Laura
The moment I stepped back into the ultrasound room, the chill in the air felt sharper than before. The hum of the machine, the slow beeping of the monitor—everything sounded louder in the silence David and I had left behind.
I caught the end of Rose saying something to him. Her voice was soft, but there was steel under it.
“It’s not uncommon for new dads to feel overwhelmed,” she was saying. “But being here, supporting Laura—that’s what matters.”
David sat stiffly, one hand clenched on his knee, the other fidgeting near his phone. He didn’t look up.
“Yeah,” he said, almost mechanically. “Of course. I’ll do what I need to.”
I sat down beside him, close enough for our arms to touch. They didn’t.
Rose glanced at me, her professional smile already back in place, but something flic
