The doctor spread blue goo over my skin, then ran a little wand over my belly. My heart galloped like a runaway mustang, my eyes glued to her face as she worked. Her focus was on the screen of her device, on the strange sounds the machine made.
After a moment, she paused. “Hear that?” We all keened our ears to the soft whooshing noise amidst the crackling. “That’s your baby’s heartbeat. Very strong, healthy baby.”
She moved the wand again, slowly and methodically. Thorough. My stomach twisted, and I gripped Fletcher’s hand a little tighter.
The woman smiled. “First time?”
“Kind of…” I admitted.
She nodded, as if she understood, then turned the screen towards us, so that we could see. “This is your baby. Say hi, daddies.”
I squinted, staring hard at the black and white blob on the machine, but even as she pointed out the different body parts, I couldn’t make head or tails of it.
“But everything’s okay?” I asked. “Everything’s normal?”
“Yes, everything looks wonderful. Would you like to know the gender, or are you the type to want it to be a secret until the time comes?” Her blue eyes twinkled.
“No, I wanna know,” I blurted. “It’s driving me crazy.”
She beamed. “You’re having a baby girl. Congratulations. I have the feeling that she’s going to be very spoiled with three daddies to dote on her.”
My eyes stung, emotion threatening to overflow. A little girl. A daughter. I was going to have a daughter.
I sort of zoned out as the doctor packed up and left. Once we were alone, I shook my head in disbelief. “I can’t believe this is really happening…”
“It’s happening, baby,” Adam murmured, kissing me. “You’re doing so good. Cooking that baby at just the right temperature.”
Fletcher snorted. “It’s not a turkey, Adam.”
I laughed out loud and touched my belly. “She’s way too small to be a turkey. Maybe a Cornish hen.”
The next day, we went into work with the ultrasound pictures that the doctor had printed off for us. Everyone gathered around to see them, ooh-ing and aah-ing over the blob in the photos. My blob. My baby. I felt a rush of pride as my coworkers started asking a thousand questions—“When’s the due date?” and “What are you having?” and “Are you doing a gender reveal party?” and “Do you have any names picked out?”
“When is the baby shower?” Josie asked, bouncing on the balls of her feet, her eyes glittering with excitement. “I’msobuying you guys something awesome!”
“We haven’t decided on a date yet,” Fletcher said. “I promise, you will be the first to know.”
Adam cleared his throat, which almost immediately quieted the chatter. “While I’ve got you all here, let me make a small announcement.”
“Uh-oh,” Kirk mumbled, which caused a few people to laugh.
Adam’s lip quirked in a smile.“Fletcher and I are going to be taking some family leave in January, to help Sky with the preparations for fatherhood.”
He and Fletcher exchanged a look, and I tilted my head, curious. “However, we will also be hiring a few new people to fill out the roster, because when wedocome back in the spring, we will both be stepping into a more managerial role versus being on the floor so much.”
Gasps and sounds of surprise rose up, but Adam held up his hand. “I know. It’s a big change, because we’ve been such a big part of Bixby’s for so long, but it’s time to let this baby bird fly on its own two wings. We have faith in all of you, and we’ll always be here, running the show. Just more behind-the-scenes work, ifyou will. We’re going to have a family now, and unlike my father before me, I want to be there for my daughter growing up.”
“You’d better bring that baby to visit,” Josie warned.
“Of course,” Fletcher assured her. “You know we will. We can’t stay away. Bixby’s is our home and our heart, and so are all of you. Our work pack.” He grinned. “But just because we’re away doesn’t mean you can all slack off. We’ll still be popping in here to check in on you.”
“Yeah, Kirk,” someone taunted. “No slacking off.”
“Oh, screw off,” Kirk scoffed back.
“I have faith in all of you,” Adam said, matter-of-fact. “You’re all amazing young men and women, and I’m proud to call you my team.”
“I couldn’t have said it better myself,” Fletcher agreed.
