It's safe to say Katie was nervous. The last time she went to the doctors was for a routine check-up last week. The ultrasound had detected irregularities and ever since then she had been reading up on every possible thing to worry about. There so many things that could happen to her baby right now, and she couldn't stop thinking about it.
Ned's words did nothing to reassure her. Even the doctor had told her that it was very common for these things to happen and typically nothing to worry about, but nothing could ease her mind.
She stood in front of her full-length mirror, adjusting her pink knee-length dress. She blew out a breath as she adjusted her hair, making sure the pins were holding her dark hair back securely. She turned to the side and pulled on the loose fabric before smoothing her hands over her belly. "Hey there... mommy's a little nervous today," she laughed uneasily. "This is something I'm not used to you know."
"Enjoying your pregnancy?" Amber laughed, popping into the room behind her.
"Amber... what do you want?" She said, clutching her chest slightly, her heart racing. She really had to get used to that. Even if she'd bee dealing with it her entire life. "I don't know how you want me to help you..."
"I want my son, what else is new." Amber scoffed, sitting on the bed.
She turned to see the spirit, Amber looked just as she did when Katie first saw her. Amber's skin was ghostly pale, her hair a yellowish blonde. The girl was drowning in her hospital gown, which was pink, made of a scratchy material, and stained in her blood.
"I wish you could tell me more about him," she moved to sit beside her. "I could only find the name Peter in your file." She pulled the manila folder from her side drawer, opening it. There is a morgue photo paperclipped to the top of the file. "It says the biological father signed closed adoption papers on July nineteenth to an unnamed couple. Your son was then discharged to them on the twenty-first after a few routine tests which he passed with flying colors." A piece of paper fell from the file as Amber moved to the window seat. "What's this…" he'd never seen this little piece of paper.
"Does it matter?" Amber muttered, fading out even more than usual. The more she lost hope, the less energy she had to show herself. "You have everything. Why would you want to help me?"
"You deserve to be at peace," Katie picked the slip of paper up. It was the top half of an emergency room report. "Hey… your son's name was Peter. We just never knew his last name." she read over the top half of the ripped piece of hospital charts. "Peter Wexler, eight years old. He came in with a broken arm from football practice."
"Wexler? Is that his last name?" Amber's face lit up as she stood.
Katie set the file aside. "Amber, you shouldn't do anything rash. I'm not positive." She warned.
"I have to see him," Amber shouted, draining energy from her. "You won't stop me. I want to be with my son and he'll be with his mother. What is better than that?"
Katie firmly grasped the bed as she disappeared and Ned came in, sitting her down.
"Whoa there," he said. "Maybe we should reschedule this appointment."
"Amber, don't-" She said but she's already gone. She grasped Ned's forearm as another wave of fatigue hit her. "Ned, we have to track someone down."
"Hey, just breathe. We'll worry about that later," he kissed her cheek, feeling for her pulse. "Right now we need to worry about you and this baby okay? Some ghost does not take priority over that."
"I know," she breathed. "It's just… I'm worried Amber might hurt him."
"Him, who?" After doing some breathing exercises, Ned kneeled in front of her, listening.
"Peter Wexler," she says. "Her son."
After a frantic phone call to her mother and then the doctor's office to move her appointment back in an hour so Ned could calm her down.
Her mother and Eli were on it, Melinda had said. Katie wished she had the energy to ghost bust with her mother, but she didn't and Ned wasn't going let her. Especially not now.
"You know you don't have the energy to be stomping around Grandview with your mom," he reminded her, pulling up the hospital doors. "I'll go park. Wait inside for me?"
"Yeah, I know." She pressed a kiss to his cheek before she stepped out, walking into the hospital.
A few people recognized her from the pictures that were placed around her father's office and she waved at the few that waved to her. She found a seat, waiting until Ned found her after parking the car and they made their way to the elevators together, hand-in-hand.
They made it to the maternity floor and checked in with the receptionist before sitting down to wait. The room was filled with expectant mother's, many further along than Katie was.
"I can't wait until you're further along," his hand is at her stomach when he says that with a smile on his face.
"Of course you can't wait," she shook her head at him. "It's not like you're the one gaining the weight and having to lose it."
"I'll put some weight on too if you want," he kissed her cheek as she laughed at him, loving his enthusiasm.
