“But hey, that’s the price you pay for community,” she said. “I know this might not be exactly how you wanted things to go, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get tocelebratethis baby. When you’re ready, everyone’s going to be chuffed for you. I promise.”
Cat was right. This baby deserved a community. I stroked my hand over the bulge. Maybe it was time to start sharing them with the rest of the world.
“All right.” Cat clapped her hands together. “Let’s go before we’re late. Time to see if you’re growing a giant or a black hole or whatnot.”
I paid our parking fee, placing the ticket on our dashboard, then we headed into the building, following the signs markedUltrasound.
I quickly checked in at a reception desk, then turned into the small waiting room where I stopped hard. Because there, sitting in one of the plastic chairs, was Locke—looking horribly out ofplace in his Tom Ford and fancy Italian loafers. He must have driven up directly from the office.
“Well, that’s a development,” Cat murmured behind me.
I swallowed down a confusing wave of hurt and desire and frustration. He didn’t get to do this! Not without any warning. Not when I was already trying so hard to keep from falling apart.
Locke glanced up and rose to his feet the moment he spotted me.
“I’ll just wait for you over there,” Cat said, pointing to an empty row of seats. “I don’t want to get in the middle of this conversation.”
I grasped for the empty space she’d just occupied. Cat was supposed to bemyemotional support. She couldn’t just ditch me!
“Hey,” Locke said as he neared. He looked genuinely uncomfortable. Sort of the way he’d looked when I first dropped the pregnancy bombshell on him.
“Hey,” I said, trying not to let my voice waver. “What are you doing here?”
“I saw the appointment scheduled in the app.”
Right. I hadn’t exactly forgotten that he had the login info for the pregnancy app I was still using, but it hadn’t occurred to me he’d bother keeping tabs on it. I crossed my arms, holding them close to my chest. “You didn’t have to come today.”
“I want to be here for these things,” he said, eyebrows knitting together. “I told you that.”
“Yes, well, trying to figure out when youareandaren’tgoing to be around gives me whiplash,” I muttered.
A muscle in his jaw twitched, but he held back his retort, even as I tried to hold back the queasy feeling that roiled in my stomach. I wished I’d known he was coming so I could have mentally prepared.
“Isla MacRae?” a voice called. I looked over to where the sonographer stood with my chart.
Locke cleared his throat, his gaze cutting toward Cat. “There’s only one person allowed to go into the room with you.”
I understood what he was saying. Despite how difficult this was for me, I’d never deprive Locke of this moment with his child. Sure, I was hurting, but I wasn’t an asshole.
I glanced at Cat, lifting my shoulder and giving her an apologetic look. She waved me on, understanding, and again I reminded myself how lucky I was to have such a supportive bestie. I turned back to Locke, inclining my head in the direction of the room. “Let’s go then.”
He followed me into the ultrasound room with the sonographer who introduced herself as Nadine. The space was small and dim, filled with imaging equipment. I swapped my clothes for a hospital gown in the private changing area, then reclined back on the exam table. Locke hovered nearby as Nadine rubbed cool gel across my belly.
Nadine made small talk while she got set up, and Locke and I awkwardly stumbled through answering her questions. Were we excited?Yes. Happy to be parents?Yes. Even if we weren’t happy together anymore. Thankfully, she didn’t ask about that part. Nadine must have sensed the awkwardness between us because she let the questions trail off, focusing on her work as she movedthe probe around my belly. The silence stretched on as she took measurements of the baby’s head, heart, and spine.
My heart started to race.
Locke pressed his hand to his chin, scrubbing through the beard there, and I could tell he was trying to control the same jittery excitement I felt fluttering in my chest. The soft rush of blood sounded from the monitor—the baby’s heartbeat. It was so fast! My mouth dropped open in awe. Nadine asked me to roll onto my side briefly and to cough, waiting while the baby shifted around. It finally moved into a better position, and she smiled. “All right, Mum and Dad, everything looks great.”
My excitement finally bubbled over. I burst out laughing, clapping my hand to my mouth.
“The baby’s healthy?” Locke asked.
Nadine nodded. “Would you like to know what you’re having?”
I glanced up at Locke, lowering my hand, feeling a rush ofsomething. Was this what wonder felt like? “Do you want to know?” I asked.
He lifted his shoulder. “Do you?”
