18. Scarlett
I’d had the day from hell, no doubt about it. My morning appointments had run late. I’d dropped sauce on my favorite top and had to rush home to get changed before driving the one hour to Jacksonville. The last thing I’d needed was for my car to give it up. Personally, I was at least halfway down the road to Breakdown Town myself as I was walking into Jacksonville.
Rhett couldn’t have come by at a worse time.
I still hadn’t got my head around the whole situation enough to acknowledge the reality of it. And I’d taken Cassidy’s advice and decided to have everything checked out before telling Rhett. Guess that ship has sailed and there was nothing I could do about it now.
When he put his hand on the small of my back as I walked through the door into the medical center, I actually felt grateful that he was there with me.
I handed the receptionist my insurance card and tried to keep my hands from shaking as she slid a clipboard with forms across the counter. “Have a seat and fill these out, Ms. Wright. The doctor will be with you shortly.”
Rhett took the clipboard from me and guided me toward the waiting area. As we settled into the uncomfortable plastic chairs, he flipped through the pages, studying the questions.
“Don’t worry about the paperwork for a few moments.” His voice was soft, soothing. “Just focus on taking some deep breaths.”
I nodded mutely, too anxious to protest. I closed my eyes and concentrated on the rise and fall of my chest, willing my racing heart to slow. Whatever came next, at least I didn’t have to face it alone. Let’s not think about how weird it was that Rhett was the calming presence I needed right now.
After a few moments, I didn’t feel much better, but these forms weren’t going to fill themselves out. Holding my hand out, I said, “Here, I can do it.” The pen felt like a lead weight in my hand as I stared at the seemingly endless stack.
Each question felt like a probe into the most personal parts of my life, and my mind raced with anxiety, trying to recall dates and details.
With his arm on the back of my chair, Rhett leaned over, his eyes scanning the pages. “Height, five foot six. Weight…”
“Watch yourself.”
Oh, he was quite cute when his eyes crinkled at the corners like that. “One hundred twenty pounds.”
“Jesus, how did you know that?” Something flashed in his eyes, letting me know he was about to say something crude, so I hastily said, “Forget I asked.”
It was enough to lighten my anxiety so that I could fill out the rest of the forms. Then Rhett took the clipboard from me. “So, what’s the go today?” He scanned the information booklet. “Right. You’re going to have an ultrasound wand inserted in your…”
“In my what?”
“Va jay jay.”
I nearly burst out laughing. “Just say vagina, jeez.”
“Well, it’s awkward.”
“You had no problems with it when you were sticking your pee pee in there.”
Even with all the stress of the situation, the sound of his deep, rumbly chuckle skittered over my skin.
I almost jumped when a firm voice called from across the room, “Scarlett Wright?” Turning, I saw a woman in a white coat, her name tag reading “Dr. Emily Morris,” standing in the open doorway of an office.
God, this was it. My heart was hammering so much it was hard to catch my breath.
“You want me for this part too, or not?” He gave me one of those half-grins that somehow managed to be both infuriatingly cocky and disarmingly sweet.
I could have kissed him then, for being so patient and understanding. There was no question. “Yes, I want you for this part.”
Did I ever. Rhett’s presence was strangely reassuring amidst the swirling worries in my head. I rose to my feet, trying to ignore the way my heart stuttered as he fell into step beside me.
The doctor’s office was clinically bare, with just her desk, two worn leather chairs, and an exam table. With stirrups. Gulp. Harsh fluorescent lights only accentuated the parchment-like pallor of my skin, I bet. I sank onto a chair, resisting the urge to wring my hands.
“So,” the doctor began briskly. “What seems to be the issue today?”
I opened my mouth to respond, but the words caught in my throat.
Rhett passed her the clipboard. “We think my girl here might be pregnant.” His voice was light and casual, as if he were discussing the weather.
Somehow, it made me feel better. “I’ve done five at home tests and they were all positive.”
