“That’s good to hear,” he said, before turning towards the ultrasound machine.
He pulled on some gloves, gelled up Lee’s belly, and-with what I could only describe as a similar shaped device to one of Cam’s huge razors, the one with the soapy shit on it- began probing her swollen belly.
Lee lifted her top up further as the doc placed extra paper towels around her lower stomach.
“I thought they had a sonographer for this?” I asked, in irritation, when his hand slipped under the waistband of her jeans. “Or a female nurse.”
Dr. Ashcroft chuckled. “Yes, but Lee’s case is quite complicated and I prefer to monitor her, myself.”
I forced my gaze to the machine.
Everything was kind of black and fuzzy. He fiddled with a few buttons on the machine, moving the wand around until, holy shit, I could see it.
I could actually see it.
“Is that…”
I began to ask, but Lee interrupted me.
“Does everything look okay?”
Her tone was anxious and I grabbed her hand closest to me and squeezed. She squeezed back just as tightly.
“Yes, perfect. I’m measuring the size of the baby at the moment…”
His voice trailed off as he concentrated on the screen.
Shit, was that good?
I looked down at Lee and she smiled nervously at me. I could feel tears burning the backs of my eyes.
This was incredible.
A baby, a real live baby, with hands, feet, a head and a body wiggled on the screen in front of me.
After three long and terrifying minutes, the doctor placed the wand back on the trolley.
Handing Lee some more paper towels to clean the gunk off, he smiled at us. “Everything looks good. Perfect size for twenty-nine weeks, and the sex of the baby is still clear. As a pregnancy progresses, it can become quite difficult to tell. Would you like to know?”
I said, “Yes,” at the same time Lee said, “No.”
We both looked at each other and started to back track.
“We can find out, if that’s what you’d like?” she suggested.
I shook my head. “No, you’re the one doing all the work. We’ll do this your way.”
I was stupefied as Dr. Ashcroft handed Lee a picture of the baby. My baby.
She passed it to me, and I stared at it reverently.
My heart was beating at a hundred miles per hour, and I’d never felt more for Lee, than I did in that moment. I swear, in that moment, I worshiped her.
After a brief lecture-not one word of which I heard-Dr. Ashcroft asked us if we had any questions.
I’d about a million, but again, Lee beat me to the cusp. “How soon can I go back to work?”
I glared at her and then at the doctor who was frowning. “Well, physically you’re fit to work. But given your special circumstances, I would prefer you to steer clear of stressful environments and of course, no heavy lifting.”
I butted in before Lee had a chance to speak. “So a loud and busy hotel environment, wouldn’t be a good idea? Like, housekeeping and waitressing?”
I hoped like hell he would agree with me. Maybe then, Lee and I could put that argument to rest.
“Most definitely not,” the doctor confirmed. “During a normal pregnancy I would say, no problem, but due to Lee’s ectopic miscarriage and removal of her fallopian tube, I would strongly discourage her from working in that sort of environment.”
Relaxing, I looked down, met Lee’s narrowed eyed glare and grinned. Sorry, baby, doctor’s orders.
The doctor continued, oblivious to Lee’s dark mood.
“Lee, it would be more prudent for you, to find a quieter, less stressful and strenuous job for the remainder of your pregnancy, if it is your intention to work.”
“Don’t worry, doc,” I interrupted, ecstatic, and smiling broadly. “Lee won’t need to work. I’ve got her covered.”
*****
Lee
That Jackass.
He loved this.
Kyle nodded in agreement with Dr. Ashcroft as they talked over how it would be ‘prudent’ for me to not return to work.
What rubbish.
If it wasn’t for the fact that Dr. Ashcroft had once saved my life, I would be seriously pissed.
I grudgingly nodded at my cues and thanked him before we left.
Walking back to the car, Kyle kept trying to talk to me, but right now, I wanted some damn peace and quiet.
I wouldn’t be so mad, if it wasn’t for the fact that Kyle was reveling in victory, having gotten his own way, again.
“So, am I supposed to guess what I’ve done this time, or should I just know?” he muttered as we pulled out of the hospital car lot.
I looked over at his face and groaned internally.
It would be so much easier stay pissy at him if he was ugly.
“I want to work, Kyle. That was bull. I felt cornered in there.”