Eyes Wide Open (The Blackstone Affair #3)(31)
Author: Raine Miller

The doctor had age going for him, and the fact I’d been taught to respect my elders, because I sure did not like where his hands were right now. Dr. Thaddeus Burnsley had a condom-sheathed ultrasound probe up her snatch as he determinedly searched for the beating heart of our baby.

Good thing he was focused on the monitor and not her quim. It was rather awkward, but hell, it was part of the process, so I’d better get used to it. I have no idea how anyone did that job, though. Pregnant females all day long with their parts out on display? Good lord, the man had to have the constitution of an ox. Fred had referred us to him, so here we were for the first appointment. Ethan Blackstone and Brynne Bennett, prospective parents of Baby Blackstone, arriving sometime early next year.

“So that would be the middle of May?” Brynne looked over from where I sat at her shoulder. I winked and blew her an air kiss. I knew what she was thinking. She was figuring that I impregnated her almost immediately. She would be right too. The caveman in me was pretty proud of myself, as I did the metaphorical Tarzan beat-on-the-ole-chest routine. Good thing I was smart enough to keep my trap shut about it.

“It would seem so, my dear. Ahhh, there we are. Hiding as they like to do when they’re so small. Right there.” Dr. Burnsley zeroed in on a small white blob, in the middle of a larger black blob onscreen that had a heartbeat clipping along at a fast pace, floating in its watery world, making its presence known.

Brynne made a little gasp and I squeezed her hand. We both stared transfixed at the enormity of what we were looking at. What a test tells you becomes very different when you can actually see it with your eyes, and even hear it with your ears. I’m looking at another person. That we made together. I’m going to be a dad. Brynne will be a mum.

“So tiny,” she said in a soft voice.

I couldn’t imagine how Brynne was absorbing all of this, because I was feeling more than a little overwhelmed. I don’t know why, but it suddenly hit me that this was real and we were going to be parents whether we liked it or not. Hannah’s words exactly.

“About the size of a blueberry and very strong from all indications. Has a robust heartbeat and the measurements match up.” He pressed a button that printed a sheet of images and removed the probe. “You’re looking at a delivery date the first part of February, from all indications. You can get dressed and then meet me in my office. We’ll talk some more.”

The good doctor handed the photos to Brynne and left us.

“How are you doing, my darling?”

“Trying to take it all in,” she said. “It’s different actually seeing him . . . or her . . .” She sat up on the table and looked down at the photos, studying them. “I still can’t believe it. Ethan, why are you so calm?”

“I’m not, really,” I answered truthfully. “I’m f**king shaking in my shoes. I want a smoke and a drink and I’m sure you’ll be brilliant at everything and I will be a complete useless idiot.”

“Wow. That’s a big change from last weekend.” She smiled at me. We’d been through this already with Fred. I knew she wasn’t mad. We’d talked it through and both had had our freak-outs at different times and moved on. This was just the first official doctor’s visit and there would be plenty more. We’d both accepted that the sun kept rising and the earth kept turning, so best to just get on with it.

I came over and peered at the pictures. “So the size of a blueberry, huh? Amazing that the little bugger can make you so sick.”

She poked me in the arm. “Did you just call our baby a little bugger? Please tell me I did not just hear you say that!” she scoffed.

“See? I’m already doing it. Totally useless idiot insulting our blueberry-sized baby.” I pushed my thumb at my chest.

She laughed and leaned into me. I wrapped my arms around her and lifted up her chin, very glad to see a light in her eyes. If I could make her laugh, I knew she was doing okay. Brynne wouldn’t be able to fake her feelings with me. If she was sad or really struggling with this, I’d definitely know. Hell, we were both f**king terrified, but I knew without a doubt that she would be very, very good at motherhood. There wasn’t a sliver of hesitation in my mind that it wouldn’t be the case. She’d be a perfect mum.

“I love you, mother of our blueberry-sized baby.” I kissed her, brushing my thumb up her cheek, thinking she looked very bright and glowing right now.

“Thank you for being the way you are with me. If you were any different . . . I just don’t think I could love you like I do. You know?” she whispered the last.

I whispered back and nodded, “I do know.”

She hopped down and pulled on her lacy knickers and then her tan trousers and shoes. “I’ll see what I can do to get you on better terms with the blueberry,” she gestured toward her belly, “I have connections.”

Now she made me laugh. “All right, you sassy thing, let’s go have our chat with Dr. Banana Probe so we can get out of here.”

“Funny. Did I ever mention how sexy you Brits sound when you say banana?”

“You just did.” I grabbed her bum and kissed her again. “I’ll give you my banana if you want.”

Her mouth opened in surprise but she trumped me good. My girl reached her hand right up and cupped my c**k and balls. She gave me a good tug and pushed her lovely tits into my chest. “Your banana needs a little work if you’re going to be doing anything nice with it.”

“Holy shit, my sister was right. The hormones make you pregnant females wild for cock. I might die from so much sex.”

She shrugged and turned to leave the exam room. “Yeah, but it’d be a fun way to go, wouldn’t it?”

I took her hand and followed her out, thanking the gods for pregnant hormones, and wearing what I am fairly sure was an idiotic grin on my face.

“Everything looks very good. I want you to start prenatal vitamins, and I approved of the anti-nausea Dr. Greymont prescribed, so continue with that as needed. You’ve stopped all of your other medications?” Dr. Burnsley questioned in his efficient manner.

“Yes,” Brynne answered. “Dr. Greymont said that my antidepressant probably interacted with my birth control pills and that’s how . . .”

“They can be interactive, yes. That is why the instructions recommend double precautions. I’m surprised the dispensary didn’t offer counseling for a new medication.”