"You would?" Her face blushed as he nodded. "That's sweet, but I love your body. Please let that be something I can bask in while I get huge."
"I guess I can agree to that too," he shrugged as a nurse walked out with a clipboard. "This might be us."
"Katie Banks?" The nurse said and he winks before they both stood and walked to meet her.
They walked out of the maternity ward together, Katie's eyes gazing down at the newest sonogram picture. Her fingers slowly traced over their child's little features. He or she has little fingers and toes to wiggle around now. The doctor had even told her she may experience heartburn from the possible hair growth that will start soon. The doc had also told them they should try and take a little vacation once she was through the first trimester.
It was called a babymoon. Not only would it be a way to relax, but a way to spend time with Ned before the baby started taking over their lives.
The nausea would start to subside soon and she'd regain her energy back. And Katie couldn't wait. She'd been in bed early for the past few weeks and some days she didn't even have the energy to get herself up from the bed.
"Eleven weeks," Katie said. "I can't wait to be out of this trimester and be back to myself a bit more."
"I can't wait either," he said honestly, wrapping his arm around her waist. "It's been a lot of work taking care of you. It'll be nice to have you back."
"I bet. Should we go find my dad?" She asked smiling at him. "Then we can go eat because I'm starving. As usual."
"Yeah, we can go find your dad." He kissed her cheek as they walk down the hallway.
A few people had gathered a nearby window, which they could see the nursery through.
"Oh look! Can we take a peek?" She whispered as they stopped to look through the glass window.
"Someone's excited," he laughed and placed his hand at the small of her back. He peered over the several bins where the newborns were lying inside. "They are so cute..."
"These past few weeks made everything real. We created another life Ned and no matter if we're ready or not, he or she is going to come." She explained as she looked over all of the little newborn babies. "And the amount of money we have doesn't matter. We will love that baby and give him or her the best life we can regardless."
"Yes, we will." He whispered and squeezed her hip. "They all look so new. Don't you think?"
"I think we should go stop by Hannah & Brandon's... I wanna cuddle up on Jace," she said softly. "I'll call her and see if we could do dinner too."
"It's always about the food with you," he chuckled and pulled her away from the window. "We should go find your dad."
She reluctantly came along and smiled at him, nodding and walking down the rest of the hallway. She leaned into him as they walked together and kissed his neck lightly. She could remember ever being happier with him, besides their wedding day. And maybe the day he'd proposed.
Her parents were walking toward them from down the hall, and Katie nudged him.
"Look," she whispered.
"I told you we'd find them here," Jim said as he pulled her mother toward them. "Hey guys, how'd the appointment go? All good news?"
"Hey dad, it went great. They found the heartbeat and we got a recording. Plus my placenta levels are normal again so I'm not so worried anymore." She said going to hug him. She went to her mom next, hugging her tightly. "I need to talk with you about something a little later."
"New news with Amber?" Melinda asked.
"Yep, I'm thinking we should give Rick a call," she said back and handed her a copy of the sonogram. "Look at little fingers and toes!"
"Oh, my first grandbaby. Jim, c'mere." Melinda squeezed his hand. "Look! And why Rick? Emotions aren't his specialty. I think Ned might have more luck helping us find Peter."
"You're just upset with him still for backpacking through Europe before I was born," she muttered. "I think I'll call him and see what he can find. You never know what he might dig up."
Her mother just sighed and ignored the topic. "How was the appointment?" She asked.
"Nice topic switch, but it was really quick. Everything is on track and he or she is the size of a lime, which is probably why I couldn't fit into my new jeans this morning. I'm already up another size." She explained, feeling the hem of her dress. "I'm in dresses and comfy clothes for now until I can go shopping again. The doctor also told me we should try and go on a vacation to spend some time together before the baby comes once I start to get my energy back."
Her mother agreed and they keep walking until they reach the elevator. Jim warned Ned of how Melinda can be when she was pregnant, knowing that there was a very big possibility that would be his wife in the next few months. The cravings and mood swings can get bad when it's humid, so they should be wary of a tropical place for the vacation. They also talk about baseball and made plans to catch a game before the summer ends.
"Wanna join us for brunch?" Jim asked.
