Chapter 85
CHAPTER EIGHTY-FIVE
Harper
Song- Orbiter, Noah Khan.
Two weeks later…
After the crash, as soon as we got home, Ace decided that rather than focusing on recovery, he'd spend his spare time reading up on all things pregnancy, birth, and fatherhood.
Which is also how I've ended up back in a hospital waiting room. Except this time, it's in New Falls with my new private team, the ones who'll look after me for the rest of my pregnancy and the birth.
Ace squeezes my hand. This man is supposed to be at home, recovering and resting. But I don't think there's a single force on this planet that would stop him from seeing his baby on a screen for the first time.
"You good, baby?" he whispers, pressing a kiss to the top of my head.
I glance down at my bouncing knee.
I thought I was okay. I'm sure I've started to feel the baby move a little. But every day I just hope they're doing okay. That I'm doing enough for him or her.
Maybe I'm not doing as well as I thought. I've spent all my time making sure Ace is okay. Which he is, he's fit and strong and healing well. He won't be getting on a bull anytime soon, though. Not that anyone's been brave enough to tell him that to his face.
"I'm nervous and excited, I think," I say.
He wraps his good arm around me. He's getting pissed off about how slow the other one is healing.
"You're doing the best job of growing our baby, Harper."
I smile, resting my head against his chest, calming myself to the sound of his heartbeat.
"Miss Jones?" the nurse calls.
I look up and smile. I stand, then help Ace to his feet.
It's nice to be called something other than Mrs. Blake.
"Thank you, sweetheart," he murmurs.
"I got you, Acey." I wink.
With his hand in mine, we follow the nurse to the private room on the left. Ace lowers himself into the chair beside the bed, and I lie down, pull up my cami, and hold out my arm.
He takes my hand again and holds it tight.
"Okay. So, we're just checking progress today. You were in a car crash recently, correct?" the nurse asks.
I nod.
"And everything was checked and cleared at the time?"
"It was."
She smiles and squeezes the clear gel onto my stomach, making me hiss out a breath.
The screen comes to life when she presses the monitor against my skin.
"Ace. Remember to breathe," I tell him.
"Sorry. I'm—"
He doesn't finish the sentence.
Tears well in my eyes when I see our baby. Bigger now than the first time. A clearer picture. The most perfect thing I’ve ever seen.
I glance at Ace. He's not even hiding it. Eyes locked on the screen. Tears running down his cheeks. This man kills people for a living, and he's crying at a sonogram in under four seconds. My heart can't take him.
"Our girl," he whispers.
I squeeze his hand twice. "Our baby."
"Do you want to know the gender? I can try to get a clear enough image," the nurse says.
Ace sucks in a breath.
"Yes," we say in unison.
My heart is in my throat as she moves the monitor around my stomach. I don't take my eyes off the screen.
"Hey, Goldie. Breathe," Ace teases.
"Ah, ha." The nurse smiles. "Are you ready?"
We nod.
"It looks like Dad was right. A baby girl."
Ace nuzzles his head against my neck, and I wrap my arm around him, stroking the back of his hair while his shoulders shake.
"You hear that?" I whisper. "You get to be a girl dad."
"Thank you, Harper." His voice is muffled against my skin. "Thank you for giving me everything I dreamed of."
I let my eyes flutter closed. Hold him while he holds us.
"Oh, she's an active one. Look," the nurse says.
We look up at the screen. She's completely flipped, feet where her head was, she's showing off already.
My heart has never been so full.
"I just need to take some measurements, and I'll see you again in two weeks?"
"Yes. Please."
We watch in silence as she measures and checks our little girl.
Every click of the machine, every still image saved, Ace watches with complete concentration as if it’s the most important data in the world.
I mean, this man memorized three pregnancy books in two weeks.
He'll be quizzing this poor nurse in the parking lot next time.
"April?" I ask, turning to him.
He sits back. And of all the smiles I've seen this man wear, the wicked one, the cheeky one, the one before he chases me, the one when he’s pretending to be serious, this one will always be my favorite. Pure, unfiltered happiness. The smile I’ve always dreamed of seeing on his handsome face.
"April Harriet Sterling?" he says. "A little part of both of us?"
Harriet was his mom’s name, so this is perfect. Both of our initials and a nod to the woman who raised him.
"I think it's perfect," I say, clutching the A necklace that's firmly back around my neck. New chain. Same gold letter. Some things you don't replace; you just repair them and hold on tighter.
I lean over and wipe a tear from his cheek.
He's still covered in cuts and bruises. Honestly, he probably should be admitted to this hospital, not visiting it.
But he’s so damn happy. All the pain he just went through was worth it for this one moment.
April Harriet Sterling. Size of an avocado and already flipping for an audience.
Daddy's girl. No question about it. And I can’t wait to have her in my arms.