“But you’re cute when you’re riled up.”
Her glare told him she hadn’t taken the comment as a compliment.
Maybe I should give her an extra-long foot massage tonight.
At Dave’s direction, she climbed onto the examination table. With no nurse present, he instructed Cole to stay in the room. Cole didn’t mean to stare when Dave exposed Brooke’s stomach for the ultrasound, but he was fascinated by the sight of her slightly rounded belly.
“This’ll be a little cold,” Dave said, as he squirted some clear jelly on her skin and moved the sensor across her stomach.
An image appeared on the screen, and Cole’s heart leapt against his ribcage.
“That’s him?” Without thinking, Cole grabbed Brooke’s hand and squeezed it. “That’s really the baby?”
The picture clearly showed the profile of a face. It was the most amazing thing Cole had ever seen. The image shifted to something strange and abstract, and then Cole could see something moving.
“That’s the blood flowing through the heart,” Dave said, shifting the sensor again.
“The heart’s already working? At fourteen weeks?” Cole’s own heart was working overtime, pumping way faster than it needed to.
“The heart starts beating twenty-two days after conception.” Dave moved the sensor again, and something that might’ve been an arm or a leg appeared. Then he stopped in a position that almost showed the entire baby in profile. “Everything looks good. I’ll take some measurements and confirm the due date, but since you know the date of conception, it doesn’t really matter.”
“What about the pain I felt?” Brooke asked.
“It’s common to have sharp pains from the round ligament about this stage of pregnancy.” Dave put the sensor up and removed his gloves. “There’s a great book I recommend to all my expecting parents—it explains a lot of this stuff. I’ll text the name to Cole.”
“Thanks, Dave,” Cole said.
“Congratulations to both of you!” Dave clapped Cole on the back. “For getting married and for the baby. I’m so happy for you!”
A true friend, Dave had the grace not to question the circumstances of the hasty marriage or the pregnancy.
“Thanks.” Cole choked the word out, a small part of him wishing Dave’s assumptions were true.
“I’ll order some blood work, and see you again in about a month.” Dave handed Brooke some tissues to wipe her skin. “And in case you were worried, having sex won’t harm the baby.”
Fortunately, Dave seemed not to notice the pink color spreading on Brooke’s face.
“That’s a relief.” Cole said what he assumed his friend expected him to say.
“Next time, when we do the ultrasound, we’ll be able to determine whether it’s a boy or a girl. You’ll need to decide if you want me to tell you, or if you’d rather be surprised. Or, I can write the answer down and put it in a sealed envelope.”
“I think I want to know the gender,” said Brooke.
Dave shrugged. “Some couples like to be surprised at a gender reveal party.”
Her mouth drooped. “We won’t have one of those.”
Cole wondered if she felt like she was missing out on some of the joy.
“We could have one if you want,” he said.
Her surprised eyes whipped over to his. “We can’t! No one even knows I’m pregnant.”
“Everyone will know soon enough,” said Cole.
“I hope you’re not starving yourself, trying to hide this pregnancy.” Dave’s face was stern. “I expect you to gain about a pound a week.”
“I don’t know if I can. I’m just now getting my appetite back.”
“She’ll gain the weight,” said Cole. “I’ll make sure it happens.”
A flash of anger told him he should’ve kept his mouth shut.
“You aren’t going to make me do anything! I’ll eat whatever I choose.”
“Sorry.” His apology met an impassive expression. “I meant to say I’d help as much as I can. Cook some great meals for you. Stuff like that.”
Dave chuckled as he offered Brooke a hand to sit up. “You’ve got a tough job—trying to keep Cole in check. I think he’s used to giving orders.”
Her scowl softened. “I’m not easy, either.”
“Brooke doesn’t need to be controlled,” Cole said, with a wink he hoped would brighten her mood. “It’s too fun to watch her when she’s out of control.”
She stood up and gave him a playful shove.
“Here are your pictures to take home.” Dave handed her a set of five or six images, which Brooke slid into her purse. He had a feeling she wouldn’t take them back out until she was alone in her room.
“Can we have a second set of pictures?” Cole wished the words back when Brooke shot him an anxious look. “I… uhm… thought your sister might want to see them.”
