Lost in Time (Forever and Always #20) Read Online Free Page B

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would end. The resentment toward my wife wasn’t helping my stress
levels. I desperately wanted the doctor to tell us everything was
fine and our baby was here to stay. I guess I wasn’t handling
everything very well.
    When we arrived at the office, I held
Scarlet’s hand in the waiting room. I couldn’t deny how nervous I
felt. Mike and Cassandra weren’t struggling with their pregnancy.
Everything seemed good to go. I just hoped we were as fortunate.
Scarlet didn’t speak while we waited. I put aside my anger for a
moment and tried to be supportive.
    The doctor finally called us back and Scarlet
lay on the bed. She wore a t-shirt and running shorts, being
comfortable. A woman in a coat came in then drew blood to run lab
work. I watched her like a hawk, making sure she was doing her job
right. When we were alone, I went back to worrying.
    Scarlet stared at the ceiling and rested her
hands on her ribs. I paced the room slowly, unable to take the
anxiety. All I wanted was a healthy baby with my wife. I wanted my
family. Why couldn’t I just have that?
    The doctor finally arrived with the tests in
hand. “Everything looks great.” He nodded while he flipped through
the lab work. “You’ve been eating right, according to your
results.”
    “I’ve probably been eating too much,” Scarlet
said with a laugh.
    “But eating is good. So, how’s it going? Any
pain or discomfort?”
    “No,” Scarlet said. “I’m just a little
tired.”
    “That’s normal,” he said. “Any dizziness or
lightheadedness?”
    “No,” Scarlet answered.
    “Blood in your urine?”
    “No,” she said again.
    “Great,” he said. “Everything is looking
good.”
    Please stay that way.
    He set up the ultrasound machine then lifted
up her shirt. “I’m going to take a peek inside and see how Baby
Preston is doing.”
    “Okay.” Scarlet leaned back and watched him
apply the gel to the probe.
    I stood beside her and held her hand in mine.
It was hard to be brave for her when I was so scared. I tried to
hide it from escaping my features but it was a struggle.
    The doctor watched the screen while he moved
the probe around. “Found it. Baby Preston has a strong
heartbeat.”
    Scarlet stared at the screen, taking deep
breaths.
    The doctor hit a few buttons on the machine,
and a few numbers popped up on the screen. “Congratulations. You’re
a few weeks into your second trimester.”
    I stared at the screen for a moment, seeing
the faint heartbeat. My son or daughter was in there, growing until
they could finally meet us. I cleared my throat. “So…should we be
concerned about losing the baby again?” I hated voicing the
question. It pained my heart just to say it.
    The doctor placed his hand on Scarlet’s
shoulder. “Nothing is certain, but I’m sure you won’t go through
that again.”
    “How sure?” I asked.
    “It’s rare for women to have miscarriages
beyond the first semester, and Mrs. Preston is a few weeks over the
deadline. I’m sure you’re fine.”
    That was music to my ears. I felt the
moisture below my eyes but I kept it back. “Should I keep her on
bed rest?”
    “That won’t be necessary,” the doctor said.
“Just go about your lives like normal—nothing too extreme.”
    “Okay.” I felt numb in joy.
    The doctor shook my hand. “Until next
time.”
    “Yeah.” I shook it, lost in the emotion.
    He walked out and gave us some privacy.
    My wife grabbed my hand and squeezed it.
“Everything is going to be okay.”
    “Yeah…” I placed a kiss on her stomach. “Baby
Preston is on the way.”
    “I’m so excited.” Tears burned her eyes and
they welled up.
    “Me too.” I felt my own tears escape the rim
of my eyes and fall.
    She wrapped her arms around my neck and held
me. “It’s really happening for us.”
    “It is.” I ran my fingers through her hair,
trying to calm down. Ever since I got married, my emotional level
had skyrocketed. Before Scarlet, I had cried twice in my life.