Page 109 of Accidental Theirs

“Hello, Mrs. Carter,” the ultrasound technician greets me.

I clear my throat. “It’s Ms.”

“So sorry. Ms. Carter. Is this the father?”

I glance over at Sebastian. “Yes."

She smiles. “Congratulations to you both.”

“Thank you,” Sebastian says, while I remain silent.

I’m so worried there’s going to be nothing to be congratulated for. I’ve been reading up on early pregnancy, and in the first twelve weeks, so many things can go wrong.

What if I’m not eating the right things? What if the baby isn’t okay? What if it’s my fault?

The technician helps me up on the table.

After the routine questions, she tells me to relax. “I think you're far enough along that we can hear the heartbeat. Let’s see.”

I pull up my blouse, and she squirts cold jelly onto my belly. I squeal at the sensation, and Sebastian chuckles, taking my hand.

He’s always so calm. I don’t know how he does it. I’m losing my mind, and he’s cool as a cucumber.

She moves the wand over my slightly swollen stomach, and panic crawls up my throat when I don’t hear the heartbeat.

“Just give me a moment.” She keeps moving the wand and staring at the screen, and I’m pretty sure I’m going to scream if she doesn’t?—

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.

She smiles. “There it is. Strong.”

Tears spring to my eyes, and I don’t wipe them away. “So... he’s okay?”

“He or she.” She winks. “I’ll have the doctor take a look and come to see you. But between you and me, everything looks good.”

I let out a long sigh of relief, and Sebastian has gone totally silent.

The ultrasound tech points at the blurry screen. “There’s your baby. Just looks like a little peanut right now, but they’re growing arms and legs in there.”

I glance up at Sebastian since I haven’t heard a peep from him, and I’m shocked to see tears streaming down his face.

I squeeze his hand, and his eyes flicker down to mine.

He wipes at his eyes with the heel of the hand I’m not holding, giving me a shaky smile.

“Just makes it all seem real.” His voice cracks, and I hold his hand even tighter.

The ultrasound tech smiles at him, seeming bemused, and hands me a gown.

“Dress down, and the doctor will be in shortly.”

I hop off the bed, and Sebastian instantly pulls me into his arms.

“Thank you.”

“For what?” I frown.

“For letting me be a part of this. It means a lot.”