”
It would be almost comical if it didn’t highlight the fact that we’re having a baby together and barely know each other.
I undress and put the gown on before opening the door a crack and waving Finn inside. He looks at me warily when he steps in as if to make sure all my bits and pieces are covered. Finn sits in the chair, and I hop up onto the exam table, swinging my feet.
Before either of us can say anything, there’s a knock on the door, and it opens, revealing my aunt Stella wearing her white doctor’s coat, which contrasts with her dark umber skin and her red lipstick.
She always looks so put together, even when she’s working.
Her dark hair is in braids and pulled back into a ponytail, and her deep brown eyes flick between Finn and me.
“How are you?” She steps over to give me a hug, which I return. “How’s my girl? Staying out of trouble?”
I think my aunt would be happy if Maven continued living with her and Uncle Kingston for years, but she doesn’t seem to hold it against me that I gave her a place to stay.
“She’s good. Perfect roommate.”
“Glad to hear it.” She squeezes my upper arms then turns to address Finn. “And you must be Finn. Good to meet you.” She extends her hand.
He takes it, telling her it’s good to meet her as well.
“So.” She claps her hands together. “Congratulations to you both. Should we try and find out when you might expect this bundle of joy?”
I smile. “Yes, please. Though I can tell you the exact date of conception, since it was a…” I trail off, not wanting to say it was a one-night hookup.
“That makes things easy. But I’ll still do a physical exam today if that’s okay with you, Harper, just to make sure everything is progressing as expected.”
I nod, thankful she’s not making it a big deal. I knew my aunt would probably be cool about it, but I’m happy that initial awkwardness is over.
My aunt asks me a bunch of questions about how I’m feeling and what I’ve been able to eat. “Are you taking prenatal vitamins?”
“Yup.” My gaze flickers to Finn’s.
“Oh, of course.” She laughs. “That’s how you two were outed on Buzz Wheel.” She shakes her head. “I haven’t talked to your parents since I heard the news. How did they take it?”
“Surprisingly well.”
She makes a few notes in the computer then looks at me. “Did you doubt them?”
I shrug. “I knew eventually they’d be okay with it, but I was surprised how fast it happened.”
She heads to the sink and washes her hands. “Maven tells me you’re staying with the girls until you can find a place, Finn?”
Finn glances my way, looking a little unsure. “Yes, that’s right. Hopefully it won’t be too long.”
Aunt Stella cringes. “Small town means that sometimes it can be difficult to find a place, but I’m sure it will work out.” She looks between us. “All right. Are you ready to get your first look at your baby?” She grabs some gloves from the box on the counter and pulls them on.
My stomach flutters with excitement and nerves as I nod enthusiastically.
“Lie down on the table and get comfortable, Harper. We’re going to have to do a transvaginal ultrasound since it doesn’t sound like you’re that far along.”
Once I’m lying down, she arranges one of the blue paper blankets over my lower half. Finn remains seated where he is, watching my aunt intently. When my aunt pulls out the wand for the ultrasound, Finn’s eyes widen.
“You’re going to put that in her?” He looks at me with something akin to horror. “Is that safe for her and the baby?”
His panic and protectiveness are kind of cute, and I can’t help but notice the way he included my wellbeing in that sentence along with the baby’s. My chest warms.
“I can assure you that it’s perfectly safe. I won’t insert the whole thing, and once Harper is further along in her pregnancy, we’ll use a different wand, but this allows us to get a good look now.” My aunt turns her attention to me. “You ready?”
I nod, and she wheels around the machine so I can see it better.
“Finn, if you want to see, you’re going to have to come around here.”
He gets out of the chair and comes to stand by my side near my shoulder. “Is it okay if I stand here?” he asks me.
“Of course.” I turn my attention back to my aunt.
“All right, open your legs a bit.”
I do as she says while she slips the wand under the paper and finds what she’s looking for, then she presses some buttons on the screen.
It goes from black to black and white with some grainy visuals.
I can’t make out what we’re looking at, but my aunt takes pictures with the ultrasound on the screen while I keep on trying to piece together what I’m seeing.
Finn bends down so he’s near my ear. “Do you have any idea what you’re looking at?”
I meet his eyes. “No.”
We both laugh, and when I notice the image on the screen flickers, I stop.
“Sorry,” I say to my aunt.
She smiles. “No worries. Honestly, there’s not much to see here unless you know what you’re looking for, so don’t feel bad about it.” She points at the screen with her free hand. “This bigger end here is the baby’s head, and this here is the body. And do you see that little flicker there?”
I nod, not removing my eyes from the screen.
“That’s your baby’s heartbeat.”
I suck in a breath.
“Should we see if we can hear it?” my aunt asks.
I glance at Finn, but he’s not looking at me. His attention is wholly fixed on the screen with a look of awe. “Yes, please.”
She does something to the machine, then a whooshing sound rings through the room.
“It sounds really fast, is that okay?” I bite my bottom lip.
“It’s perfectly normal. It’s a strong heartbeat.”
Finn’s hand slips into mine, squeezing it. I glance up to find him looking at me, a serious expression on his face, then he gives me a small smile.
I squeeze his hand back. “That’s our baby.”
His nostrils flare, and he nods before looking back at the screen.
My aunt finishes up the ultrasound, and it’s only then that Finn and I realize we’re still holding hands. He drops my hand, seeming uncomfortable, and goes to sit back down in the chair.
“Do you know the due date?” he asks.
She nods. “Based on when you said your last period started and when you’re sure you conceived, I think we have a pretty accurate date.”
She tells us the date, and I smile. An April baby.
“I’m going to send you to the lab to give a blood and urine sample to make sure everything looks okay there, though I don’t see any reason to expect any issues. You can make your next appointment on your way out.”
“Thanks so much, Aunt Stella.”
She smiles and gives me a hug. “I’m excited that there will be a new member of the family.” Then she turns to Finn. “It was wonderful to meet you. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you often.”
He thanks her, then she leaves us alone in the room.
Finn and I stare at each other for a beat, some kind of emotion swirling between us, but I can’t quite put my finger on it.
He clears his throat and stands. “I’ll let you get changed. Meet you in the waiting area.”
Before I can say anything, he’s out the door, closing it behind him.
I can’t read him because I don’t know him well enough yet, but I plan to change that.