Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
Josy
Ican’t seem to sit still. My right leg has been bouncing non-stop ever since I grabbed the clipboard with the papers I had to fill out for the doctor.
I got here ten minutes early and handed everything back to the office clerk, but now it’s already ten minutes past ten, and Noah still hasn’t shown up.
He hasn’t texted me since yesterday when he confirmed the time and place of the appointment.
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous. I’ve been waiting for this day all week. It's felt like the longest week of my life. I’ve been working non-stop at the new coffee shop just to keep myself busy, trying to drown out all the emotions running through me.
The only person I’ve told about the pregnancy is Violet.
I couldn’t keep it from her for long. When I told her the next day, she was completely surprised but practically lit up when I mentioned that Noah was the baby’s father.
She jumped up and down, grinning like a loon.
“I knew it!” she squealed. “You’ve been denying what you feel for that man for the past ten years. I knew it!”
That’s when I had to burst her bubble, telling her that we’re just friends, and that nothing else is going to happen between us. She was sad, but supportive. Although, knowing Violet, she’s probably still holding out hope that Noah and I will somehow end up together.
Noah’s been supportive, texting every day and night but I haven’t seen much of him.
I’ve been hiding out at the shop, trying to stay focused.
The morning sickness is still hanging around, but it’s manageable now, thank God for that.
But today? Today’s the day I’ve been waiting for, the day that will finally confirm what I already know. And I can’t shake the nerves.
Why isn’t Noah here? Should I text him? Yeah, I’ll text him. As I reach for my phone from my purse, I feel someone sit down beside me. The scent hits me before I even look up, I know it’s him.
“Hi, sorry I’m late. I lost track of time at the office,” Noah says, his voice deep and apologetic.
“It’s okay. I was just about to text you.
” I glance over at him, and my breath catches.
He’s wearing a black polo, dark blue jeans, and those damn work boots that make him look effortlessly rugged.
His hair falls slightly into his face, and his full beard makes him look hot.
Damn. I would give anything for a kiss right now.
How is it possible that every time I see him, he somehow gets more handsome? It’s ridiculous.
And that beard—it’s clean, well-kept, and looks ridiculously good on him.
“Were you thinking I wasn’t going to show up?” he asks, a teasing smile on his lips.
“Yes,” I admit, scrunching my nose to show him I’m being honest.
“Sweetheart, I wouldn’t miss this for anything in the world. You and this baby are the most important things to me. You’d better get used to me being around because I’m not going anywhere.” His words are soft but full of promise.
“If you say so.” I’m about to reply with something else when I hear my name called from the door leading to the doctor’s office.
It’s time. Quickly standing up from my chair, I glance at Noah.
He gives me a big smile and says, “It’s showtime, sweetheart.
” I nod, and just as I’m about to walk toward the nurse waiting by the door, Noah intertwines our fingers.
The gesture surprises me, catching me off guard.
I glance down at our hands and then up at him.
Noah winks and starts walking, pulling me gently along with him.
Once inside, the nurse sends me to pee in a cup and then checks my vitals, all while Noah stands quietly in the corner of the room, watching.
After that, she leads us to an exam room and instructs me to change into a paper gown for the doctor to perform the checkup.
When she leaves, I turn to Noah, feeling the weight of his gaze on me.
“I guess I’ll change now,” I say, a little awkwardly.
Noah leans against the wall, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. “Do you need some help? Or should I turn around to give you some privacy?” His tone is teasing, like he’s daring me to take my clothes off right in front of him, as if he thinks I won’t.
He doesn’t know me as well as he thinks. I turn away from him, throwing a glance over my shoulder. “Just sit down. I don’t need help, and you’ve already seen me naked. If you need to look away, be my guest.” My voice is calm, but I can feel the heat rising in my cheeks.
I hear him chuckle but don’t give him the satisfaction of a reply as I kick off my sandals and begin undressing. First my jeans, then my underwear, all while keeping my back to him. I slip off my shirt and bra, and I’m fully aware he has a perfect view of my bare ass.
Just as I’m about to grab the paper gown from the table, I feel Noah’s presence behind me, close. So close I can feel the warmth of him against my skin. His breath tickles the back of my neck, and I hear him inhale deeply. My eyes flutter closed. What is he doing?
Before I can gather my thoughts, his arms slip past me, brushing against my waist, and he grabs the gown. Gently, he helps me slide it on, his fingers grazing my skin as he fastens the front. I shiver under his touch, biting my lip to suppress the reaction.
He leans in close, his breath warm on my ear. “There. All set,” he whispers, stepping back, leaving me feeling both vulnerable and more alive than I’ve felt in years.
I turn around and lock eyes with Noah. His brown eyes seem even deeper, more intense, and I catch the subtle movement of him adjusting himself in his jeans. My lips curl up into a slight smile as I bite my bottom lip, feeling a wave of relief. I’m not the only one affected by all of this.
