It wasn't at first sight

Chapter 72

Monday.

Hanna and Caleb leave the clinic after the appointment. They walk hand in hand toward Hanna's car in the parking lot.

Caleb "We're on the final countdown, Han!" He says excitedly as they get into the car.

Hanna smiles but also lets out a deep breath, revealing her nervousness. "Yeah, we are..." She responds as she settles into the driver's seat.

All the details they just discussed with her doctor, such as what to watch for in her last month of pregnancy, tips for dealing with discomforts, the birth plan, and when to go to the hospital, have made her more aware that she's actually having the baby in only a few weeks. Everything feels more real, right around the corner, and her anxiousness along with some fears are also rising.

Caleb "I can't stop looking at this pic..." He says from the passenger seat, staring at his phone screen again. "She's perfect."

Hanna "Let me see it again." She leans closer to Caleb, resting her hand on his shoulder.

Caleb turns his phone so they can both look at the very clear 6D ultrasound picture of their baby girl.

Hanna grins. "She looks so cute. I can't handle her little hand pressed to her cheek, so adorable."

Caleb nods, smiling even wider.

Hanna sighs. "Hope she moves to the head-down position soon... I think a C-section scares me even more than a natural birth... Um... but a natural birth could lead to an episiotomy, and that sounds way worse than a C-section..." She straightens up in her seat and starts the engine. "Also, an epidural sounds awful too, I mean... a needle straight into my spine, ugh..."

Caleb "What exactly is an episiotomy?"

Hanna "Oh, you don't wanna know, believe me." She says, already pulling out with her car.

Caleb "Don't overthink it, Han. Either way, everything will be fine. Your doctor just said it, we need to see how things develop in these last weeks and what's best for you and the baby." He reassures her, placing his palm on her thigh.

/

After dropping Caleb off at his office, Hanna picks up Chloe at her place, and now they are both on their way to New York City.

Chloe "You can't not know this song, Hanna." She says after putting on a song on Spotify, as she's in charge of the music for their two-hour trip.

Hanna "I don't know it, Chloe. I swear. Never even heard of it."

Chloe "Ugh, what happened to you? You used to be cool."

Hanna smiles, still focused on the road. "I still am cool."

Chloe "Well, you do appear in fashion magazines, so... guess you are."

Hanna chuckles.

Chloe "So, how did your appointment go? How's little Haleb baby girl doing in there?" She makes conversation.

Hanna smiles. Chloe, being the inventor of the term 'Haleb' is the only one who has referred to their baby like that besides, of course, herself and Caleb.

Hanna "Everything's perfect with our little one. She has a name now... Caleb and I haven't shared it on our IGs yet, but we decided on her name a bit more than a month ago... She's Hallie."

Chloe "Oh my god, really?"

Hanna "Yeah, do you like it?"

Chloe "Yes, it's cute. Besides, it sounds good, I mean, 'Han and Hal'! Sounds perfect!"