Gus laughs, but I’m not finding this funny. I need this dude to show my wife that she has a baby in her belly that’s coming out in a few months.
He pulls the screen closer, using a pen to trace the baby to show us the head, shoulders, two arms, a tiny torso and a set of legs. Josie gasps when she realizes she can see the baby.
“And here’s the heartbeat.” Gus turns the speakers on and our baby’s heartbeat surrounds us. It’s the best freaking sound in the world. I lean over and kiss Josie hard. When I look at her, tears are streaming down her face. I wipe them away, but shed my own.
“Thank you,” I whisper against her mouth. “Thank you for loving me enough to give me this opportunity.”
I press my lips to the side of her belly, peppering her skin with kisses. “Hey little baby, it’s your daddy. I can’t wait to meet you. You have such a huge family already. Your big brother Noah is going to love you and teach you how to get everything you want from Mommy and Daddy. He’s going to protect you and be your best friend. There’s also Quinn, Peyton, Elle and Eden. Eden is going to love you so much. Elle is going to dress you up whether you’re a boy or girl. Peyton will teach you how to throw a football. Quinn will teach you all about music. Don’t even get me started on all your aunts and uncles because they’re going to spoil you rotten. Your mommy and I are so happy that you’re growing. I love you so much already.” I wipe away the tears that have fallen before looking at the screen in time to see an arm and leg move.
“Looks like you have a soccer player in there,” Gus says, as he presses more buttons on the screen.
“I can’t feel anything.”
“Give it a few days, Josie, you will.”
“A soccer player? Gus, are you saying it’s a boy?”
“Hmm, hold on; let me see if I can get a good position.” He moves the wand, pressing down on Josie’s stomach to move the baby. Knowing my kid, he’ll probably flip the camera off. “Sorry, guys, she moved too fast for me to get a good look, so best guess would be sixty percent chance it’s a girl, forty percent boy. But you’re measuring more closely to twenty weeks, so you’ll have another ultrasound in about ten weeks or so.”
“Can you give us another minute to see the baby and listen?” I ask, not ready for this to be over.
“Sure,” Gus says, turning around the face the computer but keeping one hand on the wand.
“What did I tell you? Do you hear that Josie? That’s our baby that you’ve been taking care of for weeks now.” Josie’s tears match mine as we stare at the screen and listen to the heartbeat. I pull out my phone and flip the camera so it’s facing us. I slide it to video and hit record.
“This is our first video journal for baby Westbury. Here we are at your first ultrasound. You’re in the background telling your mom how much you love her.” Josie laughs, but continues to cry happy tears. “We can’t wait to meet you.”
I have the driver take us back to the hotel after the appointment. It’s my plan to take her to my grandmother’s, but only after I let her kill me for buying another motorcycle. Instead of going inside, I take her hand in mine and walk her to parking garage. The valets don’t necessarily like the guests doing this, but its better this way.
“Where are we going?”
“I have something to show you.”
I’m trying to think of how I’m going to word this. Truth is nothing is going to sound good no matter what type of spin I put on it. It was an impulse purchase that I should’ve discussed with her first.
We round the corner and there’s a line of bikes parked in front of us. Her grip becomes tighter, and I squeeze back letting her know everything is okay. When we come to my parking number, I inhale deeply and prepare for the worst.
“I’m sort of an idiot, but I think you know that by now.” I scratch the back of my head and look at her with puppy dog eyes. By the look on her face, I get the impression she’s not buying it. “So… I kind of bought this.”
“Kind of, as in you did but are too afraid to tell me… or kind of, as in it’s a lease and can go back?”
“The first one?” I question myself because it’s just easier than pissing her off.
“Uh-huh. Did you ‘kind of’ knock me up?”
I shake my head. “No, I did that on purpose.” I try to smile, but her ‘I’m going to kill you’ look has me shaking in my boots.
Josie walks over to the bike, walking around it. “It’s cute.”
That’s my cue. “You could learn to ride it. I mean, after the baby is here. I’d teach you.”
She walks back over and sets her hands on her hips. “You need to learn how to communicate with me.” She jabs me in my chest to emphasize her point. “I’m serious, Liam. Talk to me about everything.”
“I know, you’re right.” Josie stands there with a satisfied look on her face as a result of my instant agreement with her.
“I know this is going to be a stupid question, but do you want to go for a ride? I bought a helmet for you. It’s not like the one I have at home, this one doesn’t go fast at all and we’ll take all side streets.” I waggle my eyebrows at her. We have a lot of fun on the Ducati that I have home, and could have some fun here.
Josie shakes her head. I get it. “I’d like to go to the house, though. Can we take a cab?” By house she means my grandmother’s place. I nod and pull out my phone to call the bellhop and ask him to get us a Town Car.
I’m looking forward to getting out on the open road with this bike, but until then, it’s parked. As soon as we’re back on the street, a black Town Car is waiting. I tip the bellhop and tell the driver where to go. I should’ve rented a car for us to get around in. I don’t like it when others have to drive me around. I ask the driver to stick to the main streets because I want Josie to see as much as she can. As we drive into the Hollywood Hills, the houses get bigger, grander. A lot of people live beyond their means around here, but my grandmother didn’t. Her biggest splurge was the parties she liked to host.
Josie all but hangs out the window as the driver maneuvers the hills. Every few houses she points and I tell her who lives there, or who used to. I realize that while she’s here, we need to do the Hollywood tour so she can learn where the rich and famous live.
We pull up to my grandma’s house and the black steel gate blocks my way. I type in the last code I remember, which is my mother’s birthday, and the gate starts to move. It’s fitting that the first time I’ve come back is with Josie. If it weren’t for her, I don’t think I’d be doing this right now.
As soon as the driver parks, Josie is sliding out of the back and looking around; nothing has changed. I don’t know who has been taking care of the house, but I have to find out. There’s only one more keypad that I can use to gain entry and that’s around back. With Josie’s hand in mine, we walk along the brick walkway leading to the backyard.
“Holy shit,” Josie says when she sees the pool and the landscaped yard.
“Yeah, I didn’t really use the pool when I was here.”
“Why not?”
I shrug. “Too busy, I guess.”
I flip the door open on the keypad and press in the code. The door unlocks, allowing us to enter. Taking a deep breath, I hold the door for Josie and she steps in, immediately mesmerized by the grandeur inside.
“Liam… this is… wow!”
It’s been about eleven years since I stepped foot inside this house. I never came back after she died. I told Sam to get my shit and sell it. I didn’t want it. Of all the bad things that Sam did, this wasn’t one of them. I’m thankful she didn’t do what I asked.
Josie follows me around the house. My fingers are touching everything. One would expect layers of dust, but no, this house is spotless. I avoid the living room, instead choosing to go to what used to be my room.
I flick the light on and everything looks the same. The watch I used to wear sits on the dresser. The night before my grandmother died I had taken it off and never had a chance to put it back on the next day. I leave it there, afraid to touch it.