The O'Conners: A Made for Love Novella (14 page)

“Come on, sweetheart. We
’
re right on time.
”

Entering the waiting room is surreal. There are three expecting mothers waiting to be seen. It
’
s strange, realizing that I belong here
…

One of the women sits alone, a magazine holding her attention. She looks like she could give birth any second now. I try not to stare, all the while wondering how she could possibly appear so calm; wondering if this feeling of panic really goes away; wondering if she
’
s just remarkably good at masking the fear I
’
m unable to hide or detach from the reality of motherhood.

The woman who sits with her partner is practically glowing. I couldn
’
t tell you how far along she is, but she
’
s definitely sporting a nice, round baby bump. The couple is talking in hushed whispers and whatever he keeps saying makes her laugh every other minute. I wonder if their pregnancy was planned; I wonder if that makes them a gazillion times more prepared for this than we are; I wonder how we
’
ll manage to catch up in the next few months.

The last woman looks to only be a few months along. She
’
s here with a toddler that can
’
t seem to sit still. She appears to be an extremely patient, if not tired, mother. I wonder at her strength, her endurance; I wonder at her bravery to do it all again; I wonder what her fear feels like
…
or if she
’
s too preoccupied to be afraid.

I look down at my flat belly and it dawns on me that in a few weeks, I
’
ll be showing, too. I know
—
I know
—
no duh!
Right? But I haven
’
t really thought that much about it. I have a tendency to let my thoughts get ahead of me. I mean,
way
ahead of me. My mind has been consumed with what will happen when the baby is
here
. I haven
’
t really been too worried about what will happen to
me
as the baby bakes.

“You
’
re thinking loudly, again,
”
Grayson whispers in my ear. I blush as I turn to offer him a small smile.
“
What
’
s on your mind, Shorty?
”

“I
’
m going to get
fat
,
”
I murmur so that only he can hear. He smirks at me and I can
’
t help but giggle, even though I
’
m hardly amused.
“
I
’
m serious, Sonny. I
’
ll probably waddle.
”
His smirk turns into a grin and his barely-there-dimples change the temperament of my stomach
’
s butterflies.

“You
’
ll be my sexy, little, waddling, mama.
”

My chest fills with hope at his words. I slide my hand around the back of his neck, drawing his face closer. He rests his forehead against mine as I ask,
“
Do you mean that? Do you promise you
’
ll still want me?
”
I have no idea what having a baby will do to my sex drive, but I can
’
t imagine ever
not
wanting my husband. That being said,
his
body won
’
t change. Mine, on the other hand
—

“Ave, did you really just ask me that?
”
Before I can find the words to explain myself, he gently takes my hand away from his neck and places it on the inside of his left arm. My fingers trace over his smooth skin, but that
’
s not all they touch as he reminds me of the first vow he ever made to me
—
forever inked on his bicep.
“
I
’
m
always, vibrantly, entirely, reverently, yours
, sweetheart. And you are mine,
now
more than ever. Don
’
t think, not even for a second, that being pregnant will make you less desirable to me. It won
’
t.
”

I throw my arms around him, hugging him as tight as I can. This man impresses me every single day. Right now, he
’
s my sanity and I couldn
’
t be more grateful. To know that this last year is simply a
taste
of what I have to look forward to for the rest of my life? It
’
s nothing short of amazing.

“I hate to break it to you, Shorty, but I think your hormones are making you completely irrational.
”
I hide my smile in his neck and he presses his lips against my ear.
“
And if you hug me any tighter,
”
he begins, his voice deep and just below a whisper,
“
Everyone in this room will be able to see just how much I want you. It
’
s hard enough to keep my thoughts in check with you across the room in this dress. With you practically in my lap
…”

I free another giggle but I don
’
t let him go. This is how the nurse finds us when she steps into the room to call us back. I stiffen in Grayson
’
s embrace at the sound of my name. He rubs his hands comfortingly up and down my sides before encouraging me to stand. Together, we follow the nurse to a private room.

Over the next twenty-five minutes, Sonny and I are asked what feels like a million questions; I know it
’
s all just standard procedure, as our family medical history is needed, but I
’
m impatient to get this part over with. After the discussion portion of the appointment is over, Dr. Robins
—
a sweet woman who has done her best to help make me calm and comfortable through this process
—
announces that it
’
s time for the fun part. When my feet are propped up in the stirrups, my
lady bits
on full display, I reach for Grayson
’
s hand. He smiles at me before brushing a kiss against my forehead.

