I laughed and so did Trevor.
“And see that right there, that is your baby’s heart beating.”
“Holy. Shit.”
Dr. Buten chuckled and looked at Trevor. “Yeah, it’s something else, isn’t it? Let me take a few measurements.”
I stared at the screen while he clicked around. The baby kept moving and making Dr. Buten start over again.
“Yep, Scarlett, you’re right. You’re eleven weeks, five days. Now let’s take a look around. Oh! Look at this baby moving! Y’all are getting a treat. Okay, let’s listen to the heartbeat if we can get him or her to slow down a bit. Did you see that? Your baby just waved to you.”
“I can’t even believe this. I never dreamed we’d see her so clearly, or that she’d be moving like this,” Trevor said in amazement.
I fought to keep my tears back.
“So precious,” I whispered.
Dr. Buten clicked on the little beating heart. “Finally, let’s see if we can get it.”
The beat that filled the room was the most beautiful sound I’d ever heard.
“Let me measure the heart rate.”
More clicks and Dr. Buten said, “A hundred-and-seventy-six beats per minute. That’s perfect.”
He looked up at Trevor. “Did you get that recorded? Some dads get stunned by the sound and they forget to hit record.”
Trevor nodded. “I wouldn’t mind hearing it again, though.”
Dr. Buten grinned. The sound filled the air again, and I watched as tears built in Trevor’s eyes. He closed them and seemed to get lost in our child’s beating heart. When Dr. Buten stopped it, I pulled in a shaking breath as I looked back to Trevor. He was staring at me, smiling. He surprised me by leaning down and kissing me gently on the lips.
More tears slipped from my eyes as I quickly wiped them away.
“I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be. This is a happy time and that sound should bring tears to your eyes. That’s your baby.” Dr. Buten said.
Trevor sat down next to me, grabbed my hand and laughed. “She looks like a gummy bear.”
Dr. Buten chuckled. “Yep, sure does. The baby isn’t much bigger than a gummy bear either!”
“Oh my goodness,” I whispered, squeezing Trevor’s hand.
Dr. Buten finished the exam and I sat up. We went over what I could be expecting in the way of weight gain, and the nausea hopefully easing up, as well as what would be happening with the baby over the next month and when I should be back.
“I think we’re for sure safe to keep May 25 as your due date. I’ll see you back in four weeks. In the meantime, any questions from either of you?”
The door opened and the nurse walked back in. She reached down and tore off the pictures of our baby and handed them to Trevor.
I gave a polite smile. “No questions from me. Trevor?”
Trevor stared at the photos, a new smile on his face that made me fall in love with him even more. To see him already so in love with our child did something to me. Broke down another layer of that wall I had erected.
“Trevor? Any questions?” Dr. Buten asked.
He looked up. “When will we be able to find out the sex of the baby?”
“Between sixteen and twenty weeks.”
Trevor looked at me. When he winked, I felt that familiar pull in my lower stomach. It was happening more and more. When I saw Trevor, when I thought about Trevor, when I closed my eyes and dreamt about Trevor…
“I’m not sure I want to find out the sex.”
Trevor looked at me, his mouth open. “What?”
I grinned. “I wanted to be surprised.”
When he gave me that sexy as hell grin, I nearly melted. Then he spoke the words I wanted to hear, and I was a puddle on the floor. “If you want to be surprised, then we’ll be surprised.”
Dr. Buten also seemed pleased with Trevor’s response. “Any other questions?” Dr. Buten asked.
I shook my head and Trevor did as well.
“Okay, then, I’ll let you get dressed and we’ll see you in four weeks.”
“Thank you, Dr. Buten.”
Trevor reached his hand out and also thanked him.
“That’s what I’m here for you. The nurse will take some bloodwork from you and let you know when the test results come back.”
“Thank you, Dr. Buten.”
Once the door shut, and we were alone, Trevor cleared his throat and wiped at a few tears.
“You ready to head home?” Trevor asked.
“Would you mind if we stopped at Joe’s Bar-B-Que? I’m dying for a brisket sandwich.”
Trevor flashed a brilliant smile. “Of course, that sounds good. Gotta keep this baby growing and the momma happy, after all.”
We made our way to the front desk where I made another appointment. Trevor and I put it in our phones and headed to his truck.
After stopping at the food truck in the parking lot of Hank’s Hardware, Trevor and I headed back to my house.