She looked at Jared and grinned. “Absolutely.”
Heidi smiled. “I shouldn’t say this, but I love when my patients want to know. Otherwise, I’m always afraid I’ll accidentally slip and tell.”
“You don’t have to worry about that with us. We definitely want to know.”
“I need you to lay back and pull your shirt up. Like last time, I’ll have to apply a special gel, but it’s warmed for you.”
Sybil did as she’d instructed and took a deep breath while staring at the ceiling. The gel, though warm, still felt cool against her skin. Seconds later, the doppler pressed into her stomach. The sound of swishing filled the room.
“This little one’s hiding.” Heidi moved the device around until the telltale beat echoed off the walls. “There it is. Sounds good.”
Jared stared at Sybil in wide-eyed awe. “That’s our baby?”
“Yes.”
“Wow. It’s incredible.” His hand wrapped around hers.
She made no move to break the touch. It seemed right to share a physical connection during this intimate time.
Heidi continued with her job, drawing lines on the image and marking measurements. “Baby looks great and is measuring right on track at eighteen weeks.”
Sybil let out a relieved sigh. Each trip to the doctor held a small negative thought that something would go wrong. “Oh, good.”
“Are you ready to hear the gender?”
“Yes,” she and Jared said at the same time, then laughed at the enthusiasm they’d answered with.
“You’re having a girl.”
Her jaw dropped. A girl. She’d been convinced the baby was a boy. Visions of lacy pink outfits and bows materialized. Would she take after her or Jared? Or be a combination of them both?
Overwhelmed tears leaked out. She turned her head to see Jared’s reaction. If she wasn’t mistaken, there was moisture in his eyes as well.
“A baby girl,” he whispered in a hoarse voice.
With a sinking feeling, she realized he’d never sign the adoption papers. But now that the baby had a gender to go with her heartbeat, it made the pregnancy that much more personal. Could she still do the right thing and give her baby girl a better life? Could she go through life, always wondering what her little girl looked like and what she enjoyed playing with?
Stay strong, Sybil. Emotions aren’t helpful when making decisions.
She forced all those questions aside. For now she wanted to enjoy the moment. Jared’s hand still held hers, and while she didn’t want to lose that contact, she had no choice. She glanced at his hand. “I need to clean off my stomach.”
“Oh, sorry.” He jerked his hand away, looking embarrassed with a downcast gaze.
The loss of his touch combined with the poignancy of the moment left her raw. She took the rags Heidi handed her and cleaned the gel from her stomach then lowered her shirt.
A line of images printed from a machine. Heidi tore off the first five and placed them in the file folder. She separated the remaining four and handed two to her and the other two to Jared. “A memento of your visit today.”
“Thank you.” She couldn’t help looking at them before placing them securely in her purse. Girlpopped off the paper.
Dare she allow herself to think of a name?
“She looks like you,” Jared said as they walked to his truck.
“You’re just saying that.” Still, the nonsensical comment brought a smile to her face. She pictured a small infant with downy-soft dark hair lying in a crib.
“Maybe.” He winked, then cleared his throat. “But she’ll be beautiful if she takes after you.”
Her cheeks warmed. She glanced at him from the corner of her eye and saw he’d been serious, not making a joke. “Thanks.”
