Read Online One to Tell the Grandkids by Kristina M Sanchez - Free Book Online

opened the door, stepped inside, and closed the door behind him. “Hey.”
    “Um. Hi? What are you doing here?”
    “Slate didn’t want you to be alone, so he asked me to come with you.”
    “That’s very sweet of both of you, but it’s unnecessary. Surely you have to have better things to do.”
    “A favor for Slate’s baby is pretty high up there on my good-things-to-do list.” He kept his voice light. He’d gleaned from their conversations in the car Taryn hated to think she was a burden to anyone. “It’s no trouble, but I don’t want to make you uncomfortable. I can stay out in the lobby if you don’t want me in here.”
    She looked uncertain, so he continued. “I’m, er, I know what to expect from these appointments. I can be up by your head during the exam, or I can leave the room.”
    “Do you have kids?”
    Caleb’s throat tightened. “No.”
    She studied him for another moment before she nodded, and her features softened. “If it really isn’t a big deal, I would really appreciate if you stayed,” she said in a surprisingly small, timid voice.
    He took the chair by the head of the bed. “There’s nothing to be afraid of.”
    “I know.” Her words were still quiet. When she breathed in, the sound was shaky. “I guess doctor visits are never fun.”
    “Yeah. Well, if they do the heartbeat thing, that’s pretty neat.”
    “I think when I talked to her on the phone, Dr. Morris said they were going to try to hear it.”
    There was a knock at the door then, and the doctor entered. “Good afternoon, Miss Sato.”
    “Taryn. Please.”
    “Taryn.” Her eyes flicked over to Caleb. “Is this Daddy?”
    Standing, Caleb offered his hand. “I’m Caleb. I’m just a friend. Daddy got stuck with a broken-down car.”
    Taryn grimaced. “My fault.”
    “Ah, well. Daddy’s taking care of Mom one way or another. That’s good. Mom and Baby can’t have too much support.” Her handshake was strong. “I’m Sandra Morris. What do you say we find out more about Baby?”
    For Caleb, the appointment brought on a continuous sense of déjà vu. He’d been here before, sitting beside a woman who was trying not to look as out of sorts and scared as she really was. Just like then, he wasn’t quite sure what he was doing there, or if he was really welcome.
    The doctor asked the usual questions about how Taryn had been feeling and what she’d been eating and drinking.
    “I know the basics. No booze, no caffeine, no fun. I’m a little worried. I had a lot of soda before I figured out I was pregnant.”
    “Most things that are prohibited during pregnancy are fine in moderation. Abstaining is recommended, because of the Lay’s effect. You know. Bet you can’t eat just one. It’s highly unlikely it harmed the baby. Lie back. I’m going to lift your shirt a bit, okay?” Taryn relaxed back on the table, and Dr. Morris pulled her shirt up to reveal her belly. “Do you have any other concerns?”
    Taryn huffed. Her eyes darted to Caleb’s and away. “Not much you can help me out with.”
    The way she muttered the words, almost under her breath, caught Caleb’s attention. Her expression was pinched, the skin around her eyes tight. Caleb squeezed her shoulder. It couldn’t have been easy. That he’d observed, pregnancy wasn’t comfortable, especially for a woman who wasn’t in love with the idea of being pregnant.
    Caleb snapped out of his reverie, pushing away a handful of painful memories, as the doctor began to take a detailed medical history.
    The change in Taryn’s posture was instant. She fidgeted, and the wary look in her eyes faded into something more painful. It was instinct to offer his hand, but he was surprised when she took it. She told the doctor about her little sister who died young of a genetic disease.
    “I’m very sorry to hear that,” Dr. Morris said.
    Caleb rubbed his thumb over Taryn’s tense knuckles, more sorry than he had words for. Taryn didn’t turn to him, but her