We discovered that the baby was going to be a girl after twelve weeks. The doctor’s words lingered in the sterile air of the examination room like a note held too long, vibrating in a way that felt both surreal and terrifying. Marjorie squeezed my hand, her fingers trembling slightly against mine. I stared at the ultrasound screen, my mind unable to fully comprehend the tiny life flickering in black and white before us.
I must admit that I had no idea why she had waited so long to tell me she was pregnant. Twelve weeks. That was nearly three months of keeping a secret that, in hindsight, should have been celebrated immediately. I guess she thought I would freak out if she had told me sooner. Well, I freaked out either way. My pulse had been a drumline in my ears ever since she first whisp
