Page 120 of Wicked Love

“Can see how wiggly…” I say, smiling through my tears.

Bowie’s grip on my hand tightens when the technician says, “Do you want to know the sex?”

We both nod, glancing at each other. We’d already decided we wanted to know. My pulse flutters in anticipation. I can’t wait to know.

“It’s a boy,” she says warmly, and then she points out exactly how she knows.

A boy.

Bowie exhales a shaky laugh, resting his forehead on mine for a second and I see the tears in his eyes too.

We’re having a son.

“A little boy,” Bowie says hoarsely. “Becca, you’re going to have a little brother.”

“My baby a brother!” Becca says happily. She points toward the screen and looks so proud. “He a dinosaur! Rawr!”

“You think he looks like a dinosaur?” Bowie laughs.

She nods and we all laugh.

Bowie puts his arms around her and squeezes and then he’s back, kissing my temple.

“This is happening, isn’t it?” he whispers.

I meet his eyes. “It really is.”

“We’re so lucky,” he whispers.

I nod, more tears spilling over.

He kisses me and then we go back to watching as the technician points out that the baby has the hiccups.

My heart is so full of love I can barely contain it.

And that feeling carries over into the rest of our day. We head to Starlight Cafe after our appointment, sliding into a booth. Becca demands to sit by me, and Bowie pouts when I say yes. He’s grinning as he takes the opposite side though.

We order burgers and shakes, and Becca swings her feet under the table, announcing every detail about the baby to Bowie as if he wasn’t there.

“My brother loves dinosaurs, Daddy. We read my books. I teach him about dinosaurs.” She looks at me. “I be the best big sister.”

“You’ll be the best big sister ever,” I tell her.

Bowie nods. “I have no doubt he’ll be a dinosaur expert because of you, Becca.”

“Daddy, what is expert?”

“Someone who knows a lot about something…the way you know a lot about dinosaurs.”

“Oh, yes. I know a lot. I an expert,” she says.

When our shakes arrive, Bowie lifts his glass and I liftmine too. Becca carefully picks up her glass and we gently tap hers so she doesn’t have to lift it very high.

“To our baby boy, to Becca’s little brother,” Bowie says. “To our family,” he adds.

My heart gallops under his gaze, the intent promise in that look.

“To our family,” I repeat, eyes welling again. I laugh and shake my head when a tear spills over. “No more tears today.”

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