I sit down on the examination bed, and as we wait, there’s a charged silence between us.
He doesn’t say anything, just stares at me with that smoldering look, like he’s daring me to give him the green light to kiss me, to take this tension and set it on fire.
But I don’t. I just sit there, smiling mischievously, knowing that this time, I’m in control.
A knock on the door snaps me out of the moment. The doctor walks in, her bright pink scrubs standing out against her dark skin. Dr. Willis has been my OB for years and seeing her brings a sense of familiarity and calm.
"Hello, Josy,” she says warmly.
“Hi,” I respond, and then I glance over at Noah, realizing I should introduce him. “This is Noah.”
Noah stands up to shake her hand, his demeanor respectful but still carrying that quiet confidence. I don’t offer any more explanation. Saying he’s my friend feels weird, especially with the doctor knowing he's the father of the baby I’m carrying.
“Nice to meet you, Noah. I’m Dr. Willis.” She smiles before turning back to me. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m okay,” I say, even though a part of me feels anything but.
She smiles kindly and glances at her chart. “Well, I’d say you’re more than okay. Your urine test confirms you’re pregnant. Congratulations!”
I immediately look at Noah. His posture straightens, and a wide, genuine smile lights up his face. He looks so proud, and for a second, my heart does a little flip.
Dr. Willis continues, “I see here you’ve been experiencing nausea and vomiting?”
I nod. “Yeah, it's been rough.”
“That’s completely normal, especially in the first trimester. It can last until your second, or it might stop earlier. Every pregnancy is different. Just make sure you’re staying hydrated, and I’ll prescribe some prenatal vitamins to help you along.”
She goes over the basics—what I should eat, what I should avoid, the importance of rest—and we both listen intently. It feels surreal, hearing all of this while Noah sits quietly.
“Now, let’s do a checkup and take a look at the baby. We’ll be doing a vaginal sonogram today, as it’s the best way to see the baby this early on. Is that okay?”
“Sure,” I answer, my heart racing with excitement and a little bit of anxiety.
This is it. Noah stands next to me, his hand warm and reassuring in mine.
Dr. Willis moves the machine closer and asks me to place my feet on the stirrups for easier access.
I nod, following her instructions, and then I see her grab the wand-like device—something that looks uncomfortably similar to a dildo.
She places a condom over it and applies some gel on top.
Noah’s eyes widen, and I can't help but chuckle at his expression. “It’s totally normal,” I say, amused.
“This is the device that’ll help us see your little one.” Dr. Willis smiles gently. “Just take a deep breath and relax, Josy.”
I nod again and shift my focus back to Noah, feeling his steady presence beside me.
I squeeze his hand, and he looks at me with soft eyes, giving me a wink that melts some of the tension in my body.
I close my eyes for a moment, trying to calm my nerves, then the machine lets out a soft whir as the screen flickers to life.
I don’t understand what I’m seeing on the screen at first, but I’m glued to it, waiting for some sign of our baby.
“You see this circle here?” Dr. Willis points to the screen, and I nod. “That’s where your baby is currently growing. And this tiny dot right here.” She pauses and points to the screen. “That’s your baby.”
I stare at the screen, trying to process the magnitude of what I’m seeing. Then, as if she has magic in her hands, Dr. Willis adjusts something, and suddenly the room is filled with the rhythmic sound of a heartbeat—our baby’s heartbeat. It’s steady, strong, and overwhelmingly real.
Noah squeezes my hand harder, and I look up at him with tears already filling my eyes. His face is pure wonder, his gaze fixed on the screen before he leans down and whispers, “That’s our baby.”
The way he says it, filled with so much awe and tenderness, nearly undoes me. Then he presses a soft kiss to my forehead, and I let out a shaky breath, overwhelmed by the moment.
I turn back to the screen, watching as Dr. Willis takes measurements, talking us through the process.
“The baby’s heartbeat is strong,” she says, and relief washes over me.
“From the information you’ve given me, it looks like you’re around eight weeks along.
Your due date is July 16th, so you’ll be expecting a summer baby. ”
A summer baby. It’s all becoming more real by the second.
Dr. Willis smiles as she finishes up, printing three pictures of the sonogram. She hands them to us. “Here are some pictures to take home, and I’ll see you next month for a follow-up.”
I take the pictures from her, my hands shaking slightly. After she leaves the room, I stare at them, feeling both amazed and terrified at the same time. Our baby is so tiny, but already, this little dot has changed everything.
Noah lets go of my hand so I can clean up and get dressed, but he stands there, his eyes still glued to the pictures, a small, proud smile playing on his lips. I can’t help but smile too, even as a thousand thoughts race through my mind.