Even though this isn’t the first time we’ve heard the baby’s heartbeat, an astonished gasp escapes me nonetheless.
“Hi,” Travis says to the screen facing us, his voice a touch wobbly. His hand tightens around mine.
Or, perhaps, this time it’s me clinging to him. Either way, there’s a mutual comfort that we both partake in as we stare at our baby.
“We can compare the size of today’s ultrasound to the previous one,” Dr. Dupas explains.
My previous doctor sent over my files.
“Un, deux, trois …” Dr. Dupas begins counting in French until the number twelve. “Right on schedule. Your baby is just over twelve centimeters. Oh, they might be tall.”
I look at Travis.
“Isn’t your dad like six-three?” I question.
He nods. “And Tristan is six-two.” He frowns. “I got the short end of the stick.”
I narrow my eyes. “You’re like six feet.”
“Six one,” he corrects with a frown.
I keep my eyes on him, while he stares at the ultrasound screen. The silly grin on my face refuses to fade away.
“Oh my God, are they yawning?” Travis asks, excited and pointing for me to turn back to the screen.
Dr. Dupas laughs.
“Yes,” she says. “Your baby is yawning.”
I cover my mouth with my free hand, my eyes misting over. This has to be the most precious thing I’ve ever seen in my life.
“We can get this video, right?” Travis asks Dr. Dupas.
“Yes, as soon as this appointment is complete, my staff will prepare the files to email it and save it to a thumb drive for youto take home,” she tells us as she wipes the goo off of my lower belly and aids me in sitting up to cover myself up again.
“Oh, and before I forget, Dr. Dupas. Is breakfast important at this stage in pregnancy, correct?”
My new doctor pauses, as if she weren’t expecting that question.
“Yes, it is,” she says.
Travis gives me a smug look. “Then you would recommend someone, who’s say, eighteen weeks pregnant to have a healthy, nutritionally dense breakfast each morning? Especially if they have a particularly grueling commute to work?”
“I do not have—” I try to pull my hand free of his, but he holds tighter.
He hasn’t let this drop since the first day he met me at my subway stop. Since then, every day that I’ve worked in the office, he’s met me to walk me to the office. He always has a cup of lemon-ginger tea and honey, with some sort of breakfast.
This morning it was an everything bagel with egg and bacon, and sliced peaches on the side. I’ll admit, I’ve started skipping my morning croissant to eat whatever breakfast he’s chosen, even though I have to put up a fight first.
Dr. Dupas chuckles. “I assume you’re talking about Alyssia. Yes, I would recommend a balanced breakfast, but that’s if you’re hungry. Your body will tell you what it needs. If you would like I can put you in touch with a nutritionist my office works with.”
“That won’t be necessary.”
“I’ll take that name and number, please.”
Travis and I say at the same time. I cut him a glare, but he simply deadpans me as if he’s proven something.
“We had a cancellation for today’s scheduled hospital visit and tour. If you have time, we can slide you in.”
