When we’re both panting and barely able to hold onto our control, I lean over close to her. “Come for me now, my girl,” I command and she obeys. Grunting, I follow her into our consummated pleasure, allowing her inner muscles to squeeze every last drop out of me.
“On second thought, I may not get any work done with you sexually harassing me like this,” I tease her as I pull her gown back over her head.
“Why don’t we both quit work and hire a CEO to run the company then?” she laughs, but I inwardly wonder if she’s onto something.
“Sophia Vasco,” the nurse calls from the doorway.
Over the past month since “the incident,” I’ve worked in the office a grand total of three days. We’re here today for Sophia’s five month checkup and the ultrasound that’ll hopefully tell us whether we’re having a boy or a girl. We have a little wager on which one it’ll be. I say it’s a girl, and if I’m right, I get to name her. Sophia says it’s a boy, and if she’s right, she gets to name him.
“Ugh, let’s go. I have to pee so badly I’m sure my bladder will burst any second now!” Sophia complains as she rises.
The baby seems to have grown overnight and her stomach is expanding. I love it. I love how beautiful she looks while she’s pregnant with my baby. Following her and the nurse, her vitals are recorded and we’re escorted into the ultrasound room. After Sophia changes into the hospital gown, she lies back in the chaise lounge chair and gets comfortable.
The ultrasound technician comes in and prepares to begin with the warmed gel. “Hi, Sophia. I’m Mandy. So, do you want to find out the sex of your baby?”
“Yes, we both anxious to know what we’re having!” Sophia says excitedly.
“Let’s see if the baby wants to cooperate today,” Mandy says with a warm smile.
She places the wand on Sophia’s abdomen and we’re both anxiously watching the monitor. When Mandy presses down harder to get a better image, Sophia whimpers. “Oh my god, I have to pee!”
We all laugh at her candor. “That’s the bad thing about this. We really need your bladder full to get the best picture. It’s not that way with a 3D ultrasound if you decide to have one later,” Mandy says. “Just drink plenty of water for at least the two weeks before your appointment.”
“I definitely want to have one later on when we can see the face better,” I reply.
Once Mandy has the baby on the screen, she points out all the features to us and we stare at the black and white grainy images like it’s the Holy Grail. When she gets the image that we’re looking for in the middle of the screen, she stops moving the wand and smiles brightly.
“You’re sure you to know the sex, right?” she clarifies.
We both reply with an excited, “Yes!”
“Congratulations, Mom and Dad. You’re having a baby boy! And he’s proud–he’s showing off really well for us!”
I squeeze Sophia’s hand, conveying my love and excitement in a simple touch, and she squeezes back. Tears of joy glisten in her eyes and I feel like my heart may explode inside my chest. Every step of this pregnancy has been a new experience and a new feeling for me, but seeing my baby today has been a monumental occasion. I can’t wait to hold my son for the first time and that’s all it takes for any lingering guilt to disappear over the choices I had to make. It was them or my family–and there’s no question who I would choose every time.
On the ride home, Sophia animatedly talks about everything she has planned for the nursery, the playground, and the activities. The crews have finished building the main house and we’re moving in this weekend. Sophia wanted to wait until we knew for sure what we were having before she picked out a paint color for the nursery. Now that we know, our family home will be a reality.
“I’m taking you home and then I have to go into the office for a little while. I have some work that has to be done there. I’ll be home this evening,” I say before I kiss her hand.
“Don’t be too long. I’m picking out names tonight. Without you, there’s no telling what I’ll choose!” she cautions.
“Don’t you even start without me!”
“Then you’d better hurry home!” she beams at me.
Over the past month, I’ve hired a headhunter to conduct a private search for someone to replace me on a daily basis so I can step back from the frequent traveling and long days. During that time, I also hired an external auditor to comb through our financial data to make sure we’re positioned to hire the best.
Cheryl left me an urgent voicemail to double check the data she highlighted from the completed audit. My expected “few hours” in the office has turned into another late night here as I check and recheck every fact and figure. I had only planned to pack up my personal belongings and the files I need over the next week or so, but so much for the best-laid plans.
The setting sun draws my attention to the scenic view outside and it reminds me of Sophia’s comment about just enjoying spending time outside. Mentally chastising myself to reign my thoughts back into the task at hand so I can get home, I don’t hear anyone in the hallway until he’s already in my office.
“Dominic, my boy, what are you doing here so late?” Darren asks jovially.
“Hey Darren, I thought everyone was already gone. I’m just finishing up some things here before going home. What are you doing here so late?” I answer absently.
Darren walks to the other side of my office and pours two tumblers of bourbon. He places mine on my desk and takes a seat across from me. “You look like you could use a drink,” Darren says.
“Yeah, I think you’re right,” I say as I pick up my glass.
