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His words wrapped around me like a shield, holding the fear at bay just enough for me to focus on the here and now. I opened my eyes, turning to look at him. In the dim glow of the cruiser’s interior lights, I could see the fear etched into his face, too, but he was holding it back, for me.
“Robert,” I whispered, my throat tight. “What if…”
“Don’t,” he said firmly, cutting me off before I could finish. “Don’t go there, Delia. You’re okay. The baby is okay. I’m not letting anything happen to you.”
I nodded weakly, tears still slipping down my face. He held my gaze, his green eyes fierce with determination.
I knew he had me, in a way no one had before – really, trulyhadme.
forty-four
Robert
The waiting room smelled like antiseptic, a sterile, artificial clean that only made me more on edge. I paced the narrow space outside the exam room, hands clenched into fists at my sides. Every step I took felt heavy, like I was walking through wet cement, dragging the weight of my fears with me.
Delia was in there with the nurse, and they’d told me to wait outside while they checked her in and prepped for the ultrasound. I wanted to be in there,neededto be in there, but they’d given me no choice.
I felt like I was suffocating.
The exam room door opened, and a nurse stepped out, looking at me with calm professionalism. I immediately stopped pacing, my eyes locking on her.
“She’s asking for you, Mr. Hastings. You can come in now,” the nurse said gently.
I swallowed hard, my throat dry, and nodded, following her to the room.
When I stepped inside, the first thing I saw was Delia lying on the exam table, her head turned to look at me. She looked small, fragile, and so incredibly brave at the same time. A hospital gown hung loosely around her, and her hands rested over her stomach protectively.
“Hey,” she said softly, her voice thin but steady.
I forced my feet to move, closing the distance between us and taking her hand in mine. Her skin felt clammy, and I rubbed my thumb over her knuckles, trying to ground both of us. “Hey,” I murmured back, my voice rough. “How are you holding up?”
She gave me a weak smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I’m okay. They’re about to do the ultrasound.”
I looked up at the nurse, who stood beside the machine, adjusting the settings. Her face was calm. Too calm. I wanted to shake her, to scream, ‘Don’t you get it? Don’t you see?’, but her calm was so pervasive that I followed suit.
“Is everything…is she okay?” I asked, my voice betraying the anxiety I was trying so hard to keep in check.
The nurse offered me a reassuring smile. “We’re going to take a look now. Let’s focus on the ultrasound, and I’ll explain as we go.”
I nodded stiffly, unable to say more. My throat felt like sandpaper as I gripped Delia’s hand tighter. She didn’t complain. If anything, she squeezed back.
“Okay, Delia,” the nurse said softly, spreading the cold gel onto her stomach. Delia flinched slightly, and I hated that I couldn’t do anything to shield her from even this small discomfort. “This might feel a little cool, but it’ll help us get a clear picture.”
I stood there, frozen, as the nurse moved the wand over her stomach. The machine hummed softly, the screen flickering to life, and I felt like I couldn’t breathe. My entire world narrowed to the sound of that machine, the quiet clicks, and the rhythmic hum of the monitor.
“Come on,” I whispered under my breath, so low I didn’t think anyone could hear me. “Come on, come on…”
The seconds felt like hours. I stared at the screen, trying to make sense of the shadows and shapes, but it was all a blur of gray. Delia didn’t say anything, but when I glanced at her, I could see her staring at the screen with the same hunger for answers that I had.
And then, the nurse’s expression softened, and she tilted the monitor slightly so we could see better. “There they are,” she said gently, pointing to two distinct shapes on the screen.
They... Two shapes?
I blinked, not sure I’d heard her right. “What did you say?”
“They’re just fine,” the nurse said, her voice calm and steady. “See here? And here?” She pointed again, tracing the faint flickers on the screen. “Those are your babies. Do you hear their heartbeats?”
“Bab..ies?” Delia whispered, emphasizing the plurality, her voice barely audible.