Page 8 of Faith Notes
Grayson grabs my hand, holding on to it as I lay back on the table and lift my shirt. The gel is cold against my skin as Dr. Madoc squeezes it on and then places the wand against my abdomen.
She’s quiet for five of the longest seconds of my life, and then I hear the most glorious sound I have ever heard.
A heartbeat.
Dr. Madoc smiles, and when I turn my head to look at Grayson, he has silent tears streaming down his face.
“That’s our baby, Peach.”
My tears match his, hot against my cheek. “Yeah, Gray, it is.”
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“Grayson Eugene Lewis, I’m pregnant—not broken.”
His warm laughter seeps into my chest as he carries me down the steps. Since our twelve-week appointment a couple of days ago, he’s been more protective than usual, hardly letting me lift a finger.
“I know,” he says, kissing my temple, “I just want to take care of my wife. You’re doing the hard part by growing our baby. Let me take some of the burden off you.”
I lift a brow. “Walking is a burden?”
Grayson’s lips flatten, popping a brow to match mine. “Yes.”
His tone is so serious that, for a moment, I think he’s completely lost his mind, but the muscle in his jaw jumps, giving away how hard he’s fighting to hold back a smile.
Smacking my hand against his chest, I say, “You’re a nuisance. Do you know that?”
He smiles down at me, making my heart flutter. “I know.”
With a sigh, I give up fighting him, laying my head against his chest and letting him carry me down the stairs. When we reach the bottom, he sets me on my feet and kisses my lips.
“See? It wasn’t so hard to let me do something for you, was it?”
“Just took twice as long, and our families will be here any minute,” I grumble.
Pulling on my ear, he scowls down at me. “I don’t know if it’s the pregnancy or if I’m rubbing off on you, but you’re kind of grumpy.”
I gasp at the audacity of those words.
Doesn’t he know you aren’t supposed to antagonize a pregnant lady?
With a glare, I spin on my heel and stomp away from him, making sure he hears my feet hit the ground. “You’re going to see grumpy.”
“Peach,” he calls after me, “I didn’t mean anything by it.”
But I continue my path, ignoring him and stomping to the kitchen.
In the back of my mind, I know he’s right. I have been grumpy here lately, but I can’t control any of my emotions. If I’m not being cranky, I’m crying for no reason. There is no in-between, and I hate it. But at the same time, I will go through every single emotion if it means that in six months, our baby is safe in my arms.
My movements are jerky as I pull out different dishes and some of the food I made yesterday from the fridge. Both of our families are coming over today, along with Nate’s mom and sister. Since we are now past twelve weeks, and the baby is doing okay, we are going to tell them.
I’m excited—but nervous, especially telling Ellie and Harper.
I know Ellie will be happy for me, but it will also make her sad. She tries to hide it, but sometimes, when she’s aroundGrayson and me, she gets this look in her eye that reminds me of heartbreak.
There is no doubt in my mind that she is happy for us. She’s one of the people who helped me move and open myself up to Grayson loving me after Nate’s death, but I think it makes her sad that she doesn’t get to see her son live this life.
And I don’t blame her for that. I just hope she will want to be around for this baby’s life, even though it’s not her actual grandbaby. But if she feels like she can’t, I will understand that. It might hurt, but I’ll be okay.
