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She shook her head as they walked toward the entrance. “Thank you, but I think I can get there. Although, every time I take a step, my bladder screams at me to find a toilet.”
Duncan chuckled. “I could carry you if you want.”
“You’re funny.”
“I’m serious.”
“How would carrying me help?”
“I don’t know. Less jostling.”
“Oh my gosh.” She cracked up laughing as the automatic doors opened before them, and they went to get checked in at the front desk.
“We’re here for an ultrasound,” Jamie said, laying her hand over her little baby bump.
“Well, let’s get you all checked in.” The receptionist directed them to a small office to the right, where a woman took Jamie’s information and got her registered.
A mix of nerves and anticipation had her knees bouncing. Duncan reached over and took her hand in his and squeezed, and she let him because she needed the support right now. He never let go all the time they were at that desk or when they were waiting to be escorted into the ultrasound room.
“I don’t know why I’m so nervous. I guess I just want the baby to be okay.”
“It will.”
The sonographer came out soon after, and once they were in the exam room, Jamie felt calm. She lay on the table as instructed and lifted her shirt to reveal her belly, and Duncan came to stand at her side. She glanced up and found his eyes on her baby bump. Her cheeks warmed, remembering the last time he’d seen her bare stomach. His gaze met hers, and he grabbed hold of her hand again as the woman squirted a warm gel onto her bare midriff and moved the ultrasound wand over the area.
Jamie’s eyes were locked on the screen with fascination.
“There’s the baby’s head,” the woman said.
“There’s the left foot. And the right.”
“Five fingers there. And here are five more.”
“That’s the baby’s heart. See it beating?”
She shifted the wand to just the right angle for a perfect silhouette of their child, and hot tears spilled down Jamie’s cheeks.
Duncan squeezed her hand and leaned down until his forehead was against her temple. “That’s our baby,” he spoke softly.
Jamie’s eyes twinkled. “Our baby.”
They both turned back to the screen, enraptured by the arms and legs and the little silhouette of their child.
As the sonographer moved the wand lower and at a different angle, she paused. “Would you like to know the sex of the baby?”
Duncan replied, “No,” just as Jamie enthusiastically said, “Yes!”
Their eyes met.
“You really don’t want to know?” she asked.
“You do?”
“I mean, we talked about it. I said I wanted to know so I could plan better.”
“I’d rather not know. I want to be surprised.”
Jamie looked at the sonographer. “Is it possible for me to be told without him knowing?”