“You look nervous,” Stephen pointed out, breaking the silence between them.
Brenden leaned back in his chair. “I am a bit.”
“There’s nothing to be nervous about. Just a regular checkup to make sure the baby’s growth is on track,” Stephen assured him.
Brenden nodded. “I saw my mom and sisters today.” Stephen looked at him, and Brenden could see the question swirling in his expressive eyes. “I told them about you and Nick,” he said looking away for a second. “And about the baby.”
Stephen looked at him in shock. “I can’t believe you told your mom about us. They must hate me.”
“Of course, I did. Did you expect me to keep you guys a secret? And no, they don’t hate you.”
“I’m not sure what I thought.” Stephen looked away from him.
“Mr. Young, the doctor is ready to see you now.” Cindy was standing by the door that was open for them.
“Are you ready for this?” Stephen asked.
“No,” Brenden answered truthfully.
Stephen got up and walked through the door that Cindy was holding open for him. Brenden followed suit and stopped when Cindy gave him the meanest look ever. He wanted to ask her what was her problem with him but kept it to himself. He shook his head and caught up with Stephen. Somehow Cindy got in front of them and showed them to the examining room. She gave instructions to Stephen before walking out of the room and drawing the curtains. Brenden sat in the chair and looked around the examination room while Stephen changed, he turned and looked at the other man in time and glimpsed Stephen’s small bump. He wondered how he’d missed all the signs before.
“You really are pregnant,” he said in shock.
“What clued you in?” Stephen said with a smile on his face while he put on the paper hospital gown he was given and then sat on the exam table.
“Hilarious, smartass,” Brenden commented dryly.
The door opened, and a young, good-looking man walked through the door. He was wearing a doctor’s coat that read, Parks, M.D. He was tall with brown hair, and from what Brenden could see blue eyes. Stephen’s face lit up like a Christmas tree the minute he saw the doctor.
“Hey, Stephen, how are you?” Parks stared at Stephen with a smile on his face that appeared to be more than just a doctor with a great bedside manner.
“I’m doing better,” Stephen answered.
“Are you staying out of trouble?”
“Of course, I am.”
“Any more pain from that work incident?”
The doctor was still looking at Stephen, and Brenden wondered if he should leave and give them some privacy since he was being ignored. Then it hit him, pain, work incident,what work incident?He hadn’t realized he said that out loud until both Stephen and Parks turned to look at him.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Jamie. This is Brenden, the baby’s father,” Stephen introduced them.
First name basis, who the hell is on a first name basis with their doctor? I’ve been going to the same doctor for years, and I still call him Dr. Jones.
Not wanting to show how agitated he was with the interaction between Stephen and Parks, Brenden stood and extended a hand. His mood brightened when he noticed the smug smile was erased from the doctor’s face.
“Jamie Parks, I’m not only his doctor but a friend.”
“I met Jamie at the hospital when we worked the O’Brian case,” Stephen quickly explained.
Could this be the guy Christen saw him with?Brenden nodded, hoping his mask of indifference was still in place. “So tell me what work incident?” Making sure he went back to the question he asked. Brenden stared at the doctor who was between him and Stephen. Realizing he wouldn’t get an answer to his question, he’d let the issue drop until later.
“Let’s get started. I’m eager to hear the baby’s heartbeat,” Stephen said brushing off his concern.
“Okay.” Parks went over to the sink and washed his hands while Stephen got comfortable on the exam table. “This will be a routine exam,” he explained walking over, and grabbed a pair of gloves. Moving over to Stephen he separated the paper gown revealing the small bump and pressed on certain parts as he asked questions. Stephen didn’t flinch, so Brenden suspected that he wasn’t in pain. “Have you been following the diet plan I gave you? Your weight went down just a bit.”
Brenden wondered if he should be concerned.Shouldn’t he be gaining weight?
