Page 94 of Unravelling: Aria & Crispin
When she reappeared in the hospital gown, he stood straighter.
The sonographer-a woman with steel-grey hair, smile lines around her eyes, and the calm confidence of someone who had done this thousands of times-greeted them warmly.
"And you are?" she asked, glancing at Crispin.
Before Aria could say anything, he said proudly, "I'm the dad." There was a nervous smile in his voice.
The woman smiled gently and patted the bed. "Alright then, let's have a look."
Aria lay back. The gown was raised over her growing belly.
Crispin had not seen her naked in a while, and she could feel his intense interest in the changes in her body.
"Cold gel coming," the sonographer warned.
Aria flinched as the icy gel squirted onto her skin, followed by the pressure of the probe. Thank God she no longer needed to drink the equivalent of a barrel of water.
The screen flickered to life. Crispin moved closer, staring with fascination.
"This is the anomaly scan," the sonographer explained. "We're looking at the baby's brain, spine, kidneys, limbs, and heart. We check the placenta and amniotic fluid, and take measurements, too."
She moved the probe with practiced precision.
Crispin stared, eyes wide with wonder.
"There's the head," the sonographer said. "Good size. Here's the spine, beautifully aligned. See this? That's the stomach. Kidneys...right there." She pointed at the screen. "And now...the heart."
"Do you want to hear it?"
They both nodded eagerly. Aria's lips parted in a soft gasp. Crispin just froze.
A rhythm filled the room. Rapid, fierce.
Whoop-whoop-whoop-whoop.
"Just a moment," he said, fumbling for his phone. "I need to record this."
The sonographer gave a knowing smile. She waited for a second as he recorded that epic moment.
"Heart chambers look normal. Great vessels are clear. Here's the diaphragm. Oh, look here. That little flash is the lens of the eye."
She showed them every angle-tiny fingers, tiny toes, flexing limbs, perfect symmetry.
"The placenta is a little low lying, and we will need another scan later. It may migrate as the uterus expands. Everything looks good. Just watch for any bleeding," she said finally. "Do you want to know the sex?"
They both looked at each other. Aria hesitated, Crispin raised an eyebrow.
"No," she said. "I would like for it to be a surprise."
He nodded, his expression softened by bliss and a slow smile creeping onto his face.
The woman handed Aria a few tissues. "All looks fine. Your baby's doing beautifully."
They stepped out into the corridor, the printed scan tucked between them.
Aria paused just outside the hospital doors, one hand drifting instinctively to her belly.
She felt it then-the fluttering that was a constant comfort, like the baby was speaking to her. A tiny kick.
