“No, I’m getting goddamn writer’s cramp.” He chuckles. “I’maddicted to these bloody things now. Can’t stop doing them. Ifinish one, I catch myself trying to talk myself out of doinganother one.”
Isnuffle a laugh. “You need anything, man? I’m heading out for abit.”
“Where are you headed? I’ve got goddamn cabinfever.”
I’mgoing to the sonogram appointment with Ellie. But I’m not about totell him that. I hadn’t heard from her since yesterday, and thenshe called me this morning to tell me that there had been acancellation, and they were able to squeeze her in. “Just runningerrands. When are you allowed to get up and start movingagain?”
“Any time I want to now that the heavy pain killers are done.I’m only supposed to lay off if this sucker starts to hurtagain.”
“I’ll take you for a run up to the junk food store when I getback.”
“Sounds good to me, man.”
“Okay. I’ll catch you later, dude.”
I seeEllie’s car parked at the front of the medical building. I’m righton time, and I see her coming out of her car. “Hey.” Isay.
“Hey.” She says, and I detect a hint of reluctance in hervoice.
“You okay?” I ask, giving her back a rub.
“I feel like a want to puke.” She says, unimpressed. “And it’snot morning sickness. I’m just…” she trails off.
“It’s okay, darlin’.” I kiss her head. “We’ll get throughthis.”
Shedraws in a deep breath, and I pull her close to me, from her side,as we walk inside the building. Thankfully we’re brought in rightaway, so Ellie’s not sitting there stewing in her own nerves. Oncewe’re settled in the room, and Ellie’s belly is exposed, thetechnician puts the gel on, and does her thing. And when theheartbeat comes over the machine, I look at Ellie. I swear to God Isee a flash of something in her eyes. “Now, y’all ain’t gonna seemuch, here.” The technologist says. “You’re real early, darlin’.I’d say…seven weeks, maybe. Real early. All you can see here is atiny peanut, but that’s your baby, mind.”
I helpEllie sit up a little, so she can see the figure on the screen. Theonly thing moving on the screen is its little heart. “Looks likethe little critter’s asleep. Not moving much, but its got someheartbeat.” She scoffs, impressed.
“That there’s a Walters heart. Always strong.” I comment. “Andall us Walters are boys, so this here, I’d lay money, that he’s aboy.” I say proudly.
“Yeah, well, it’s half me, too, buckaroo, and you’ve got meand my sister Sloane in the family, so I’d argue thatpoint.”
“You’ve got me there, darlin’.” I smile.
“Everything looks great. Y’all want pictures?” thetechnologist asks.
“Sure, I’ll take one.”
Sheprints off a bunch and hands them to me in an envelope. “You canhead on out then. The doctor will get a copy in a couple ofdays.”
“Thanks.”
I can’ttell if Ellie is still in shock, numb, or just completelyunimpressed, because her face is so impassive. “You hungry,darlin’? Can I take y’all to lunch?”
“How’s Gunner doing?” she asks, sidestepping ananswer.
“He’s doing great, love. Loving those books you gothim.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” I squeeze her hand. “That was sure nice of you tobring them to him.”
“That’s the least that I could do.”
“What do you say…can I take you out to lunch?”
After asigh, she answers. “Sure.”
