CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: The Heartbeat19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wz7PbPe6T
(Her POV)
They didn’t go to a big hospital.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lPeRzysmc
No fancy clinic.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWjRoFxPAW
No white walls or high-end machines.
Just a local maternity center tucked in a sleepy town.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUNNcJrDkp
Walls painted pale yellow.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71jXve0dUr
Posters of smiling babies.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4n44u9rJZ
A midwife who greeted them like they were old friends.
“First time, Miss?”
She nodded, clutching Matteo’s hand.
“First heartbeat?”19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHSbFn1Qfl
“Yes.”
The midwife smiled.
“Then this will be your favorite sound in the world.”
She lay on the small exam bed.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1COMBysDXs
Matteo sat beside her, his hand gripping hers so tightly their knuckles matched in color.
The gel was cold.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjKffuJ302
The probe gentle.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqSaYZLeLM
Her nerves, chaotic.
Then—
A sound.
Thump-thump.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTjL2FllGK
Thump-thump.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVWcVGcbxL
Thump-thump.
Fast.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEjw5ovnjH
Strong.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡauTWGxD9ZN
Alive.
She gasped.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsu53Vj23Em
Eyes instantly watering.
Matteo didn’t move at first.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuSXwRjDm4
Just stared at the screen.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnn2ats2lAI
At the flicker.
Then his shoulders shook.
And a tear slipped down his cheek.
“That’s them?” he whispered.
The midwife smiled again.
“That’s your baby.”
He kissed her hand.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MuojRq5tj
Then her temple.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzlzzG48fA
Then, without thinking, pressed his forehead to her belly again.
“You hear that?” he said softly.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBCjrIYKag
“You’re not alone anymore.”
Later, they went to the market.
She picked out tiny mittens.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogVdhaT9oR
A white beanie.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKOulQh4fp
One soft yellow onesie with a bear print.
Matteo picked a pacifier that said “heartbreaker.”
“Too soon?” he grinned.
“Way too soon,” she laughed, but kept it.
They walked hand in hand.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegoDHi35yi
Not running.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Gi6ULlZIc
Not hiding.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybn3qhYbOu
Just being.
That night, back in their motel room—
He held her belly as they lay in bed.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJecLSEknZD
Whispering stories.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKF8h4bTAGj
Humming lullabies he barely remembered from childhood.
“Do you think I’ll be a good father?” he asked suddenly.
She didn’t answer right away.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOQDtIMGU2
Just turned and kissed his chest.
“No,” she said.
ns216.73.216.239da2“I know you will be.”
