Looking after my omega was one of the best feelings, and now that we were officially bonded, there was a closeness between us that was indescribable.
Except to say that it waswonderful.
Thinking about all this made me consider our living situation again. “We should probably have a conversation soon about where we want to settle long term.”
Wilder and Hailey looked at me as if I’d grown two heads.
“What do you mean?” Hailey straightened.
“Well, we have a house in Seattle that we either need to return to or sell. Have you thought about where you want to live for the foreseeable future?”
“I just assumed I'd be living here,” she admitted, sagging as she looked around. “I knew you guys lived in Seattle, but I just can't picture moving there.”
I knew it would have been different if Hailey had chosen to bond with us, but given that the first bond was completely accidental, the idea of turning her life upside down with a move was probably too much.
Plus, she and Merrick had stable jobs that they loved.
“I can reregister in California as an attorney. Family practice is needed everywhere. I can set up shop in any city or state. Preston will deal with whatever you decide because he owes it to you. Wilder, do you think it's possible for you to get a job locally?”
“Hailey mentioned that there’s a nursing shortage here, so I don't think it will be difficult. I’ve taken a look at a few of the local hospitals, and I think I wouldn’t mind settling down here. It would be nice to get back to work, but also I want to be here when the baby comes.”
“Maybe part time?” Hailey suggested. “Just to get you out of the house a few hours a week so you don’t go stir crazy? Because I’ll admit, the end of today was rough, but I liked getting back to work for a little bit.”
Wilder chuckled. “Hmm, that’s fair, but I’m already crazy, cutie.”
Hailey rolled her eyes, but I couldn’t help but think that it had all been settled that easily.
Damn. If only life could be like that.
“This place is too fancy for me,” Hailey muttered as we sat in the waiting room.
The clinic wasextremelynice. Every surface was polished within an inch of its life, and even the chairs in the waiting room were comfortable. Likerealcomfortable, not that,it looks beautiful but you have to sit like a mannequin,comfortable.
“It's worth it to make sure you and the baby are doing well,” I insisted, resting a hand on her knee in a gesture I hoped she found comforting.
“This place looks like it has up-to-date equipment as well,” Wilder commented as he read a pamphlet.
Unfortunately, Merrick couldn't come to the anatomy scan because he had to work. Hailey had offered to take a later appointment because she wanted all three of us there, but he insisted she go and bring him back some scan photos.
So it was just Wilder and me accompanying our omega.
“Miss Hana?” a woman with a clipboard called.
“That's me,” Hailey said, sticking her hand in the air. It took her a moment to get out of the seat, given her belly was actually starting to get in the way now.
Reaching out an arm, I helped her as gently as I could, and we followed the woman to the back.
After a few pleasantries, Hailey hopped onto the table and lifted her shirt so the ultrasound technician could take a look. The tech grabbed a piece of paper cloth and tucked it in the top of her pants, pushing them way down.
“Will it be cold?” Hailey asked, eyeing the gel as the tech took it out of a little pocket and shook it to get it all near the tip.
“Nope. We have warmers. It may feel odd, though.”
Hailey hissed slightly when the gel hit her stomach, and she giggled. “Oh, it’s like someone hocked a loogie on my stomach.”
The technician laughed in return but quickly got to work, placing the wand on her stomach and moving it around until the screen filled with what was undoubtedly our baby.
The little black-and-white image on the screen was so well developed, I could make out the facial features, the nose, the chin. That was a real baby Hailey was carrying.
