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I’ers in ?"

I’m a little rattled by what I’ve just heard "I wanted to see if I could hear the baby’s heartbeat"

She’s amused by my anxiousness "I think it’s a little early for that Dr Knight doesn’t even think we’ll see anything on the ultrasound today"

"But I do I hear it"

Her eyes grow large "No way"

"It’s very faint but it’s there"

She’s simultaneously happy and sad "I wish I could hear it"

Maybe I shouldn’t have listened It’s not right that I’m able to hear the heartbeat when she can’t, especially when she’s the one carrying our baby inside her body "I’m sorry That wasn’t fair to you"

"Don’t be sorry I’m thrilled to know there’s already a heartbeat"

My"Maybe there’s a way for you to hear it"

"I doubt it Your hearing is far better than any type of equipht will have in her office"

That’s not what I had in h our connection"

"It’s an interesting idea if nothing else It wouldn’t hurt to try so I’m up for it"

I place my ear to her lower abdomen "Concentrate on our place where it’s only us" She strokes my hair and I close my eyes so I can focus as well I listen until I’ain and then I centralize all ofwith Avery

Our connection co to find the sound within –one I’ve never experienced–and then I feel her burst of happiness and know she is able to hear our baby’s heart beating

She’s silent and perfectly still but the happiness ani from her is unmistakable "I hear it It’s hard to wrap "

Maybe she can’t believe it but I can "This baby is genetically tied to you so it doesn’t havedepartenes and I happen to think you rank pretty high in the a department yourself" She leans up and kisses the top oflad you and I were able to do that together at hon instruers with ive you that, love"

"I hope I’ as equally special one day"

"I’ll think of soelse I wanted fro it up I needed perfect words–and a beautiful ring–so she would giveAvery in my black Lexus convertible to her first prenatal appointht the car about afor anything thatback on that decision, it seems so ridiculous now What kind of vampire buys a convertible he can never drive in the sun with the top down?

Oddly enough, I can now if I’ with sun exposure But this car isn’t baby friendly so I guess I’ned to fit a fa like a human husband and father

"What’s so funny?"

She’s picked up on my internal conversation with ?" she asks "I happen to love it"

"I have to get rid of it after I’m able to drop the top and drive it in the sun The irony of it is humorous to me"

She takes my hand in hers "I say keep it and enjoy the sun"