I lean back into the hospital bed, watching the fetal heart rate monitor they have set up beside me. Watching that little printout of my baby’s reassuringly steady heartbeat is mesmerizing.

“Hi, Ms. King,” a woman in mint green scrubs and skin the color of midnight walks in with a clipboard.

“Hello” I smile nervously, even though watching the heartbeat has calmed me down and the bleeding has almost stopped, I still have a twinge of worry that everything isn’t going to be alright.

“I’m Dr. Pike,” she adjusts her thick, vibrant green glasses on her nose and looks at me with genuine concern.

“Is everything okay doctor?” My breath is tight in my chest as I wait for her to finish reading the results of all the tests they ran.

“I’m happy to say it is.” She finally looks up and flashes me a toothy smile. “So, I won’t say it’s common for women as far along into their pregnancy to have bouts of fresh, heavy bleeding like you did,” she walks to the side of my bed and watches the fetal heart rate blip over the screen, “as you can see, the little one is relaxed and happy in there. We checked your cervix and there are no signs that it’s weakened or in danger of not being able to hold this pregnancy.”

I let out a long sigh of relief, “So, you’re saying my baby is fine? Everything is good?”

“It appears that way, yes. I’ve consulted with your gynecologist and he agrees that there doesn’t seem to be any need for concern at this point.”

“Great,” I run my hand over my tummy and smile.

“I’m sure you already answered a million questions, but were you doing any heavy lifting, like fifty pounds or more today?” She clicks the end of her pen and hovers it over the sheet, ready to scrawl my answer down.

“No, nothing like that,” I watch as she records my words.

“Good, good. So, nothing out of the ordinary before the bleeding. No lifting, no falls, no vigorous sex?”

Heat blossoms over my cheeks, we didn’t get the chance to get to the vigorous sex part. “No, none of those,” I answer.

The doctor scribbles some notes.

I clear my throat, “Um, Dr. Pike?”

“Yes?” She looks up, and tucks a strand of hair that escaped her sleek bun back behind her ear.

“I don’t plan on lifting any weights or falling, obviously,” I giggle nervously.

“Good, good,” she answers.

“But do I need to avoid having sex too?” My voice is tight and I feel like an awkward kid back in sex education class, embarrassed to let the grown up in the room know that I’m interested in, you know, doing it.

“No, no, don’t worry about that. You can have all the crazy sex you want. It’s actually really great for you,” she laughs. “I was just trying to pinpoint the reason for the bleeding, but sometimes there is no reason,” she smiles at me and I feel the knot in my stomach untie.

“Great,” I can’t hide my relief and the doctor chuckles again.

“Nurse Chavez will be letting your husband come in to visit you now that all the tests are done. We would like to keep you under observation for a couple more hours, just to be safe, and then you’ll be free to go home,” her brown eyes twinkle as she drops the chart at the foot of my bed. “Any other questions for me?”

“No, thanks that’s everything.” Dr. Pike nods and then leaves the room.

It’s just me and the baby again. My eyes glide back over to the monitor and the tension slips from my shoulders and floats away as I get hypnotized by the rhythmic beat of my baby’s heart once again.

“Knock knock. Hey Mama, I’ve got some visitors for you,” the handsome, young nurse calls from the doorway.

“Visitors?” I stress the “s” and lift my eyebrows as I look behind him. Nurse Chavez smiles at me and steps out of the way.

“You guys can go in now,” he instructs them and my jaw drops open wide.

Connor and Marcus walk into the room, both smiling at me warmly. I’m a little confused, but more than that, I’m grateful to see them both so relaxed and happy as they stand side-by-side next to the bed.

“How are you doing?” Connor sweeps his palm over my forehead.

“Good, they said everything is going to be fine,” I answer.

“And the baby too?” Marcus looks over at the monitor.

“That’s right. They want to keep me here for a couple more hours, just under observation, but then she said we can go.” Tears brim my eyes as I look at my brother and my man, finally putting the past behind them and getting along. I honestly never thought this day would come. I hold my little belly and silently thank my little bub for bringing us all together. Maybe that’s why I had this bleeding tonight. To show us all what’s really important.

“It’s going to be late by the time you get finished up here. You don’t have to head all the way back out of town tonight. Why don’t you guys come to the house to crash after instead?” Marcus offers, looking down at me.

I meet Connor’s green eyes, lifting a single eyebrow.

“Thanks man, that would be great,” Connor answers.

“Thanks Marcus,” I smile up at my big brother.

“It’s the least I can do,” he nods at me. “I’m going to head back and make sure the place is tidied up and that we have food for breakfast in the morning,” my brother wipes the back of his hand over his eyes and steps back toward the door.

“You don’t need to go through all the trouble,” Connor faces him.

Marcus turns to face him and tears brim his eyes. “It’s no trouble, brother. I’m happy to have you,” his voice wavers and tears prick in the corners of my eyes too.

In my heart, I never knew if this day would come. I’d hoped and prayed it would, but to see Marcus and Connor finally let the past go, it’s nothing short of a miracle.

“Thanks,” Connor answers and gives my brother a clap on the shoulder. “For everything.” Marcus nods solemnly and walks out the door.

For the first time since Connor walked back into my life, my heart is truly full. With my baby doing well, my man by my side and my brother back in my life, it’s hard to imagine it getting any better than this.