Smile Like You Mean It (One)

Chapter Twenty Two

Sal pulled into a free parking space, cutting the engine, as he turned to face Bryony in the passenger's seat, smiling at her.

"Ready?" He asked her, as she nodded her head.

"More than ever." She smiled, as they both exited the vehicle.

Sal walked round to where Bryony stood, taking her by the hand, as he walked her up to the hospital doors. They made their way to the front desk, as the receptionist took their name, and informed them to take a seat in the waiting area.

"I never asked you," Sal started, as they both sat in their seats, placing his hand to her knee. "Do you want our baby to be a boy or a girl?"

Bryony sat back in thought for a short while, before shrugging her shoulders, letting a small laugh escape her.

"I don't mind what we have...as long as they are healthy." She answered, as Sal rose an eyebrow at the girl, a smirk plastered onto his features.

"You want them to be a boy, don't you?"

"No, Sal. I don't mind." She chuckled, as Sal nodded his head slowly, his smile remaining fixated upon his face.

Her name was soon called, as a nurse led them down the corridors, and into a dimly lit room. Sal took a seat in the chair situated next to the bed, as Bryony laid herself down. The nurse asked her to roll her t-shirt up, as she prepared for the ultrasound. Bryony wrapped her hand around Sal's, as his eyes remained glued to the small screen facing him. He kissed at the back of her hand nervously, anticipating the reveal of his baby for the first time.

The nurse placed some gel onto Bryony's stomach, before holding a probe to her skin. She pointed to the monitor, as an image popped up onto the screen. Sal stared at the moving image of their baby, feeling his heart race. He was ecstatic, squeezing Bryony's hand in reassurance, as she turned to face him.

"That...that's our baby!" Sal exclaimed to her, feeling the tears slowly begin to form in his eyes. He moved his hand up, wiping away a single tear that had slipped free, as he sniffled lightly.

"Everything seems fine and healthy for 17 weeks, would you like to hear their heartbeat?" The nurse asked, as they both nodded their heads eagerly.

She switched a button on the machine, as the probe picked up the baby's heartbeat, causing the sound to echo about the room. Sal smiled brightly, as he soaked in the noise surrounding him. His heart lifted in his chest, a sense of pride residing in him, as he turned to face Bryony. He leant over to her, placing a soft kiss to her forehead, turning to face the monitor once more. He couldn't believe that he helped to create the wriggling bundle of joy on the screen, with the girl that he loved with all of his heart.

"In the letter, it said that we'd be able to find out the gender of the baby?" Bryony asked the nurse, as she switched off the heart monitor. The nurse nodded her head, as she studied the black and white waves on the screen. She moved the probe over the baby bump, gaining a better image, as she turned to both Sal and Bryony.

"You're having a boy, congratulations." The nurse smiled, as Sal's mouth dropped open, his eyes lighting up with excitement.

"Really? Are you serious?" He quizzed, as the nurse laughed, nodding her head. "My...my little boy."

Sal swallowed hard, as he looked at Bryony, coming to find her already admiring him. She brushed her fingers through his hair, witnessing his cheeks blush. "I can't believe we're having a boy!"

**

After the appointment at the hospital, Sal and Bryony stopped off at the grocery store, buying their dinner for the evening, seeing as Brian and Beth were coming over to the apartment. Just as Sal was placing the last item into the cupboard, there was a knock at their front door. He stepped over, pulling open the door, as his eyes fell onto Brian pushing Beth up against the wall, pressing a lazy kiss to her lips. Sal cleared his throat, startling the couple out of their daze, as Brian turned to face him.