Her stomach was rounding. Her pants were getting tighter, as were her bras. Her body was getting bigger, ready for the baby.

“Right, let’s have a look.”

She heard some weird sound and then… “Is that a heartbeat?”

“It is, and may I say it is mighty strong.” Randall pressed some buttons and then turned the screen. “Look, a heartbeat. A nice, big, healthy, strong heartbeat.”

“Oh, wow,” she said.

There wasn’t much to look at, just the unmistakable sound of a beat.

“Your baby is in there, and right now, I think we’re looking at a good healthy size.” The doctor kept on talking, but Robin stopped listening.

She smiled at the screen.

There was a baby. It didn’t look like a baby, but it was there.

A heartbeat.

Her baby.

Randall wiped the gel off her stomach, and she moved off the bed. Preacher still hadn’t let her hand go, and she was thankful.

“We’ll meet again in a month’s time. If we’re lucky, we’ll get to see what little angel you’re having.” Randall handed her the picture. “For you to keep. Remember what I said. This is your decision, no one else’s.”

She nodded. “Thank you.”

“You’re doing really well here, Robin. If you ever need to talk, let me know and I will make sure I’m available to you.”

“I appreciate it.”

Preacher led the way out of the small practice. His bike was waiting, and she paused.

“Oh,” she said.

“Don’t worry. We can walk from here,” he said. “Bear and Rebecca wanted to see you. I figured we could stop in before we went home.”

“Okay.”

“Are you good to walk?”

“Yes, of course.”

Preacher held his bike, taking off the stand and turned off the brake. They walked in silence for several minutes, neither of them speaking. The picture in her hand felt like everything.

“How are you feeling?” he asked.

“I’m feeling good. You?”

“Yeah, I’m good. How are you handling everything?”

“I’m not going to shatter or break.”

“Bishop?”

“He’s upset. I won’t give him what he wants, and like a child, he’s acting out. There’s not a lot I can do to change that.” She shrugged. “He’ll come around, I hope.” She looked down at her wedding band. “I don’t think we should have gotten married.”

“I’m going to protect you. You and Bishop, it’s a sure thing.”

“Yeah, a sure thing.”

“You don’t think it is?”

“I don’t know what I think anymore.” She sighed. “I can’t believe it’s a baby.”

“What did you think it was?”

“I don’t know. A little monster maybe? I’m not sure anymore what I expected. With every day that passes, this grows more real, you know.”

“Yeah, it does. You’re handling everything really well, sweetheart.”