“Ah, I see. Wonderful. The at home kits are great these days. Very, very rarely do they show a false positive result. Given that you’ve done five of them, I’d say there’s no ‘might be’ about it. How about we get you up on the bed and take a look?”
The doctor gave me a reassuring smile as she handed me a pale blue gown. “Go ahead and change into this, then climb up on the exam table. I’ll step out to give you some privacy and come back in a few minutes.”
With that, she slipped out of the room, leaving Rhett and me alone. My heart was pounding in my ears as I stared down at the thin gown in my hands. This was really happening.
I drew in a shaky breath, willing myself to stay calm. Rhett was here with me, and that strange, steadying presence of his was helping to ground me. I shot him a sidelong glance to find him leaned back in his chair, arms crossed over his broad chest. The picture of couldn’t-give-two-fucks.
“You just going to sit there and watch?” I arched an eyebrow at him.
One corner of his mouth quirked up. “If that’s what you want, gorgeous.”
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t quite hide my smile as I turned away from him. With trembling fingers, I began to undress, keenly aware of Rhett’s gaze on me. I slipped the thin gown over my head, tying the strings at the back.
When I turned to face him again, his eyes were dark, raking over me in a way that made heat bloom in my cheeks. Suddenly self-conscious, I crossed my arms over my middle.
“Wonder if you can buy those beds.”
“What beds?”
He gestured to the exam table. “Just imagine what you could do with those stirrups.”
I let out a breathy laugh. “You’re mad, you know that.”
Just then, there was a soft rap on the door before the doctor reentered the room. “All set?” she asked brightly.
I nodded. “You,” I pointed to Rhett. “Over here, at the head end.”
He did as he was told, with no arguments. I climbed onto the bed, refusing to look at Rhett while I put my legs in the stirrups. To give him his credit, he didn’t say a word.
“Alright then,” the doctor said, slipping on some surgical gloves. “Let’s take a look. First, I’ll perform a physical exam, then an internal one with the wand.”
Her calm, professional demeanor helped settle my nerves as she did whatever she had to do. I couldn’t help wincing a little at the discomfort, but tried to focus on Rhett’s steady presence beside me. “I’m gonna need you to hold my hand.”
In an instant, his fingers wrapped around mine, his thumb stroking soothingly over my knuckles.
“Just relax and take some deep breaths for me,” the doctor murmured.
I obeyed, letting my eyes drift shut as I concentrated on the rhythm of my breathing. In and out, in and out. Rhett gave my hand a gentle squeeze, anchoring me.
“Looking good so far,” Dr. Morris said after a few moments. “Now I’m going to insert the ultrasound wand, okay? You’ll feel some pressure.”
I nodded tightly, gripping Rhett’s hand. He leaned in closer, the faint scent of his cologne enveloping me. My free hand fisted in the thin fabric of the gown as the wand slid inside me. I couldn’t suppress a sharp intake of breath at the intrusion.
“Easy,” Rhett murmured against my temple. “I’m right here.”
Warmth bloomed in my chest at his words, helping to override the discomfort. I opened my eyes and locked them with his, his rich brown gaze holding me transfixed. In that moment, it was just the two of us, the rest of the world fading away.
The sound of the doctor’s voice pulled me back to reality. “Ah, there we go. Take a look here.”
I looked at the grainy image on the monitor, brow furrowing in confusion. The shapes and shadows didn’t make much sense to me. I squinted, trying to decipher what I was seeing.
“Is that...” I trailed off, feeling Rhett’s fingers tighten around mine.
The doctor gave me a warm smile. “Twins. Yes.”
My breath caught in my throat as the word ricocheted through my mind. Twins. Two babies. Suddenly, the image clicked into focus - there were two distinct forms nestled together on the screen.
“Oh my god,” I whispered, tears pricking my eyes. A fierce swell of joy and terror gripped my heart.
