Page 25 of Cannon

After thinking through why she didn’t want to know, she had sat down and calmly discussed with Cannon if he wanted to know. After listening to Cannon share how out of control he felt with Sparky and the accident, she’d decided to have the sonogram so they could find out the baby’s sex.

Jesse thought it would help Cannon to see the baby to help make it more real. She felt Sparky jumping up and down on her bladder and playing soccer at night. Cannon didn’t have that.

Jesse had been surprised Cannon was having an appointment but then Clara had shared Flick had called the doctor to see if they could move Cannon’s up by a few days. Flick explained they were trying to minimize trips, and the doctor had a cancellation.

It was hard to believe it had been three weeks since the accident. Cannon and she hadn’t discussed anything from before the wreck. He had abided by her request. She felt a huge amount of relief from that. He was healing, and she was growing a tiny human.

“Jesse Franks?”

Jesse stood and followed the nurse. When they stopped to have her stand on the scale, she realized she couldn’t even see the numbers on it. She was positive she’d gained some weight because her belly seemed to be sticking farther out.

The nurse took her into the exam room and asked the same questions she did every time, except this time Jesse did mention the swelling in her feet. The nurse made a note for the doctor and said she would be right in.

Jesse appreciated not having to get undressed. She hated those appointments because it was awkward trying to figure out how to balance and get her pants back on. At home she sat on the bed, but there was a big difference in sitting in your underwear on your own bed and sitting in your underwear on a doctor’s office chair. The table was way too high for somebody short like her to get up on her own.

The doctor came in and chatted and Jesse paid attention, but she really wanted to get to the next part. Now she’d decided to have the sonogram, it’s all she could think about.

“Well, everything looks good. I have down you’re heading for a sonogram next. The nurse said the father is waiting in the hall. It looks like he’s not probably a lot of help right now.”

Jesse laughed. “No, but I have a big family.”

“Okay, I’ll see you in two weeks unless you need me before that. Call me if the swelling gets worse and won’t go down with your feet up.”

Jesse let the doctor help her off the table and then picked up her purse. She followed the doctor out. Clara and Cannon were waiting for her.

“Just head back down this hall. Last door on the right.”

Clara pushed Cannon, following Jesse. Once they were in the room where they’d have the sonogram, Clara said she’d be back when they called.

Cannon reached over and took her hand. “Did your appointment go okay?”

“Yes. She said the swelling was normal and just watch it. I had put on a little more weight than she thought I would have, but she said it wasn’t a problem.”

Cannon was quiet, and Jesse wasn’t sure what to say to relax.

“All right. Who is ready to see their baby? And I want to confirm, the note says you both want to know the sex of the baby?” the technician asked.

“Yes,” Jesse and Cannon answered.

“Okay, mom, let me help you onto the table. Here’s a small towel to tuck your pants down and keep the jelly off of them. Then just lie back and oh! just a second.”

The technician stood up. “Dad, let’s get you moved over here where you can see too.”

She moved the chair so Cannon could hold her hand but also see the screen, although Jesse was concerned it would be hard to see on the little screen.

“Oh no, Mom and Dad, look right there on the wall.” The technician pointed directly in front of them. “Are you ready?”

Cannon held her hand and nodded. Neither one of them said a word but Jesse figured the technician was used to it.

Cannon held Jesse’s hand and tried not to shake. He was going to see on the screen Sparky, the little life he and Jesse had created. He swallowed because he was a tad concerned he was going to throw up. He’d been this scared only a couple times in his life, but today was huge.

“Okay, Mom and Dad, here we have baby’s legs and right there is what I like to call baby’s hamburger or your little one’s girl parts.”

Holy Crap! Sparky was a little girl. How the hell was he going to be a girl dad? Last night, he’d talked himself into thinking he could be a dad, but that’s when he thought he’d have a son. How would he protect a little girl?

“Hmmm,” the technician murmured.

“Hmmm, what? Is something wrong with her?” Jesse’s voice trembled as she asked and her fingers clenched on his.

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