Page 49 of Unpredictable

She rolls her eyes at me as the doctor pulls up a stool next to her, preparing equipment.

“Good man,” he praises. “How have you been feeling?”

“Fine.”

I glare at her as she lies. “She has been getting sick a lot. Is there anything we can do to help her with that?”

“Sterling,” she hisses at me. “I told you, you had to be quiet if you came.”

I give her an apologetic smile, but I’m not sorry. If the doctor can help her, I’ll endure her anger.

“Are you keeping anything down at all?” the doctor asks as he begins feeling her belly.

“I can keep everything down for the most part. I randomly have hot flashes that make me feel sick. Then I throw up.”

“Any particular time of day? Anything that could be causing it?”

She shakes her head.

“How many times a day do you eat?” He pulls back from her.

“Three.”

“Try breaking those three meals up. Eat every hour or two, smaller portions. No large meals. I think that will help with the nausea.”

“Would you recommend increasing her daily intake of iron-rich foods and super foods? What about adding, say, chia seeds to her diet to help ward off depression?”

“Are you having issues with depression?” the doctor asks Victoria.

“No.” She looks at me like I’ve grown a third head.

“What, I’d rather be safe than sorry. I even found some recipes for us to try.”

The doctor covers his laugh with a cough. “All sounds like good ideas. Just remember to eat more frequently and smaller portions.”

“Thank you, we will do that,” I tell the doctor.

I don’t miss the roll of Victoria’s eyes from the corner of my eye.

“Well, are you ready to meet your baby, Dad?” the doctor asks me as he starts up a machine.

My heart stops as I blink my eyes rapidly from the unexpected moisture. Hearing someone call me Dad hits me hard.

“Sterling?” Victoria’s soft voice brings me back.

I grab her hand as I stand next to her. “Never been more ready for something in my life.”

Moments after spreading some goo on her skin and pressing an instrument on her stomach, a loud thumping sound echoes in the room.

“Good. A strong heartbeat. See that?” The doctor points at the screen. “That’s your baby.”

I don’t hear a single word after that. All I can do is listen to the sound of our baby’s heartbeat while staring at the screen.

“Sterling, are you okay?”

I glance down to Victoria. I lean in and kiss her forehead before resting my forehead on hers. “That’s our baby,” I whisper.

She reaches up, wiping away tears from my eyes. “That’s our baby. Our little plum.” She smiles warmly at me.

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