Gunn Sandy Toes

1. Auflage 2016
ISBN: 978-1-942704-11-9
Verlag: Robin's Nest Productions Inc
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, 200 Seiten

Sandy Toes Christy & Todd: The Baby Years. Book #1 Robin Jones Gunn A new season begins for Christy and Todd with a pregnancy test and a disillusioning visit to the doctor. As they try to catch their balance, Todd's job swerves in a new direction; Aunt Marti overdoes her self-assigned role of preparing for the family's addition-to-come; and Christy's parents face surprising changes that might take them back to Wisconsin. Christy misses Katie more than ever, and just when she thinks life will slow down, Alissa's daughter, Shawna, comes to visit and brings all her pre-teen charms and challenges with her. A mixture of excitement and anxiety carries Christy through all the baby-bumps. Her hopes and dreams are as many as the grains of sand that cover her sandy toes after sunset walks on the beach with Todd. Christy knows that everything is about to change when she steps into one of the great mysteries of life - motherhood.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Gunn, Robin Jones

Leseproben

hristy sat alone in the doctor’s office and flipped through the pages of a home-decorating magazine. Her gaze kept darting toward the door, waiting for it to open and for Todd to enter.

He said he would be here. Where is he?

Drawing in a deep breath, Christy pulled her long, nutmeg-brown hair back into a twist and secured it with a clip. Perspiration swerved down her neck. She wished she had a mint to calm her stomach.

The woman across from her in the waiting room rested her hands on top of her large, rounded midriff while the man next to her focused on his phone. She caught Christy’s eye, and they exchanged tentative half smiles.

This first visit to the OBGYN wasn’t going the way Christy had imagined it would. She thought she and Todd would be seated side by side, holding hands, whispering to each other, and sharing the sacredness of this moment.

More than a month ago, when the home pregnancy test was positive, Todd’s response was everything Christy had hoped it would be. He had stared at the wand, stared at Christy, and then burst into loud, manly sobs. He scooped her up and hugged her so close she could barely breathe. Then he kissed her, and she kissed him back, and they both laughed. No words were exchanged between them in their upstairs bathroom on that landmark morning. They didn’t need to speak. Their kisses contained every nuance of their unspoken messages.

In the hours that followed that life-altering home test, Christy and Todd decided not to tell anyone until they had seen the doctor and the results were confirmed. It had taken weeks to get this appointment, and the waiting had been agony for Christy. Waiting now for Todd to show up was even worse.

Christy was about to check her phone again when the door to the examination rooms opened and the medical assistant stepped out. “Christy Spencer?”

Christy followed her down the hall to a scale where she was weighed and then ushered into a small, highly air-conditioned room. In the center was an examination table with metal stirrups attached to the end. Christy hadn’t thought about how thorough this exam might be. She suddenly felt clammy, and a familiar wave of nausea followed.

The nurse left, and Christy changed into the paper-thin examination gown. She positioned herself on the edge of the examination table, crossed her bare feet, and rubbed them together to warm them. Her nervousness about the exam overpowered her frustration with Todd for not being there.

A tap sounded on the door. Christy looked up hopefully. It was the nurse again.

“I’m afraid I have bad news for you, Christy. Dr. Avery had to go to the hospital for an emergency with one of her patients.”

“Oh.” Christy hoped her startled expression hadn’t given away the rush of fear she felt when she heard “bad news.”

“I apologize for the inconvenience, but we’ll need to reschedule your appointment. I’ll go ahead and take your vitals. We can at least put all your starting numbers in your file.” The nurse slid the blood pressure cuff over Christy’s bare arm, and she felt it tighten.

“Did you get the lab work back?” Christy asked. “Are you able to at least tell me if I am pregnant? I mean, definitely pregnant?”

The nurse removed her stethoscope and checked Christy’s file. She looked up and offered a professional smile. “Yes. Your results are positive. From the information you gave us, it looks like you’re about six weeks along.”

Christy nodded. “That was my estimate, too. Are you able to tell me anything else?”

