Chapter Seventeen #4
“Nothing planned. Lately I’ve been so exhausted that I can barely go to the grocery store without needing a nap,” Isabel said. “Montana and Glacier National Park are on my bucket list.”
“Oh, that sounds amazing.” Daisy smiled. “My family has a cabin in Kalispell, and we spent a lot of time camping in that area when I was younger. It’s gorgeous.”
“I’d love to go,” Isabel murmured.
“This gel’s been in the warmer, so hopefully it won’t be too much of a shock.” She gently lifted Isabel’s shirt out of the way, then draped her with a towel.
The aroma of the hand sanitizer Daisy had just applied filled Isabel’s nostrils. Her stomach heaved. Oh, please, this was not the time to throw up.
Daisy paused and surveyed Isabel’s face. “Are you sure you’re all right?”
Isabel swallowed hard. “I’m fine. Just the nausea comes and goes.”
“Oh, I remember. Morning sickness was all-day sickness for two of my three pregnancies.” Daisy gave Isabel’s shoulder a gentle pat. “As soon as this ultrasound is finished, Dr. Williams will speak with you, and then you’ll be on your way, okay?”
Isabel managed a nod as Daisy squirted the gel for conducting the ultrasound onto her skin.
Then she put the bottle back, jiggled her mouse on her computer and made what seemed like a dozen clicks.
Isabel gritted her teeth, willed her galloping heart to take a breather, and focused on the transducer as it made contact with her rounded abdomen.
Please, please let everything be okay.
A knock at the door interrupted her silent prayer. Daisy stopped moving the transducer. “Come in.”
The door swung open. Mason stepped inside. “Hey, sorry I’m late.”
Tension between Isabel’s shoulders loosened at the sight of her handsome husband. She offered a smile. “You made it.”
“Come on in. You must be Mason. I’m Daisy. We’re just getting started. You could stand by your wife if you’d like. Or grab a seat.”
Mason came around to the opposite side of the table. Isabel held out her hand.
He clasped it between both of his, then leaned over and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
“Babe, this is going to be amazing.” His breath smelled like spearmint gum. Stubble on his cheek grazed her temple.
“I’m glad you’re here,” she whispered, holding his gaze.
“Wouldn’t miss it.” His eyes flitted toward Daisy and the transducer. “How are you doing?”
“I’m a nervous wreck,” she blurted.
“Oh, dear.” Daisy gave her another empathetic glance. “This won’t take long, I promise.”
She guided the hand-held probe over Isabel’s stomach. A rapid shooshing filled the room. “Hear that? It’s your baby’s heartbeat.”
A sob broke loose. Tears trickled from the corners of Isabel’s eyes. Mason thumbed them away. “You hear that, babe? A heartbeat.”
Daisy sucked in a breath and removed the transducer. “Give me a minute, please. I’ll be right back.” She set the probe down on her cart and bolted from the room.
Isabel’s chest squeezed. “What happened? Where’s she going?”
“It’s going to be all right. Just hang on, okay? You can do this,” Mason said. “She’ll be back as soon as she can.”
Daisy returned with Dr. Williams. He stepped inside and closed the door. “Well, hi there, Mr. and Mrs. Truitt. What an exciting day.”
He was all smiles, but Isabel could barely move. Terror turned her blood to ice.
“Let’s see what we have here.” He adjusted his wire-framed glasses, clasped his hands behind his back, then studied the computer monitor.
Daisy put the transducer back on Isabel’s stomach and maneuvered it through the gel. The pressure gave Isabel something to focus on. She tightened her death grip on Mason’s hand.
Rhythmic whooshing filled the room, louder this time.
“I’m thrilled to tell you that—” Dr. Williams hesitated and angled the monitor toward Isabel and Mason, “there’s baby number one,” he said, as Daisy moved the device around. “And there’s baby number two.”
“What?!” Isabel shrieked.
Mason went completely still.
“Congratulations.” Dr. Williams grinned. “You’re building two babies.”
“That can’t be,” Isabel whispered. She looked at Mason. “Twins.”
His mouth drifted open. Then closed. Then open again. “I—I need to sit down.”
He collapsed, and the chair pushed up against the wall.
“Looks like you’re about thirteen weeks along,” Dr. Williams said. “The radiologist will need to see the report, and I’ll have to sign off on it, of course. But I can confirm that there are two babies. Two strong heartbeats. Congratulations again, Mom and Dad. We’ll be in touch.”
Then he left.
“Wow. What a day, right?” Daisy smiled then gently toweled off Isabel’s abdomen. “Let me print you some pictures.”
Twins. Isabel couldn’t stop the floodgates. Tears flowed. Mason stood and retrieved a box of tissues from the counter and brought them over.
“Congratulations, honey.” His eyes glistened with unshed tears. “You’re going to be an incredible mother.”
“I’m not so sure about that,” Isabel sobbed. She hadn’t even been confident about having one child, and now she’d have two.
“Hey, hey. Listen.” Mason cradled her face in his strong hands. “These babies are so blessed to have you as their mom.”
She sniffed and wiped her tears with the tissues he’d brought her. They were going to have two babies at once. Thoughts of how much diapers for two must cost, endless nights with no sleep and the sheer volume of energy she’d have to muster to parent two kids at the same time assailed her.
Daisy quietly handed them the printed ultrasound pictures. “Here you go,” she said softly. “Two beautiful little gifts.”
Isabel took the pictures and studied them with wonder and awe. The smooth paper displayed silhouettes of small humans, each surrounded by a circle of light. Undeniable proof of life growing within her.
Isabel managed a weak smile through her tears. “Thank you, Daisy. I just… I didn’t expect this. I’m not ready.”
Daisy patted her shoulder. “No one ever is.”
Mason wrapped his arms around her. “I love you, Isabel.” His voice was filled with determination. “We’ll figure this out.”
His warmth and strength, combined with his tender words, softened the razor-sharp edges of uncertainty slicing at her. He’d offered the same patient reassurance over and over these last few months, as they’d wrestled with their future plans.
“I love you too,” she whispered, leaning into his strong embrace.
Desperate to silence her doubts. The shock of having twins had caught them off guard.
Could her body handle the physical demands of carrying two babies?
Did she need to start looking for reliable childcare now? Was she supposed to quit her jobs?
The sound of Daisy’s voice interrupted her thoughts. “I know this isn’t exactly the news you’d expected,” she said. “But I promise you, you’re stronger than you think. And you have a wonderful support system here.”
Isabel nodded, feeling a glimmer of hope amid the uncertainty. Daisy was right: they were not alone. They had their families, their friends and their faith to lean on.
Mason wouldn’t want to leave Evergreen now, would he?