Lips pressing together, he hummed, considering my preference for a male doctor in a specialty dedicated to women’s reproductive health. “Guess that makes sense.”
“You two ready to get a peek at your baby?” Dr. Levy’s voice cut into our hushed conversation.
My grip grew tighter on John’s hand. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
The doctor pulled the long, wand-like probe from its holder before rolling a condom over it and squirting gel at the tip. Then he moved to insert it between my legs.
“Whoa!” John shouted. “What the hell do you think you’re doing with that?”
His over-the-top reaction to the apparatus used to conduct the ultrasound broke through the tension hovering over me like a storm cloud, and I couldn’t hold back a snicker.
Before Dr. Levy could explain, John leaned down to hiss in my ear. “Thatthinglooks like a dildo, Ro. He even put a condom on it! Please tell me he’s not planning on putting that where I think he is.”
“Afraid so,” I confirmed. “And trust me when I tell you there’s nothing remotely pleasurable about it.”
Eyes wide, he straightened. “Does it hurt? Because if it does—”
“No, just slightly uncomfortable and a little awkward, is all.”
Shyly, I turned my attention back to the doctor poised between my open thighs, the transducer held in one hand.
“Sorry about that.” Heat flooded my cheeks.
“Don’t think anything of it.” Dr. Levy gave my foot a reassuring pat. “It’s a common reaction from male partners, especially the first-timers.” Giving the wand a wave, he asked, “Are you ready to proceed?”
I dipped my chin. “Yes.”
“A little pressure,” he warned.
Unable to help it, I sucked in a sharp breath at the intrusion, and John tensed beside me.
“I’m okay,” I reassured him.
His lips twisted to the side, like he wasn’t sure I was telling the whole truth about that.
“All right, let’s see.” Dr. Levy spoke, tapping away at the keyboard affixed to the ultrasound machine while he angled the probe inside me in different directions. A smile formed on his face as he turned the monitor in our direction. “That’s your baby.”
Taking in the black and white image of a kidney-bean-shaped object—no, person—wiggling around, my chest grew tight and my vision grew blurry. In an instant, I fell in love, and all the reasons to terminate this pregnancy flew right out the window.
“Oh wow,” John breathed out in wonder.
“You see this little flicker right here?” Dr. Levy pointed to the center of the tiny life-form. “That’s their heartbeat. Nice and strong, which is what we like to see.”
I felt the press of lips to my forehead. “Our little miracle is perfect, Ro.”
“Uh-huh.” My eyes were glued to that screen, watching on as the doctor took measurements.
“I’d put you at a touch over seven weeks with an estimated due date of February 24th,” Dr. Levy announced. “And make sure you have your tire chains ready because at that time of year, the weather conditions can be unpredictable on the mountain pass between here and the hospital. Wouldn’t want you to end up having an unassisted homebirth during a snowstorm.”
Thanks for the nightmare fuel, Doc.
The ultrasound wand was removed from between my legs as the machine spit out a strip of black and white pictures of our baby, which Dr. Levy handed to John.
“Everything looks good from where I’m sitting. Make sure you stop at the front desk to schedule your next appointment. They’ll also give you a few pamphlets that outline what to expect during your pregnancy, contain a list of activities and foods you should avoid, and describe situations in which you should seek medicalattention immediately. Do you have any questions for me before I leave you to get dressed?”
“Uh . . . “ This was a lot of information all at once, and my brain was too busy trying to process that there was an honest-to-God baby growing inside me right now.
I looked to John for help, and he gave my hand a gentle squeeze as he addressed the doctor. “If we think of any between now and our next appointment, is there a number we can call?”
