A baby.
A baby.
Holy shit, we’re having a baby.
“Yes, you are,” he says, rotating the wand. Fuck. I didn’t realize I’d said that out loud. “Shiloh, you look to be about sixteen weeks.”
My mouth drops open as Shiloh gasps.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
“I don’t understand,” she says, her voice sounding just as shocked as I feel. “How? How can that be possible?”
Thump. Thump. Thump.
“With irregular periods, sometimes it’s hard to know. Especially with the conditions you have. They both give off symptoms of pregnancy almost all the time, so you’ve likely become accustomed to living your life with extreme fluctuations in your hormones.”
In my arms, Shiloh shakes as the first sob hits her, and it forces me into action. My eyes never leave the monitor or the little bundle of baby that’s twisting and turning.
“Is it okay? Is the baby healthy?”
I guide her head to my chest, doing all I can to comfort her, reassure her that we’ll get through this, no matter the outcome.
Sometimes I’m jealous of people. People who have never gone through what we have. How incredible it must be to see a baby on a screen and be filled with immediate elation instead of terror of how things might end unexpectedly. I know Shi is happy. I know she’s fucking thrilled. We both are. This is a shock and a blessing. But, under all that is a thick, painful thread filled with caution and warning signs.
Don’t get too excited,it says.Don’t make any plans yet.
But, fuck. It’s a horrible way to live, and right now, my woman deserves some happiness.
“The baby seems perfectly fine,” the doctor assures as he notes down measurements. “We’ll do a full panel and examination, but as of right now, I’m happy with what I see.” He gives Shiloh a soft smile. “Would you like to know the gender?”
“You can see it?” she asks, wiping her tears away. “You can tell if it’s a boy or a girl?”
He nods. “Definitely.”
I draw her face to mine. “What do you say, Mama? Wanna know if we’re adding another boy to Huxley Farms, or finally getting that baby girl you’ve been preparing for?”
I know she’d be happy with either, but deep down, Shiloh wants a daughter desperately. And after losing Lilah…
I swallow hard. “Whatever you want, I’m fine with. We can wait, or—”
“Tell us!” she all but cries. Biting her lip, she gives me a bashful look. “I mean, if you want to know.”
Chuckling, I turn my attention to the doctor and arch a brow. “We’re ready to know now, it seems.”
A series of photos falls into the nurse’s waiting palm as the doctor slips his gloves off.
“Congrats, Mom and Dad.” Standing, he hands us the pictures with a grin. “Meet your daughter.”
