Maya: On it.
Jada moved to get up with her paperwork, but I said, “I’ll bring it up there.”
“My hero,” she teased.
I chuckled, bringing it to the woman at the desk. She didn’t even make eye contact as she took the clipboard with a muttered thank you.
After a little while, we were taken to a small back room where Jada’s vitals were taken and we waited again.
My phone vibrated in my pocket, and I pulled it out.
Jude: Come see me when you get back to the office.
I sent a quick thumbs-up emoji and put it back in my pocket. I felt Jada’s eyes on me before she said, “You’re busy. Are you sure you don’t need to go back to work?”
“I want to be here.” I took her hand in mine. “Thank you for letting me come.”
“Are you talking about Saturday or today?” she teased.
My cheeks felt hot. “Both?”
I almost missed the sound of a knock on the door over Jada’s laugh. When the doctor came in, they smiled at both of us. “Sounds like you’re having a good time in here.”
Jada squeezed my hand. “Always with this one.”
The doctor shook my hand. “I’m Dr. Blake, they/them.”
“Bryce,” I replied. “Jada’s fiancé.” I added, “He/him,” out of respect.
The doctor gave an impressed smile. “Congratulations on the engagement and the little one.” They scrubbed their hands with hand sanitizer. “Shall we take a look?”
Jada nodded, so I took a chair next to the exam table while Dr. Blake got the ultrasound ready. They talked Jada through each step of the process, and I found myself impressed with their bedside manner. Plenty of doctors just did their thing and expected you to go along with it. Not Dr. Blake.
When the image filled the screen, I stared in awe. Even from the photo Jada had, baby girl was bigger than before. I could see her hand tucked near her mouth like she was thinking of sucking on her thumb. Her little legs were bent and curled in.
“Beautiful,” I breathed.
Jada looked over at me with a full-faced smile. “She is, isn’t she.”
I nodded, holding Jada’s hand.
Dr. Blake clicked on the screen, and I found myself transfixed with the image. Every little thing about Twyla Jordan was perfect.
“You’re measuring at thirty-four weeks,” Dr. Blake said, “About six weeks left!” They named off some symptoms Jada could be experiencing and ways to prevent them, but it was hard to focus on that as the situation got very real.
In six weeks, I would have a wife and a baby.
Fear gripped me like never before, because I had more to lose than ever before.
“How is her glucose tracking?” I asked the doctor.
“Elevated, but we’re keeping an eye on it,” the doctor answered.
“And her risk of preeclampsia?” I pressed, anxious to know every possible concern was being addressed.
“Blood pressure is normal at this time.”
“And how about iron levels?” I wondered. “I read that iron deficiency is common in pregnancy.”