"You did not just say that word to me," Ned walked forward, kissing Katie as the elevator door opened and Melinda waited for Jim as he met her with a kiss as well.
"So are you going to join us for food?" Jim says this time as they enter the elevator together. "My wife is brushing off on me."
"I'm always down for food," Katie butted in, pointing to her stomach. "Even before I was pregnant."
"Alright. What are we feeling like ladies?" Jim asked, pressing the first floor button.
"Lento's?" Melinda suggested.
"No! I want something greasy," Katie sighed, leaning into Ned.
"I'm down for stopping at Rosie's. They have great burgers and cheese fries," Ned suggested.
"That's how I ate with Aaron you know," Melinda hummed, smiling toward her oldest.
"Mom stop!" Katie laughed. "If you aid one more thing about Aaron's pregnancy... I swear."
But her mother never did, and that's why she loved her so much.
After getting to Rosie's they ordered and had a great time talking about different pregnancy things to think about and it ended with Katie and Ned deciding that they were going to have to move.
Their house just isn't big enough for them and a baby. And they needed to think of the future. They hadn't seen this pregnancy happening this soon. If they were to have a baby on accident, Katie had at least hoped she'd been done with college.
Their food comes not long after and Katie is so excited to eat all of what she'd ordered. She'd gotten two pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage and bagels with strawberry cream cheese.
Melinda stuck with a big juicy chicken burger and french fries and a strawberry shake which she had half of before she gave it to Katie.
Jim and Ned quietly talk about sports while Melinda gabbed to Katie about planning a baby shower. Hannah had already said she wanted to help, but didn't have the time to plan it with a newborn so Delia had said she would help with Melinda.
Katie was worried but knew her mother wouldn't let anything too crazy happen. They also talked about a good place for a trip. Possibly her parent's cabin.
Ned would have to put a time off slip in now for hopes of a week off in a month or so to take a trip somewhere nice. He even stole a pancake from Katie and nearly got stabbed with a fork in return, but she shared it with him and in the end, ended up just giving him the last half. She'd overseen her hunger after finishing all of the eggs, bacon, and sausage.
But Katie can't help but smile at how nice it felt to keep food down. Katie felt no remorse in pigging out and even leaned into Ned after. He kissed her forehead, happy to see her so relaxed and being able to eat food.
Melinda could see the pure joy on her daughter's face. Katie's really let this surprise be the best on of her life. And all she wanted for her daughter was to see her happy.
She laid in bed that night, writing away in her journal as Ned flips through the channels on the tv beside her, his right hand lying across her belly in a protective gesture that had become all too familiar recently.
"I was thinking," he suggested. "What about we go to your parents cabin for our babymoon? It would be a lot easier for us to get a new place and moved if we go somewhere easy on our wallets."
She didn't even look up from her journal, her pen moving across the page. "That would be nice," she said softly. "We could go in October."
Ned scooted up next to her and puts an arm around her, kissing her cheek. "Well, you'd be just around five months. Are you sure you want to go that late?"
"Yes, we'll go at the beginning of the month before it gets too cold. We may even get a nice enough day to go swimming still," she explained, turning to face him as she closed her journal, shrugging his arm off in the process. "Plus you know how much I love that old cabin."
"Yeah," he reached out to put a hand on her belly again. "Well, we'll have to talk to your parents but I don't see why they wouldn't let us."
She nodded and set her journal on the table as she moved out of the bed. "Of course they will let us," she yawned, stretching. She made her way to the bathroom, washing her face and brushing her teeth before coming to bed. Ned had settled on a recap of the Buccaneers and Jaguars preseason game. "Please tell me you didn't put money down."
He laughed and shook his head. "Not this game," he said. "I did put a twenty down on the Packers beating the Vikings. Those silly Minnesotans lose every time." Katie shook her head as she got into bed, but he put a finger to her lips to stop her before she could say anything. "The Packers won too. Pure luck."
"That's not luck," she mumbled from behind his finger. "That's you making a qualified guess."
He smiled, kissing her cheek. "Call it what you want. I still won." He quirked an eyebrow, challenging her to argue, but she just shrugged. He leans down and places a gentle kiss to her lips. "And anyway, I might just beat on the Super Bowl and be right this time."
This time.
She laughed, slapping his chest and rolling her eyes. "Best use your own money then," she said and rolled over onto her side.