The Own Goal ✔️

Part 14

Eating lunch with Jack is a little weird, we are not the same people we were on holiday.

It's like the shine has been wiped off of us. In my little modest flat there's definitely no shine.

But he's easy enough to chat to. Even if he is very closed up compared to holiday Jack.
I make us bacon sandwiches and listen as Jack tells me about the pre season training, the friendlies they've got lined up and how excited he is to get back to it properly.

He asks me if I've told anyone about the pregnancy and I admit that Sian is the only other person that knows. That I felt like I wanted to wait for today, like see the proof that it is real before I told anyone else. He nods in agreement.

Jack drives us to the hospital in his huge range rover.
I'm sitting in the passenger seat drinking out of a litre bottle of water.

Jack glances over "ya alright?"

"Yeah, I've got to drink all this before the scan"

"Why?"

"I think, to get a clearer scan image"

"So ya gotta hold it? Ya can't piss?"

"No" I pull a face.

"Let's hope they aren't runnin' late!"

Sitting in the waiting room I notice Jack shifting uncontrollably next to me.

"You ok?"

"Yeah" he mumbles, he pulls his cap down and slouches in his chair a bit more.
I don't get to pry further, as finally I'm called in.

"Chelsea Kelly" the nurse smiles as she waits for us to follow her.

Jack gives me a funny look and raises his eyebrows at me, I realise he probably didn't even know my surname.

I lay on the bed as instructed.

I pull my leggings down low on my abdomen and the nurse tucks a paper towel into them to keep them clean.

"Ok, this will feel cold" she says as she squeezes a huge blob of blue jelly on my tummy.

Jack has taken the seat next to the bed, he looks as nervous as hell.

"And are you daddy?" The nurse asks him.

"Er, yeah" he stutters.

"First baby for both of you?" She asks brightly.

"Yes" I reply.

She gives us both a look. "Ok, well let's see if your baby is ready to say hello to its mummy and daddy shall we?"

I exchange a look with Jack, but he looks tense. He's staring straight ahead, avoiding eye contact with me.

I look back to the nurse "so, I'll find the baby first then I'll show you the screen, then I'll do my measurements for you" she tells me.

She puts the scanner on my tummy and I'm totally thrown by just how hard she actually pushes.

She stares at the screen intently.
I feel like I'm holding my breath, what if there's nothing there? What if it's all wrong and I'm not pregnant? What if there's something wrong with the baby?

Tears prickle at my eyes again and I stare at the nurse.

Finally she smiles "there it is! Mummy, Daddy? Are you ready to say hello to your little one?"

She turns the screen and there it is.

Our baby

We made a baby, and there it is, moving around on the screen, inside me.