Page 118 of Lyric Squared

“Girl,” both Keanu and I said simultaneously.

“Okay. At least you two are on the same page with the gender.”

“But, of course, we’ll be satisfied with a boy, too. My best friend just birthed a baby boy. They’ll be a few months apart.”

“Well, it works out, then,” she replied.

“Perfectly.”

“Alright. I want you to lay back for me. I’m going to check you out and try to get an estimate of how far along you are according to your cervix. Then, I’ll confirm with the ultrasound.”

I rested my back on the bed that she lowered for me. When I was flat on my back, she assisted me in propping my legs up so that she had a clear shot of my bare pussy. After the intense session Keanu and I had a few hours prior, I was praying the bath I’d taken cleared any trace of him from my insides. I winced as two fingers were inserted as far as they were able to go.

“Relax for me,” Brandi commanded.

Obliging, I exhaled and relaxed my body as best I could. Seconds later, she was pulling her fingers out and standing. I watched as she removed the gloves she’d put on when she entered the room.

“Marking your territory, huh?” she glanced at Keanu and asked.

The color drained from my skin at the realization that she was indeed referring to his remnants that were still swimming inside of me.

“Yeah, to make sure I keep you in business,” he joked.

“Well. They say once you pop the fun doesn’t stop.” Brandi chuckled.

“They know what they’re talking about,” he ended with.

Brandi toyed with the machine next to me, causing it to make beeping noises before her attention returned to me.

“Okay, I’m going to put this gel on your stomach. Don’t worry, it’s warm. According to my observation, you’re between six and seven weeks. Let’s see what the ultrasound gives us.”

The warm gel was squirted onto my stomach, followed by a loudwhooshingsound. Keanu stood to his feet and made his way over to me. On the opposite side of Brandi, he stood next to me with his hands on the bed beside me.

“Here we go,” she announced, “a tiny little peanut.”

I twisted my neck until I was able to see the screen and whatever she was pointing at. She tapped a few more buttons and before I knew it, the most beautiful sound filled the room. My eyes burned from the fresh, salty tears that glossed them over.

Unlike the sound of my heart, the baby’s reminded me of galloping horses from the stables I visited monthly as a child to ride. The indescribable, incredible sound of life inside of me streaked my cheeks with tears.A mother.I simply couldn’t let go of the thought.

“We have such a strong heartbeat. Very beautiful. Very healthy,” Brandi confirmed.

“Damn.” The adoration on Keanu’s face birthed a smile on mine.

Though we weren’t even close to being in a good space, this moment meant more of the same for us both. Hearing our child’s heartbeat for the first time was like magic. It was better than any sound I’d ever heard over the span of my life. Over and over, rapidly, it beat and beat and beat.

“Seven weeks. Two days. Not far from the two month mark at all. I’m taking a few more measurements and some glamour shots for our little one and then you guys can go about your day. I’ll reschedule you for a visit in four weeks. Everything looks fine. Get plenty of rest and try your hardest not to stress aboutanything. The first twelve weeks are the most crucial for first-time mothers.”

“Plenty of rest and low stress. Got it,” I replied, wiping the tears from my eyes with the back of my hand and part of my sleeve.

“You hungry?”Keanu asked for the third time since we’d awakened.

“Keanu, we ate before our appointment,” I quickly reminded him.

“Just making sure you’re not ready to eat again.”

“If I eat anything more, I promise it’ll be all over your seats and floor,” I warned.

“That’s what detail shops were created for.”