“You’ll have an exam at your next appointment, and you should be able to hear the heartbeat then. Be sure to start on a prenatal multivitamin, if you haven’t already. Let us know if you have any questions or concerns. We’ll see you soon.” The nurse exited quickly, closing the door behind her.

For a moment Christy didn’t move.

I’m really pregnant.

The rushed appointment had not made the grand confirmation feel as grand as she had expected it to be. Her phone chimed, and she quickly reached for it to read the text from Todd.

JUST GOT HERE.

Christy texted back. I’M DONE. DON’T COME IN. I’LL MEET YOU IN THE PARKING LOT.

She slipped her clothes back on and stopped at the front desk to reschedule her appointment. Todd was waiting for her at the entrance of the large medical building.

“Hey.” He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. “Sorry, Christy. There was an accident on the 405. It was all backed up. What’d the doctor say?”

“I didn’t get to see her. She had to go to the hospital so I rescheduled.”

Todd’s silver-blue eyes narrowed. “So, we still don’t know for sure?”

Christy grinned slowly. “No, the nurse confirmed it. We’re definitely going to have a baby.”

“We are? Really?”

Christy nodded.

Todd encircled her with his muscular arms once again and pulled her close, pressing a steady string of kisses against the side of her head. Christy drew back and offered him her lips. Todd kissed her tenderly.

“We’re having a baby,” she whispered.

“Are we going to start telling people now?” Todd asked.

“Yes. Who should we tell first?”

“Everybody!” Todd tried to catch the attention of an older woman as she was entering the medical building. “Hey, we’re having a baby!”

The woman smiled politely and kept walking.

“Todd!” Christy playfully gave him a fwap on the chest. “Our parents should be the first ones we tell, don’t you think?”

“Too late. I already told that lady.”

“Be serious. Come on, don’t you think we should call my mom right now?”

“If you want to. Sure.”

“My dad won’t be home but . . .” Christy reached for her phone and then paused. “Maybe we should wait and do a fun announcement at the end of the month at Uncle Bob and Aunt Marti’s when my parents come up.”

“Okay.”

“But you probably want to tell your dad and Carolyn before then, right?”

“We can tell your parents first.”

Christy bit her lower lip. “I told Katie she’d be the first to know, so maybe . . .”

“You know what?” Todd put his arm around her and started walking toward the parking lot. “I’ll leave all that up to you. Just tell me when you want me to get on the phone. Are you hungry? We have time to get something to eat, don’t we?”

Christy stopped walking and looked up at her husband’s boyish expression. How could his thoughts turn to food so quickly while she was still enraptured with the happy confirmation and eager to finally tell people?

Todd’s sandy-blond hair had grown long over the past few months, giving him the look of a sailor who had been out to sea a little too long. He had been working extra hours at the warehouse where he shaped old surfboards into park benches. Christy knew he was trying his best to keep up with everything, but she really wanted him to stay in the moment a little longer. This was a big deal.

“What?” Todd asked. “What’s wrong?”

Christy noticed that his eyes were puffy and his left eye was bloodshot. If she had learned anything over the past few years of their marriage, it was that timing was everything with her husband. If he was hungry, the best course of action was to hold off on discussing any important topics.

“Nothing,” Christy said. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.” He gave her a quick kiss and kept walking. “What about fish tacos?”

Christy felt her stomach do a long, rolling flip. “No thank you.”

“You sure?”

“Yes, very sure. I need to get back to work. I’ll stop to pick up a smoothie on the way. See you at home tonight.”

“Oh, hey, did I tell you that Trevor and Brennan are coming over around seven to work on music for the Friday Night Gathering?”

Christy tilted her head and gave him a teasing look. “No, I don’t believe you mentioned that.”

“You don’t mind, do you?”

“No. Of course I don’t mind. I just like a little warning ahead of time so I can make sure I have enough food for you guys.”

“We don’t eat that much, do we?”

Christy stopped beside her car and gave her teasing husband a look that said, “Do you really want me to answer that?” She pressed the unlock button on her key chain and kissed Todd. “I’ll see you later.”

Todd patted her flat belly tenderly as if he were saying good-bye to their new little miracle....