Good day!
Thank you readers and all those following along.
Thank you for your kind reviews and comments x
Hope you enjoy!
Chapter 8
Seeing is Believing
0830 – Hereford UK
The Hartes arrived at the clinic twenty minutes before Georgie's scheduled appointment. Elvis turned off the engine and sat back, happily looking over at her. She was fiddling with her handbag and returned his gaze with a half- smile. She had been excited when she got up this morning, but the closer they came to the clinic, she became quiet and introspective. Elvis had been the worrier up to now and this morning he was on cloud nine. Georgie was certain his mouth never closed during the entire ride. He absolutely could not wait to see the baby.
"You OK?" He asked, tilting his head, wondering why she was not already out the door and inside of the clinic. She had been so confident about everything.
"Yeah. I'm OK…..Elvis, I'm just so…anxious I…" She trailed off, picking at her fingernails.
"Wha'? Georgie wha' is it?" The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. Did she sense something he could not fathom? She exhaled a prolonged sigh to relax herself. This was a monumental occasion for them. Everything seemed to be fine, but the Ricin exposure preyed on her mind. Elvis reached for her hand. "Listen in. I am 'ere for you and I am certain our baby will be fine. I know you're worried. I might even admit to bein scared shitless myself right now, but we 'ave to be strong. No matter wha' happens babe, it's all good." He squeezed her hand, then drew it to his lips and kissed, pressing down to prove his point.
"You're right." She said mustering her courage. "I just need to know. I keep overthinking everything."
"Ya need to cease doin that to yourself. Weren't you the very one who told me I was worryin too much?" He said unbuckling his seat belt, giving her a lop-sided grin.
"Who me?" She feigned innocently, unbuckling as well and reaching for the door handle.
"Sure looked like you."
"Well then, must have been me." She said swinging herself out of the car. Elvis did likewise and they looked at each other over the car rooftop. "You're not gonna get soppy are ya?" She asked with playful sarcasm.
"Well I just might." He said grinning as he shut the car door.
She rolled her eyes and laughed, "You're definitely going to get soppy." She mumbled loudly. That tickled him as he met her at the front of the car. He was happy she was more lighthearted, but could see she was still nervous.
"Ready corporal?"
"Ready. Full stop."
"Let's go see our little cadet." He said.
Georgie's face scrunched with humor. "Only you would call our baby a cadet."
"Roger that!" He said opening the clinic door for her, beaming that he was able to entertain her worries away.
"Good morning Mrs. Harte." The cheerful receptionist said as Georgie checked in. Elvis stood behind her and scanned the waiting area. There were three other women in the room. One was reading a magazine, the other two were absorbed with their mobiles. He noticed diagrams and photographs hanging on a wall and decided to investigate. They depicted the usual course of fetal development. As he studied the appearance of an eight week old Georgie came to stand beside him. He looked down at her and placed his arm around her shoulders. She rubbed his back with a hand and leaned into him as she gazed at the images.
"She said it would just take a sec before they take us back." She said.
"You OK?"
"Yeah."
"Good." He kissed her temple. They moved in tandem to take a seat.
"Georgie Harte!"
George jumped up and Elvis quickly followed.
"I'm Hilary. I will be doing your sonogram this morning."
"Hilary, this is my husband Elvis." Georgie said.
"Pleased to meet you sir."
"Likewise."
"OK this way you two."
Georgie looked up at Elvis and smiled. He could see the anxious worry in her eyes as he returned the smile. He took her hand as they began to follow. The entire way down the hall she kept repeating inside of her head…please let everything be alright.
They turned a corner and were led into a sonogram suite. Elvis' eyes darted all over the place taking it all in, listening as Georgie received her instructions.
"Go on then and get yourself comfortable I will be right back." Hilary said as she exited. Elvis watched Georgie scoot herself onto the exam table. He studied the sonogram equipment then moved to stand beside her and smiled warmly. She was beginning to feel the excitement again, casting aside all doubt that their child was developing normally. She knew it was too soon to feel anything inside, so seeing that the fetus was growing as expected was all she could think about.
"Will it take long?" Elvis asked, not comfortable with the silence.
"Not too. As soon as they put the probe on my belly they'll be able to see my uterus and the baby."
Elvis pressed his lips together and nodded as he looked at the vacant sonogram screen. Georgie watched him. She knew he was chuffed, but the picture of calm, and that is exactly what she needed right now. She was so grateful he was beside her. There was a subtle knock that drew their attention away from each other.
"Alright, are the Hartes ready to meet baby Harte?" Hilary had returned and donned a pair of gloves. Elvis swallowed hard, then grinned.
"Can't wait!" He said.
Georgie repositioned herself anxiously and nodded. "Yes."
As Hilary prepared to begin there was another knock at the door. It was Georgie's midwife Amelia. "Good morning you two!" She gushed. "How are you feeling Georgie?"
"Yeah, good. Anxious….I can't wait to see!"
"I know! This is so exciting!" Amelia said positioning herself so as not to block Elvis' view.
"Let's get started." Amelia said and Hilary placed the probe on Georgie, who in turn reached up for Elvis' hand, placing her other hand over her heart. The screen began to come to life. There were swirls of contrasted grays and blacks. The parent's eyes were riveted on the action. Suddenly there was a hollow space then everyone's attention focused on the appearance of a tiny being.
"There you are!" Ameilia said looking back at the couple. "There is your baby." Hilary zoomed the image in closer tapping quickly over buttons. Georgie's eyes became huge, then squinted hard as she watched closely. She could see it! The fluttering…proof that their baby was alive. It's tiny heart was beating furiously.
"Oh my God!" She said breathily and squeezed Elvis' hand. He was mesmerized.
"That's our baby?" He asked fondling Georgie's hand.
"Indeed. See…the fluttering?" Amelia said.
"Yes." He said.
"That is the heart beating." Amelia said.
Georgie looked up at Elvis, she was trying not to cry and bit her lower lip as her eyes welled. Hilary punched buttons and turned knobs on the console. A rapid rat a tat sound could be heard.
"That's the actual heart beat?" Elvis asked, taking his mobile and recording the sound and images.
"Yes Elvis that is right." Amelia said.
He leaned down and kissed Georgie's head. "All is well babe.." He said, smoothing her hair back. Her face was now beaming. His eyes were glistening.
"OK let's get some measurements here." Amelia said and Hilary began to track the length of the fetus. "We are measuring to assess gestational age. You were clocked at eight weeks Georgie yeah?"
"That's right."
"Indeed. Your baby's growth indicates eight weeks and three days." Amelia said smiling.
Nothing could remove the joy from Georgie's face right now. All of her worst thoughts and nightmares were tossed away. Their child was good and well.
"Are those little arms and legs I'm seein?" Elvis asked completely taken by all of this.
"That is right. They are little buds at the moment but that is exactly what you are seeing." Amelia said. "Your baby is developing as expected. You are doing a fine job mother."
"Thank you!" Georgie said and looked up at her husband.
"No. Thank you!" Elvis said to Georgie, leaning down again to kiss his wife.
A/N: I will be traveling soon and not certain if I will be able to post before departure. Until then, stay well and safe!
