Page 31 of Poison Apple Crisp
“Well, aren’t you the happy little family. Lottie, how are you feeling? Any nausea?” she asks while washing her hands and gloving up.
“A little, but I’ve been managing it as best as I can. I’m hoping the worst of it is over.”
She looks my way. “I wish that for you as well. But don’t be surprised if it takes a turn for the dramatic. It’s highly unpredictable. It can certainly come and go without warning. Any questions so far?” She looks to the three of us as she snaps one of her gloves before taking a seat on the stool in front of me. “Now, Lottie, are you comfortable with these men in the room? I’m going to have to take a quick look under the hood.”
I glance to both Noah and Everett.
“Oddly enough, I’m more than comfortable,” I say. I leave out the part about the two of them being well acquainted with what I have under the hood.
“Okay”—she belts out a short-lived laugh—“let’s do this.”
She has me lie down, put my feet in the stirrups, and asks me to scoot to the edge of the exam table about ten times until I feel as if falling off is a very real option. Both Noah and Everett stand a good distance behind me so they’re not exactly getting a bird’s eye view. I feel a few pulls and pinches before she asks Everett to dim the lights.
A small flat screen that’s attached to a giant machine is pulled my way. She plucks my feet free and asks me to lie back and places a towel over me, discreetly leaving my belly exposed before squirting it with warm blue jelly.
Dr. Barnette nods my way. “Are you ready to hear your baby’s heartbeat and see the little peanut?”
“Yes, please!” I hike up on my elbows, and both Noah and Everett swoop in on either side of me. Noah takes up one hand and Everett takes up the other.
Dr. Barnette offers a tight smile to the three of us.
“Lottie, I’ll also be measuring the fetus to see if we can get the due date as accurate as possible for you. I’ll combine that information with the first day of your last cycle. I’m sure the three of you are looking to put this paternity issue to rest as soon as possible.”
The three of us keep tight-lipped, mostly because we don’t believe that for a minute this will put that paternity issue to rest. Everett and Noah plan on warring over this baby until the bitter end. And at this point, I’m not sure if that’s the end of this pregnancy or the end of their lives.
She presses a tiny flat instrument over my abdomen, and the steady sound ofwhoomph, whoomph, whoomphechoes through the room.
“What’s that noise?” I lean up another notch in a panic.
“That, Lottie Lemon, is the sounds of your baby’s heart.”
And just like that, everything in me falls ten times deeper in love with this tiny being growing inside of me—a deeper love than I ever thought possible, a love that transcends time and space, life and death. And intrinsically, I know that I will do anything to protect this child, now and forevermore. My entire world has shrunk down and is now blooming into life right there in the nexus of my being.
Everett wipes a tear from his eye. “That’s the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard.” I turn my head and kiss his hand. “I’m sorry you were denied that with Evie, but I’m glad you get to experience it now.”
Noah gives a hard sniff. “I’m in love with our baby, Lottie. I’ll never forget this moment.”
My heart sinks because this moment is tinged with a patina of sadness, too. I’m not able to give a trophy to everyone at this ceremony. This is a winner-takes-all situation. But I have no doubt whosever this baby might be, he or she will be well loved by both Noah and Everett.
“Okay, are you ready for the big reveal?” She inches the screen our way and points to an opaque blob amidst the shadows that surround it. “That right there in the middle is your baby.”
An aching moan expels from me.
“My baby?” I pant out the words in disbelief as I look to the tiny little angel. “Oh! I can see its precious head! I see miniature arms and legs,” I say as both Noah and Everett breathe out a small laugh.
“It’s beautiful.” Everett lands a kiss to my forehead.
“It is beautiful indeed,” Noah echoes.
Mom and Carlotta are called in, and soon the entire room is crying happy tears as we look at the sweet little peanut with amazement.
Carlotta grunts. “It’s got a big head, Lot. I’m guessing it’s got an extra brain. That should make for an interesting exit. Glad you had a pinhole of a coconut.”
Dr. Barnette laughs. “It’s perfectly proportioned just the way it should be. The baby is about the size of a fig. And the genitalia is about to form, and soon we should be able to tell if it’s a boy or a girl. That is, if you want to know. But you have time to think about it.”
I take a breath. “I guess I’ll need that time.” There seems to be so much to think about.
“So when is she due, Doctor?” Mom wastes no time in getting to the nitty-gritty.