Holiday Hockey Tale The Icebreaker's Impasse (By Ivory Row) novel Chapter 122

Easton

“Where are we going today Daddy?” Cole holds my hand skipping from the school to my truck.

“Mommy and I have a surprise for you. Then I have a surprise for you and Mommy.” I confide in him.

“So Mommy doesn’t know both of them?” He looks excited.

“No. Only the first one. Can’t tell her.” I whisper as I open his door. Luci waits in the passenger seat. She needed to send a few texts. She’s fourteen weeks along and we skipped the ultrasound at her twelve week appointment so we could have an ultrasound only with Cole. Her nausea resolved after about three weeks and she’s been doing great except the tiredness. Everyone else knows she’s pregnant except Cole and Barrett.

“Mommy! We made the coolest birdfeeders today.” He exclaims.

“With the pinecones, peanut butter and birdseed?” She smiles at him. I love to watch them together. The way she loves him…I still remember the minute I realized she truly loved him. Dancing with him in the playroom with her emotions clearly shown on her face. It was the first time I knew I was in imminent danger of losing my heart to her completely. I was attracted to her, but that was when I knew it was deeper.

He chatters about his day with her joining him until we arrive at the office. Once inside, Luci lies on the padded exam bed and lifts her shirt for the technician. Her stomach remains flat. Cole stares at her questioningly. “Mommy, are you sick? This is the doctor’s office.”

“It is Coco. We have something special to show you. I’m not sick.” She says with a big smile as the ultrasound technician enters the room.

“Hi guys. I’m Alaina. You must be Mr. Cole.” She smiles at him and he nods. “Can you come help me with your Mommy? I’m going to let you stand on this stool right here.” She points to one next to Luci’s side. I move to the opposite side, wanting to capture his face on video for this.

She squirts the gel on Luci’s stomach and moves the wand over her stomach. “Ok, Cole. I want you to help me move this to just the right spot.” He places his hand on it and I catch the concentration on his face. “Perfect. Now look up at that screen.”

He does and his face scrunches up. “That Mr. Cole, is your baby brother or sister. See their head and that’s their body.” His whole face changes to one of pure joy.

“Mommy, you have a baby in your belly?!” He practically shouts.

“Yes I do. Are you excited, sweetheart?” She takes his hand.

“Is it a brother or a sister?” He looks toward Alaina.

“We can’t say for sure this time. It’s best to wait for the doctor to test your mommy’s blood or in about six weeks we can see on the screen.” She answers him honestly. We were already prepared for this and asked her not to tell him what she sees.

“Coco, we’ll find out later. But we wanted you to see the baby today.” I answer him.

“Wait will he have color when he’s out of Mommy’s belly? Why is he black and white like old tv that Grampy showed me?” He points with concern. I laugh silently at him.

“That’s just the picture. We can’t see him because he’s in there. Once he’s born he’ll look colorful like you.”

“We’re going to be a real family. Daddy doesn’t have to be scared anymore. Hi baby. It’s Cole. I see you on the screen.” He whisper yells to Luci’s stomach. I exchange a curious glance with Luci. Alaina shows him lots of things on the screen and she prints us out copies of the photos. When she leaves, Luci sits up and beckons for Cole. I lift him and place him on the seat beside her. I try to keep her from lifting much and he’s getting so big.

“Coco, what do you mean Daddy doesn’t have to be scared anymore?” She holds one hand and I take the other, sitting in the chair Alaina vacated.

He presses his lips together and won’t look up at me. “Cole, it’s alright, buddy. You know I won’t get upset.”

“I know Daddy. I was listening to you one night. It was before I met Mommy. I was sleeping with you and you were talking. You said you were scared it would always be only you and me.

That I’d never have brothers or sisters and be lonely.”

I lean my head to his recalling that night. He had a nightmare about losing me like in one of the Disney movies. Damn things always kill off a parent somehow. “Cole, I’m sorry you heard that. I was scared I might never meet anyone like Mommy. I thought my heart was broken and I couldn’t love anyone again.”

“But it wasn’t because you loved me.” He argues.

The slow smile takes over my face. “And that’s how I know you are much smarter than Daddy.

That’s right, but I didn’t think I could love anyone other than you. Is that why you wanted a baby brother so much?”

He nods. “So Daddy doesn’t have to be scared. I wanted a little brother to play with too. Because I never got to have playdates. That was before Mommy brought Barrett to play with me and be my best friend.”

“I’m sorry buddy. That’s Daddy’s fault. I thought you were too little for that yet. Promise me you’ll always tell Daddy when there’s something like that you want.”

“I promise.”

Luci runs her fingers through my hair and I turn my head to kiss her. “I have an idea. How about we collect our pictures for the grandparents and us, go get some ice cream and then see something special that Daddy’s been working on?”

“Ice cream!” Cole exclaims loudly and Luci laughs.

“Shhh, you might scare some of the other babies in here.” She jokes.

“We need pictures for Grandpappy, Nanna and Grampy, me, you and Mommy, and Mimi.” He ticks them off on his fingers.

“Where are you going to put your pictures?” Luci rolls right along with him.

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