Page 99 of The Merger

“Why did you have to double check the results?” I asked.

She smiled at me. “Do yourself a favor and call your husband. If I’m right you’re going to want him here.”

Jana and I stepped out of the office in a state of stunned silence. “I need to see Colt.”

“We’re pregnant,” I said like she hadn’t already known.

We waited out front, even though Jana had driven us here. Dr. Singh wanted to do an ultrasound, but she suggested I have Stryker come to be here with me.

“Why wouldn’t she tell me what is going on?” I asked. I only knew I was pregnant for a few minutes, and already I felt an extreme protectiveness.

I stared into the distance. Jana bumped into me. “You can talk to me.”

I took a deep breath. “How was she able to give me up? My mother walked away from me when I was a year old and has had very little to do with me ever since. I couldn’t imagine doing anything like that with my baby, and I only just found out he or she exists.”

Jana smiled sadly. “My mom didn’t leave, not physically at least, but I understand what you mean. It’s hard to grow up knowing your parents don’t really want you around. I’m going to be so overbearing with the amount of attention I give this baby that they’re going to have to invent a new word for the kind of mom I’m going to be. Helicopter moms are going to judge me for how much affection I shower on this kid.”

A car screeched into the parking lot and into the spot right in front of us. Colter and Stryker jumped out and ran straight for us.

“Are you both okay? Why are you at the doctor’s office?” Colter demanded.

Stryker watched me for an answer. I bit my lip. “I’m pregnant.”

He stood in stunned silence, a smile slowly spreading on his face as he focused his attention on my stomach. As if he’d be able to see my belly grow in front of his eyes.

“It was nice of you to come here to be with her, but I’m sure Stryker would have come with her,” Colter said to Jana.

She handed him her test results.

“What is this?” he asked while he unfolded the paper. I watched his face while he read the results. The moment he figured it out he swept her into his arms and spun her around.

“I’m going to be a father?”

Jana laughed. “You’re already a father.”

“Again, I’m going to be a father again? And this time I’ll get to be involved.”

She turned to me. “We’re going to go home unless you want us to wait? He’s going to start dancing around any minute, and it’s going to be embarrassing.”

I shook my head. “I’ve got what I need,” I said and looked at Stryker.

“Are you okay? Why did you sound scared on the phone?” Stryker asked me.

“The doctor said she needed to double check the results and to have you meet me here. I’m scared,” I admitted.

He took my hand and kissed my knuckles. “I’m here. No matter what, I’m here.”

When we got inside, the nurse took us back to an exam room. She set a gown on the exam bed. “Please take off everything and put this on. The doctor will be in shortly.”

I stripped down and put on the ugly gown. Stryker paced the room while we waited for whatever the doctor wanted to talk to us about.

After what felt like forever, a tech came in pushing a cart. “I’m going to have you lie back and put your feet in the stirrups. This is going to be a bit uncomfortable, but the doctor wants to get a look at the baby.”

She held up a large wand, and I groaned internally.

“What the hell is that?” Stryker nearly shouted.

“We’ve got to do a transvaginal ultrasound. It’s much too early in your pregnancy to do the transabdominal one.”