Page 36 of Consummation

I bite my lip, too overwhelmed to speak further.

“And do you see that bit of flickering right there?” the doctor continues. “That’s the baby’s heartbeat. Oh, it’s nice and strong—exactly what we like to see.”

Sarah makes a sound of wonderment. “Hey, we should take a video of this for Josh.”

“Oh, good idea,” I say. “My phone’s in my purse.”

Sarah pulls out my phone and aims it at the screen. “Okay,action. Doctor, will you explain what’s onscreen for the baby’s father?”

“Of course.” The doctor motions to the screen and explains everything, and when she’s done, Sarah pans the camera to me.

“Hi, Josh,” I say, waving. “Well, it looks like our accidental Faraday is a stubborn little thing—surprise, surprise! I guess he or she’s decided they’re not going anywhere, after all.” I try to smile but tears unexpectedly prick my eyes. Goddammit. Josh must hate me. I’m the one who missed my pill, after all, not him. He trusted me to protect him from the one thing that freaked him out the most and I let him down. I wipe my eyes. “I’m really sorry, Josh,” I squeak out.

Sarah turns off the video recorder. “I’m gonna edit that last part out. You have nothing to apologize for, Kat. It takes two to tango.”

“No. Leave it in. I forgot to take my pill—and now I’ve totally ruined his life. I owe him an apology.”

“You haven’t ruined his life,” the doctor interjects, her tone firm. “You’veblessedit immeasurably. He just doesn’t know it yet.”

Tears fill my eyes at these unexpectedly kind words from the doctor. “Thank you,” I say softly.

Sarah squeezes my hand. “Listen to the doctor. She went to medical school and everything.”

Doctor Gupta smiles warmly. “Kat, I’ve seen many women in your shoes. If you had a crystal ball and could see yourself a year from now, I think you’d be surprised in a good way.”

I manage a smile. “Thank you.”

The doctor turns back to the machine. “Now. Based on what I’m seeing here, you’re about nine weeks along, which makes your due date... December second, give or take two weeks on either side.”

“Oh,” I say, my mood instantly getting a lift. “December second isSagittarius,” I say.

“Is that good?” Sarah asks.

I nod. “Same as Henny.”

“Oh, thatisgood.”

“It’s a fire sign. A Sag is adventurous, creative, and passionate. Loves to travel. Makes friends easily. Funny as hell. But also can be bossy and impulsive as hell—especially a female Sagittarius. A female Sag can be hell on wheels.”

Sarah raises an eyebrow. “Sounds like the grape isn’t gonna fallfar from the vine.” She addresses the doctor. “Can you tell if the grape is a boy or girl?”

“Not yet. We’ll probably be able to determine gender at around twenty weeks.”

“Okay, I’m calling it right now,” Sarah says, putting up her hand. “You’re having a girl.”

“You think?”

“Iknow.And do you knowhowI know? Because I believe in God—and if there’s one person in this world who karmically deserves to wind up with a hell-on-wheels daughter, it’s you, Kat.”

“Hey, did you just insult me?” I ask.

Sarah laughs. “Not at all.”

The doctor takes the sonogram wand off my belly and cleans up the gel on my skin. “Do you have any questions, Kat?”

“A couple.” I take a deep breath, gathering my nerve. “Before I found out I was pregnant, I drank some booze—quite a bit, actually. I was in Las Vegas. When will I know if I gave the baby alcohol-fetus-whatever-whatever?”

“Fetal alcohol syndrome?”

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