34. Carter
34
CARTER
T he wand glided over Sunny’s abdomen, slicked in the gel used to help provide a clearer image. Sonogram technology today was so different from the type available when my ex was pregnant with Hope. The perfect three-dimensional image of our baby on the monitor brought tears to my eyes as the tech positioned it and snapped pictures.
Sunny’s hand clung to mine, smile on her face while I chewed the inside of my cheek in anguish. Seeing the baby only made it more real. I’d met with my therapist who gave me excellent grounding techniques for this moment, but they were failing me. Fear over the future made me lose all conscious thought, lost in my swimming imaginations of panic and dread.
“Baby is healthy and growing, and I’d put your due date around February fourth.” The tech grinned at Sunny, who looked up at me and squeezed my hand.
“Did you hear that, Daddy? A Valentine’s baby…” Her tone was chipper and light.
After finally reuniting with her last week, I’d spent the better part of the last eight days with her at Rick’s home in Malibu. I understood now why she’d been adamant about finding her own place when she decided to remain in LA instead of going to Tampa, but this tormenting fear put me on edge, making me think it would be better if she were in my home with me where I could keep an eye on her. I knew that wasn’t what she wanted, but it would make me feel much better.
“Valentine’s,” I repeated numbly, watching the screen. The machine kept malfunctioning, picking up a second heartbeat which the tech complained was impossible.
Sunny’s expectant eyes studied the monitor carefully as the wand slid over her skin, and I noticed the uptick of the tech’s face, eyebrows going high.
“Ms. Douglas, I know Dr. Fetters said you were measuring slightly larger for this pregnancy already. I expected it to be a large fetus, perhaps you’re farther along than you thought.”
“No, it’s not possible. This is Carter’s baby.” Sunny’s sudden tense expression made me tense too. I knew she’d been dating someone before me, but she never let on that a pregnancy with that guy might be possible. After the yo-yo of emotion getting here, seeing my therapist to deal with the uncertainties I was facing and everything else we’d fought through, I didn’t want to have any more shocking news.
“Oh, I know it is.” The tech grinned as she rocked the wand to one side. As she did, two perfect silhouettes came into view on the monitor as two heartbeats synced up to almost match perfectly. “You’re having twins. Do you see this?” Her finger stretched out to point at the monitor where it appeared their hands were locked together. This tiny, they barely had appendages, but I saw it with my own eyes.
“Oh my gosh, Carter, look!” Sunny whimpered. I felt her grasp tighten around my hand. She was so thrilled with this news I could almost get lost in the sensation of her hope and joy filling the room.
“Twins,” I breathed out slowly, still trying to wrap my head around this new bit of information. Fear seized me in a stranglehold. Sunny was taking it in stride, but I don’t know how I would manage this. “Okay, we can do this.” I squeezed Sunny’s hand reassuringly, my other hand trembling against my leg. I said it more for her benefit and perhaps to bolster my own sense of confidence which faltered at the idea of one baby, let alone two.
“They appear to be fraternal, which is better than identical. You’ll need extra care, extra doctor’s visits and of course there is the chance you’ll be on bed rest near the end. But, congratulations on your perfect little Valentine’s babies!” the tech happily cooed. She seemed to be far more pleased than either Sunny or me.
Sunny’s excited, stunned face was enough to coax a smile out of me. I leaned in and kissed her cheek before folding her in my arms. “You okay?” she whispered, so I nodded.
“Just breathing through the insecurities,” I told her as the tech finished up a few measurements.
“We’ll schedule you guys in for a secondary ultrasound just to make sure everything is on track, but so far, so good. Congratulations. Dr. Fetters will be in to speak with both of you shortly.” The tech gathered up her things, the squeal of her shoes on the linoleum floor echoing as she made her way to the door and closed it behind her.
Sunny glanced at me, a bashful smile on her face, but I could see the same fear swimming in her eyes. I reached over and took her free hand, intertwining our fingers. “We got this, right?”
“Yeah we do. You said if I wanted a thousand, right?” Sunny nervously chuckled. I laughed too but I felt it die in my chest, the weight of it sinking in and becoming real. Twice the risk, twice the pain. “Two times as much joy, Carter,” she said, as if she could read my mind.
I helped her sit up and I hugged her tightly. When Dr. Fetters walked into the room, I pulled away from her and we both faced him. He was a short man, round belly, balding head. He reminded me that life went on for most of the world, hundreds of women every day in this city gave birth successfully, thousands of children attended school without incident—two things my therapist told me to focus on if I felt overwhelmed.
“How are you two doing? I hear twins are on the way! Congratulations.” He thrust his hand out toward me and I shook it. Sunny pinched his fingers daintily, and he sat on the stool across the room.
“It’s a little shocking,” Sunny told him. She held me tighter, causing me to drift out of my self-isolation inside my own head and remember that she was experiencing this for the first time.
“Twins happen every day, Sunny. You will just need extra nutritional support, more rest, and probably twice as many diapers.” His joke landed with her, but I was already drumming up a million questions for him.
“Dr. Fetters, I know duplicate pregnancies are higher risk. Should Sunny take some time off work? And how do you feel about sex during pregnancy? Will we have to stop that until after she gives birth? What about?—”
“Whoa there, Junior Detective,” he chuckled, pointing a sausage-like finger at me. “I didn’t say you’re in any imminent danger, just slightly more precautionary than usual. With fraternal twins rarely do we run into any major issues besides maybe Sunny here needing an epidural instead of laboring au natural.”
She swatted at my arm and chuckled. “You’ll have to forgive him. He’s very protective of me.” Her arm around my waist eased more of my concern.
“Sunny will be able to work and exercise like normal. We don’t get worried about things unless she shows signs of distress. Duplicates are very common, Dr. Price, as you are well aware I’m sure. When she gets closer to term, we will put her on light duty to rest more, but only because growing one baby is hard enough. Growing two can be exhausting. I suggest cutting work hours back when you start to feel too tired.” He looked at Sunny and continued. “And we’ll do monthly sonograms until thirty weeks, after which we’ll do them twice monthly to ensure the babies are growing well.”
“Thank you, Dr. Fetters.” She clung to me, but her voice was strong.
“I’ll have Audree set up the next sonogram, and in the meantime, Carter, if you have any other concerns, feel free to call.” Dr. Fetters dismissed us and we headed out. I didn’t release Sunny until we were back in the car, where she pressed a kiss to my cheek as I started the engine.
I held her hand as I pulled out of the parking lot and headed toward Malibu. Everything inside me was jumbled up and tossed, but somehow I knew it would be alright. Sunny had a confident joy about her that glowed, seeping into me like a warm summer sunshine that told me everything would work out just fine.
Now to tell Rick and Melanie the news and hope they thought it was good news, not the tragedy Rick would probably think it was.