Free Summer by Karen Kingsbury

another reason.
    “You’re supposed to be bouncing out of your seat with excitement.” Landon was driving. He glanced at her. The hint of a smile lifted his lips. “Remember?”
    “I am bouncing.” She took a quick breath. “On the inside, anyway.”
    “Don’t worry, Ash. It’s nothing.”
    She tried to take a full breath, but it wouldn’t come. “You don’t know that.”
    “I do.” He gave her a sheepish glance. “I called your dad.”
    “You what?” She shifted in her seat, studying him. “This morning?”
    “You were taking care of Devin, and I had to hear for myself. Your dad said not to worry. He agreed with Dr. McDaniel. Ninety percent of the time a high AFP test means absolutely nothing.”
    A warmth filled her, soothing the anxious places in her soul. “You did that? For me?”
    Landon turned into the doctor’s office parking lot. “For both of us. I trust your dad, and I knew I wouldn’t stop thinking about it until I talked to him.”
    Ashley waited until they were parked before putting her hand on his shoulder. “Thanks, Landon. That means a lot.”
    “I want today to be special. We can’t go in assuming the worst.” He nodded toward the front door of the office building. “Let’s see who’s right—you or Cole.”
    Four other pregnant women were in the office. Ashley and Landon found two chairs together in the corner and waited for nearly a half hour before a nurse opened the door and called them in. By then Ashley had ridden a roller coaster of emotions enough times to feel nauseous about what lay ahead. Good or bad. Her father was right, of course. She’d had a high AFP test before, and it had meant nothing. There was no reason to expect the worst. But it was there, like a smell she couldn’t ignore no matter how much fresh air filled the room.
    Landon took her hand and led her along behind the nurse into the examination room. When they were alone and she had changed into the white cotton gown, he smiled at her. “Very attractive.”
    “I’m thinking about getting one for around the house.” Ashley laughed, but the sound didn’t ring true.
    She sat on the edge of the table and crossed her bare legs. She was shivering, but the room wasn’t really cold. Next to the table was the ultrasound machine, already turned on and waiting for action.
    Landon took the seat across from her. “Maybe Cole’s right.”
    “It’s a boy?” She angled her head. If the doctor would just hurry so they could get past this moment, so that even the slight possibility of bad news might be something they could completely dismiss.
    “Right, because a whole team of basketball players wouldn’t be so bad.” He rested his forearms on his knees. “Besides, I already have one princess. I couldn’t dare hope for two, right?”
    Before she could answer, there was a knock on the door, and Dr. McDaniel came in. She was in her late thirties, blonde and attractive. She’d delivered Devin, and at various appointments Ashley had been impressed that the doctor’s office was filled with pictures from home. Her children hugging her, her family together in a boat with Dr. McDaniel skiing behind it, and vacation photos from Hawaii. The doctor and her family went to the same church as the Baxters, and Ashley understood that her role as a doctor was something she saw as a ministry.
    Even so, Dr. McDaniel was professional, and today her expression was more serious than usual. She nodded at Landon and then at Ashley. “How are we doing?”
    “Good.” Ashley’s answer was quick. “Anxious for the test.”
    “You told your husband about the AFP results?” She looked from Ashley to Landon.
    “Yes.” Ashley shivered again. She reached back and pulled the edges of her gown a little more tightly together.
    Landon cleared his throat. “I talked to Ashley’s dad, Dr. John Baxter. He agreed that most of the time high levels mean nothing.”
    “It’s true.” The doctor’s voice was laced with compassion.