Conversation began to flow around the table—Nick’s dry remarks, Rowan’s steady observations—but I found myself only half listening.
My focus stayed on Ella.
The way she chewed.
The way she dabbed delicately at the corner of her mouth.
The way she’d occasionally smile or answer one of our comments without hesitation.
Nothing forced. Nothing rehearsed.
Just natural.
Unaware of how closely she was being watched.
We needed to take her out more often.
Not just for appearances.
For this.
For the illusion of normal.
Chapter 56
Rowan
“No, we are all together,” I said as irritation crept in at the woman attempting to block my path.
“Yes, we’re all potential fathers,” Alec added smoothly.
Nick stood beside Ella, flipping us off since he was already inside the room. Ella nudged him with her elbow.
“It’s true,” she said.“I couldn’t choose which one had the best hair.”
My hand flew instinctively to my hairline—only to realise Ella was sniggering.
The nurse swallowed and stepped aside as we filed into the room.
“This is highly irregular,” she muttered while Alec sauntered past her.
Ella offered her a polite smile when the woman continued to stare.
“I suppose you could have done worse,” the nurse said cautiously.
“I’m still on the fence,” Ella replied dryly.
The nurse might have been temperamental, but she was thorough.
She checked Ella’s blood pressure twice, asked the same questions in two slightly different ways, and watched her face carefully when she answered. She was assessing us, but she remained professional despite the crowded room.
When it came time for the scan, I noticed Ella’s hand tremble against the paper-lined bed. She quickly covered it with her other hand and drew in a slow, measured breath.
I smoothed my palm down her leg, rubbing gently back and forth as the nurse explained the purpose of the scan in clinical tones.
“This is to confirm the pregnancy is intrauterine and progressing as expected,” she said, adjusting the machine.
“Why wouldn’t the baby be in the right place?” Nick whispered, frowning.
