Chapter 2: The Dates Don't Match
The hospital's ultrasound room was bright enough to reveal every detail on Nia's frightened face.
White walls reflected the overhead lights. A monitor glowed beside the examination bed, and the faint hum of medical equipment filled the silence between the doctor's instructions.
Nia lay on her back in her cream maternity dress, which had been loosened around her abdomen for the examination. Her breathing had steadied, but her fingers remained locked around Marcus's hand.
He stood beside her, still wearing his navy polo shirt. A small streak of grass stained one knee of his trousers.
He had not let go of her since they arrived.
Dr. Carter, a Black female physician in her early forties, adjusted the ultrasound equipment. Her white coat was neatly pressed, and her expression remained calm as she studied the screen.
“I'm going to check the baby's heartbeat and measurements again,” she explained.
“Nia, if you feel another sharp pain, tell me immediately.””
Nia nodded.
Marcus leaned closer to the examination bed.
“You hear that, baby? Just tell her if anything hurts.””
“I know, Marcus.””
Her voice was barely audible.
He brushed his thumb over her knuckles.
“I'm scared too,” he admitted.
“But we're going to get through this.””
Nia looked at him.
The tenderness in his face made the tears return.
“I didn't want our day to end like this.””
“Forget the party.””
“Everyone saw what happened.””
“Let them talk.””
“Marcus, your family was there. My family was there. Vanessa stood in front of everybody and—”
“Vanessa isn't the person I'm worried about right now.””
He stopped.
The words had come out more sharply than he intended.
Nia's eyes searched his face.
“Are you angry with me?””
Marcus frowned.
“What? No. Why would you ask me that?””
She swallowed.
“Because you looked at me differently when she mentioned the dates.””
Marcus glanced toward Dr. Carter, who was concentrating on the monitor.
“I was trying to understand what she meant.””
“She was trying to hurt me.””
“I know.””
“Do you?””
Marcus took a breath.
“Yes, Nia. I know.””
But his gaze drifted back to the screen.
The ultrasound image showed a small, moving figure. A rapid rhythm pulsed across the monitor, and a faint heartbeat filled the room through the machine's speaker.
Nia covered her mouth.
“That's our baby,” she whispered.
Marcus's face softened.
He bent toward her and kissed her forehead.
“Hey, little one,” he murmured.
“Your daddy's right here.””
For a few precious seconds, the tension eased.
Dr. Carter measured the baby's head, checked the abdominal circumference, and moved the probe slightly. Her eyes shifted between the image and the figures displayed along the side of the monitor.
Then she repeated a measurement.
Marcus noticed.
“Is something wrong?””
“I'm checking the dates against the measurements,” Dr. Carter replied.
“Why?””
“I want to make sure everything is consistent.””
Nia's fingers tightened around Marcus's.
The doctor adjusted the image again.
The baby moved.
Nia let out a shaky breath.
“Doctor, is my baby okay?””
Dr. Carter studied the screen for another moment.
“The baby's heartbeat is strong, and the baby appears stable.””
Nia's shoulders dropped against the pillow.
“Oh, thank God.””
Marcus closed his eyes briefly, releasing a breath he seemed to have been holding since the backyard.
“Thank you, Doctor.””
Dr. Carter nodded, but she did not move away from the monitor.
Instead, she checked the measurements one more time.
Then she looked down at Nia's chart.
Then back at the screen.
Marcus straightened.
“Doctor?””
Dr. Carter's expression had changed. Not dramatically, but enough that the room seemed to grow quieter.
“What is it?”” Nia asked.
The doctor turned slightly toward them.
“The baby's measurements suggest a gestational age of approximately eighteen weeks and six days.””
Nia went still.
Marcus stared at her.
“Eighteen weeks?””
“Yes,” Dr. Carter answered.
“That's what the current measurements indicate.””
Nia licked her dry lips.
“But that can't be right.””
Dr. Carter remained composed.
“Ultrasound dating has limitations, and we consider your medical history and earlier scans when assessing gestational age. I need to compare all the available information before drawing conclusions.””
Marcus nodded slowly, trying to follow.
“Okay. So what does that mean for us?””
Dr. Carter looked at the chart again.
“First, I need to confirm the date of your last menstrual period and review any previous ultrasound records.””
Nia turned her face toward the window.
There was no view of the backyard from here. No balloons. No shattered glass. No relatives whispering behind their hands.
Only the reflection of the bright room and the sound of the monitor.
Marcus moved closer to her.
“Baby, look at me.””
She didn't.
“Nia.””
Finally, she turned.
His voice softened.
“Tell me what's happening.””
Her lips parted, but no words came.
Dr. Carter glanced between them.
“Mr. Hayes, do you know when the pregnancy began?””
Marcus looked confused.
“We've been married for four years. We planned for this baby. Nia told me she was pregnant after she missed her period.””
“Do you remember approximately when that was?””
“Of course.””
He rubbed the back of his neck.
“About four months ago. We were thrilled.””
Dr. Carter paused.
“And have you been away for work during the pregnancy?””
Marcus's face tightened.
“Yes. I travel for my company.””
“How long were you away on your last trip?””
“Several weeks.””
Nia closed her eyes.
Marcus noticed immediately.
“Why are you asking about my travel?””
Dr. Carter spoke carefully.
“I'm gathering the information necessary to interpret these dates correctly. I don't want to make assumptions based on one measurement.””
The doctor turned back to the monitor and entered a note.
Marcus looked at Nia.
She was staring at the ceiling now, her cheeks wet.
He wiped a tear from the corner of her eye.
“Hey,” he whispered.
“Whatever this is, we'll figure it out together.””
Nia caught his wrist.
“Marcus, please.””
“Please what?””
She shook her head.
“Don't ask me that here.””
He slowly lowered his hand.
“Ask you what?””
Nia's eyes flicked toward Dr. Carter.
Then toward the ultrasound screen.
And finally back to her husband.
“Not here,” she whispered again.
Marcus's face lost its warmth.
Dr. Carter looked up from the monitor.
“Mr. Hayes, I need to discuss one important finding with both of you.””
Marcus turned toward her.
“Go ahead.””
The doctor pointed to the measurements displayed beside the ultrasound image.
“The baby is stable,” she said.
“But the dates don't match the timeline you've described.””
The words landed harder than the breaking glass had.
Marcus stopped breathing for a moment.
Nia's fingers slipped from his hand.
He stared at the monitor, where the tiny figure moved beneath the bright white measurements.
“Which dates?”” he asked.
Dr. Carter turned the screen slightly so they could both see it.
Marcus leaned forward.
The numbers came into focus.
*GESTATIONAL AGE: 18 WEEKS, 6 DAYS*
He read them once.
Then again.
His face drained of color.
“No,” he whispered.
Nia sat rigidly on the examination bed.
Marcus slowly turned toward her.
“I was overseas eighteen weeks ago.””
She didn't answer.
He searched her face, waiting for the explanation that would make the numbers meaningless.
“Nia?””
Her eyes filled with fresh tears.
“Marcus, I can explain.””
He stared at her, his hand still resting on the edge of the examination bed.
For the first time since their wedding, he looked at his wife as though he no longer knew her.
May you like
Dr. Carter stood silently beside the monitor.
And the ultrasound continued to glow between them.