Beside me, Rhett had gone utterly still as he stared at the screen, his face an inscrutable mask. Was he as stunned as I was? Elated? Horrified? I searched his eyes for any flicker of emotion, but they revealed nothing.
The doctor kept speaking, something about due dates and measurements, but her words were just white noise buzzing in my ears. All I could focus on were those two tiny lives taking shape inside me.
Twins. How was I going to handle two babies? The prospect was fucking terrifying. I’d never felt so overwhelmed, so clueless.
Rhett was still silent, his hand almost crushing mine now. Finally, I couldn’t bear the tension anymore.
“Rhett?” I turned to him. “Are you...is this okay?”
For a long moment, he simply stared at me. “I don’t know.”
The doctor cut in with cool professionalism. “I understand this is a big moment for you both and it’s going to take some adjustment. For now, both babies are healthy. Just about eight weeks along, by my estimate. Heartbeats look nice and strong. Here, have a listen.” She reached over and turned a dial on the screen.
I turned back to the monitor as the strange, rapid fluttering sound filled the room. Tears pricked my eyes. So small, so fragile and…mine. Ours.
“I’m just going to grab some quick measurements and then we can wrap this up so you can get dressed and comfy again.”
The doctor was a woman of her word. With a few clicks on the keyboard, she’d got whatever information she needed and then, ever so carefully, withdrew the wand and pulled my gown down to cover me.
“What…what happens now?”
“Well, the first step is to schedule a full prenatal exam so we can get a better picture of how the pregnancy is progressing. At this stage, it’s important that we monitor you and the babies closely to ensure a healthy pregnancy. Given that this is a twin pregnancy, there are a few additional considerations we’ll need to discuss. Twins do come with a slightly higher risk of complications, so we’ll want to be extra vigilant. But the good news is that both babies look strong and healthy so far. Before our next appointment, we’ll get a full family history looking for any genetic markers that might raise some concerns.” She smiled reassuringly. “I know this must feel incredibly overwhelming right now. Discovering you’re pregnant, let alone with twins, is a huge life change. But I want you to know that I’m here to support you every step of the way. We’ll work together to create a care plan that addresses all your needs - physical, emotional, and otherwise. So, what I suggest is that we schedule that full exam for you, Scarlett, in the next day or two. That will give us a clearer picture of where things stand and allow us to start mapping out the road ahead.”
“How…how is the full exam different from this?”
“The exam you just had was an initial confirmation of the pregnancy and to get a first look at the babies. That provided us with some baseline information, but the full prenatal exam will be much more comprehensive. During that exam, we’ll do a thorough physical assessment, run additional tests, and get a more detailed ultrasound to closely evaluate development. This will allow us to create a detailed care plan to monitor the pregnancy and ensure the best possible outcomes for you and the babies. As I said, I’d like to get that full exam scheduled as soon as possible, ideally in the next day or two, so we can get started on your prenatal care right away. If that works for you?”
“Sure. Yeah. Okay. That’s fine.”
“Great. Well, I’ll leave you to get dressed. When you’re done with that, go ahead and make your follow up appointment at the front desk.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
Shell-shocked. There was no other word for it. I’d barely got my head around the idea of one baby. Two was…Jesus Christ. Twins. The word kept echoing in my mind like a deafening gong. How was I supposed to process this?
Rhett and I walked back to his car in silence. I stole a sidelong glance at him as he slid into the driver’s seat. His jaw was tightly clenched, hands gripping the steering wheel with white knuckles. Was he upset? Angry? Excited? Terrified? I had no clue.
The drive back to my apartment passed in tense silence, the air thick with unspoken questions and uncertainty. I kept sneaking peeks at Rhett, desperate for any hint of what he was feeling, but his face was blank. There was no sign of the joker, the playboy, the never-take-anything seriously guy I knew.
When we finally pulled up outside my building, I made no move to get out of the car right away. I didn’t know what to say or do. This was all so overwhelming.
