Epilogue Baylor
Baylor
Macklin gently squeezes my hand as the ultrasound tech enters the room. I’m seventeen weeks this week, and today is our second ultrasound.
“Mom and Dad, how are you? I’m Elizabeth. I’ll be your ultrasound tech. Congratulations on the twins.” She smiles.
“Thank you,” Macklin and I say at the same time.
“Okay, I’m going to get some measurements for the doctor, look at the babies’ organs, and print you some pictures. Before we get started, do we want to know the genders?”
I look at Macklin, and he smiles and nods. We both want to know so that we can be prepared. Two babies mean two of everything, and we think we can be more prepared if we know the genders. “Yeah, we want to know,” I tell her.
“Big reveal plans?” she asks.
“Nah, just us plans for the nursery and all the things we’re going to need for them.”
She nods. “Simple, just the two of you. I love it.” She smiles. “Okay, let’s get to work.”
She helps me adjust the gown I’m wearing and spreads the gel on my belly, which is warm, thankfully, and starts the appointment.
“I’m just taking some measurements and getting some good anatomy images for the doctor first. Then we’ll get to the fun stuff,” she says.
“Two heartbeats,” Macklin says when the sound fills the room. The awe in his voice is the same as it was the very first time we heard their heartbeats the day before our wedding. I happen to be just as awestruck. It never gets old hearing our babies.
“All right, that’s all set, and now the fun stuff.” Elizabeth grins and turns the monitor so that we can see it. My eyes instantly well with tears. The first time, there were just two small blobs, but now, they’re more defined, and it’s overwhelming in the best way.
“Damn,” Macklin mutters, pulling my hands to his lips for a kiss.
“Here’s Baby A. That’s the heartbeat.” Elizabeth starts pointing out the features. “Ready for the reveal?” she asks.
“Yes,” we say in unison, our grins stretched wide.
“Baby A is a boy.”
“A boy,” I repeat, tears flowing down my cheeks. I glance at my husband, and his eyes are on me. “Another little cowboy.” I smile, and he leans over and presses his lips to mine.
“A boy,” he breathes against my lips.
“Okay, Baby B,” Elizabeth says brightly. She goes through the same routine, pointing out features, taking more pictures, and then asks us if we’re ready.
“We’re ready,” Macklin tells her.
“Baby B is a girl.” She smiles. “Congratulations.”
“A girl,” Macklin says with so much reverence, and a sob breaks free from my chest. “Bay, we’re having a boy and a girl,” he says, his eyes wide with excitement, his own emotions making his eyes glassy.
“One of each.” I smile at him. “Our perfect little family.”
“Fuck,” he rasps softly, before his lips press to mine.
“All right,” Elizabeth says, pulling us out of the moment.
“Here are some tissues to wipe off your belly.” She hands them to Macklin, and he gets to work.
“I’ll leave these photos here on the counter for you.
They’re marked with Baby A and Baby B so you can tell which is which.
Take your time getting dressed. The doctor will want to get her own measurements, but she can do that by lifting your shirt.
Congrats, Mom and Dad.” She waves before stepping out of the room.
We’re quiet as Macklin helps me slide off the table and get dressed, then he lifts me back up, and steps between my legs, his palms resting against my cheeks.
“I love you, Baylor McBride. I love our babies, and this—” His voice cracks.
“Fuck, baby, I don’t even know how to tell you what you mean to me.
The words, I don’t think they exist. For so long, I dreamed of this life with you…
and it’s better than I ever could have imagined.
You and these babies, our son and our daughter, you’re everything. ”
I nod because there’s a lump in my throat, and I can’t speak.
Instead, I wrap my arms around him, holding him tightly.
The doctor knocks on the door, and the rest of our check-up goes by quickly.
The babies are growing as they should be, and everything looks great.
We schedule our next appointment, and Macklin leads me out to the truck, lifting me up and helping me buckle in before closing the door softly.
Once he’s behind the wheel, he starts the truck, getting the air blasting and pointing in my direction, before he asks, “How do you want to tell everyone?”
“Let’s call your parents, and we can text everyone and have them over for dinner tonight. Something easy. Just throw some burgers on the grill or order pizza or something.”
“Pizza,” he answers. “I know you’ve been craving that a lot lately.”
