This wasn’t the first time Jack had been in the doctor’s office with his wife. With all the mishaps the two of them seemed to attract, it was almost comfortably familiar. It wasn’t even the first time he’d come along during Katelynn’s pregnancy; he’d been with her when the doctor did a physical exam, and when she’d listened for a fetal heartbeat.
But today was going to be something special. Today the doctor would be doing an ultrasound, and they would find out their baby’s gender.
The blue man stepped into the room, carrying the water Katelynn had asked for. “How are you doing, love?” he asked with a warm smile. “Nervous?”
Her heart skipped a beat when his form appeared in the room ( three years knowing each other and he still had that affect on her ), perking up and taking the offered water with a thank you – taking a sip before she even attempted to speak.
“—N-Nervous? Well um…” Her finger rubbed along the edge of the cup, “a bit. But..also excit-excited.” Her shoulders hunched together, pondering how to properly explain it. “I mean..we al-already know…don’t we? She came to us..but..” Her brows furrowed, top row of teeth scrapping along the bottom lip for a moment. “..could th-that..change..?”
She felt guilt for worrying him as soon as the words left her mouth, taking a lock of brown hair and tugging on it.
Jack pulled up a chair next to the exam table, so he could cuddle close to her while they waited for the doctor. He’d mulled that very question over many times since meeting Gail, but he was no closer to having an answer.
“I really don’t know. I mean … I’m not saying I want it to change. That young woman was so strong, and brave. She’s a child any parent would be proud of. But at the same time …”
He sighed. “Do you remember that talk we had, the first time I was in the hospital? When you asked me if I believed in fate and destiny?”
Jack Maple 