“Sorry. I just…I’m struggling to get my head around all this.”
“I understand. You woke up this morning thinking you were going to have a perfectly normal day. I don’t even know how this happened.”
He raised his brow at that, nearly making me smile. “I mean, obviously I know how these things work, but we were careful, weren’t we?”
“Yeah, we were.”
“So, just a faulty condom or something?”
“I guess.”
Getting a read on him right now was damn near impossible. But I had to know, so I pushed on. “Okay. Just because, you know, I don’t want you thinking I planned it or…or something like that.”
“Why would I think that?”
Yeah, this was getting more awkward by the second. “You’ve, uh, you’ve never had someone try to, um, you know…” Fuck.
“Baby trap me? Jesus, Scarlett. You’re the most principled person I know. It hadn’t occurred to me in the slightest that that could be happening here.”
It was a good thing I was sitting down already, because the relief I felt at that had me weak at the knees. “Thank you for that. So in that case, um, what’s hitting you hardest right now?”
He ran his hand over the steering wheel, following the motion with eyes for a moment before turning his gaze back to me. “I’m not…to be honest, I’m not father material.”
“Oh.”
He stared at me helplessly for a long moment.
“So, what are you saying?”
Blowing out a breath, he turned away from me, staring through the windscreen. “Nothing, really. Well, nothing that’s to the point. Father material or not, these two babies are on their way. How I feel about it is not important.”
“It’s important to me.”
That made him look at me again. His face twisted into a wry smile.
“Do you want to come in for coffee? Talk about stuff? Or do you want to go?”
“I’ll come in.”
I led the way up to my apartment, keenly aware of Rhett’s presence behind me. My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions, spinning so fast I could barely grab hold of one before another took its place.
This was really happening. I was pregnant. With twins. Rhett’s twins.
I fumbled with my keys, hands shaking as I unlocked the door and ushered Rhett inside. The familiar surroundings of my little one-bedroom apartment should have been comforting, but instead they just emphasized how drastically my life was about to change.
“How do you have it?” I managed to ask, my voice sounding strained even to my own ears.
“White with one.” Rhett took a seat on the couch, looking around curiously. I busied myself in the kitchen, focusing on the simple ritual of brewing coffee to try to ground myself. When the pot was finally ready, I poured two mugs and carried them over, sinking onto the couch beside him.
He took the offered mug with a murmured thanks, cradling it in his big hands. We sat in silence for several long moments, the only sounds the ticking of the clock and our breathing.
“So...” Rhett finally broke the silence. “Twins, huh?”
I huffed out a shaky laugh. “Yeah. Twins.”
“How are you feeling about all this?”
Biting my lip, I considered his question seriously. How did I feel? Scared, overwhelmed, excited, doubtful... the emotions were a tangled mess. “Honestly? I’m fucking terrified. This wasn’t part of the plan. I’m reeling.”
“There’s a fuck ton of stuff to do. To get ready.”
“Yeah.”
“You can’t stay here, for starters.”
“I know it. The lease is up in a few months, so the timing is perfect. I’ll get somewhere bigger. Somewhere that can be baby proofed. Which I can’t even believe I’m saying.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll buy you a house.”
I stared at him. “What? That’s ridiculous.”
“No, it’s not. It’s obvious. Actually, I even know which house.”
“What the fuck? You found out not two hours ago that I was pregnant. How can you have a house already?”
“I’ve been looking around in Esperance for a while. Wolfe, and now Grayson, spend so much time here, it seems easier for me to have a base here, too. There’s a house that’s just come on the market, four doors down from Wolfe and Esme. I’ll buy it, you can live there. I’ll just need some office space and a bedroom. You’ll barely even know I’m there.”
“Oh. That actually makes a lot of sense. But I can’t let you buy me a house. That’s crazy talk.”
“How about it’s not for you? It’s for the babies.”
He had me caught and knew it.
