Chapter 38

Paul turned the ultrasound picture in different directions, holding it up to the light. "Okay, people? Can anyone enlighten me as to what I'm supposed to be seeing here?"

Brian began to laugh. "Yo, dumbass beaner. Give me that." He snatched it from Paul and pointed out the tiny spot. "See that part that looks like a kidney bean?"

"Brian, quit calling the baby a kidney bean," Briana sighed, shaking her head.

"Well? That's what it looks like."

"Oh, that's nice. I can see it now, telling our son or daughter when they graduate from college that their father referred to them as a kidney bean while they were in the womb."

"Ha ha ha. Anyway, dude, that's the kid. Don't worry, it gets bigger than that eventually."

Paul knitted his brows, studying the picture. "Okay, I see the bean thing, but what's that beside it?"

Briana shot him a shocked look. "What?"

"There's something else beside the little bean. Didn't you guys see that?"

"Let me look." Briana was interested.

She studied it for a few moments. "Bri," she finally said, "there is something beside what Dr. Edwards showed us. I'm surprised he didn't catch it. He's usually pretty thorough."

"Maybe it's part of its body or something," Brian shrugged.

"No, this looks kind of odd. I think I'm going to give him a call back."

As Briana left to make a phone call, Brian smacked Paul on the head. "You stupid fucking ass wipe! Now you have her worked up over something that probably isn't anything to worry about."

"I'm just told her what I saw," Paul said in defense. "I didn't know you guys didn't see it."

"Still, don't be doing things to rile her up. The last thing Bree needs in the coming months is more stress. It was all I had to do after we got back to the doctor today to talk her out of working up to the birth."

"Well, shit, who's going to make you beautiful then?"

"Guess I'll have to use the company people for the time being." Brian picked up a catalog and began to pore over it.

"What do you have there?" Paul asked, curious.

"Just some stuff we've been looking over to get for the nursery."

"My God, Brian," Paul said with a goofy grin. "If I didn't know any better I'd say you were the woman and preparing for nesting."

"Very fucking funny," Brian replied. "You know, it doesn't kill a guy to be involved with his wife's pregnancy."

Just then Briana had come back in the room. "The doctor's supposed to call me back in a little bit," she informed them.

"Exactly what is 'a little bit?' " Paul asked.

"Probably a few hours," Briana shrugged. "He does have other patients and this isn't exactly pressing."

"Good, Paul can excite you with his bellyaching for a few minutes," Brian said. "I have to take a piss."

"TMI," Paul and Briana replied in unison.

"Just calm down, PL," Brian sighed, heading into the bathroom. "And don't get the little mama worried about nothing."

"Right." Paul rolled his eyes. "What can happen in two minutes?"

"Ahhhhhhhhhhh," Brian moaned from the bathroom after a few minutes passed.

"Brian David, how many times have I asked you to close the door when you're in there?" Briana called out.

"Yeah, seriously, man," Paul demanded. "Were you brought up in a barn? Damn, we got a pregnant lady out here who's probably going to be sick enough eventually without seeing your dick hanging out pissing and hearing all that bullshit."

"Shut it," Brian said, flushing. "And she's seen my dick hanging out plenty of times, hence her present condition. Happy now?"

"Ecstatic," Paul grunted.

"Wash your hands," Briana added.

"Yes, dear," Brian called out with a touch of sarcasm.

"Are you sure you want to have a kid?" Paul asked her. "Because I think you already married an overgrown one."

"Sometimes I have to wonder," Briana shook her head.

Brian came out of the bathroom. "I'm going to run for some pizza. Any requests?"

"Pineapple and green pepper," Briana grinned up at him.

"Jesus Christ," he made a face. "Weird food cravings already?"

"This is just the beginning," she giggled.

"Hey, that doesn't sound too bad; at least she didn't ask for anchovies," Paul said. "Make my part with hot sausage too."

"Figures you'd want some spicy bullshit. Oh well, at least one of us knows what a normal pizza is."

Brian put on a pair of shoes just as the phone rang. Briana got up and grabbed it, figuring correctly it was Dr. Edwards' office. She took the call in the next room as the guys continued to harass each other while Brian prepared to leave.

Briana came back out a few minutes later, a little pale. "Brian," she said, "you are not going to believe this."