All I can do is beg for a miracle and hope the local property taxes here means there is a goddamn snowplow doing its job right now.
Already I’mfifteen minutes late, and I’m running on adrenaline. This can’t be happening. I can’t bear to miss this. Not only to be there for Gracie but also the baby. They are a package deal. I’m also curious, as I haven’t been to an appointment.
The doctor’s office is on the other side of the red light at the intersection, but I’m relying on the three cars in front of me to drive ahead. If I thought I was going at a snail’s pace, then I can safely say that they are even slower. In the end, they too need to be safe.
It feels like forever before I manage to reach the parking lot, but then I need to search for a spot because there are few and my car is too big. Finally, I succeed, but running to the entrance isn’t an option, as the snow is also icy.
This all feels like another power is testing me.
Even when I make it through the sliding doors and straight to reception, I still feel that the finish line isn’t here yet.
Reaching the desk almost panting, which says a lot because I’m fit, means this is a crisis taking its toll both mentally and physically. “I’m here for an appointment for Gracie Arrows.” I’m out of breath, and the young receptionist in a uniform stares at me impassively.
“Right. The husband.”
“Yes.” I don’t feel the need to correct her. And wait, did Gracie call me that?
“She’s already in, but you can go down the hall to the second door on the right.”
Running straight ahead, I don’t care that I burst the door to the examination room open to find Gracie is already lying on the examination table with the doctor preparing a few items.
Gracie smiles brightly when she sees me.
“Did I miss it?” I finally ease.
She holds out her hand, inviting me to join her. “You’re just on time. We were in luck and the woman before us took longer than planned.”
Blowing out a sigh of relief, I run my hands through my hair. “Thank fuck.”
The doctor pauses and looks at me, probably due to my choice of words, but she smirks to herself. “Believe it or not, you are not the first to be late. Now, pull up a chair and we’ll get started.”
I spot the small wheely stool and slide it to be closer to Gracie who is already lifting her shirt up to reveal her tiny bump. I can’t help noticing her bra choice today, and she most definitely gets points for her choice of blue lace.
“You made it,” she whispers and scoots a little to find a better position.
“Okay, we’re going to get started,” the doctor announces. “I was just saying to Gracie that if someone plays nice in the belly, then we might be able to discover if the baby is a boy or girl, unless you don’t want to know.”
“We want to know,” Gracie and I say in unison.
The doctor grins. “Clear. I’m going to do a few measurements on the screen first.”
She starts pressing buttons on her screen inunison with moving the wand on the now-visible slope of Gracie’s belly. I just focus on Gracie who stares at me in marvel. Maybe it’s because I made it or that she knows what is about to happen. Either way, I can’t help but smile.
The sound of the baby’s heartbeat floods the room, and I can’t help but be affected. It’s fast, strong, and I helped create it. This isn’t the same as listening on my phone from the last video. Now, I’m here in real time, and the baby looks bigger, a clear outline of head and legs, with beating heart in the middle.
“Wow, this is…” A long breath leaves me as I try to figure out what this feeling and emotion is.
Gracie tugs on my hand. “Crazy.” She admires the screen, too.
“Nausea subsiding?” the doctor asks.
“Yes,” Gracie answers.
“Sleep?”
“Still a little more than normal.”
“Taking your vitamins?”
