Chapter 19
Eva
“Hi,” I said. “I’ve got a potentially broken wrist—”
He cut me off and handed me a clipboard. “It’s going to take half a day probably. We have a line.”
I turned to see a packed ER.
“Sorry,” I said. “I didn’t finish. I’m 12 weeks and 4 days pregnant and just had a spill. I landed on my stomach. I need to see someone.”
“Oh…” His concern replaced antipathy. “I will have to call L&D and see if they want you up there first. Just wait a minute.”
I stood there nervously as Davey appeared, breathless. “Is everything okay?”
“I’m waiting. The intake guy had to call up to the maternity ward. They may want me up there, I guess?”
“Oh,” Davey said. “This is that serious?”
“It is,” I said, annoyed.
“I’m sorry. I’m panicked, Eva. I’m… not myself. All I want is for you and the baby to be okay.”
I squeezed his hand with my good hand. “I know. I’m also panicking. I’m not in a great place.”
He rubbed my back. “It’s okay. I’m… I’m so sorry.”
Comforted, I rested my head on his shoulder.
The nurse returned. “L&D will check you out first. They’ll transfer you to imaging afterwards.”
He gave us directions and pointed.
“I hope you got that,” I said. “Because I’m zoning out.”
“I got it,” Davey confirmed, leading me to an elevator. “Fifth floor. Turn left at the first hallway.”
We said nothing on the way. When we arrived, my voice didn’t come. Thankfully, Davey was calmer. For the first time since I met him, he wasn’t losing it in a high-pressure situation.
“Hi. This is Eva. She’s due February 6th. She had a fall after one of our coworkers ran into her. She fell hard, and needs checked out.”
I nodded.
A perky redhead smiled. “Oh, that’s right. Almost thirteen weeks. I think you’re probably okay, but we’re going to check. Come with me and we’ll get you an ultrasound.”
“Thanks,” I squeaked.
Davey stopped. “Do you want me in there? Am I allowed to be in your room?”
“Are you the dad?” The nurse asked.
“Yes. But we’re not… together. Not really. I’m just here for support.”
“Of course. You can be here as her support person. No worries.”
She helped me with a gown. Davey tucked me in with a blanket she left on the bed—burrito-ing me.
Then, citing germs, he nervously wiped down every surface with antibacterial wipes he found in a cabinet.
His germaphobia was not borne out of selfishness, but concern.
God, why was he earning so many points? Did men magically change after a round of good sex?
Then, continuing to win, Davey took down all my information on the intake form since I had a busted right hand.
“This is why you gotta be left-handed,” Davey joked.
Soon an even more attractive blonde arrived, and they wheeled me off to the ultrasound room. The nurse left me in the hallway. I watched Davey watch her leave, unable to avoid a snicker.
“What?” He asked.
“You’re watching her walk away.”
Davey blushed.
“I’m not judging. It’s like the nurses on that ward were all pulled off a Hollywood medical drama set. I was only paranoid she was the ultrasound tech, and I was about to have the fun of her giving me the most awkward ultrasound on the face of the earth.”
“So, we share a type?” Davey asked.
“We’ve established she’s not tall enough, but I wouldn’t say she’s ugly. Look, I don’t fault you for looking, just please refrain from hitting on people in front of me. I’d ask for a bit of common decency. I’d grant you the same, but I’m guessing she’s straight.”
“How do you know?”
“Vibes. I don’t know. Tread carefully.”
“I won’t hit on women in front of you, Eva,” Davey agreed. “I’m trying to be a reformed bad boy, not a dick to you. Besides, after last night, you are heads and tails above the competition.”
That warmed my heart more than I wanted to admit.
“Evangeline Pav-lack?” A woman called.
“Here,” I answered, not even correcting her.
“Alright, we’re going to do your scan before we send you over to imaging for an x-ray on that hand of yours.”
“Great,” I said.
“Can she have an x-ray while pregnant?” Davey nervously asked.
“Yes. It is safe. We will cover her up well. Promise. An OB is monitoring all of this. She’s in good hands.”
It was a Catholic hospital, so I was concerned if that was true or not, but it was the best I could do. Driving back to Chicago felt like a chore, but I sensed Davey wouldn’t have resisted if asked. He was wildly protective.
“Should I take my panties off?” I asked.
“Let’s try to get a picture externally first,” the tech said.
I breathed deeply. Last time, we’d started this way, only to switch to the dildo wand of doom so I could learn everything was over.
