did the work. Genna seemed to like the people, and she never complained about the care, but Matty couldn't help the feeling that she deserved so much more.
He should've been able to give it to her.
"Gallivant?" a nurse called, peeking her head out of the back. Genna just sat there, staring off into space, wringing her hands together. "Jen Gallivant?"
"Baby, that's you," Matty muttered, nudging her.
Genna's eyes widened as she stood, smiling at the nurse. "Sorry, I didn't hear you."
"No problem," the lady said. "Follow me."
Matty trailed behind as the nurse led them to a small room with no windows, barely the size of a walk-in closet. An exam table filled the center of it with a computer set up on the end. Genna climbed up on the table, her legs dangling, as Matty lingered beside her.
"They'll be with you in a moment," the nurse said, shutting the door to leave them alone.
"Are you nervous?" Matty asked as she wrung her hands together, picking at her fingernails.
"Why would I be nervous? I've had an ultrasound before."
True, but this time was different. The baby had been nothing more than a little blob on a monitor, a flickering dot of life, the last time they had one.
Matty reached over, grabbing her hand to stop the fidgeting. "It'll be fine."
She sighed. "But what if it isn't?"
"Why wouldn't it be?"
"Because that's our luck? Because that's my luck? Because the universe wants to punish me for all the wrong I've done?"
"You haven't done anything wrong."
She laughed. "Are you crazy? Have I ever done anything right? What makes me think I'm equipped to be a mother? Me. Seriously, Matty… me. A mom. This is wrong. What are we even doing here? We've got no business trying to be parents. We're going to fuck this up. We don't know how. Look at who raised us!"
Matty stepped in front of her, standing between her and the door when her eyes darted that way. He grasped her other hand with his free one, squeezing them both, as he looked her in the eyes. "I love you, Genevieve Galante."
"I don't know why," she said, tears in her eyes. "I'm a fucking mess, Matty."
"You are," he admitted, smiling. "You're messy and neurotic and the furthest thing from domestic, but you're not afraid to get your hands dirty. You're stubborn, and persistent, and brave—so damn brave. And that's how I know you'll be a damn good mother, Genna. Because you love deeply, you love selflessly, and nothing stops you. Any kid would be lucky to call you mom, because you'll love them, you'll protect them, and you'll let nothing stop them from getting everything they deserve. What more could a kid want?"
"Someone who can cook chicken without giving everyone salmonella poisoning."
"Ah, that's what they have me for." Matty wiped her tears before nudging her chin. "So relax, because there's no reason to be scared."
He leaned down, kissing her, as the door behind him opened and someone walked in.
"Everything okay in here?" a soft voice asked.
"Everything's fine," Matty said, moving out of the way. He glanced across the room at the older blonde woman wearing pink scrubs as she settled in front of the computer monitor.
"Great," she said, smiling. Always smiling. "How about we get this show on the road? If you'll lie back on the table and lift up your shirt, I'll get started."
Genna obliged, rearranging her clothes to expose her stomach. The woman squeezed some jelly onto Genna's skin before spreading it around with the small wand of the ultrasound machine. Matty watched, his eyes trailing the curves of her stomach.
The second the woman clicked the monitor on, his eyes darted straight to it. Whoa.
A baby appeared. A real, live baby. Arms and legs, hands and feet, fingers and toes, every inch discernible and utterly perfect. Matty blinked a few times, watching in awe as the tiny human squirmed on the screen.
His gaze shifted back to Genna's stomach before he glanced at her face. She lay there, still, her eyes glued to him. The monitor faced away from her, at an angle she couldn't see, as the woman took measurements.
He smiled, watching the panic drain from Genna's face as she took a deep breath.
"Here you go," the woman said, turning the monitor toward Genna. "Have a look."
Genna's eyes widened. "Holy fuck."
Matty laughed. "That about sums it up."
The woman moved the wand around to different parts, counting fingers and toes, showing off the little button nose.