Page 111 of The Hotel Room

He grinned, the corners of his eyes crinkling. “I’m a wimp with back pain.”

Before she could respond, the nurse called her name. James stood immediately, helping her stand. His hand rested lightly on her lower back as they made their way to the exam room.

Inside, the familiar routine unfolded—the blood pressure cuff, the measurements, the steady rhythm of medical questions. But Kate’s focus shifted to the screen as the ultrasound machine was wheeled closer.

“Everything’s looking great so far,” the doctor said cheerfully. “How are you feeling, Kate?”

“Tired,” she admitted, glancing at James. “But otherwise good.”

The doctor nodded, turning her attention to the ultrasound. “Let’s have a look at this little one, shall we?”

As the cool gel was spread across Kate’s belly, she reached instinctively for James’s hand. He took it without hesitation, his thumb brushing gently against her knuckles.

The screen flickered to life, and there it was—the familiar, grainy image of their baby, moving ever so slightly. Kate’s breath caught, and she felt James’s grip tighten on hers.

“Everything’s developing beautifully,” the doctor said, pointing out the baby’s heartbeat, the tiny limbs. “And you’re right on track for your due date.”

Kate exhaled slowly, relief washing over her. James leaned slightly closer, his gaze fixed on the screen, his expression soft with wonder.

“Do you want to know the sex of the baby?” the doctor asked, glancing between them.

Kate hesitated, looking up at James. His eyes met hers, and for a moment, it felt like they were the only two people in the room.

“I don’t know,” Kate said softly. “Do we?”

James thought for a moment, his gaze searching hers. “Do you want to know?”

She shook her head slowly. “I think I’d rather be surprised. We didn’t find out with Noah or Lily, and…I don’t know. It feels right to wait.”

James smiled, a genuine warmth lighting up his face. “Then we wait,” he said simply.

Kate turned back to the doctor. “We’ll wait,” she confirmed.

The doctor nodded, making a note in the chart. “Alright, then. A surprise it is.”

As the appointment wrapped up and they stepped back into the bright sunlight outside, Kate felt lighter. James’s hand lingered at the small of her back as they walked to the car, and she didn’t pull away.

“Thank you,” she said quietly as he opened the passenger door for her.

“For what?” he asked, pausing.

“For being here.”

James’s eyes softened, and he leaned down slightly, his voice low. “It’s where I want to be, Kate. Always.”

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The guest room bed had already been dismantled, its frame leaning against the hallway wall, and boxes were stacked haphazardly in the corner. Lily stood in the middle of the room, hands on her hips, surveying the space with the exaggerated seriousness of someone twice her age.

“This is where the crib should go,” Lily declared, pointing to the far wall. “And maybe we can hang stars on the ceiling? Like glow-in-the-dark ones?”

Kate smiled, brushing a strand of hair from her face as she folded the bedding that had been stripped from the mattressearlier. “That’s a good idea, Lils. I think your little brother or sister would like that.”

Lily beamed, clearly pleased with herself, before turning to the stack of paint samples spread across the floor. She crouched down, sifting through the colors with an intensity that made Kate laugh softly.

“Definitely this one,” Lily said, holding up a swatch of soft, buttery yellow. “It’s happy.”

Kate reached for the swatch. “I think you’re right. It’s perfect.”

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