He laughs and grabs my hips. “Look at this, it’s perfect height. Maybe we need one for our house.”
I slap him in the chest and grit my teeth. “Go sit down.” He continues to laugh but does as he’s told. I ignore his comment about “our house” because I don’t want to go there yet. One step at a time, and besides, he just asked me to marry him today. We have time before we need to move.
“Good afternoon, Ms. Burke.”
“Hi,” I say as the doctor comes in. He’s young and very handsome, and Cooper is by my side in a flash.
“So I understand you’ll be transferring your prenatal care to Boston from Fort Myers?”
“Yeah, it’s a sudden move.”
“Let’s go ahead and take a look. Lie back for me.” I do and place my feet in the stirrups. When his hand disappears between my legs, I hear Cooper growl. I look at him, but he’s focused on the doctor. I reach for Cooper’s hand, squeezing tight, hoping to convey that I’m not enjoying any of this.
“Everything feels fine, but I want to get some images of the baby for our records and to make sure we agree about your due date.”
“Wait, you mean an ultrasound?” I ask excitedly.
“Yes, haven’t you had one yet?”
I shake my head rapidly. “No.”
He smiles. “Well, then, I guess you’re about to see your baby for the first time.”
I look up at Cooper, who is somehow beaming and glaring at the same time. As soon as the doctor leaves the room, I pull Cooper to me.
“Are you jealous?”
“What, no,” he scoffs, but he is unable to look me in the eyes. He sighs. “He was touching you.”
“He’s a doctor. He doesn’t enjoy it like you do.”
“You don’t know that,” he balks. I don’t have time to counter his comment because the nurse and tech are back with the ultrasound machine. In a flash, my gown is opened, and blue gel is squirted onto my stomach.
And just like that the wand is pressed down and the whooshing sound of the baby’s heartbeat fills the room.
“Your baby has a very strong heartbeat.”
“That’s because he’s a boy,” Cooper boasts.
The nurse presses a few buttons while moving the wand over my stomach. She turns the monitor to face us so we can see the baby. It looks like an alien life form growing inside of me.
“Do you want to know what you’re having?”
Cooper and I both yell out yes, earning a chuckle from the nurse.
“Right here”—she points to the screen—“is your son and over here is your daughter.”
“Wh…what?”
“You didn’t know you were having twins?”
I shake my head and try to swallow the lump in my throat. “No…are you sure there are two?”
“Positive.” The nurse moves away while the lab tech continues to take pictures. She’s thumbing through my chart, making notes and shaking her head. “The doctor will monitor you throughout your pregnancy, and you should expect to deliver earlier than late November.” She closes the file, coming to stand next to me. “Congratulations. I know you’re in shock, but you’re in good hands here. The babies look healthy, and I’ve updated your chart. When you check out, the receptionist will have your next appointment scheduled for you.”
The lab tech hands us a few of the pictures before following the nurse out of the room, leaving Cooper and me to the news that we’re not having one but two babies. When I look at him, he’s white as a ghost.
“Cooper?” I reach for his hand as I sit up, but he doesn’t move. “Hey.”