Page 14 of Curvy Girl and the Bad Boy Cowboy

"Yes," I confirm. "I had blood work done, but this is the first time we'll be seeing the baby."

She nods, pressing the ultrasound wand against my abdomen. "Let's take a look."

The room fills with a rapid whooshing sound—fast, rhythmic, like galloping horses.

"What's that?" Ethan asks, leaning forward.

"That's your baby's heartbeat," Dr. Mason explains. "Good and strong, exactly what we want to hear."

Ethan's eyes widen, his gaze fixed on the monitor as a grainy black-and-white image appears. I reach for his hand without thinking, and he takes it, squeezing gently.

"There we are," Dr. Mason says, pointing to a shape on the screen. "There's your baby."

Chapter 5 - Ethan

"There's your baby."

The words echo in my mind as I stare at the monitor. I've seen ultrasound pictures before—Jackson showed around photos when Sarah's sister had a baby last year, and Vincent has Lucy's framed in the ranch house.

But this is different. This is my baby. My child.

The shape on the screen doesn't look exactly like a baby to me—more like a strange alien jellybean with what might be arms and legs. But that rapid heartbeat fills the room, and something shifts inside me, like tectonic plates rearranging my entire world.

"Do you see the head here?" Dr. Mason points. "And these are the hands. Sometimes we can see them moving at this stage."

As if on cue, there's a slight motion on the screen—a tiny arm seems to wave. I hear Naomi's sharp intake of breath and realize I'm still holding her hand, probably too tightly now.

"Is everything okay?" I ask, finding my voice. "Is the baby healthy?"

Dr. Mason smiles reassuringly. "Everything looks excellent. Strong heartbeat, good size for sixteen weeks. Would you like to know the sex, or are you waiting to be surprised?"

Naomi and I exchange a quick glance. We haven't discussed this.

"Can we know?" I ask her.

She nods. "I'd like to know."

"Well then," Dr. Mason adjusts the wand slightly, looking at the screen with practiced eyes. "It appears you're having a little girl."

A daughter. A little girl. Images flash through my mind—tiny pink boots, learning to ride a pony, teaching her to fish in the creek behind the ranch house. The intensity of emotion catches me off guard, and I have to blink rapidly to clear my suddenly blurry vision.

"A girl," Naomi whispers, and when I look at her, I see tears in her eyes too.

Dr. Mason prints several copies of the ultrasound images, explaining more about the baby's development as she wipes the gel from Naomi's stomach. I try to absorb everything she's saying about prenatal vitamins and the importance of rest, but my mind keeps returning to that tiny heartbeat, that little wave.

"I'll give you two a minute," the doctor says kindly, handing me one of the ultrasound photos before leaving the room.

In the sudden quiet, I examine the black and white image in my hand. It feels like I'm holding something precious and fragile, though it's just paper.

"That's our daughter," I say, still trying to wrap my head around the concept.

Naomi sits up, adjusting her gown. "Yes, it is."

"She has arms and legs and everything," I say stupidly, causing Naomi to laugh.

"What did you think? That I was growing a tadpole in there?"

I grin, grateful for the break in tension.

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