Martin sat in the waiting room, reading the many informational posters on the walls and listening to the kids playing in the toy area, while Molly wiggled in her seat next to him.
"What time is it?" Molly moaned as she scooted to the edge of her seat and wiggled, and then scooted back again. Martin looked at his watch.
"It's 11:50. Not too much longer." He said, rubbing the back of Molly's neck as she leaned forward with a groan.
They were waiting for Molly's ultrasound appointment which was scheduled for noon. Her instructions had been to drink a litre of water before she arrived for the ultrasound, and being a medical woman, she had followed the directions exactly. Unfortunately she now had an uncomfortably full bladder, and was in a bit of pain while she waited.
"Molly Crieff" A nurse called from the doorway.
"Oh thank god" Molly breathed as she got up. Martin followed behind her, but the nurse stopped him.
"Sorry Mr. Crieff, only your wife right now. We'll come get you when we're ready."
"Oh. Okay then." Martin said, feeling a little put out. Molly gave him a small smile before following the nurse around the corner.
Martin sat back down, feeling a tad lost. He didn't know what to do with himself. He was still having a hard time adjusting to the idea of a tiny person forming inside of Molly. He hoped that this ultrasound would help him get used to the idea. Seeing a tiny baby on the screen would certainly help him figure a few things out, at least.
Being left alone in a waiting room full of women and small children wasn't Martin's idea of a good time. Children had always made him a bit nervous, they were too hard to predict. Babies seemed so fragile, what if he broke them? He hadn't voiced his fears to Molly yet, afraid that she would just laugh at him. He was a grown man who flew a plane around the world for a living. He shouldn't be afraid of a tiny human.
"Martin Crieff?" The nurse was back.
"Yes, that's me." He said, his head swivelling to the sound of his name.
"Right this way, please."
Upon entering the room, Martin saw Molly lying back on a bed, her jeans unbuttoned and her shirt pushed way up. There was a large amount of goo spread over her still-flat belly, and an ultrasound technician was manoeuvring a hi-tech looking wand through it.
"Martin come look." Molly said, reaching out for his hand. He crossed the room and took her hand, raising it to his lips for a kiss. His hands were shaking, and he knew he couldn't hide it from her. Molly always knew when he was nervous. She gave him a soft look with an accompanying crooked smile before their attention was drawn to the computer screen on the other side of Molly.
"Alright, now if you two will look at the screen there, you will see your baby!"
Martin looked at the screen, but he couldn't make out a baby in all of the black and white static. He looked at Molly, and from the look on her face, he didn't think she could see it either.
"Umm, where exactly?" Molly asked tentatively.
"Should be right there in the middle." The technician said, moving the wand around to get a clearer picture. As the image shifted, it did become clear too. Martin stood gaping at the image on the screen, and he heard Molly take a gasp as she saw it.
It didn't look much like a human, but he knew it was his child. It's little heart was beating quite obviously, and it wiggled what little limbs it had.
"Martin, you're crying." Molly said through tears of her own. He hadn't even realized he was crying, but as Molly reached up and wiped tears off his cheek, he knew it was true.
"That's our baby, Molls. It's half of you and half of me. That is our baby."
"Oh Martin, of course it is." Molly choked through a wave of fresh tears.
"Well, everything looks good and healthy. Let me print you off a scan of this, and I'll let you guys get cleaned up. Molly, there's a toilet just through that door if you'd like." The technician said as she wiped the majority of the goo off of Molly's belly.
"Oh yes please!" Molly cried, pushing Martin out of her way as she vaulted off the bed. A minute later she was back in the ultrasound room where Martin had been left alone. She took one look at him pulled him into a hug.
"Are you alright, Martin?"
"What? Yes of course I am. What would make you think that?" Martin asked.
"You're not meeting my eyes and you're shaking like a leaf. What's wrong?" Molly could always see right through him, he didn't know why he bothered trying to hide anymore.
"Nothing's wrong, really. I'm just.. Just…" he looked at her helplessly, trying to will her to understand what he couldn't put into words. I'm ecstatically happy but I'm also terrified. Terrified that I won't be a good father, that I'll drop the baby. Terrified that as a pilot I won't be home enough for you and the baby. Terrified that we won't be able to afford to put this child through music lessons and football teams. I'm terrified of making a mistake.
"Martin, take a deep breath. It's going to be okay. We're going to be fine. Whatever fears you have, let them go. Nobody is perfect, and you shouldn't expect yourself to be. We'll make it through this, okay? Just calm down." Molly said soothingly, steering him to sit on the edge of the bed. She pulled him close to rest his head on her shoulder and she stroked his hair and back, making quiet shushing noises. He closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around her waist.
"You're going to be a good mother, Molly." He finally said into the quietness of the room. She pulled his head up to look at her.
"And you are going to be a wonderful father, Martin." She placed his hands on her belly. "This baby is going to be the luckiest baby in London, because it's going to have you as it's father." Martin looked up at her with worry in his eyes.
"But what if I'm not a good father?" he whispered.
"You will be. Babies can be scary, I know, but trust me. Instinct will take over. And you are one of the most loving, caring, considerate people I know. If that isn't a good trait for a father, I don't know what is."
"Molly, I think you're giving me too much credit. What if I let you down?" He dropped his eyes to his hands, still resting on Molly's belly. She put a finger under his chin and tipped his face up to her.
"You could never let me down, love." She kissed him slow and deep, trying to show him how much she loved him.
"Come on. Let's get that picture and go home." She said, pulling him towards the hallway.
"Yes ma'am!" Martin said with a grin, following her out the door.