“You
’
re doing great, Ave.
”

Just then, I feel the ultrasound wand thing being pushed inside of me. I gasp as I look over at Dr. Robins. She grins at the two of us before she points to the ultrasound monitor.
“
You see that? Here, let me make it bigger. Your babe
’
s just a wee little thing right now.
”
She does something with the computer and enlarges one part of the frame.
“
That
’
s your little peanut. And that little flutter, do you see that?
”
I nod, completely dumbfounded, and she laughs softly.
“
That
’
s the heartbeat.
”

In an instant, my heart swells, my eyes fill with tears, and my grip around Grayson
’
s hand tightens. The sight of that tiny heartbeat chases away every
practical
thought, every
logical
bit of reason, every ounce of my anxiety. Without warning, I
’
m suddenly overcome with love for the little peanut on that screen. In
this moment
, my baby isn
’
t just a positive result on a pregnancy test or the reason behind my worry
—
my baby is an itty, bitty
miracle.

“Sonny
…”
I start to speak but then I look up at him and see that his eyes are glossy with tears, too. That is my undoing. I cry and laugh, my sudden onrush of joy forcing my mind into a blissful state of confusion.
“
We made a baby!
”
I mutter like a blubbering idiot. I don
’
t care how I sound, though. Apparently, neither does anyone else. Grayson chuckles as he brings my hand to his lips.

“Can we get a picture?
”
he asks the doctor, my hand still at his mouth.

“Oh, absolutely!
”
she answers, swiping away her own tears.
“
Damn.
This never gets old.
”

It
’
s another half an hour before Grayson and I are headed to our car. Based on the measurements taken during the ultrasound, I was right about how far along I am
—
around eight weeks
—
and we
’
ve got a due date of anywhere around March sixth. I
’
m positive our visit would have been longer had we been able to think of anymore questions. Dr. Robins assured the both of us that we could call with more inquiries as they arose, but that she thought we
’
d be just fine.

“I want to tell Addie,
”
I announce as Sonny leads me out of the building. I can barely take my eyes off of our first sonogram.

“Okay,
”
he agrees without question.

“I mean, right now. Can we do it right now? It
’
s not completely real until my other half knows and, Hottie
—”

He cuts me off with a kiss.
“
We
’
ll do it now.
”
He pulls out his phone and FaceTimes Addie. It rings and rings and, just as we reach the Mustang, she answers.

“Hey, Gray. Happy anniversary! Where
’
s my sister? Shouldn
’
t you two be ensconced in some romantic moment right now?
”

“I
’
m right here!
”
I shuffle my way in front of Grayson and he wraps his arm around me, holding me against him. He positions the phone so that Addie can see the both of us.

“Hey, AJ. Happy anniversary. Again. I thought you told me this morning that you two hand plans this evening.
”

“We do.
”
I tilt my head back and smile up at Sonny. He winks at me and my smile turns into a grin.
“
I still don
’
t know what they are yet, but I
’
ll find out soon enough. Anyway, we called to tell you something else. Is Hammy there?
”

“No. He
—”
She stops and smiles, her attention called away from her phone.
“
You
’
re in luck! He
’
s just walking through the door now. Hold on a second.
”
When she gets up, she brings her phone to her side and we watch her leg as she makes her way to Beckham. We hear it when he greets her with a kiss and I grow impatient with excitement.

“Hammy! Hey
—
finish your hello later! We have to tell you guys something.
”

“Oh, hi guys,
”
says Beckham in greeting as Addie lifts her phone. He rests his chin on my sisters shoulder and for a fraction of a second, I
’
m simply happy to see their smiling faces. 
“
Happy anniversary, by the way.
”

“Thanks,
”
says Sonny.
“
We
’
ve actually got something we want to show you. Or,
someone,
I guess.
”

I watch as confusion clouds both of their faces and then I lift the sonogram so that they can see it. The news hits Beckham first.
“
No way!
”
His eyes grow wide as he looks to Sonny. He opens his mouth to say more but whatever words are on the tip of his tongue are forgotten when Addison starts to scream.

I
’
m talking full on, ear-piercing scream.

“
You
’
re having a
baby?!?
”
I start to respond but then she starts crying and suddenly there
’
s a knot in my throat I can
’
t swallow.
“
Oh, my gosh! You're pregnant.
”
She laughs as she attempts to dry her cheeks. More tears are quick to replace the ones she sweeps away.
“
I sort of hate you right now. You
’
re supposed to be standing in front of me when you tell me I
’
m going to be an aunt so I can give you the biggest hug ever.
”