“I have your records from the hospital. How are you feeling after the bronchitis? Still coughing?”
She shook her head. “No, I feel fine.”
He asked a whole range of questions. His nurse had already taken her vitals and he discussed the need to raise her body weight. Derrick remained silent, but she knew he was taking in each word.
“Well, how about we do an ultrasound?”
Jacey nodded.
“Lie back.” He squirted some gel on her tummy after lowering her jeans.
Derrick came over to her side and Jacey held out her hand, grateful when he took it. She couldn’t help but feel nervous, worried they might find something wrong with the baby.
“And there is your baby.”
Jacey let out a soft gasp. In grainy black and white, there was her baby. The doctor took some measurements while Jacey just stared at the baby growing inside her.
“There we go, two arms, two legs and everything looks fine. We’ll do some blood tests too and get you back here in a few weeks. But at the moment, other than making sure you get plenty of good food and rest I don’t anticipate any issues.”
He wiped the gel off her stomach.
“Thank you,” Jacey said as the printer spat out two images of her baby.
“You’re welcome.” The doctor smiled as Derrick helped her up, and guided her to the door. “See you soon.”
They stopped at reception to make another appointment. As they walked to the car, Jacey bit her lip.
Derrick helped her into the car, before moving around to his own seat.
“What is it?” he asked.
“Hmm?”
“You’re worrying about something. You’ve gone very quiet.”
“So have you,” she accused. “Are you angry with me?”
Shocked, he stared at her. “Angry? No, why?”
“You seem angry. I know you didn’t mean it when you said you loved me, you were just thinking about Cara-”
He clasped her cheeks and she grew quiet. “You listen to me. I was not thinking of Cara. I mean, I was, but not when I told you I love you. I love you, Jacey.”
“Really?” she whispered.
“Really.”
“I love you, too.”
“Then you’ll let me look after you and the baby,” he said with firmly. “If you’re mine, this baby is mine. I will claim it as mine. Unless you don’t want that.”
She took a deep breath. “Are you sure?”
“Oh yes.”
She leaned over, throwing her arms around him. He kissed her. “You’re going to make a great daddy.”
He grinned. “I like the sound of that.”