Chapter 46
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
Delia
It’s been a week since I found out I’m pregnant. In that time, I’ve slept more than usual, I’ve seen Donovan less than usual, and I had the absolute pleasure of speaking to Hazel Waverly on the phone.
Donovan was the one who set that up, and even though I’m scheduled for my first in person appointment next week, Hazel reached out to introduce herself to me yesterday.
She assured me that she’d take the best possible care of the baby and me, and then recommended a brand of pre-natal vitamins for me to begin taking immediately.
As soon as the call was over, I picked some up and took one.
I did get the chance to ask her if it’s normal for me to still be feeling nauseous almost every morning. She told me gently that it was and after giving me some sage advice on how to deal with that, she reminded me to be kind to myself and to let my body guide me toward what it needs including extra sleep at night.
“I’m worn out,” Matthew announces as he enters the living room of Roman and Bianca’s apartment. “I should sneak back down to my apartment and grab some shut eye.”
That would only entail a short elevator ride since Faith and Matthew live in an apartment three floors below where we all are gathered now.
“Can I come?” Georgie asks. “I’m tired, too.”
She adds an exaggerated yawn to that. Dora rolls her eyes. “Knock it off, Georgie. You know that Uncle Matty just wants to kiss Auntie Faith in private.”
Faith giggles. “Busted.”
I glance at my future sister-in-law. Her long blue hair is a shade lighter than it was the last time I saw her. When we first met, it was pink. She pulls it all off with effortless ease. She’s one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever met.
The same can be said for Bianca. She’s currently sitting on a chair with her young son cradled in her arms. I’ve barely been able to take my eyes off of them because in just a few months, I’ll be experiencing what she is every single day.
“I did that before we got here,” Matthew tells both girls. “Besides, Auntie Faith doesn’t mind if I kiss her in front of all of you.”
He demonstrates that by leaning down to kiss his fiancée softly on the lips.
“So gross.” Dora covers her eyes.
“So romantic,” Georgie adds her opinion to the mix. “I hope my finance see does that to me, too.”
Her mispronunciations are few and far between nowadays but when they do happen they always bring a smile to my lips.
Georgie has worked hard to nail each word she utters since Dora is quick to point out when she doesn’t.
“Fiancé,” Georgie corrects herself before her sister has the chance.
Dora races over to her to pat her on the back. “You did it.”
Watching the two of them together has always made me wish I had a twin.
It hits me then. The realization that I may possibly be having twins suddenly washes over me.
I glance down at my flat stomach. It’s hidden beneath the light blue short-sleeve blouse I’m wearing.
“Are you okay, Delia?” Faith asks.
I look at her face. We’re sitting next to one another so I’m not surprised she noticed what must look like shock and awe on my face.
Twins run in my family. Roman and Matthew are identical, as are Dora and Georgie. As cute as two babies would be, I’m still getting used to the idea of having one.
“I’m good,” I assure her even though I don’t believe it myself.
Her hand darts out in search of mine. “You’re sure?”
I take it for a squeeze. “Positive.”
She nods, but I see skepticism in her blue eyes.
“I’ve been stretched thin because I’m the only vet who has had his feet firmly planted in this city lately.” He laughs. “Or at the least the only vet at Premier Pet Care who hasn’t had the chance to steal a few days out of Manhattan recently.”
I know all about what’s been happening at the clinic since his boss filled me in.
Carolyn had scheduled time off this past week for a short summer getaway with her boyfriend and her son. She started back at the clinic yesterday, which is when Donovan left for a conference in Boston.
“Donovan’s off to another veterinary conference?” Roman asks as he enters the room with a bottle of beer in his hand.
The rest of us, including Dora and Georgie, are indulging in a tropical fruit punch that Bianca prepared. After I took my first sip, I was hit with the reminder of my time on the cruise since the punch had the same coconut and pineapple notes as some of the alcoholic drinks I indulged in while I was on vacation.
It’s virgin everything for me in terms of beverages for the foreseeable future.
Matthew lets out a low chuckle. “Sure he is.”
That doesn’t sit right with me but before I can question him on it, Dora announces that she’s going to draw a picture for her little brother. Georgie follows her out of the room as they head to the art station set up in their bedroom.
