November Foxtrot (Rhythm of the Heart Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

morning, Dr. Pat,” she twisted her fingers in her lap so hard they throbbed from the assault.
    “Your blood work looks good, Zoe. Your levels are rising accordingly, and I am very happy with the progress. I'd like to do another ultrasound just to see how things look, but just based on the blood, I'm pleased. If you'd go ahead and lie back for me?” He walked to the door and called for the nurse, her bright smile matching her ketchup red hair.
    Zoe eased back on the table, her feet gliding into stirrups. The doctor dimmed the lights and patted her knee again, the one she'd just shaved that morning. He squirted lube on the wand, and reminded her again of where he was going to put the damned thing. She squirmed as he inserted it, and watched with bated breath as his brow furrowed then cleared, his mustache tipping up on the corners.
    “How do things look, doctor?” Her heart thundered in her ears and she swallowed nervously.
    “There is a strong heart beat.” He swiveled the monitor so she could see and her eyes widened at the little baby on the screen, the heart roaring along, each little blub blub making her fall even harder for the life she carried.
    “The baby is okay?”
    Dr. Pat shrugged. “Your baby is measuring at about nine weeks now. These ultrasounds aren't always accurate, but now we see a baby... So, yes, Zoe, I think you and your baby will be fine.” He patted her knee again and withdrew the wand. “I'll leave you to get cleaned up, and I'll see you in a month, all right, Zoe? Things look great.”
    Tears filled her eyes and leaked from the corners of her eyes, coursing down the sides of her face to end up in her dark hair. Her hand came to her soft stomach and she cradled it lovingly. Our baby is alive and well... Our baby is fine, Calvin.
    The nurse helped her sit up and passed her a tissue. Zoe smiled through the deluge and blew her nose. “I'm so excited!”
    “I bet; it's a very exciting time, Zoe. I'm going to set up your appointment to get some basic blood work drawn between now and your next appointment, as well as your next appointment. I'll be right back, honey. You go ahead and get dressed and I'll give you a few minutes to get ready, all right?”
    Zoe nodded and blew her nose again. “Sure, thanks.”
    As the nurse left, she sat in the quiet of the little room and closed her eyes for a split second, simply savoring the happiness she felt. Fleeting as though the glorious feeling was, it was beautiful while it lasted. She peeled the paper gown off her body and pulled her jeans on before turning to slide her feet into her old worn sneakers.
    She walked over to the window to stare out while she waited, her hand absentmindedly rubbing over her still soft belly. Her phone buzzed in her pocket and she pulled it from her jeans and glanced at the screen. Layla had texted her, wanting to know how the appointment went, and she shot a simple, “good, really good” back before sliding the phone back into the denim confine.
    The nurse knocked on the door and peeked her head in the door and Zoe winced again at her bright hair color. “You're all set, Mrs. Hall,” she smiled, handing her a sheet of paper containing dates for her next appointments. “You call if you have any spotting, cramping, et cetera, understood?”
    “Absolutely,” Zoe responded, smiling and nodding.
    “Fantastic, see you soon!” She ushered Zoe down the puce green hallway and pointed to the exit. “Have a great day.”
    “You as well,” Zoe replied. She floated on cloud nine the whole way home, so mesmerized with the thought of her baby that she would never be able to tell anyone how she made it home.
    Later that night, she laid in bed reading another book on her Kindle, this one by a horror writer named Jade McCahon. Probably not my best idea to be reading horror before bed, she shivered, cuddling down tighter into the comforter. The silence swelled around her until she heard every creak and whisper in the apartment.