Broken and Fearless // C.B.

Chapter 116

Colby's POV:

We had an appointment for the baby and Jules was nowhere to be seen.

I made my way outside and found her pacing the pool deck. She looked incredibly anxious and I honestly didn't blame her.

"You ready?" I asked.

She shook her head quickly. "Can we reschedule it?"

"Jules, we talked about this. It's gonna be okay."

"No. I don't want to. I can't. I'm not ready yet."

"Juliet, it'll be fine. Trust me, okay?"

"No! I don't want to go!"

I sighed. "Okay, why don't you want to go?"

"A little over two months ago, I went to the hospital and found out I lost our first child. I've been to countless hospitals in three years, both for my doing and for life dealing me bad hands over and over. So forgive me if I don't want to see another stupid doctor!"

"Not even if I go with you?"

"No. You were with me for the very first ultrasound with our last -- I can't. Not again."

I frowned, sensing there was more to her fear than what she was saying. Luckily, I knew her pretty well. "Are you afraid this one won't make it, either?"

"Mm-hmm."

I rested a gentle hand on her stomach. "Hey, Ellen Marie. Mommy's having some trouble believing that you'll make it, but I, your dad, believe you will. So you keep on growing and we'll wait impatiently for the day we get to meet you."

She looked at me curiously. "Ellen Marie?"

"I don't know. The name just came to me. Why? Is it a bad name?"

Jules shook her head. "No, it's perfect. Ma's middle name was Marie."

"I... I didn't know that."

"I never told you." She sniffled. "Okay, let's do this. I'm about six weeks. Can we find out the gender?"

"Don't you have to wait?"

"They can do a blood draw. I really want to know."

I kissed her forehead. "Whatever you want, love."

We drove to the doctor's office and put on a mask and gloves before exiting the car.

Jules took my hand and gripped it tightly, indicating her fear.

After about twenty minutes of waiting, the doctor entered. "Hi, I'm Dr. Harlow. I'm going to be doing the ultrasound."

Jules nodded and looked at the screen as the baby appeared. "Doc? Does our baby look healthy?"

Dr. Harlow smiled. "Your baby looks perfectly healthy."

"Can you find out the gender?"

"Is that what the two of you want?"

I nodded. "Yeah. We discussed it and she'd really like to know."

"Okay. Let me get what I need." She left the room.

I glanced at my wife who was staring out the window blankly. "Jules, you okay?"

She nodded slowly, then shook her head and nodded again. "I don't know what I am. Worried, I suppose."

Dr. Harlow returned and did the blood draw. "All right, I'm going to get this tested. I'll be back soon."

To distract my wife, I asked, "What do you want it to be? Boy? Girl?"

She shook her head. "I don't care."

"Really. You can't tell me you don't want a particular gender."

"I just want a healthy baby. What do you want?"

"I'd like to say boy, but I want a baby girl."

Dr. Harlow entered the room again and smiled. "Congratulations, mom and dad. You two are having a little girl."

Jules got dressed and we made our way out to the car.

We shared a look and said, "Ellen Marie."

She shoved me playfully. "You totally called that. I'm impressed."

"Lucky guess, babe. Your mom and I can't wait to meet you, Ellen."

Jules laughed softly and smiled. "Ellen Marie Brock. An absolutely perfect name for our soon to come perfect little girl."