The Ultrasound
The next day, I went to the ultrasound alone. I wore a loose dress that hugged my body awkwardly, brushed my hair as best I could, and even put on lipstick, even though my mouth quivered with uncertainty. I needed to feel like myself for that innocent baby inside me.
Dr. Salinas greeted me with a gentle smile. “Did someone come with you?” she asked, her voice soothing.
I shook my head, fighting the flutter of dread in my stomach. “My husband says this baby isn’t his.”
She didn’t judge or react with pity. Instead, she simply asked me to lie down on the examination table. The gel was cold against my skin, sending a shiver up my spine. When the screen illuminated, my breath caught in my throat.
First came a shadow, then a tiny flicker of movement. My heart raced as Dr. Salinas adjusted the transducer. Suddenly, there it was—a heartbeat, strong and fast. Alive.
I covered my mouth, tears streaming down my cheeks. “Hello, my love,” I whispered, feeling an overwhelming surge of connection. The doctor smiled softly, but then her expression shifted.
She moved the transducer again, her smile fading. I felt a chill creep over me. “Mrs. Laura… when did you say your husband had the vasectomy?”
My heart sank. “Two months ago.”
Dr. Salinas hesitated, her focus shifting from the screen to my chart. The heartbeat echoed through the room, yet her demeanor changed. “Your baby is fine,” she said, her voice lowering. “But I need you to stay calm and listen.”
The Unwelcome Arrival
At that moment, the door opened without a knock. Diego walked in, Paola trailing behind him, her expression smug. “Perfect,” he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “Now the doctor can finally tell me how far along this other man’s baby is.”
Dr. Salinas turned slowly toward him, then glanced at Paola, her expression darkening as her eyes darted back to the screen. “Mr. Diego,” she said, her voice steady yet firm, “before you accuse your wife again… you need to see what’s on here.”
Diego stepped closer, his bravado faltering as he peered at the screen. As I lay there, my heart racing, I realized that the truth was about to shatter the façade he had built around us.
“I had a vasectomy two months ago, Laura. I’m not stupid.”
And yet, as I looked at that screen, I could only wonder: what would he think now?
