Free Pulled by Amy Lichtenhan Page A

Melanie, this is going to be a little cold.” Dad squirted some clear gel onto Melanie’s abdomen and held up the probe. “This is how we’re going to take a look at this little one.” He smiled at us, his joy evident.
    Mom placed both of her hands on my shoulders as she stood behind me.
    Melanie was twenty weeks pregnant, and it was time for her first ultrasound. Dad had arranged to do it himself.
    I had been so eager to see the baby, but I was still anxious. What if there was something wrong? The chances of that were low, but it didn’t stop me from worrying.
    Dad lowered the probe onto Melanie’s stomach, and the monitor jumped around as he moved it to find the right spot. “There you are.”
    The fuzzy image on the screen cleared, and I saw my baby. The moment took my breath away. Melanie squeezed my hand harder, and I turned to her. Tears ran down her face.
    Melanie whispered to me, “Our baby.”
    I leaned over and kissed her, murmuring back the same, “Our baby.”
    Dad began to take measurements and talk about each body part. I was surprised at how big the head was, but he said it was supposed to be at this stage. We counted ten fingers and ten toes, and the heart was beating exactly as it should.
    Relief swept over me as Dad assured us that everything was okay. He confirmed the due date as June seventh. We were halfway there.
    “So did you two want to know the sex of your baby?” Dad grinned at us.
    “Yes,” Melanie and I said in unison. We’d been looking forward to this day for a long time.
    Dad smiled at us. “Baby girl.”

    We were having a baby girl. I looked at Melanie who mouthed to me, “I knew.”
    I took Melanie’s face in my hands and kissed her. “Of course you knew,” I murmured against her lips.
    When Melanie and Mom left for the restroom, I turned to dad and pulled him aside. “Hey, Dad?” He drew me into a hug, patting me on the back.
    “I’m so proud of you, son.”
    “Thanks, that really means a lot. I don’t know how we could have done this without you and Mom.” Melanie and I would have been so alone if we didn’t have them.
    Melanie still hadn’t told her parents, and Mom had pretty much taken on the role of mother in her life.
    “You know we’d do anything for you, Daniel.”
    “That’s actually what I need to talk to you about.” I hated asking for favors when they’d already done so much, but I’d thought this through and knew it was the best plan. “I need access to my money.”
    I had a trust fund from my grandparents that my parents had control of until I turned twenty-one. My intention had been to save it for my children for when they were older, but my child needed it now.
    He nodded. “I was wondering when you were going to ask.”
    March 2000
    It took two months of preparation. Mom had snuck up during the week to make everything perfect, and now that it was complete, I couldn’t wait to show Melanie.
    I smiled to myself as I dialed her number.
    She picked up on the first ring. “Hey,” she breathed into the phone. “I miss you.”
    “I know, baby. I miss you, so much.” It was getting harder and harder each week to leave her.
    “You’re coming tomorrow, right?” She sounded anxious.
    “Well, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about. Do you think you could tell your Dad you’re staying with Stacy this weekend? I want you to come up here.”
    “Daniel, I don’t think my car will make it.” I heard her disappointment over the phone.
    “Don’t worry about that. I’ll come get you. We’ll just leave your car at my parents and drive back together.
    Do you think you could get out of school early?”
    “Yeah. It’ll be perfect!” she squealed into the phone. “I can’t wait. We haven’t had a weekend to ourselves since Christmas break. I really need to get away.”
    “So, I take it you’re anxious to see me?” I teased her, knowing full well she was always as excited to see me as I was to see her.
    “No, not at all,” she