Page 21

Edwin

The healer came out and greeted us personally. Every time I thought I was used to this small town, something else reminded me that I was still a city man down deep. You were lucky in a city clinic to hear if they called your name over the loudspeaker. Either that, or they simply texted you.

“Micah, Edwin, I’m Quinn. Please, follow me.”

We followed him through the most comforting, homey clinic. The furnishings were like someone’s living room, except for the paper-topped bed in the middle. Had to keep things hygienic, after all.

“I see you’re here for a prenatal checkup. When did you take the pregnancy test?”

We told him the date. He tapped some things into a tablet and pulled out an open-back gown.

“Are you having any symptoms?”

Micah nodded. “Nausea, mostly in the morning and late at night. The lack of energy was getting better, but then we read about not having coffee during pregnancy so now I’m back to no energy.”

The way he whined and looked so grumpy while he spoke, made Quinn and I both crack up. Micah loved one thing next to me and chocolate, and it was coffee.

“Make sure you’re getting plenty of hydration and I understand. It’s hard to live without coffee. Try taking some naps through the day if you can, even if it’s ten minutes or so. I had one patient who owned a business like you do, and he put a small cot in the back office and would take tiny power naps.”

“I think that would be a great idea,” I said.

“Me too.”

“Anything else? Any other concerns before we listen to your baby’s heartbeat?”

We both gasped. “We can do that? Today?”

“Of course, Micah. It’s too early for an ultrasound, but we listen to the heartbeat fairly early. I’m going to step out. Take off all your clothes except your underwear. Keep those on. And the open part of the gown goes in the front so we can look at everything. Be right back.”

Micah got undressed and put the gown on, and Quinn came back right on time.

“All right, let’s listen to your baby.” He slathered Micah’s belly with some bluish gel, put a wand on it, and moved it around. At first, my stomach sank, thinking he couldn’t find it. After Michah told me about his previous false alarm, I was afraid the test had been wrong, but then a whooshing sound filled the room.

“It’s so fast,” Micah whispered.

“It’s normal for a baby’s heartbeat. Sounds healthy for sure. Strong little cub you have in there.”

He did some more measuring and jotted some more things into the tablet. “Sometimes it’s tricky when one father is one kind of shifter and the other is something different. With a wolf and a bear, the gestation time is usually about seven to eight months, so I think you have about six months left.”

“What else can we do to ensure the baby and Micah are the healthiest they can be?” I asked. I wasn’t taking any chances with the health of either our baby or my omega.

“Eat well. Whole foods. I’m going to give you some prenatal vitamins as you leave. While those things are important, I personally think that a happy omega is the healthiest omega. This is a time of peace and calm. Micah’s emotional health translates directly to the baby. Routine. Good nutrition. Plenty of rest. Those are the basics. And the most important thing is… if you have a gut feeling that something is amiss or wrong with you or the baby”—he touched Micah’s hand—“you come in and see me. My cell number will be on your packet as you leave. A lot of complications and problems are prevented when the omega listens to his animal and his instincts.”

All good advice.

“Thank you,” I answered. Quinn left and came back with a small bag with vitamins, his card, and several other items for Micah and the new baby. There was even a book on pregnancy included.

Again, the small-town charm was kicking in hard.

“How about some lunch?” I asked as we got into the car.

“That sounds good. The nausea has settled for the day, I think. We should get something healthy, though. I’m taking this growing-a-baby thing seriously.”

I took his hand across the console. “I know you are. How about a smoked chicken plate? Lots of protein and we can get one of their loaded sweet potatoes.”

“Oh my goddess, Edwin. You are in love with the dragon’s food truck. I knew it. I thought it would be a while before you loved another, but a food truck? The betrayal.” He pressed his hand to his chest and laughed. The other hand cradled his belly which had already begun to expand in the most lovely way.

That’s when it really hit me. We were laughing and excited about our baby. We both had goals and dreams and supported each other fully.

We were a family. Everything I’d dreamed of as a boy and a young man was right here in this car.

“What is it?” Micah asked.

“I love you, mate. Not for what you do but for who you are. I love you every day more than the last. I didn’t think that was possible.”

“Oh, Edwin. I love you too.” His laughing had turned to tears welling in his eyes.

“Let’s go get you and our baby fed. I want to get you to bed.”

Micah nodded. “I could use a nap.”

My hand slid to his thigh. “Oh, omega. I didn’t say anything about a nap.”