“Is that…?”
“Yes,” Dr. Salinas said softly.
I covered my mouth.
A heartbeat filled the room.
Fast.
Strong.
Alive.
Tears streamed down my cheeks.
“Hello, my love,” I whispered.
For the first time since discovering my pregnancy, I felt completely calm.
I didn’t care what Diego believed.
I didn’t care what the neighbors said.
That tiny heartbeat was real.
My baby was real.
Then Dr. Salinas moved the transducer.
She stopped.
Her smile disappeared.
She looked at the screen again.
Then she adjusted the machine.
Zoomed in.
Moved the transducer slightly.
I watched her face.
“What is it?”
She didn’t answer.
My heart began racing.
“Doctor?”
She looked at the computer.
Then at my medical chart.
“When did you say your husband had the vasectomy?”
“Two months ago.”
She frowned.
“Are you certain?”
“Yes.”
She stared at the screen again.
“What happened?” I whispered.
She finally looked at me.
“Laura, I need to ask you something.”
“What?”
“Are you absolutely certain about the date of the surgery?”
“Yes. It was two months ago. I remember because I drove him home afterward.”
She went silent.
I felt a cold sensation spread through my body.
“Is my baby okay?”
“The baby appears to be developing normally.”
Relief flooded through me.