Daddy Niall Series

This was the first real doctor’s appointment since you’d gone to take the blood test to officially find out you were pregnant, and to say you were nervous was a major understatement. Between your own rattled nerves that had come out of nowhere and your husband’s bouncing knee next to you in the waiting room, you’d wondered how you’d even made it this far without yelling at someone. At eight weeks pregnant, this was a big moment for you both and it was taking its toll. You took a deep breath and laid a gentle hand on the jittery man next to you. His eyes darted to your face, his hand already in his mouth, chewing at a nail that was so short he really couldn’t be doing anything. You smiled, poor guy was even worse off than you. You knew your nervousness came less from worry and more from excitement but Niall’s was a combination of the two. You’d known all along he’d make a great dad but for some unknown reason, he wasn’t so sure.

The door opened and kind-faced older lady popped her head through. “Mrs. Horan? We’re ready for you.”

You smiled and nodded, standing to walk through the door. Two steps in you realized Niall was still sitting. You chuckled to yourself. “Niall? You coming?”

He looked surprised. “Me?”

“Yes, you.” When he didn’t move you grabbed his hand and pulled him along. “You’re gonna want to be here for this one. I promise.”

As you sat on the exam table, the cloth gown draped over your lower body, you were grateful that it wasn’t one of those flimsy paper ones. Those always made you feel so much more exposed than you actually were. The doctor walked in, a woman of forty with a youthful face.

She smiled and welcomed you both with an ease only seen by a person who’d done this a thousand times. She started with the exam. Niall cringed when he saw the metal clamp she pulled out. You actually laughed at the look of absolute terror his face held when he realized where exactly she was going to stick that.

You patted him again reassuringly. “Babe, I promise. It doesn’t hurt. I’ve done this a dozen times. Welcome to being a woman.”

His shoulders relaxed only slightly. But soon the short exam was over and then it was time for the fun part. The doctor smiled at you as she grabbed a tube of jelly. She wasn’t lying when she said it might be cold. Your body jumped as the coolness hit you. She looked over at Niall, the same warm smile on her face. “You ready dad?”

Niall grabbed your hand as he stood beside you, swallowing hard. He nodded and you both turned your heads to the small screen to your right. She placed the ultrasound wand on your abdomen and smoothed the jelly around searching for just the right spot. Suddenly on the screen, there was a small dark oval that contained a small lighter spot. You felt Niall’s grip tighten on your hand.

“There you go.” The doctor explained. “That’s your little one.”

You felt a warmth bloom in your chest and tears filled your eyes. That was your baby.

The doctor started to fiddle with the machine. “Now let me see if we can get you the good stuff.” She turned a small knob and a noise filled the room. A fast paced thumping. The sweetest sound you’d ever heard. “There is it. That’s the heartbeat.” She smiled at you both.
“It’s a strong one too.”

You looked up at the face of your husband, tears shining in your own eyes, overwhelmed by the amount of love filling your heart. Niall looked down at you with a look of awe on his face.

“That’s our baby, Sunshine. Ours.” He brought your hand up to his lips and kissed your knuckles softly before becoming mesmerized by the tiny blip on the screen.

In this moment you’d never felt happier or more in love in your life.

Notes