Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 99967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
I want to keep this on the down low for just two more days.
I’m on my way down to obstetrics, the hospital rather quiet for this time of day, and press my hand to my still-flat stomach. According to my research, this little one is about the size of a raspberry and doesn’t quite look human yet.
“Harper?”
I pause at the sound of my name and then let out a little squeal.
“Hannah?” The other woman throws her arms around me and hugs me close. Hannah Hull is an incredible OB/GYN from Cunningham Falls. I worked with her when I had an assignment there last year. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m consulting on a case. I’m only here for the day.” She grins at me. “I heard you took a position here. They’re lucky to have you.”
“Thanks. I love it here.” I clear my throat as an idea forms in my mind. “Hey, would you be against helping me with something?”
“Never. What’s going on?”
I press my lips together and look around, making sure no one is listening. “I took a test. It’s positive, but I need an ultrasound to make sure—”
“Follow me.” Taking my hand, she leads me down the hallway and into a room. She locks the door and gestures to the bed next to the ultrasound machine.
“Wow. Just like that?”
“This is the easiest favor you could have ever asked me for,” she replies with a grin. Hannah’s gorgeous, with red hair and a sweet smile, and we share a love for hiking. When I lived in Cunningham Falls, which is just about four hours from here, we hiked together often. She’s married to the police chief and is one of the best people I know. “Unfortunately, it’s pretty early, so this will have to be a vaginal ultrasound.”
“I figured.” I shimmy out of my pants, drape the little sheet over my bottom half, and lie down on the bed. “I’m not shy.”
Hannah grins and gets to work. It’s not comfortable, but it’s not the worst thing that’s ever happened to me.
“I have an implant in my arm, but I think it must have expired,” I inform her. “Can you take it out for me?”
“Sure, that’s easy enough,” she says, studying the screen. “You’re definitely pregnant, my friend.”
I stare at the black-and-white screen, seeing a black circle with a little blob in the middle and a racing heartbeat.
Hannah turns on the sound, and I can hear that heart, and everything in me goes soft.
Blake should be here with me.
“Well, shit.” Tears fill my eyes as I stare at that little blob. “Wow.”
“I’d say you’re about nine weeks along. Everything looks normal to me.”
I swallow hard and brush a tear off my face.
“Who’s the daddy, friend?”
“Blake Blackwell.”
Hannah’s eyes widen, and then she grins at me. “Well, good for you. Blake’s not only one sexy guy—don’t tell my husband I said that—but he’s also one hell of a doctor. Now I know why you wanted this on the down low.”
I nod, and when she removes the wand and starts to clean up, I put my pants back on and then sit on the side of the bed.
“Is it okay to keep having sex?”
Hannah smiles. “Absolutely. You can do everything you’ve previously done—just stay away from alcohol, limit your caffeine and fish, and listen to your body. That little one is safe in there. Have all the fun sex you want.”
I nod and take a deep breath. “I should be more terrified than I am.”
“Why?”
“Because this wasn’t planned.”
Hannah shrugs. “Sometimes the best things in life aren’t planned. You’re going to be a great mom, Harper.”
“Will I?” I bite my lower lip. “I don’t know. I hope so. Mine was pretty shitty, so I don’t know what it’s like to have a good mom in my life. But I already love her. And her daddy and I will figure it out.”
“You think it’s a girl?”
“I’m just calling her a her. I don’t really have any intuition one way or the other.”
Hannah passes me a print out of the image from the ultrasound, and I kiss it before tucking it safely in my pocket.
“Thank you.” Hannah pulls me in for a hug. “I appreciate the help. And I’m glad I got to see you while you were here.”
“I’ll be sure to call you next time, and we’ll plan dinner or something. If you have questions about anything at all, don’t hesitate to reach out.”
“Thanks. Do you have a doctor here who you recommend?”
“Absolutely. I’ll text you names. You’ll want to get established with someone right away.”
After a few more minutes with Hannah, I head up to my unit, ready to clock in for my shift. I wish I had time to run down and see Blake, even if it’s just to hug him. I really want to show him the ultrasound picture.