Before she can continue, I say, “I’m going to get training, so if something like this happens again, I’m ready.”
Carla’s eyebrow lifts. “Like how to be badass training?”
I let out a chuckle. “Something like that. I know you won’t stand for bodyguards following you around, so I’ll just learn how to be one myself.”
“Mhh… I always loved bodyguard romances,” Carla teases.
I press a kiss to her mouth, then I ask, “How’s your breathing?”
“I just get a little breathless.” She takes a deep breath, then continues, “But other than that, I feel fine.”
I move the oxygen mask back over her mouth and nose, then I smile at her.
Placing my hand on her stomach, I say, “With a little luck, we might find out whether Raspberry is a boy or a girl.”
“Which are you hoping for?” Carla asks.
Shaking my head, I reply, “As long as Raspberry is healthy, I really don’t care.”
Carla smiles as she places her hand over mine, then her eyes focus on mine. Emotion washes over her face as she whispers, “I was so scared.”
Moving closer to her, I wrap my arms around her. “You and Raspberry are safe now.”
Carla nods against my chest.
“I love you,” I murmur against her hair.
She lifts her hand to the back of my shoulder, and then her body begins to tremble as she begins to cry. After the trauma she survived, I’m surprised she stayed calm for so long.
I keep pressing kisses to her hair while murmuring words of comfort.
CARLA
After I cried my eyes out, Noah helped me to the bathroom and gave me a sponge bath.
Back in bed and wearing my own clothes, I feel a hell of a lot better.
One hour with Noah and I’m as good as new. That’s the power he has over me. It’s like he’s my life force.
The door opens, and Mrs. West and my parents come in.
Dad comes to kiss my forehead, then he asks, “How do you feel?”
“Like a new person.” I smile.
Mrs. West checks the tubes which drain any fluids from my lungs, then she says, “I’ll remove the tubes first thing tomorrow morning. Okay?”
I nod, then ask, “Do I still have to use the oxygen mask?”
“Only if you feel you need it.”
Her answer makes my smile grow.
Mrs. West gives my hand a squeeze, then she says, “I’m sorry you got hurt…”
I quickly shake my head. “Don’t apologize. It wasn’t your fault.”
The corner of her mouth lifts slightly.
Just then the door opens again, and Dr. Wells comes in. “How’s momma and baby doing this afternoon?”
“Good,” I answer.
Mrs. West goes to stand at the foot of the bed so Dr. Wells can get to the ultrasound equipment, which I didn’t even notice until now.
Noah comes to stand on my left, and when he takes hold of my hand, I link our fingers, giving him an excited smile. Lifting my hand, he presses a kiss to the back of it.
While Dr. Wells neatly pushes my t-shirt up, she says, “You just need to get a lot of rest so your body can heal. Let’s see how baby’s doing.”
She squirts some gel on my skin, then she moves the scanner over my stomach toward my abdomen. A grainy image begins to show, and then my eyes are glued to the screen, even though I can’t make out much.
Dr. Wells keeps moving the scanner around until she finds what she’s looking for.
When I see a glimpse of Raspberry, I let out a gasp.
Dr. Wells presses harder, and then we see the inside of my womb and Raspberry. Pointing with an arrow, Dr. Wells says, “There’s baby’s face. Here are the eyes.”
My chin begins to quiver as emotion pours through me.
“Oh, there’s a foot,” Dr. Wells exclaims. “Oops, there was a foot. But those are the legs.”
In total awe of our baby, a tear sneaks down my cheek. Noah tightens his grip on my hand.
“Let’s look at the gender first before baby changes position,” Dr. Wells says. She moves the scanner around until I can’t make out what we’re looking at. “This is baby’s bottom, and that’s the femur.” She keeps looking, and then she asks, “What are you hoping for?”
“It doesn’t matter,” I answer quickly.
“Let’s see.” The image keeps jumping. “There’s the bladder. Ahh… there are three white lines right there. You’re having a baby girl.”
I instantly burst out in tears. Noah leans over me to press a kiss to my temple. When I hear how uneven his breaths are, it’s impossible for me to reign in the overwhelming emotions.
“Yay!” Mom cheers. “We have a granddaughter.”
Listening to our family's joy, my eyes find Noah’s, and when I see the happiness on his face, I know I couldn’t love him more than I do at this moment.
He presses a kiss to my mouth, then whispers, “We’re having a girl.”
I let out a sputter of laughter. “Yeah.”