“I’ll make the necessary arrangements and it’ll be done by the end of the week.”
“You’ve never sounded more like a billionaire than you did just then.”
His only reply was to smile and sip his coffee.
The lapse in conversation gave me the perfect opportunity to say what I had to say. What had been playing on my mind since just before we left the doctor’s office.
“Hey,” I began hesitantly, setting my mug on the coffee table. Rhett glanced at me, eyebrows raised in silent question. I drew in a deep, steadying breath. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
“Okay, this sounds very serious. I’m not sure I can cope with any more information bombs, but off you go.”
“It’s related to the babies. In a way.” My palms were damp with nerves as I twisted my hands in my lap. “You know how the doctor asked us for our family”s medical history?”
“Yeah?”
“Well, um, that’s going to be a problem for me, actually.”
Clearly, he could tell how serious this was, because he placed his coffee cup next to mine on the table and turned so he was facing me fully. “How so?”
“Well, the thing is... I can’t just ask my mom and dad…” Here goes. Jeez, why was this so fucking hard? Just take the plunge, already. “Because I’m…I’m adopted, so, um, yeah, I don’t actually know how to even start looking for the information. Or talking to my biological parents. It was a closed adoption, so I don’t even know their names.”
The words felt like a weight, pressing down on the space between us. I watched his face for any sign of shock or judgment, but all I saw was a flicker of surprise, quickly replaced by a thoughtful frown. To my immense surprise, he reached over and covered my hands with his and looked deeply into my eyes. “Wow, that must have been really tough.”
Okay, I wasn’t expecting this much sensitivity from him. Honestly, it was like he was a changed man. “It wasn’t easy.”
“Especially the part where you found out you weren’t always Wright.”
I stared at him for a few beats while my brain tried to process what he was saying. When the penny finally dropped, I burst out laughing. There it was. “Asshole.” Still, I felt better. Somehow, him not making a huge deal of it made it seem less overwhelming.
Pulling away from me, he grabbed his coffee again. “That sure does put a spanner in the works. I have no idea where to even start. What have your parents…your adoptive parents, told you? How much info are we working with?”
He’d gone straight to problem-solving mode, which meant I could too. “Like I said, closed adoption, so I don’t have names, ages, ethnicity. My adoptive parents are on my birth certificate. I’m actually not sure if my parents know any more information themselves. If they do, they’ve never mentioned it to me. The only thing I know is the name of the adoption agency. And I only know that much because I stumbled across it one day when I was helping Dad clean out his office.” The memory of that day was so sharp and painful that I had to stop to catch my breath.
“Text me those details and I’ll get right on it.” He scrubbed his hands over his face. “I guess I’ll also need to speak to my parents and get all that information. Of course, they’ll want to know why I need it, which means telling them we’re expecting. Unless we can come up with some sort of believable lie as to why I’m suddenly deeply interested in their health history.”
“Fuck.”
“Exactly. Isn’t there some sort of rule about waiting to tell people?”
“Yeah, there is. Twelve weeks, usually. But I think that’s just in case something goes wrong, you don’t have to tell too many people.”
“Okay, so we keep it strictly to a needs to know basis until then. That’s my parents and maybe your adoptive parents, just in case they can give you any more information. Right?”
“Yeah, that sounds right.” Really not a conversation I wanted to have with them, but it had to be done.
“I would say we’ve covered everything we can for now.” He pushed to his feet, and I did the same.
“Seems like.”
“Let me know when you’ve made the appointment with the doc. I’ll take you. If you want.”
I found the tinge of uncertainty in his voice endearing. Maybe it was the hormones. “Yeah, I do want. I’ll let you know.”
“Okay. Great. Anything else you need?”
“Um, yeah.” Now it was my turn to feel uncertain. “I could do with a hug.”
The smile he gave me had my heart turning over. “Me too.”
Then he was wrapping his arms around me, holding me close as he rested his chin on my head. I could stay there all day.