Page 21 of Faith Notes
“No.”
Grayson’s answer startles me, and I turn my head to look at him.
We hadn’t discussed this. I had just assumed that we would find out. I like to plan, and he knows that.
When I look at him, he’s already looking back at me, a shy smile on his lips. His hand comes up, rubbing at the back of his neck. “I thought maybe we could save it—for a moment, that’s just the two of us. Is that okay?”
Understanding washes over me, and I don’t think I could love him any more than I do right now.
“I will always choose quiet moments with you, Gray.”
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“Keep up, slowpoke,” I taunt Grayson as we walk toward one of my favorite places in this town.
“We are not going up there. I hope you know that.”
At the end of the path we are walking down, there is a water tower with our names on it.
Grayson, Nate, and I used to come here. We would climb up the ladder, sit, and watch the world go by.
We still come here often, only without Nate, and sure, there’s still a part of Nate that remains here with us, but we’ve also made it our own spot. We’ve had many dates up here, talking about life and love and heartbreak, and I can’t imagine any other place I would want to find out the gender of our baby.
“I know, Grayson,” I say, pulling on his hand. “Don’t be such a dud.”
I glance at him over my shoulder, and he cocks one eyebrow.
“Okay, fine. I might have climbed it, but I will stay on the ground just for you.”
He sighs. “You’re going to give me gray hairs one day.”
My answering grin is sickly sweet. “You’d make a hot silver fox.”
Grayson chokes—on what, I’m not sure—I guess his spit. It’s not like he’s eating anything.
I have to bite my lip to keep from cackling as we head further down the path.
Today, I feel lighter and more like myself. We decided to wait until this weekend to have our private gender reveal, and I’ve been on the edge of my seat all week. With each day that passed, though, the weight of the anxiety that had been pressing onto my shoulders started to weigh a little less, and the excitement started settling in.
The ultrasound appointment changed things for me. I saw a healthy baby, and I know he or she is growing safe inside me. I also found out that the reason I haven’t felt any kicks yet is because I have an anterior placenta, so it will probably be a couple more weeks before I can feel them.
I’ve been comparing many of my pregnancy milestones to those on the internet, and I worried when I didn’t meet them. But that appointment made it sink in that every pregnancy is different.
We reach the base of the water tower, and I turn toward Grayson with my hand out, waiting for him to hand over the backpack he is carrying.
He takes it off without a word and places it in my hand. Unzipping it, I pull out a blanket for us to sit on, along with a bottle of sparkling grape juice and two plastic flutes. Grayson spreads the blanket while I pour us both a cup.
With the blanket spread across the ground, he takes my hand, helping me lower myself to the ground. I’m not that bigyet, but Grayson’s love language is acts of service. And I’m learning to let him help me.
When we are both settled on the ground, drinks in hand, Grayson reaches into the bag and pulls out the envelope. We had the ultrasound tech put the gender in there and seal it shut so neither of us could peek—no matter how tempted I’ve been this week.
Sitting beside my husband with anticipation buzzing through my veins, I’m glad I waited because nothing can compare to this moment with him.
“Are you ready?” he asks.
I nod, unable to get the words out.
My heart flutters as he flips the envelope over, sliding his finger under the seal to open it. His hands tremble as he reaches inside and pulls out the paper, and it hits me that my unflappable husband is nervous.
