The Undeniable Bond

Chapter 3 - Congratulations!!!!

Amelia's POV

“We’re going to start with some basic checks. I’ll take your blood pressure, weight, and ask a few questions.”

The nurse efficiently records my vitals and asks me questions about recent symptoms, any changes in my health, and my overall well-being. I answered thoughtfully, feeling more at ease with the nurse’s professionalism and kindness.

After the nurse took my weight and blood pressure, I was directed to go to my room and change my clothes into a hospital gown. The room is bright and clean, with an examination table and various medical instruments neatly arranged. Angela then helped me onto the table, where I tried to make myself as comfortable as I could, but the cushions were as solid as a rock. I then placed the sheet over me because it got a bit cold in there. About 8 minutes later, we heard a knock at the door.

"Hello, hello, how are you two doing today?"

"I'm pretty good Dr. Newton, and yourself?" I replied.

"Hanging in there, now, after looking at your chart, you missed quite a few appointments young lady, and I told you before we were concerned about your blood pressure. And by the looks of your feet swelling like a balloon, we may need to find alternatives to your diet."

OK, yeah, since I found out I was pregnant I kinda let myself go on the 'snack attack' cravings, between me and Grandpop sneaking to the kitchen in the middle of the night may have contributed to my poor choice of diet. When you are hungry, your are hungry. Pregnancy cravings are no joke. Angela was in the corner just shaking her head, in 'fake disappointment', I just rolled my eyes at her.

"Nurse Hadley will come in here after I'm done here and give you a nutrition folder that I want you to follow, plus I don't want you to miss any more appointments. I want to make sure that there won't be any complications when you go into labor, understood. "

"Yes sir", after listening to Dr. Newton, and also hearing the concern in his tone, I knew that this was a serious matter at hand and that I needed to take this situation more seriously.

"So, now let us get to the fun part and see who is baking in the oven, and check on the baby’s development. If you could position yourself and scoot down a bit, we’ll get started. This gel is a bit cold at first, but it's just for a short time."

I followed the instructions, lying down and positioning myself so that the doctor could begin. He then removed the sheet covering my belly, then placed the gel around my pelvic area with the wand that was connected to the monitor. The room was filled with the soft whirring of the machine and the rhythmic sound of the babies' heartbeat.

As the ultrasound image appeared on the screen, Dr. Newton carefully examined the screen, and from what he was explaining to us, the measurements of the baby. Angela then grabs my hand and kisses it. Tears streamed from her eyes while she watched intently on the screen, both of our hearts pounding with anticipation.

“Everything looks good so far, a solid, strong heartbeat. Let’s see if we can find out the gender today.”

After a few moments of maneuvering the ultrasound wand, Dr. Newton pauses, a smile spreading across his face.

“There it is. Congratulations, Amelia, you’re having a baby girl.”

I could feel a wave of emotions crash over me—relief, joy, and a deep sense of awe. My eyes welled up with tears as I gazed at the tiny image on the screen.

“A girl... I can’t believe it.”

Dr. Newton printed out a few ultrasound images for me to keep. He handed some to me and Angela, I guess for her she needed more pictures. "Oh, doctor, we're going to need about 15 of those pictures, pretty please, I need all the angles, and if you can get a good face angle, that would be awesome."

I burst out in laughter, "What are all of those pictures for?" I asked.

"The baby's memory book that granny and I are creating for you. And to show my niece in the future how, even as a baby, she was gorgeous.

"Angela, you can't really see the baby's features in an ultrasound picture, you do know that right."

He gently wipes away the gel from my abdomen and helps me sit back up.

“I know this can be overwhelming, but everything looks perfect. Do you have any questions or concerns?” Dr Newton said.

I shook my head, still absorbing the news. “No, I’m just... so happy. Thank you.”

Dr. Newton then instructs the nurse to come back in to discuss the next steps for my prenatal care, providing me with information on nutrition, exercise, and what to expect in the coming months. He also schedules me for follow-up appointments to monitor the baby’s progress.

***************

As we leave the clinic, I clutch the ultrasound images to my chest, a smile lingering on my lips. All I could feel was a newfound sense of purpose and a deep connection to the life growing inside me. The news of having a daughter filled me with hope and a fierce determination to protect and nurture this child. My child....

The excitement of the appointment still lingers in the air, but I start to feel a mixture of emotions. Angela, ever the supportive baby sister, leads the way to the truck, parked just a short distance away. Angela unlocks the truck and opens the passenger door for me, carefully climbs in, still holding the ultrasound images of my baby girl. Angela gets behind the wheel, starts the engine, and turns on the air conditioning to counter the summer heat.

As she pulls out of the parking lot, Angela glances over at me, sensing my unease. “That was some appointment, huh? A baby girl! How exciting is that?” I nod and give her a faint smile on my lips, but my mind is clearly elsewhere. All I could do was stare at the ultrasound pictures, just lost in thought.

“ I was thinking, with this wonderful news, we should start planning your baby shower. The whole coven will want to celebrate with you.” All I could do was try to take a deep breath, finally looking up from the pictures.

“Angela, I appreciate it, but… I don’t think I want a baby shower.” Angela’s brow furrows in concern. She’s known me to be strong and resilient, but this hesitation is new.

“Why not? You deserve to be celebrated, Amelia. This is a joyous time.”

I take a moment to gather my thoughts, trying to put my feelings into words. “It’s just… everything feels so overwhelming right now. Finding out the baby’s gender, thinking about the future, it’s a lot to take in.” Angela nods, her eyes on the road but her attention fully on me.

“I understand. It’s a big change. But we’re all here to support you. Look, we don't have to make it super big, I just want this to be a celebration, a welcoming, if you will, for my niece." She started to get choked up when she stated the word niece.

I started to bite my bottom lip, looking down at the picture in my hands.

“There’s more to it than that. David and Clarisse… they’re expecting a baby too. Knowing that this baby will grow up alongside their child, with everything that entails… it’s hard.”

Angela’s expression softens. She knows the tension between David and me, and she understands the emotional weight I have been carrying. “I can see how that would be difficult. But this is your moment, Amelia. Your baby is a blessing, and you shouldn’t let David and Clarisse’s situation overshadow that. We’ll take it one step at a time. No pressure about the baby shower. We’ll do what feels right for you. But remember, you’re not alone in this. You have me, Adonis, the Grands, Roland, and even the Coven. We’re your family, and there is nothing that we can't get through together.”

I turned to look at Angela, but I couldn't. My eyes, I could feel the glistening of unshed tears filling my eyes. I manage a small, grateful smile.

“Thank you, Angela. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” She squeezes my arm reassuringly before returning her hand to the wheel.

“Anytime, Lia. We’ll get through this together. And just an FYI, everyone knew today was your doctor's appointment. You thought you could hide it, huh? Well, I will say this, Granny called it. She said she felt that you were having a girl, explaining something about your aura and how it reminded her of when mom was pregnant with you."

I groaned in displeasure," I figured much, can't hide anything from you all."

"Grandpop told us to stop hovering over you about it and for you to tell us on your time, I guess we all just wanted you to feel that you are not alone in this and you don't have to be, you know.

"Yeah, I know, and you're right. We should have a baby shower, I just don't know where to start."

"That is OK, because granny and I are already on it. I told you she is at home practicing her 'presentation of food' as we speak. Now let's discuss a theme."

"Well, before we get back and deep dive with Granny about this, can we get some tacos? We're starving, and I have to pee."