Total pages in book: 166
Estimated words: 156145 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 781(@200wpm)___ 625(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 156145 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 781(@200wpm)___ 625(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
She turned to Aaron. “I need our baby to be okay,” she repeated.
Instantly, he was on his feet and before her. He pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly. “Like she said—listening to the heartbeat with that machine is an imperfect system. The ultrasound will tell us more.”
But there was no guarantee that it would deliver good news.
She buried her face in Aaron’s chest and listened to the beat of his heart. Too fast, a perfect match to her own. “I didn’t think I wanted this baby. I mean, obviously I did because I kept it, but I didn’t really want it. I wasn’t excited. I was just dealing with it and pretending I wasn’t pregnant because I don’t know what I’m doing.” She fisted her hands in Aaron’s shirt. “I want this baby. I want our baby.”
“I know.” He smoothed a hand over her hair and down her back. Over and over again. “I know. I want our baby, too.”
She didn’t know how long they sat like that, her trying and failing not to cry, him whispering words that ceased to have meaning as he rubbed her back.
A knock on the door signaled Dr. Richardson’s return. Her expression was perfectly placid as she took them in. “There was a last-minute cancellation, so we can get you in right now, if that will work?”
“It does,” Aaron answered for her, which was fine by her.
The doctor nodded. “This way.” She led them deeper into the clinic, to a darkened room where she introduced them to the ultrasound tech. Dr. Richardson hesitated. “The nurse will bring you back to a room once you’re finished and then we’ll go over the results.”
Because the technician wasn’t allowed to tell them anything.
Becka managed a nod.
And then it began again. The cold lube stuff on her lower stomach. The wand pressing into her sensitive skin.
She couldn’t bring herself to look at the static-filled screen for more than a few seconds, for fear of what she might see. Instead, she turned to Aaron. He held her hand, his gaze glued to the screen as if he had suddenly acquired the knowledge to decipher it. Hell, knowing the man, it was possible he’d found and read a book about ultrasounds along with every other aspect of pregnancy he’d researched.
The ultrasound tech clicked things on her computer and typed in other things, but she didn’t say a word until she removed the wand and handed Becka a handful of tissues. The woman gave a soft smile. “You don’t have to be worried.” Her smile became less tentative. “Do you want to know if you’re having a boy or a girl?”
How could you ask me that if I don’t know if my baby is okay?
Aaron squeezed her hand, grounding her. “It’s up to you, Becka.”
She swallowed hard. “I’d like to know.”
The nurse’s smile widened. “You have a beautiful baby girl.”
Even as joy suffused her, an insidious little voice in the back of her mind murmured, A little girl. You really are repeating history, aren’t you?
Aaron kept a grip on Becka’s hand as much for his benefit as for hers. A little girl. Is she okay? The nurse led them back to the room, and they spent ten agonizing minutes waiting for the doctor to return. Becka didn’t say anything, so he kept his silence. There would be plenty of time to talk once they had the verdict.
Rationally, he knew from his reading that people lost babies all the time. Miscarriages were significantly more common than Aaron could have imagined, and there were a number of factors that went into them—but the overwhelming consensus was that it was rarely the mother’s fault.
Becka would blame herself, though. He saw that truth written across her face.
Dr. Richardson arrived and closed the door behind her. She gave them both a bright smile. “Good news. The baby is perfectly fine and measuring right on track for where she should be. The mischievous little one just decided to be difficult earlier.” She walked over and patted Becka’s knee. “You’re doing wonderfully. Just keep it up and let me know if anything changes or if you have any concerns.”
“Thanks, Doc.” Becka’s smile didn’t quite banish the worried expression in her eyes.
After assuring her that they had no further questions, the appointment ended and Aaron trailed behind Becka as she strode out of the clinic. The baby might be fine, but the adrenaline still coursed through his system. So many things had raced through his mind as they waited through the ultrasound, but chief among them was the knowledge that if they lost the baby, he’d lose Becka in the process. There was nothing tying her to him. She’d only contacted him again because she was pregnant. If that hadn’t happened, she would have moved on with her life and left him to do the same.