Midlife Baby (Small Town Lovers)

“This has to be a joke,” she whispered.

I laughed because I knew what she meant. It was late afternoon and there was no way in hell all of these people could see the doctor before the offices closed. “Seems like it, but maybe they’re just looking because you’re the prettiest and most stylish pregnant woman in the room.” I kissed her cheek, planted her in a chair and went to check in with the receptionist.

“Three o’clock for Margot Blanchard Devereaux.”

The woman looked up at me and blinked. “And you are?”

I bit back the smart ass retort on the tip of my tongue. “I’m helping Margot today. Is there paperwork or anything she needs to fill out?”

The nosy receptionist typed on the computer and turned back to me. “No, she’s all good.” Then her eyes went wide. “Grady. The bartender.”

I nodded. “I also own the place, but yeah, I’m the bartender.”

“And you…” she started, but realized how inappropriate her next question might be and just let her gaze dart back and forth between where Margot sat and me. “Wow. Go Margot.”

I laughed. “Thanks.”

“Sorry,” she said as a furious blush stained her neck and cheeks. “The doctor should be with you in the next five minutes or so.”

“Thanks again,” I told her and went to stand beside Margot. “How are you feeling?”

“Better than most mornings, but that only means I’ll be sick for the rest of the day.”

A woman with long black braids leaned forward and put a hand on Margot’s. “Sorry to eavesdrop, but what you want to do is eat a big meal when you feel fine, regardless of the time of day.” She turned her gaze to me. “If she’s still feeling fine after this, take her out for a late lunch or early dinner. Doesn’t make it go away completely, but curbs it considerably.”

“Really?”

The woman nodded. “Worked for me with baby number two,” she said proudly. “This one doesn’t even give me a chance to eat anything. It’s like the mere thought of food sends me running for the nearest toilet.”

Margot looked horrified and the woman just smiled.

“It’s why they’re so cute, to make us forget all about the sore nipples, achy lady parts, of the lack of food for nine straight months.” She laughed. “And we get to hold it over their heads for the rest of their lives.”

At those words Margot relaxed and shared a laugh with the woman.

“Margot,” the nurse called out with a wide smile. “Come on back.” The nurse’s eyes widened at the sight of me beside Margot and I leaned in with a grin.

“I think we were both wrong. Word’s gonna get out before you even put on that paper gown.”

A reluctant laugh spilled from Margot as we walked past the nurse. “It is what it is, I guess.”

I stood back and tried to be as unobtrusive as possible while the nurse weighed Margot and took her vitals, and I diverted my gaze when she undressed even though I’d already seen and tasted every inch of her. “All good?”

She nodded. “I think I need your help getting on the table. It’s made for giants.”

“You’re nervous,” I told her and helped her onto the table. “What are you worried about specifically?”

“Nothing specific, but I’m nervous. Anxious.”

“Just try to relax. Worrying about it now won’t change what the doctor has to tell us, but it will increase your blood pressure which I’ve read isn’t good for the baby.”

“You’ve been reading about pregnancy?”

I nodded, smiled instead of being insulted at the surprise in her voice. “Of course. At fifteen weeks pregnant the baby is about the size of an apple, about fifty-five grams.”

Margot gasped and shook her head just as the doctor knocked and stepped inside. “Good afternoon Margot…and friend?”

“Father,” Margot offered up without a hint of unease or discomfort.

“Oh. Well, good afternoon mom and dad. Are we ready for our fifteen week checkup?”

Margot nodded and I did too, but I stepped back behind the inclined table to make sure I was out of the way as much as possible without leaving the room. “As ready as I can be. Today feels real, and I can’t say why.”

“Today you get to meet your baby. Well sort of,” the young and bubbly doctor chirped in. “First, tell me how you’ve been feeling.”

I listened carefully as Margot rattled off her symptoms, some of which were new to me. “But other than shifting from morning to the rest of the day. I’m feeling all right, other than terrified.”

The doctor laughed and questioned Margot as she measured her belly and performed a quick internal exam. “Everything looks good. Are we ready to see the little angel?”

“We can see the baby?” It was a silly question, but I wasn’t prepared for this.

“Well, see the baby in the digital sense. It has arms and legs and everything, but we won’t be able to see it like a photo,” she said and prepared a giant wand and some thick blue liquid. “Ready Mom?”