“Are you excited about today?”
My stomach rumbled with anxiety. “I am,” I confessed. “But I’m a little nervous, too.”
“Don’t be,” Thomas said. He buttoned up his shirt and ran a brush through his thick, silvery hair.
“I just don’t want things to change,” I said softly. “What if having a new baby comes between us?”
Thomas sighed. He walked over to me and put his hands on my shoulders, looking into my eyes and kissing me deeply.
“June, nothing could tear me away from you,” he said. “Things are going to be different. At first, they’ll be strained. But I swear, our love is forever. And after the baby gets a little older, things will get back to normal.”
I nodded. “I have to admit that I feel a little better, knowing you’ve done this before.”
Thomas laughed. “I bet,” he said. “Come on, we should get going. Your appointment is at eleven-thirty, wouldn’t want to piss off the ultrasound tech.”
I nodded. “I’m good,” I said. “I’m ready now.”
Half an hour later, I was lying on an uncomfortable bed, propped up with my belly exposed. Even though I hadn’t gained more than the doctor said I should, I still felt huge and gawky, especially when I was naked.
Marie, the smiling ultrasound tech, rubbed a cold gel all over my belly.
“And how are we today?” Marie cooed, more to my stomach than to me.
Thomas and I exchanged glances.
“Doing well,” Thomas said. “And you?”
“Oh, I’m just fine,” Marie said. She took the ultrasound device in her hands and booted up the screen. “Now June, you’re about four and a half months along, correct?”
I nodded.
&nbs
p; “Would you like to know the sex?”
I nodded. “Oh, yes,” I said. “Please.”
Marie grinned. “Hey, Dad, why don’t you come over here,” she said, gesturing for Thomas to stand by my side and hold my hand. “This is usually a very happy moment.”
Thomas grinned. “It certainly is for me.”
Thomas laced his fingers with mine and squeezed. I yelped in surprise as Marie began to move the ultrasound device over my swollen belly.
“It’s cold,” I whimpered.
“Poor baby,” Thomas said. He kissed my forehead. “I love you,” he whispered, too quietly for Marie to hear.
“I love you,” I mouthed back at Thomas.
“Okay!” Marie grinned and looked triumphant. “Here it is, the final moment. Ready to know?”
Tears welled up in my eyes and my face flushed bright red.
“Yes, please,” I said.
“Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. March,” Marie said. “You’re having a little girl!”
I shrieked in delight as tears streamed down my face. Thomas and I kissed and he held me close.