Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 107803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107803 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Rolling my eyes, I turned and headed out of the barn.
I walked into the waiting room and found Lilibeth already there, reading a book. There was another couple in the room, on the opposite side. Lilibeth glanced up and smiled when she saw me.
Waving, I headed over, kissed her, then sat down. “How are you feeling today?” I asked.
She shrugged. “Tired. We were so busy at the store today, and I couldn’t figure out why until Moreen told me there was a snow-sculpting contest in Granby. They had to make snow for the event since the weather has been on the warm side. I guess people are making their way to our small town and checking it out. Hey, your idea about Moreen making some food items to sell in the store has been a hit! She made some chocolate-chip, banana-nut bread and put samples out. She had twenty-five small loaves, and she sold them all!”
“That’s amazing!”
“Well, she sold twenty-four. I ate a loaf.”
“The whole loaf?”
Her cheeks turned pink. “In my defense, they were mini loaves.”
“Other than that, you’re feeling good? Okay?”
Her brows drew down. “Yes. Why?”
I shrugged. “Just curious.” Glancing down at the book, I asked, “What are you reading?”
“Everything that’s happening in week eighteen! The baby’s about six or seven inches. And I wasn’t just imagining my boobs getting bigger—they are!”
I closed my eyes and tried not to picture that in my head.
“She—or he—is about the size of a pomegranate!” Pausing, she looked up in thought. “Now I want some pomegranate.”
I chuckled. “Other than all of that…are you feeling any other…symptoms?”
“Heartburn. And if I get up too fast, I get dizzy.”
“Dizzy?” I asked, worry etching my voice.
“Nothing bad at all, so please don’t worry.”
I nodded. Maybe it was just my mother who had those…needs. I shuddered once more.
“Are you cold? Where’s your coat?”
Looking at her, I frowned. “What?”
“You just shivered.”
“No, I’m not cold.” Clearing my throat, I was about to just ask her outright when the door opened, and they called her name.
She jumped up. “Here we go!”
I followed her to the back and couldn’t help but notice a few of the nurses smiling…but not at Lilibeth. At me. I moved up alongside her and laced our hands together.
She looked up at me and smiled. “Nervous?”
“No. Are you?”
“A little.”
Once we’d finished the standard weighing and questions, the nurse told us the doctor would be in shortly. From previous experience, that usually meant we had at least fifteen minutes to talk about…things.
“Lilibeth, I was wondering if I could ask you a question.”
“Of course you can.”
There was a light knock on the door, and Dr. Lawrence came in.
Damn it all to hell!
“How are you today, Lilibeth and Caden?”
“Wonderful!” Lilibeth said, while I smiled and nodded.
“I take it the morning sickness is gone?”
“Almost. It’s been replaced by weird cravings.”
The doctor laughed. “That’s normal. When I was pregnant, all I wanted to do was eat dirt.”
“Dirt?!” Lilibeth and I said, at the same time.
The doctor nodded. “Yep.” She glanced at the book that was in the seat next to me. “You’re doing your reading, I see. Do you have any questions for me? Things that are changing with your body that you’re worried about or have concerns over?”
I wondered if that question was directed at me, as well. Could I ask on Lilibeth’s behalf?
“Weight gain?” Lilibeth asked.
“You’re right on track, and please don’t worry about that. I would actually prefer you not even get on the scale moving forward. Just eat a balanced diet, drink lots of water, fruits, and veggies, and try to avoid too many sweets.”
They spoke for a few more minutes, then the doctor asked, “Are we ready to see your baby?”
I thought Lilibeth would jump up and start dancing, she was so excited. “I’m so ready!”
Dr. Lawrence chuckled, then looked at me.
“I’m excited to see how much she’s grown. Or he.”
“Okay, let’s get everything set up. We’re going to move you to another room.”
Once inside the imaging room, Lilibeth lay back on the table, and the doctor put gel on her stomach. The moment our baby appeared on the screen, I blinked to hold back my tears.
Lilibeth let her tears fall freely. I inched closer to her and took her hand in mine. When she looked up at me, it felt like a gut punch. I knew her tears were happy, but something else happened when I looked into her eyes—something moved through me so fast and so quick, it left me slightly dizzy.
I had the insane urge to lean down, kiss her, and tell her…
Tell her I loved her.
She looked back at the monitor, so I did as well. The head appeared, and the doctor began taking measurements and pictures.
“This little one is really moving around in there,” Dr. Lawrence said with a soft laugh.
Lilibeth gasped when a little foot appeared on the screen. Her hand covered her mouth to stifle a sob. I squeezed her other hand and wiped a tear from my cheek with my free hand.