Heshook his head, obviously disgusted. “And this is why we never do anything,” hemuttered under his breath.
Crumplingmy brow and frowning, all while a flash of anger threatened to swallow mewhole, I asked, “What?”
“Nothing.Forget it.”
“No.Repeat what you just said.”
Heshook his head adamantly. “Stop, it's—”
“Kendall?”
Weboth froze, mouths open in mid-argument, as we turned to face the red-headednurse and her iPad. She looked expectantly into the crowded waiting room andrepeated my name, just as I raised my hand and stood.
“Righthere,” I told her, and she smiled, before instructing us to follow her.
Wewere led into the ultrasound room, where she had me lay on the table and pullup my shirt. After tucking a hefty amount of paper towels into the waistbandband of my pants, she grabbed her petroleum jelly and smeared it around withthe wand. It left my belly cool, freezing my nerves as my hands shook.
“Okay,”she said, turning to the screen while moving the wand around, pressing itfirmly to my lower stomach. “Do you know the sex of the baby yet?”
“No,”I answered, as Brendan eagerly and sweetly laid a hand on my ankle from wherehe stood at the foot of the table.
“Doyouwantto know?”
Brendannodded as I squeaked an eager albeit nervous “yes.” The technician smiled andmoved the wand some more, in search of my little bean, before announcing thatshe finally had the baby at the perfect angle. Then, in a very nonchalant tone,she let us know that we were having a boy.
Brendan'shand squeezed my ankle as I grinned, staring up at the fluttering figure of mybaby. I could feel him now, just barely. Moving as faint and light as butterflywings in the lowest part of my belly.
Him.
Myheart tripled in size at the thought of being a mother to a little baby boy,and if I hadn't been in love with him already, I certainly was now.
Icouldn't wait to call my parents and make plans to see them. I couldn't wait tobuy clothes and furniture. And I couldn't wait to see Goose and tell him thathe had been right.
***
Brendanand I didn't fight anymore that night, and we weren't late for dinner, walking intothe restaurant just in time. On the way to the table, I faltered at the sightof Goose, wearing a black, long-sleeved t-shirt that fit him well. He lookedgood, much better than friendsshouldlook, but it was the logo in thecenter of his chest that stopped me in my tracks.
“Hey!”He grinned brightly as we approached the table, standing to extend a greetingarm toward me.
“Hey.”I stood on my toes to wrap an arm around his shoulders and his wrapped looselyaround my waist. “You didn't tell me you liked Counting Crows.”
Chucklinginto my ear, he replied, “I wasn't aware I was supposed to.”
“Uh,they're only my favorite band.”
Hestood back as his brows lifted inquisitively. “No shit?”
Ismiled, fixing my eyes on his for just a second. “No shit.”
Then,not allowing myself to linger on the moment or the way his Adam’s apple bobbedincessantly in his throat, I turned back toward Brendan and reached out for hishand, to pull him closer. I introduced him to Goose and Tracey, glad that thefirst impressions seemingly passed without any inkling of awkwardness. Drinkorders were placed, menus were read, and then, while we waited for our dinnersto arrive, I thought the moment felt right to drop our happy news.
“So,”I began, grasping Brendan’s knee beneath the table, “we found out that we’rehaving a boy.”
“Itold you!” Goose exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with excitement.“Congratulations, guys. That's awesome.”
“Thanks,”Brendan replied, as his lips twitched into a proud smile.
Traceyoffered her own well wishes and then asked, “Do you have any names picked outyet?”
