Always (Always & Forever 1)

"How are you? Still craving those sweet pickles and ice cream?" Avery asked, drawing chuckles from the staff. Paulie and Kennedy quietly took places along the back wall, but Avery didn't, drawing Kane in beside him next to the table. From this vantage point, they were able to stand right up front, close to the monitor, and could see everything.

Avery took Sophia's hand. He had the most sexy, charming grin on his face, and the full force of that grin was aimed at Sophia. Avery's charisma added to the excitement in the room. Kane watched as she relaxed, smiled up at Avery, and kept a little silly grin lighting her face too. Avery had that way about him. He just owned the room every time he entered. Kane let it happen, stayed quiet, dropping his hands inside his slacks pockets to hide the nervous energy coursing through him. Since the first mention of this baby, Kane found his calm attitude had slipped away. Having a child created a nervousness he had never encountered in his entire life.

"No, it's peanut butter and anchovies now. Who eats that way?" her husband responded when Sophia didn't.

"It's delicious. You have no idea what you're missing," Sophia retorted, rolling her eyes as she looked back at her husband who gave her the universal grossness gesture of sticking his finger down his throat. Kane laughed along with everyone else in the room.

"Kane, did you get through Dr. Spock's book, Baby and Child Care?" Sophia asked, ignoring her husband altogether.

"I did," Kane said. The subject change helped his anxiety level. Kane loved that book.

"He's read it twice already," Avery added, now grinning at him.

"You have? That was quick, we just talked about it!" Sophia said.

"Our bedroom's become a small library. Any book he can find on raising children, he reads," Avery stated. Kane heard pride in Avery's voice, at least he hoped so, and Avery loosely wrapped his free arm around Kane, drawing him closer.

"We read them together," Kane said in his own defense.

"You read out loud. I fall sleep," Avery tossed back, winking at Kane.

"Yeah, that's about how it was when Sophia was pregnant. Those books can put you to sleep faster than a long-winded evangelist at a week-long revival," Thomas said.

"Those damn books are all we hear about at the restaurant. He's talking about that natural diet now," Paulie piped in from where he had stationed himself against the back wall. That got another round of chuckles from the entire room.

"I've been thinking about the organic diet. Making my own baby food. Maybe using cloth diapers instead of the plastic ones," Kane said, his gaze staying focused on Sophia. Out of everyone there, this was something the two of them shared and had in common. He knew she'd be on board with this kind of diet.

"Oh, Kane, that's an excellent idea. I love that we did that with both our girls. It's a lot of work, but so beneficial," Sophia agreed, beaming up at him now.

Kane smiled at her praise, even as Avery gave a slightly condescending chuckle. He chose to ignore that little laugh. Avery wasn't as on board with the whole organic theory to life, but Kane had resolved they were doing this. He had read all the studies on the benefits of natural versus processed foods. They were in a time of research, modern medicine was a marvel, and with Avery's father's side of the family all dying of heart disease early in life, to Kane, it seemed the best way to fight against those odds. Avery didn't yet know he was going to be included. This was going to be a whole family lifestyle change, not just one for their baby. Kane had decided this would probably be their second fight, so he'd wait to drop his nutritional bomb until he knew he could win.

"Ready to get started?" the ultrasound tech asked as Dr. Palmer entered the room. The lights were dimmed, and he wasted no time squirting a thick liquid gel on Sophia's exposed belly. He flipped on the equipment and immediately began to rub the wand through the gel. The monitor lit up and static filled the screen. All the conversation came to an abrupt end, everyone's eyes focused at the monitor. Kane had no idea what they were supposed to see because all he could make out was black and white static, yet the entire practice seemed absorbed and fascinated by what they were viewing.

Dr. Palmer's normal bedside manner didn't change. He was very dry, matter-of-fact, and all about work. As the wand moved around, he started right in, marking patterns he saw on the screen. The sound of the baby's heartbeat filled the room. The fast whooshing sounds always excited Kane. It was proof their little one was doing all right.

Slowly, with the help of the doctor's markings, Kane began to possibly make out a foot, and then maybe, he saw a second one. The rest of the room seemed to have no problem counting toes and fingers easily. Yeah, right! So, he kept his eyes glued to the screen. Sophia had her professionalism back in place, asking specific questions, guiding the technician along as they spoke clinically, losing Kane even more. The confusion must have shown on his face, because Avery pulled him in tighter against his side.

Two things happened at once. A third foot was identified and marked at the same time a second, very faint, somewhat slower whooshing sound became audible. The room erupted in cheers, Paulie and Kennedy were suddenly there beside the table, but Kane's confusion continued. Whatever was happening had the room filled with excitement, and he focused harder on the screen, trying to understand why they were happy that his baby had three feet. The technician continued moving the wand. Kane ignored the dull background conversation, mainly because of the defect his little one showed. The pounding of his own heart rang louder than the noise in the room until the tech's voice announced a head, a heart, another heart, and a fourth foot.