Page 48 of Loving Josy
For Christmas, Noah gave me a necklace—something I never expected. I wasn’t looking for presents, especially not from him, but when he handed me that little box and my fingers brushed the velvet edges, I couldn’t hide the way my breath hitched. Inside was the most delicate infinity symbol, filled with tiny diamonds that caught the light perfectly.
“It has always been you,” Noah had said, his voice steady and sure as he fastened it around my neck. “And I know that what we have and what we’ll build together is going to be forever.”
Forever. That word had echoed in my mind as the cool metal settled against my skin and his warm fingers lingered for a moment before he stepped back. I didn’t know what to say then—how do you respond to something so raw and real? So I’d smiled, blinked back the tears that threatened to fall, and whispered, “Thank you.”
I’ve worn the necklace every day since. My fingers find it constantly, tracing the smooth edges, feeling the weight of his words and wondering if he’s right—if we really can build something that lasts. I want to believe him. God, I want that so badly.
And now here we are, together again, but this time in the doctor’s office, waiting to find out if we’ll finally learn the baby’s sex. Last time we were here, the baby had been stubborn, legs crossed tight as if to say,you’ll find out when I’m ready. Noah had teased me endlessly after that, saying it must be a girl already taking after me—stubborn and independent.
Today, though, I’m hopeful. I glance at Noah, who’s sitting beside me, flipping through one of the outdated magazines on the table. He looks calm, but I can tell he’s just as anxious as I am. The way his foot taps lightly against the tile gives him away.
“Are you nervous?” I ask, leaning back in the chair as I rub my hand absently over my belly.
He looks up at me, a lopsided smile tugging at his lips. “Nah,” he says, though the teasing glint in his eyes betrays him. “I’m just ready to start picking out names that aren’tgender neutraland to stop calling the baby fruit names. This week is a sweet potato. Did you know that?”
I roll my eyes, but I can’t fight the smile. “We’ll see if sweet potato cooperates today. It’s got your stubborn streak, you know.”
“Mystubborn streak? I think you meanourstubbornness” He raises a brow, and I laugh softly.
The door opens before he can respond, and the nurse calls my name. My heart leaps as I stand, Noah quickly rising beside me. His hand settles on my lower back as we follow her into the exam room, a steadying touch that feels as natural as breathing.
“Here we go,” he murmurs as I lie back on the table, his voice soft but steady.
I nod, swallowing hard as the doctor enters the room and the ultrasound begins. The cool gel spreads across my skin, and I squeeze Noah’s hand as the screen flickers to life.
“Let’s see if this little one wants to cooperate today. You are now twenty-one weeks so we should be able to see today. If not, it’s okay. I can order a blood test and that will tell us if it’s a boy or a girl,” the doctor says with a kind smile. The room goes quiet, save for the hum of the machine and the soft sound of our baby’s heartbeat filling the air.
“I don’t want the blood test. I wanna find out whenever the baby is ready.” I say as I look at Doctor Willis and then at Noah. He nods his head, letting me know that he is good with my decision.
I watch the screen, my chest tight with anticipation.
Please,I think.Just this once, let us see.
Noah leans closer, his eyes fixed on the monitor. His thumb brushes over the back of my hand, a silent reassurance as we wait.
Then, finally?—
“Well,” the doctor says, tilting the wand slightly. “Looks like your baby decided to show off today.”
I hold my breath, and Noah’s hand grips mine a little tighter.
“It’s a?—”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Noah
Iswear I can hear my own heartbeat thundering in my ears, matching the rhythmic, rapid whoosh of the baby’s heartbeat echoing through the room. Doctor Willis’s voice is calm, but it might as well be a drumroll with the way my nerves are on edge.
The screen flickers, the faint shape of our baby shifting into view, but my focus is split between the monitor and Josy’s hand in mine. Her grip is tight, her breathing slow and measured, but I know her well enough to see she’s holding back a rush of emotions.
And me? I’m desperate. Desperate to know if we’re having a boy or a girl. Desperate to know who’s going to change our lives forever.
The seconds stretch like hours until?—
“It’s a girl.”
A girl.
