“Orange,” I say.
“You’re right. But they grow quickly. This little one will double in size in three more weeks.”
“Double?” Devyn says, rising on her elbows. “I’ll be huge.”
“Have you felt any movement yet?” the tech asks.
“No,” Devyn says. “Is that bad?”
“You’re about seventeen weeks. First-time moms usually feel them later than women who’ve been pregnant before. It will be any day now.” She hits a button on the computer and sound comes through a speaker.
Emotions I’ve never felt before bombard me as I hear my baby’s heartbeat for the first time. “That’s… oh my god, that’s incredible.”
The tech nods. “It is. Nothing short of a miracle.”
Devyn is shaking. Is she freaking out? She looks at me, crying. I lean down and kiss her forehead. “Everything is going to be okay.”
She shakes her head. “It’s not that. I’m good. I was just thinking. If… if it’s a girl, would it be morbid to call her Kasey?”
For the second time in a minute, my heart swells so big, I fear it will burst from my chest. Suddenly I’m crying right along with her. “That would be a great way to honor her.” I sniff. “You know the name works for a boy, too.”
“Oh, gosh, you’re right, just like they named you after Erin.”
“Casey with a C,” I say. “Or with a K for a girl.”
The tech clears her throat. I imagine she’s used to emotional outbreaks like ours. “I take it you’d like to find out the sex, then?”
Devyn’s eyes light up. “You know it?”
She smiles. “I do.”
Devyn and I look at each other and nod excitedly. “Yes, please,” I say to the tech.
“Well then, congratulations. It appears you’re going to have a Casey with a C.”
My throat clogs with more emotions. “It’s a boy?”
She points to the screen. “Here’s the evidence.”
I squeeze Devyn’s hand tightly. “It’s a boy.”
She nods, eyes closed, tears rolling down her cheeks.
“Are you okay?”
She sniffs. “I was hoping for a boy.”
Of course she was. A girl would be too much of a reminder. “Are you sure you want to name him Casey?”
“Not just Casey,” she says. “Casey Cameron.”
Now I’m crying like a baby. I kiss her. “Do you know how much I fucking love you right now?”
“I love you, too.”
It’s only the second time she’s said the words, but it’s the first time I let them sink in, even though we have an audience. I glance at the screen, wondering if we just became a family.
The tech grins and points. “It looks like he’s sucking his thumb.”
I grab my phone and take a picture.
“No need,” she says. “I have a shot of it, and I’ll print it out for you. The whole ultrasound will be on a flash drive. You can take it with you and watch it anytime. Sit tight, and we’ll be done in a sec.”
Devyn’s eyes are glued to the monitor. The baby moves, and she takes a breath. Then she squeezes my hand. “You were right. I’m in love with him. And I’m in love with you.”
This might be the single best moment of my entire life. I stroke her hair. “How soon can you move in?”
On the drive home, Devyn can’t stop staring at the pictures. She traces his tiny head. “I can do this, right?”
“We can do this.”
“Are you excited?”
“I’ve never been happier.”
“I never thought I would be joyful again, but now…” She sighs and gazes out the window. “Do you think it’s okay for us to feel like this?”
“They would have wanted it. I know it.”
“Are you really okay with calling him Casey?”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way. Are you okay with giving him my last name?”
She studies the photo. “Casey Cameron Pearce.” She smiles. “I like it.”
“And how are you feeling about me giving you my last name?”
“One thing at a time, cowboy. I haven’t even moved in yet.”
“Yet? Does that mean you will?”
“We are having a baby and all.” She laughs. “But it occurs to me we should probably go on an actual date.”
“We went to dinner with my parents last night.”
“Doesn’t count.”
“Hm. It can’t be any old date. It has to be epic. Give me some time to put something together.”
“You don’t have to wine and dine me. I’m pretty much a sure thing.”
I reach over and rub her bump, something I haven’t done until today but that I plan on doing as often as possible. “Can we tell people now? You can’t hide this much longer.”
“Okay.”
I’m surprised. “For real?”
She nods.
At a stoplight, I pick up my phone and call Maddox. “Dude, get Andie and meet us at the lodge in ten. Make sure my parents are there. It’s really important.” I hang up and dial again. “Quinn, go to the lodge pronto. See you shortly.”
“You meant right now?” Devyn asks.
“I’m bursting at the seams, Dev. I’m going to be a father. I want to scream it from the rooftop.”
Quinn and Maddox’s trucks are there when we arrive. I run around and help Devyn out. We hold hands as we enter the lodge. Everyone is standing around in the kitchen. Mom is the only one with a smile. Nobody else knows anything about anything.
I look at Devyn. “Do you want to?”
“You do it.”
I put my hand on her belly. “We’re having a baby, and it’s a boy!”
Jaws hit the floor. Mom hugs us, then Dad. Finally, Quinn, Maddox, and Andie join in the jubilation, and congratulations are offered by all.
“Let’s see the bump,” Andie says.
Devyn flattens her shirt against her body. She looks proud. What a change from just twenty-four hours ago.
“Eeeek!” Andie squeals. “When’s the big day?”
“February fourth.”
The women fawn over the ultrasound photos.
Dad pats me on the back. “You know, Griffin is a strong name for a boy.”
I laugh. “Maybe the next one.” When Devyn turns green at my remark, I wink at her. “We’ve already picked a name. Everyone”—I put an arm around her and place my other hand on her abdomen—“meet Casey Cameron.”
Dad raises his eyebrows at Devyn. “A family name?”
We share a look. “Yes.”
Mom touches Devyn’s arm. I have a feeling she’s taken it upon herself to be a stand-in for Roseanne.
“What a lovely way to honor your friend, son. He would like that.”
“I hope so.”
The back door opens, and Lora comes in. She looks at all the beaming faces. “Did I miss the party?”
“Kind of,” Andie says. She holds out one of the ultrasound pictures to Lora.
Lora takes it and smiles. “Oh, you’re having another baby?”