Alyssia
“Our doctor’s appointment.”
I don’t know why, out of everything Travis has said to me, those three words keep coming back to me.
“Did you know that by now all major organs have begun to form, our baby’s heartbeat has a regular rhythm, and his or her fingers and toes are beginning to grow,” Travis recites as he stares at his phone while I lay on the examination table.
Dr. Slosher’s assistant has come in and done the prep work for my ultrasound. Through it all, Travis hasn’t left my side.
That hollowness in the pit of my stomach that’s accompanied me on every doctor visit I’ve had since finding out I’m pregnant isn’t as acute this time around.
“How do you know that?” I ask.
He turns his phone screen toward me. “Looked it up on this website I subscribed to.”
“That’s probably why the first ultrasound is scheduled around this time. To hear the baby’s heartbeat.”
I look down at Travis. “We’re going to hear the baby’s heartbeat.”
An unreadable expression passes over his face when he looks up at me from his phone.
Something weird happens in my chest. I’m the first to look away.
It’s all of the extra hormones coursing through me.
That and the fear.
While the staff at the hospital last night did their best to assure me that things werelikelyokay, nothing is confirmed until this ultrasound.
Which reminds me of the terrifying thought I had this morning at breakfast. I’d originally thought it a good thing that my morning sickness had calmed down in recent days but what if that meant something worse?
Like, maybe I’m not pregnant anymore? Or the baby isn’t growing as it should?
“Also,” Travis’ voice interrupts my spiraling thoughts, “by the end of eight weeks the baby looks more like a human according to this website. Which is probably a good thing.” He peers up at me, a twinkle in his eyes. “Don’t want you giving birth to one of those tadpole-looking things.”
“What?” I blurt in surprise.
“You’ve never seen those pictures of an early fetus? Maybe calling it atadpoleis a bit insensitive, but we should ask doc to check just in case.”
“You’re crazy. I should ask Dr. Slosher if she can prescribe anything for your insanity but I’m certain that requires a different type of doctor.”
“Like a psychologist,” he adds. “Is that what you want to be?”
I jut my head back in surprise. “Where did you see that?”
“All of the graduate school program brochures you have.”
How did he even see those? Then I remember Gina and my mail this morning. Going back to school was an idea I toyed withfor a while. A sort of way to honor my mom, but it’s a pipe dream now.
Dr. Slosher walks in, saving me from going into detail about my future plans.
“Alyssia, I wasn’t expecting to see you so soon, but, well …” Her gaze travels over to Travis, her smile thinning a touch. “My plans were changed for today. I hear you had a scare yesterday. Tell me what happened.”
I recount the bleeding that happened yesterday followed by my trip to hospital.
“They ran tests and said things looked okay, but to make an appointment with you as soon as possible.”
“Has there been any more spotting this morning?”
