Page 16 of Inked Heart

I walk over and kiss her nose, before rubbing her cheek and meeting her eyes…. “The first being the day I met you.”

The tears in her eyes almost break me. Even though I manage to keep it together, I can feel it deep in my heart and I vow to take all the pain and doubt from her. Bit by bit and replace it with joy and love.

“Sorry for the wait. Let’s look at your baby. If you would raise your legs and put them in the stirrups. Lie back and I will insert this vaginally into your belly because you are not far enough along to see from the outside yet.” Helping her get into position, I am transfixed watching this wand like camera go inside my woman’s vagina. And yes. Right now, it is a vagina.

“Ah. If you look right there, you will see the little bubble. That is your amniotic sac. And that little peanut is your baby.” At first all I see is static. It takes a moment for my eyes to adjust but when they do, I see this little flutter and I see my baby. Holy shit!! My kid. That is my seed floating in there. I’m going to be a dad.

Suddenly, I hear this sound like we are in the ocean. Before I can ask, she says, “That is your baby’s heartbeat. Nice and strong.” I look down at my Angel and I notice she is crying silently. I lean down and wipe her face.

Kissing her gently on the lips I tell her. “Thank you. For giving me something I didn’t know I was looking for.”

She looks at me and smiles and says, “I was going to say the same to you.”

After all the intenseness, we get her vitamins, the pictures, and make an appointment for a few months from now to come back and find out the sex of the baby. The whole way to meet my mom and sister, I am on cloud nine. I notice Kitty hasn’t spoken, but I am giving her a minute to her own thoughts.

We pull up to the restaurant and immediately she tenses and squeezes my hand. “Baby calm down. I got you. Look at me.” When she finally does, I say it again. “I got you. And you.” I say rubbing her stomach. She smiles, nods, and we walk into the restaurant.

As soon as we hit the table, my mom envelopes her in a hug and so does Carrie. Kitty looks a bit confused, but my mom explains like a pro. “I hope the hug wasn’t uncomfortable. But El has never brought a woman home, making you special and important enough for me to want you to feel comfortable.”

Kitty looks shocked at the revelation, but the smile she beams at me makes me feel 10 feet tall.

“Kitty, I would like for you to meet my mom Estonia and my sister Carrie. Mom and Carrie, this is my woman, Katherine. And before we go any further, I have news.” Looking for Kitty’s approval, she gives me a slight nod and I hand my mom the pics.

“Oh my God. You’re having a baby? Eldridge, I am so happy for you. I never thought I would see the day. Now when do I get to plan a wedding?”

I let out a full-blown belly laugh, because I knew I could count on her to get right to the point.

Maybe Kitty will finally jump on board.

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