Page 122 of Addicted

Dr. Roberts had me lie back and put my feet in the stirrups.

Stone stayed in his chair, his eyes on me.

The exam was quick and uncomfortable, but Dr. Roberts was gentle. When she was done, she had me scoot down and lie flat on the table.

“Okay,” she said, pulling over the ultrasound machine. “Since you’re still early in your pregnancy, I’m going to do a transvaginal ultrasound. It’ll give us a better view of the baby.”

I nodded, my heart pounding.

Dr. Roberts inserted the wand, and I winced slightly at the pressure. She moved it around, her eyes on the screen. And then she smiled.

“There we go,” she said. “There’s your baby.”

I turned my head to look at the screen, and there it was.

A tiny little blob.

My baby.

“You’re measuring at about seven weeks,” Dr. Roberts said. “Everything looks great.”

Then she pressed a button, and suddenly, the room was filled with a sound. A fast, rhythmic thumping.

Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-whoosh.

The heartbeat. My baby’s heartbeat. And just like that, all my anger disappeared.

It was gone. Completely. Like it had never existed.

Tears filled my eyes, blurring my vision. I turned my head to look at Stone. He was staring at me with so much love, so much devotion, that it took my breath away. I could see that his eyes were glassy.

A sob escaped my lips.

Stone was out of his chair in an instant, moving to my side. He grabbed my hand, lacing his fingers through mine, and leaned down to press his forehead against mine.

“That’s our baby,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

I nodded, tears streaming down my face.

Stone kissed my forehead, then my cheeks, then my nose, then my lips. Soft, gentle kisses that made my heart ache.

“The baby’s heartbeat is strong,” Dr. Roberts said, her voice warm. “Everything looks perfect.”

She moved the wand around a little more, taking measurements, then pulled it out and handed me some tissues.

“I’m going to print some pictures for you,” she said. “And then I’ll give you two some privacy.”

She printed several ultrasound photos and handed them to Stone, then smiled at us.

“Congratulations,” she said. “I’ll see you back in four weeks.”

And then she left, closing the door behind her.

I sat up slowly, wiping my eyes.

Stone was staring down at the ultrasound pictures, his expression soft.

“I’m sorry,” I said, my voice breaking. “I’m sorry for being such a bitch to you this morning. I don’t even know why I was so mad. I just—”