My world once came crashing down in a room like this.
As my heart beat out of my chest, the tech squirted ultrasound gel on my growing stomach.
I looked away, catching Davey’s gaze. He held my good hand tight and lovingly tucked hair behind my ear.
My curls from earlier fell in the humidity on the way here.
“Well, here’s a nice little heartbeat,” the tech said. “Good for the gestation.”
I turned back to the screen as she took photos.
Sure enough, I saw a baby looking very much like a baby with a proper beating heart.
Last time I made it here, a stunted fetus with no activity looked back at me.
Tears welled in my eyes as relief set in.
As I breathed again, the tech began scrolling.
I realized something was amiss from her confused face.
“I’m just going to go get someone quick,” she said. “No need to panic.”
Of course I was fucking panicking!
“It’s going to be fine,” Davey reiterated.
The tech returned with someone else a few excruciating minutes later.
“So, I see worried faces,” the man said. “Deep breaths. I’m Dr. Wallace and Alyssa identified something but there is no need to panic.”
“See. Deep breaths,” Davey said.
“They won’t tell us until they know beyond any doubt there is a reason to panic,” I said, now crying sad tears.
“There is the second sac.” The doctor pointed. “You are correct.”
“Second?” I gasped. “Second sac?”
“It was hiding. But the placenta… that’s the concern.”
“Looking here…” The doctor swirled the ultrasound wand on my stomach. “That’s the giveaway. It’s Mo-Di.”
“In English?” Davey asked. “What are you saying?”
“Sorry,” The doctor said. “These are Monochorionic-Diamniotic twins. That means they share a placenta but separate sacs. That is preferable to sharing both. Alyssa couldn’t confirm the separation, but she has now.”
“I’m sorry, but… what the fuck? Are you saying it’s twins?” I asked.
“It’s twins. Identical twins,” Alyssa said. “Congrats!”
Davey
Identical twins. That wasn’t on the list of expectations I had for struggling through a leadership retreat with the employee I’d impregnated and fucked on the family yacht last night for fun.
Two babies? What business did I have with one baby—let alone two.
Eva sobbed. I couldn’t confirm based on her face whether these were happy or sad tears.
“So, let’s get you to x-ray,” the tech said. “Dad, I can print some pictures. You cannot go back with her, but you can wait in the hall.”
“Sure,” I murmured.
As the medical team x-rayed the hand of my crying not-girlfriend, I sat silent.
Fear filled me, but I had hope as I reviewed the pictures of our two babies.
They possessed her delicate nose and my more prominent chin.
Two babies. How was it possible I could already know what they looked like and missed a whole second human on the first scan?
All the doctor said was “it often happens with a shared placenta”. That didn’t satisfy me.
As the hot nurse rolled Eva back in from X-ray she lit up. Maybe it was just the hot nurse? Shared ogling with a sexual partner was a new experience.
“So, you had a surprise?” The nurse asked in a sing-song way. “How was that?”
“It was definitely surprising,” I admitted.
“A two-fer,” Eva noted.
The nurse tucked Eva back into her room and I took a seat once more. Down the hall, I heard a woman screaming in pain. Unnerved, I said nothing.
“You’re… okay, right?” Eva asked.
“I mean, what can I do?”
“It will be okay,” Eva said. “But you win. We’re hiring a nanny.”
“Small miracles,” I muttered as my phone rang.
“It’s Daphne,” I said.
“Answer it,” Eva confirmed.
“Yes?” I picked up.
“I sent everyone to the winery and made some excuse about moving the thing,” Daphne said.
“That’s smart.”
“So, how is Eva?”
“She’s fine.”
“And the baby?”
“Also fine. We’re waiting to hear about her arm.”
“You want to confess something to me right now or wait?” Daphne asked.
“I will speak with you when I return. I appreciate you handling this. Is Mum enraged?”
“To say she is enraged would be an understatement but ignore her. It’s me and the board you should fear, David Robert.”
I winced. “I will take my lumps. Promise.”
I turned back to the only person I cared about. Eva’s gaze shifted to her stomach. She rubbed her belly lovingly. This woman wanted this. And in a way, I did, too. The stunning admission that it was two and not one was a lot, but everything within me wanted to protect all three.
“Don’t make me kill you.”
“I’d like to be here for at least a few more months,” I sighed. “Don’t go into labor over this.”
“For real. How will you plug the well without me covering your ass?”
“I will grow up,” I answered. “That’s all I can promise you.”