“These two will eat anything,” I laugh, rubbing my belly.
“Okay, you text everyone, and then we’ll call my parents.”
“Done.” Grabbing my phone out of my purse, I start a new group chat with Macklin, my sisters, Copeland, Sophia, and I add Bowen and Dixon.
Me: Dinner at our place tonight?
Courtlynn: Did you find out the genders?
Leighton: The wait is killing me.
Copeland: Lainey says she doesn’t care. She just wants little cousins to play with.
Ellison: When did our daughter start talking in full sentences?
Copeland: I’m her dad, I know these things.
Bowen: Cope, bud, it’s a little too early to be hitting the sauce.
Dixon: It’s all the pink. It’s gotten to him.
Sophia: I’m in. What time?
Me: Six.
Courtlynn: Do we have to wait that long?
Bowen: You’ll survive, brat.
Courtlynn: Bowen, you’re uninvited.
Bowen: Nice try. I’ll be there, Bay.
Dixon: I’m in.
Ellison: We’ll be there, too.
Leighton: What they said.
Me: Great. We’ll see you tonight. We’re just going to order pizza.
Bowen: I’ll take care of it. I’ll have my cook hook us up.
Courtlynn: Kiss ass.
Me: Court…
Me: Thank you, Bowen.
Bowen: Ha!
Me: Bowen…
Macklin: Best behavior, you two. My wife doesn’t need the stress.
I glance over at Macklin, and he’s grinning.
Me: Don’t be late!
I close out of the message and shove my phone back into my purse. I’m sure the shit-talking will keep going, but we have a phone call to make.
“Ready?” I ask Macklin. He nods, dials his parents, and the phone rings through his truck’s speakers.
“Son,” his dad answers.
“Hey, Dad. Is Mom with you?”
“Yeah, hold on. Honey! It’s Mac,” his dad calls.
There’s some rustling, and then his mom’s voice comes over the speakers. “How was the appointment?” she asks.
“Good. Both babies are growing as expected. Momma is healthy, too.” He reaches over and laces his fingers through mine.
“Macklin McBride!” his mom scolds.
Macklin laughs. “We also found out the genders.”
“Macklin!” His mom laughs, and so do the rest of us.
“We’re having a little boy and a little girl,” I tell them, my voice cracking.
“One of each! Honey, did you hear that? Oh, my goodness,” his mom cries.
“I heard. Congratulations, you two.”
“Thank you. We’re thrilled,” Macklin says.
“We have to plan a shower—oh, and the nursery. Baylor, sweetheart, you tell me when, and we’ll go shopping. We’d love to buy the baby beds.”
“And she’s already been shopping,” his dad chimes in.
“There are two of them, Rick.”
“I know, Janie. I know,” he says, and you can hear the smile in his voice.
“Janie, I’d love that.”
“You can invite your sisters if you want, or we can do a mother-daughter day. Whatever you want.”
Tears coat my cheeks, and I nod, smiling. “Th-That’s perfect,” I manage to tell her. I’m missing my parents extra hard today, but I’m so grateful that my babies are going to be loved and have grandparents who are still here and are going to spoil and adore them.
“You tell me when, and we’ll make it happen.”
“Thank you.” My voice cracks.
“We love you both. We can’t wait to meet them,” Rick says.
“Love you,” we chorus, and end the call.
“Now, where does my family want to eat lunch?”
“Don’t you have to get back to the stables?” I ask. I know he has staff, but I don’t want to cause him extra work. I also love that he doesn’t mention the way my voice cracked and the tears swimming in my eyes from his mom’s words.
“No, Jake, the kid I hired for the summer, has it under control. You and the babies get me for the rest of the day.”
“Mexican.”
He smiles. “Mexican it is.” He leans over the console and kisses me quickly before putting on his seat belt and pointing the truck toward the Mexican restaurant in Harrison.
It’s the town over from Magnolia Ridge. It’s where my doctor is, and the hospital where I’ll be delivering.
It’s only about twenty-five minutes from us, so it’s a short drive.
I stare out the window, my hands on my growing belly, and stare out at the clear blue sky. It’s a beautiful day, and as I stare at the clouds, I hope my parents are watching. I hope they see that I married a good man, and I hope they’re proud of the life I’m living.