Page 74 of Certified Pressure 3
I thought I was finally winning. I thought I had something to hold over her, but now I just felt stupid, embarrassed, and crushed.
Serenity Women’s Care
One week later…
“I’m so nervous,” I whispered to Pressure while laying on the bed, waiting for the doctor to show up. My gown was folded just below my belly, and my hands were resting over the small round bump that seemed to grow more every day. Pressure was sitting close beside me, rubbing slow circles on my stomach with his palm. His touch was warm and reassuring, and even though I was nervous, I couldn’t help but smile.
He leaned down and kissed my stomach, then looked up at me. “You ready?”
I nodded. “Yeah, I’m ready.”
He grinned, the corner of his mouth pulling up the way it always did when he was in a good mood. “You excited?”
“I am,” I said with a smile. “Aren’t you?”
He nodded like I had just asked a dumb question. “Hell yeah, I’m excited. You know I been waitin’ on this.”
We both laughed softly. Everything about this clinic felt peaceful. It was private, clean, and calm. Everything was top tier. There was soft music playing from the speakers, and the scent of lavender filled the room. Out in the waiting area, I could faintly hear Zurie’s laughter. She was playing with the toys the nurses had brought out for her, and I was thankful they were kind enough to keep an eye on her while I was back here. It was just us in the building. There wasn’t a crowd, extra noise or waiting rooms full of strangers. It was just me, Pressure, and our baby.
When the door opened, a tall woman with kind eyes and curly brown hair stepped in. Her name tag read Dr. Ellis, and she smiled the moment she saw us.
“Good morning, Pluto,” she said warmly. “I understand this is your third visit overall but your first here with us, correct?”
“Yes, ma’am,” I replied. “I filled out the registration forms online.”
“Perfect. I’ve already reviewed your file,” she said, glancing down at the chart on her tablet before looking back up. “Everything looks good so far. We’re just going to check on the baby and see how he or she is developing.”
Pressure straightened up, rubbing his palms together. “Let’s get it.”
The doctor smiled and turned toward me. “Go ahead and lie back, sweetheart. We’re going to use a little gel and take a look.”
She rolled her stool closer, then squeezed a small amount of cool gel on my stomach. I flinched, and Pressure chuckled quietly under his breath.
“Cold?” he teased.
“Freezing,” I said, giving him a look.
The doctor placed the ultrasound wand on my stomach and began moving it around slowly. The sound of soft static filled the room, followed by a faint rhythmic pulsing that made my heart race. Pressure reached over and grabbed my hand, his thumb brushing across my knuckles. I hadn’t even realized how tightly I was squeezing his fingers until that moment.
“Here we go,” the doctor said softly. “There’s your baby. Everything looks great. You’re measuring at about sixteen weeks and four days.”
The screen lit up with a little image that looked like a miracle in motion. My eyes immediately filled with tears. I could see the tiny heartbeat flashing, the small movements, and the perfect little shape.
Pressure leaned forward, his eyes locked on the screen. “Damn,” he whispered, a smile spreading across his face. “That’s really my baby right there.”
The doctor smiled. “Would you like to know the sex?”
I nodded quickly, my voice shaky. “Yes, please.”
She moved the wand slightly, clicking a few buttons before looking up at us with a bright smile. “Congratulations,” she said softly. “You’re having a boy.”
For a second, I couldn’t breathe. Then Pressure released my hand and laughed loud enough to fill the whole room. “I knew it! I fuckin’ knew it!” he said, clapping his hands together. “That’s my boy right there!”
His excitement was contagious. I started laughing through my tears, feeling every bit of the joy he was radiating.
The doctor smiled at both of us. “Congratulations again, you two,” she said, handing me a few tissues before turning off the monitor. “You can wipe the gel off, and I’ll give you both a minute.”
I nodded and took the tissues, gently wiping my stomach as Pressure helped me clean the rest. His touch was warm and careful.
