“You mean for them to confirm that it’s a Dax Jr.?”
She hits my arm playfully with her hand, and we walk out of the hospital to our car. The incident with Tatiana was already forgotten. A quick ride later, we pulled up to the OB office we selected together, which was close to the hospital. We make our way to the check-in desk and are told to have a seat by a lovely older lady that resembles a super sweet grandma.
“We will be with you in a minute, dear. Such an exciting appointment.”
We nod in agreement with huge matching smiles awaiting the news. She closes the window, and I pull Liv into the seat next to me. Five minutes later, we were called back. She changed into a gown. She takes a seat on the table close to an ultrasound machine that would let us know if it is indeed a baby boy we are expecting.
The sonographer comes in, and I sit up a little too eagerly. I swear I am more excited than Liv is to find out what we are having.
“Are you ready to find out the sex of your baby?” the sonographer asks.
“Yes,” we say in unison and laugh, looking at each other.
I get up from my chair and move toward her to watch the screen together. Some lukewarm gel is placed on her lower abdomen, and the cold probe moves around Liv’s belly. A couple of buttons are tapped on the machine, and I hear the sound of our baby's strong, rapid heartbeat.
“Fetal heart tones are at one hundred forty-five beats per minute. That sounds like one healthy baby to me.” She looks our way and smiles. She moves the probe around again and looks at us. “Okay, do you guys want to know the sex of your baby now?”
Without hesitation, we both say, “Yes.”
She laughs and prints a couple of pictures out. “Okay, guys, here you go. These are copies of your baby boy’s first pictures.”
Liv quickly takes them, and we both look in amazement. She is crying as I place my fingers on the pictures as if I can memorize his 3D face with my fingertips.
“We are having a boy, after all. You were right, Dax.”
Liv looks up adoringly at me with so much love in her eyes that I know without a doubt that I am the luckiest man alive. I grab her hand and kiss it. The ultrasound tech stands and announces that the doctor will be in in a minute to address any additional questions or concerns about the pregnancy.
I barely hear anything else when I see Liv get a text message and see that it is Brodie. Her hand hovers over the message button, and her finger doesn’t move. I look over at her, wondering what has caused this quick change in Liv’s behavior. She showed me the name displayed in my text message. She looks at me. I’m sure she sees the initial flash of anger and then that of concern flash a second later in my eyes. She had not heard from Brodie in almost four months. Not since that day he had been so mad at her when he found out about us being together and Liv having a baby.
“Boy, he has impeccable timing, doesn’t he? What are you going to do, Liv? Are you going to text him back? See him?” I look up at her, and tears begin to form in her eyes. “Don’t worry about this anymore, Liv. You need not stress yourself out.”
Just as I reach to wipe a tear that is slowly rolling down her cheek, the OB doctor walks in. She looks at us, and we both smile at her. She just assumes Liv is crying from happiness, and we don’t let her think anything less.
After receiving a clean bill of health, we strolled out of the office holding Dax Jr.’s pictures. I rub Liv’s hand possessively with my thumb. She smiles at me, and we make the short drive back to work. We park, and I stop her before she can get out of the car.
“Liv, I will drive you today to Brodie’s house after work. I don’t want you over there and getting all worked up about whatever he says. I won’t go in with you if you don’t want me to, but I will drive you there and back.”
She must see how much I love and care for her, and she agrees without hesitation. “Yeah, okay. That would be great.” She looked at me as if she thought I would argue with her.
“Yeah? Okay great. I’ll meet you later.”
I am relieved at her acceptance of my help. “Just text me when you get out, and I’ll meet you. I don't have much left this afternoon.”
She just nods, and we part ways at the entrance. I watch her retreat. I won’t let her worry about this anymore. I know they are friends and have a history, but she is my wife, and I won’t have him continue to upset her. I will do what I need to do to protect my family.
ChapterThirty-Nine
Liv
I textDax that I am out and will be waiting for him by the hospital entrance so we can walk to our designated staff parking lot. The rest of the day passed so slowly that I could barely concentrate. What should have been a great day turned into worry as I stared down at the text message sent hours ago.
I’ll be over there soon, so we can talk.
Brodie: I’ll be here waiting for you.
I don’t know why that response bothered me, but it did. I get the feeling that Brodie had a hidden meaning, but maybe I am just reading too much into it. He was my boyfriend and friend for so long, but he has to realize that I am nothing more than his friend now and I am married to another man—a man I love with all my heart. I would never give up Dax. I felt this deep connection with him the first day I met him in the emergency department. The way that he touches me and the shivers that run through me when he brushes against me. I don’t think I’ll ever feel that with another person. I know that I won’t.
Deep in thought, I barely register that Dax is calling my name. He touches my shoulder, and that’s when I feel it. The goose bumps cause my skin to prickle at just his mere touch. I look up at him, and he helps me stand, grabbing my bag and slinging it over his shoulders. He brings me into a side hug and kisses the top of my head.
