“Basically, they don’t agree with us being separated. You know what they’re like, Char. Nothing is ever good enough for them.” I don’t fail to hear the sadness in his tone.
“I’m sorry that they feel that way.” I turn my head to look at him and I can see his jaw clenching.
“You have nothing to be sorry for. I’m the one who fucked up. I’m the one who pushed you away.”
“Don’t, Luke,” I say as I feel my heartbeat quicken at his words. I don’t want to have this conversation now. I don’t want to have this conversation ever. “What’s done is done. We just need to concentrate on what is happening now, not what happened in the past.”
He glances over to me, and the sorrow I see in his eyes breaks me. I bite my bottom lip to stop myself from saying anything further. Luke looks back to the road and I turn to look out of the window. We drive the rest of the way to the hospital in silence.
Once Luke has parked the car, we both get out and make our way into the hospital. I go to the reception desk of the relevant department and give over my details. When the receptionist has booked me in, I go to take a seat in the waiting area. Luke follows me, and we sit on a couple of chairs that are situated at the back of the waiting room. Luke’s leg begins to jig up and down, and I can tell that he is just as nervous as I am. Luckily, I have the distraction of trying not to wet myself as my bladder struggles to hold onto the water that I drank earlier.
“If we have to wait too much longer, I am literally going to pee myself,” I whisper, causing Luke to burst out laughing. I smile at his reaction and am glad that I have been able to ease some of the tension.
“Is it really that bad?” he asks me. I give him a glare which only serves to make him laugh harder.
“It’s not funny,” I exclaim, but my grin can’t be contained.
“Oh it is.”
I roll my eyes at him and look to the clock on the wall. It’s nearly quarter to two, and I desperately pray that my appointment is on time. With that thought in mind, my name is called.
“Thank God,” I say quietly as I stand and walk over to the nurse calling me. Luke follows, and I can hear him take a deep breath as we are guided into a small room.
“Please take a seat, Miss Thomas,” the nurse says as she points to the bed. I sit on the edge and Luke stands on the other side of the bed. The nurse doesn’t waste any time as she explains what she will be doing and what she is expecting to see on the screen in front of her. I nod dumbly as I lift my legs up onto the bed and lay back. The nurse then pulls my jeggings down slightly and folds tissues along the waist band of my trousers. I look to Luke who has become tense again. I can tell by the stiffness of his shoulders. I place my arms by the side of me and the nurse continues to get things ready in preparation for my ultrasound.
“Now this gel will be cold, so I do apologise,” the nurse says with a kind smile. I brace myself as she places the gel on a wand-type thing and then presses it to my stomach. I refrain from jumping at the sudden coldness and concentrate on holding my pee in as she presses on my stomach. The nurse moves the wand around whilst looking at the screen, and I follow to where her eyes are looking.
“There,” she says as she points to a large blob on the screen. A blob that is shaped like a tiny baby. I gasp at the image. The nurse points out the baby’s heart and tells us that she is pleased with what she is seeing. As tears gather in my eyes at the incredible sight, I feel Luke take my hand in his. I don’t pull away. I let him hold my hand and I squeeze gently, showing that I am grateful for him being here. The nurse starts to take some measurements of the baby and then asks us if we would like some of the images to take away with us.
“Absolutely,” I respond. She smiles and proceeds with what she needs to do. My eyes are still transfixed on the screen. My baby. Luke’s baby. Our baby. All too soon the nurse pulls the wand-thingy away from me, and the sight of our child disappears.
“Everything looks as it should do,” she says as she passes me the images of our baby. “From the measurements that I have taken, it appears that you are sixteen weeks pregnant. That means that it will only be another four weeks until you are due back here for your second scan. I will forward the details on to your midwife.”
“Thank you,” I say, my voice coming out as a whisper as I continue to look at the pictures of my child.
“I’ll just step outside and you can get yourself cleaned up.” She hands me some more tissue and then exits the room, shutting the door behind her. I wipe my stomach with the tissue and pull my trousers back up. I let my eyes drift to Luke who is looking at me, his blue pools sparkling.
“Wow,” he says as he helps me into a sitting position. Our hands are still linked, and it brings me comfort.
“I know.”
“That’s our baby,” he says as he points to the pictures and lets a huge grin grace his face.
“Yeah,” I say, wiping a tear from my cheek. My nerves have gone. My baby is healthy, and relief floods through me. As I look up and into Luke’s eyes, I feel a renewed sense of happiness. We are going to be okay. Together we are going to make this work. We have to for the sake of our child.
I am pretty sure that the love I see in Luke’s eyes is reflected back in mine. Luke has my heart, and in this moment, I am more than willing to see where this journey takes us. There is a silent understanding passing between us. This is the moment where we let go of the hurt. This is the moment where we let go of the pain. This is the moment that defines us. This is the moment that helps me decide. The moment when I make my choice. And that choice is Luke. I choose Luke. Always have, and always will.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Luke asked me to come back to his for a drink, and I agreed. He is currently making us both a cup of tea. I am stood in the kitchen doorway, admiring him. I watch as he manoeuvres around, a smile still on his face. He hasn’t stopped smiling since we left the hospital.
I fold my arms across my chest and lean against the door frame. I admire Luke’s physique. His broad shoulders. His muscly arms, and then I let my eyes wander to his firm ass. Even his thick thighs are noticeable under his jeans. Images flood my mind of all of the times that I have been between those thighs. My pussy stirs as I picture him making love to me… our combined moans and arousal makes me lick my lips.
Today in the hospital, I decided that I want Luke in my life. Not just as the father to our baby, but as my partner. I miss him. I need him. He completes me. I let my eyes wander back up his body and realise that he is watching me. I didn’t even notice him turn around. That’s what having dirty thoughts will do to you, Charlie. They make you forget where you are, and who you are with.
My eyes connect with his and I can see the heat in his ice blues. I don’t know how long he has been watching me ogle him, but I know that it is long enough to ignite the fire within him. My breathing deepens, the silence between us electrified with sexual tension. I discard any thoughts that I had about him possibly meeting someone else. There is no way that he would be looking at me like that if he had.
I push myself off of the door frame and slowly walk over to him. I can see a spark of hope light in his eyes as I make my way closer. Pregnancy has obviously made me more confident. I feel no nerves as I come to a stop in front of his chest. I tilt my head to look up at him, and I hear his breathing become shallow. My heartbeat accelerates. My pussy urges me on. I give him the most seductive look that I can muster before I stand on tip toes and push my lips against his.
