Page 56 of Grounds for Love

Chapter 18

Jen

“Isthiseverything?”Rod asks.

I look around the bedroom that’s been mine since we moved to Faire Island. Rod met me in the apartment above Uncommon Grounds when I got off work to officially move all my things to his house. Rod’s been reminding me for weeks and I’ve been dragging my feet. I’m not sure why.

“I think so. Let me check the bathroom one more time.”

Joy decided to stay in the apartment instead of accepting Rod’s generous offer to move to his guest house. I didn’t even know he had one. I was stunned to discover it’s the house beside his that he’d bought and turned into what he calls a guest house. In reality, he just hadn’t wanted anyone to live close to him.

I’m leaving all our furniture for Joy. We don’t need it at Rod’s.

“Did you get it all?” Joy asks as I’m searching the bathroom cabinet for anything I’ve missed.

“I think so. It’s not like I can’t come back if I did forget something.”

“Okay, sweetheart, is that all?” Rod asks what seems to be the question of the hour as he comes back in the door from taking the last few boxes down to the truck.

“I think that’s all of it.” I pull Joy into my arms. “Okay, kiddo. I’m only a phone call away if you need me. I’m going to miss you.”

Joy hugs me back. “Come on, Jen, it’s not like we aren’t going to see each other every day at work.”

“I know. It’s just going to be different.” I give her another hug and tears fill my eyes. Stupid pregnancy hormones.

“Okay, we’re going…right after I go to the bathroom one more time.”

Rod and Joy laugh at my perpetual neediness for going to the bathroom lately. When I come back down the hallway, I hear Rod reassuring Joy she can change her mind and move into his guest house anytime she wants. That touches me and makes me fall even more in love with the man.

“Ready to go, sweetheart? We have just enough time to make the ferry. We don’t want to be late to our doctor’s appointment. They’re going to do another ultrasound today.”

I grin. He’s been so cute staying on top of things with the baby. He even has a calendar on the refrigerator. I’m not sure why the synced calendar on our phones wasn’t good enough.

With one last hug, we leave Joy contemplating redecorating the apartment. Rod holds my hand as we go down the stairs and then helps me into the truck. I need to say something to him about being so overprotective, but I know how important the baby is to him and I know what he lost. I can’t bring myself to tell him to ease up. Maybe I can bring it up at the doctor’s appointment.

My face heats thinking about Doctor Ellison’s reply to Rod’s email about sex and I have to stifle a snort. He actually asked that since he has a big penis, would he hit the baby with deep penetration? I laughed my ass off and Rod pouted. A forty-six year-old man pouting is a sight to behold.

I don’t know why I get so nervous at our checkup appointments. The technician does her thing and I don’t think I’ll ever get over seeing the miracle growing inside me.

After taking measurements, she prints out another picture to add to the baby book. I don’t mention that we don’t have one of those yet. I’m already failing at the mom business.

She leaves and I dress. We don’t have long to wait before the nurse shows us into the doctor’s office. Taking a seat, we wait. This is the hardest for me. I assume the doctor is going over the test results. What will she say this time?

“Hey, Jenni,” Rod says, and I pull my gaze away from the doctor’s diplomas and look his way. “It’s going to be okay. The baby has been growing on target and healthy every time. There’s no reason that isn’t what the doctor is going to say now.”

I smile and get butterflies in my stomach that he can pick up on my moods so easily. “You knew?”

“Of course. You try to hide it, but I know you. You get quiet and your left leg bounces when you’re sitting down… and you hold my hand in a death grip.”

I gasp and turn his hand loose. “Oh, my gosh, I’m sorry.”

He picks my hand back up, threads his fingers through mine, and kisses my fingertips. “I wasn’t complaining. I like the fact that I can be your rock when you need me. Now, what do you think about starting on the nursery? I thought we could use the bedroom beside ours.”

I nod slowly and bite my thumbnail. Rod’s house is big and gorgeous. For a single bachelor. I can just see the white and gray area rug in his living room covered in baby throw-up. And the white upholstered couches will be stunning with dirty baby handprints or even poop on them.

Before I can come up with a response, Doctor Ellison barrels into her office like she always does. After shaking our hands, she takes a minute to look through the chart and smiles. I try to remember to ease up on Rod’s hand, but it’s impossible.

“Everything looks perfect,” she says and makes a few notes in the chart. “The baby’s growth is right on target. You’re in your second trimester now and you have the option of having an amniocentesis, but after your first round of tests, I don’t think you need one. This pregnancy is exactly what we like to see. Your blood pressure is fine. There’s no blood in your urine, and your ultrasound shows the baby’s heart rate is perfect with developmental growth right where we want it.”

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