Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 86632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 433(@200wpm)___ 347(@250wpm)___ 289(@300wpm)
“Thanks,” I replied.
As I got into position, I asked a few questions. “I wanted to ask you about running. I try to run every day, and the Turkey Trot is this weekend. Am I still able to run in it?”
“Of course. You can keep doing whatever activities you were doing before your pregnancy. Now, if you were just picking up running, I’d advise against it and say walk instead, but if you were actively running before the baby, that’s not an issue.”
“Okay, good. I’ve been running since the pregnancy, but only five miles a day.”
Her brows lifted. “Only? I would die if I tried to run half a mile.”
We both laughed. Lisa pushed a button once the exam was over, and the nurse returned. “You can have Evelyn come back now.”
Dr. Lark got the ultrasound set up. There was another knock on the door, and I swung my gaze over to see Evelyn walking in. She frowned when she saw me lying back on the table, the sheet draped over me.
“You haven’t started yet, have you?”
I wanted to roll my eyes. I got that Evelyn was worried, but she was beginning to grate my nerves just a bit.
“No, Evelyn, we haven’t started,” I said a little shortly.
She smiled apologetically. “I’m sorry, I’m just nervous.”
Instantly, I felt guilty. I reached my hand out to her. She took it and stood beside me as Dr. Lark turned to face us.
“We’re going to do a transvaginal ultrasound. I’ll tell you when you can film, and I only ask that you keep the camera focused on the screen and not show Brystol in the video.”
Evelyn nodded. “Of course.”
The lights went out, and I closed my eyes as Dr. Lark inserted the wand, then turned my head to look at the screen.
She moved the wand slowly—and I smiled when I saw the little peanut shape appear on the screen.
“There it is. Looks like there’s just one.”
Evelyn gasped next to me and squeezed my hand. “The baby’s moving! I see the little arms. Oh my gosh, is that the heart beating?”
Dr. Lark smiled. “Yes, it is. The baby’s measuring three-quarters of an inch. Let’s measure the heartbeat.”
The sound of the baby’s heartbeat filled the room, and Evelyn dropped my hand, struggling to hold her phone with both hands.
“Heartbeat is strong and healthy at 176 beats per minute.”
I turned to see Evelyn crying. I blinked back my own tears and focused on the screen as Dr. Lark pointed things out about the beats.
“By the measurements, and the fact that we know the date of conception, the baby is exactly eight weeks and two days.”
“The due date is still June twenty-third?” Evelyn asked.
Dr. Lark nodded. “It is, indeed. Here are a few pictures I printed for you.”
“Thank you so much, Dr. Lark!” Evelyn said, hugging the doctor.
“You’re welcome. Now, you can head back out to the waiting room while Brystol gets dressed.”
Evelyn seemed a little taken aback for half a second. “Uh, yes…yes, of course.”
She turned to me and smiled, but I could tell it was forced. “I’ll be in the waiting room.”
Fifteen minutes later, as we walked to the parking lot, I found out why Evelyn seemed so surprised when she was asked to leave the room.
“Brystol, we need to discuss your appointments with Dr. Lark.”
We were parked next to one another, and I leaned against my car. “Sure. What do you want to talk about?”
“I don’t like that they kept me waiting for as long as they did. What were you and Dr. Lark talking about?”
My eyes widened, as Denny gently grabbed Evelyn’s arm and attempted to get her into the car.
“I beg your pardon?”
“We’re paying for those visits!” Evelyn said loudly, as Denny closed his eyes and let out a small sigh.
I drew in a slow breath, reaching for patience. “Yes, you are, as part of the agreement that I carry your child in my body.”
She pointed to my stomach. “Exactly! That’s my child! I had every right to be in that room the entire time.”
I folded my arms over my chest and tried to stay calm. I didn’t know what Evelyn was going through, and I was sure most of this anger was about her being unable to carry the child herself.
“Evelyn, I’m not just some baby vessel. I’m a person. I’m your best friend—in case you forgot—and I agreed to do this for you because I love you and Denny, and I desperately want you to have a baby. But…this is still my body, my life, and my privacy. Dr. Lark asked me how I was feeling, and how I was doing, because believe it or not, the two things are separate—me and the baby.
“I will do everything in my power to keep this child safe, and I will do everything in my power to eat right, exercise, and keep my stress levels down, because I do want you to have this baby. I need you to trust that I will always have your best interests at heart. But, at the same time, Eve, I deserve to have a wand stuck up my vagina in privacy, without you and Denny watching.”