“So, is your boss at a conference or not?” Roman laughs.
Matt shrugs. “Maybe this time he is.”
“What does that mean?” I ask.
That catches Faith’s attention enough that she turns to look at me. Her gaze studies my face until her fiancé’s voice draws her eyes back to him.
“He leaves New York on the regular,” he explains. “A couple of months ago he took a secret vacation for about a week.”
That tracks since I was on that secret vacation with him.
“Whenever there’s a conference in Boston, he jumps at the chance to go.” Chuckling, he shakes his head. “Carolyn wanted in on the one happening this week, but Donovan wouldn’t even hear of it. He insisted that he needed to be the one representing the clinic.”
“He does own the clinic,” Roman points out. “You can’t fault the man for wanting to be the face of the business he’s built.”
“You’re right.” Matt nods. “That would hold a hell of a lot more weight if he actually showed up at the conference.”
“He’s not in Boston?” Bianca asks.
“He’s there,” Matt answers as he takes a seat next to his fiancée. His hand falls onto her bare knee since she’s wearing a cute pink sundress.
“What’s the problem then?” Bianca questions him. “He said he’s going to a conference in Boston and he’s there.”
“He checked in at the conference.” He gazes at her face. “One of Carolyn’s friends sent her a picture of the two of them checking into the conference yesterday.”
My stomach sinks a little since he didn’t say if that friend was a man or a woman.
Since I always get a notification when Donovan posts anything to his social media pages, I know that picture never made it on any of them.
“Carolyn showed me.” He laughs. “Donovan was grinning from ear to ear, and since he hasn’t attended any of the symposiums since, I’d say he’s having a hell of a good time with Carolyn’s friend.”
My stomach does more than just sink more. It churns inside my body. A wave of nausea hits me.
“Carolyn’s friend told you they’re together?” Bianca asks.
Matt shakes his head. “Not outright, but she did tell Carolyn that Donovan has skipped the same symposiums she has.”
I stare at my brother trying to make sense of everything he’s saying, including the next words out of his mouth. “It’s not the first time Donovan’s taken off for a conference where he’s missed out on the actual conference.”
Bianca and Roman both laugh, but she’s the one who turns to Matt. “He’s single and gorgeous. You can’t fault him for having fun.”
Emotion bears down on me, but I bite back tears with a hard swallow. “Excuse me, please.”
I slide to my feet to head to the washroom. I need to splash cold water on my face. I need to calm the hell down.
It’s been weeks since we told each other that we weren’t sleeping with other people. Since we’ve never circled back to that conversation and we agreed that our relationship was just fun, maybe Donovan has decided to have “f un ” with other women, too.
“Delia!” I hear Faith’s voice behind me as I near the washroom door. “Do you need anything? Can I help you in some way?”
When I turn to look at her, I see nothing but concern in her eyes.
She must see pain in mine because she rushes toward me to wrap me in her arms. “I’m here for you. I’m always here for you.”
I break down in her arms. A sob escapes as I cling to her in the hallway of my brother’s home. “I’m tired. I’m just so tired.”
She steps back to guide me into the bathroom. Once the door closes, she wipes the tears from my cheeks. “Whatever it is, I want to help if I can. If I can’t, I want you to know that I love you.”
Nodding, I let the tears flow. “I love you, too.”
She wipes my cheeks. “I may not be a doctor yet, but I do know all about doctor patient confidentiality and we’ll be sisters soon, so I need you to know that I’d never a repeat a word of anything you tell me, Delia.”
The urge to blurt out that I’m having a baby with Matt’s boss is strong but I won’t put her in a position where she’ll feel compelled to keep a secret of that magnitude from her fiancé.
“Thank you.” I sniffle my way through those two words. “I think I’m just worn out.”
“I get it.” She brushes a strand of hair from my forehead. “If you want to bow out of dinner, I can get you home.”
“I’ll stay.” I need my family around me now even if none of them have any idea about what’s going on in my life.
If I go home now, I’ll cry myself to sleep. I may as well eat before I head out to do that.
“I’ll give you some privacy.” She reaches for the doorknob. “If you ever need me for anything, I’m here for you. Always.”
“That works both ways.” I hug her again. “I’ll always be here for you, too.”