36. Gabriella
36
Gabriella
I ’m worried.
Dimitri’s late, and he’s never late. What’s most concerning is that he’s not responding to any of my texts, and every touch to my necklace goes unanswered. At first, I thought he was simply busy, but he knows how important this appointment is. Today is when we hopefully find out the gender of the babies. I know he’d rather wait until their birth, but I doubt that’s the reason he’s not here. It didn’t seem like a deal breaker in the slightest when we discussed it.
Rose’s hand falls on my bouncing leg, and squeezes lightly. “Try to relax, Gabriella. I’m sure everything’s fine.”
I’m fidgeting with my necklace, neurotically pressing the center and willing it to vibrate back. Sighing hard, I drop the jewelry and wring my hands together. “Why isn’t he here then?”
I glance at Michael for support, but he shrugs unhelpfully. “Don’t ask me. I’m personally glad he’s not.”
The love between my brother and Dimitri has gotten no better since the start of the year…but it also has gotten no worse, too. So, while I’m counting my blessings there, I doubt that’s also the reason why he’s not here right now since he’s put up with my brother before for less.
“You don’t need to be here either,” I point out. “I asked for Rose, not you.”
“Where she goes, I go.”
Lily wanted to join us, but Mei started school this year and caught a bug, so she’s stuck at home with her sick daughter. Even though she’s absent, she still got in on the bet my family started about the twins’ genders. Team girl is Dad, Lily, and Mei. Team boy is Mom, Raphael, and Enzo. But Rose is convinced it's will be one of each, and Michael simply goes along with whatever Rose thinks.
Me?
I just want them to be healthy.
“Ms. DiAngelo?”
I look over at the nurse standing in the open door that leads to the back. We follow her through to the back and I go through the motions of having my vitals taken while my mind a million miles away.There’s a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach that I can’t shake. Like there’s something wrong.
“This isn’t right,” I say aloud when the nurse leaves us in an exam room. “What if he shows up now and I’m not out there?”
“Then he’ll ask the nurse where you are and join us,” Rose answers logically.
I know that, but it doesn’t help ease my worry.
“Why did the nurse call you DiAngelo?” Michael asks, his question changing the subject. “Aren’t you Gabriella Volkov or whatever his real last name is? Champ? Chalk?”
“Clark,” I correct him with a raised and annoyed brow. “I haven’t changed my name here yet.”
“Is your marriage even legal?”
“Yes.” He’s asked that question in a roundabout way for the last month. “We used his real name. For the hundredth time.”
Michael huffs before he crosses his arms and leans against the wall in silent frustration. Let my brother pout for all I care. His attitude won’t change anything, but it will only annoy me more. And right now? Without Dimitri here and no idea where he is, I’m borderline freaking out.
The doctor walks in. She’s an older woman, with a kind face and warm eyes. Most importantly, she’s well experienced and specializes in pregnancies with multiples and has a clear background with no shadiness.
“Hi there,” she greets. “How are you feeling this morning, Ms. DiAngelo?”
There’s nothing I can do right now about Dimitri’s absence, as much as I hate it, so I swallow down my panic and force myself to concentrate on the situation at hand. “Better. The morning sickness has all but subsided. Those ginger cookies you recommended worked like a charm.”
She smiles. “That’s wonderful to hear. Now,” she glances toward Rose and Michael, “who do we have here?”
“This is my brother, Michael, and his fiancée, Rose.”
“And the father? Are we waiting for him?”
I shake my head with a forced smile. “No, he couldn’t make it.”
“Oh, that’s a bummer.” She rolls her ultrasound cart over and prepares her instruments. “Do you still want to know the genders?" I nod. "Okay, well, we’ll have plenty of photos and a recording of the ultrasound to share with him.”
“Thank you.”
“Alright, you know the drill.” I lift my shirt and tuck the blue paper in the waist of my pants to protect the clothing from the gel. She raises a tube, warning me the gel will be cold before she squirts a sufficient amount on my bump. “Let’s see if your little ones want to cooperate today.”
A few moments later, the familiar whooshing sounds of hearts beating fast fill the room. I close my eyes and savor the proof of life. Losing one or both of them is a constant fear in the back of my mind. As I enter my second trimester, the risk becomes much lower, but my confidence won’t fully settle until I have them safely in my arms.
“Okay, so do we have any guesses?” the doctor asks.
“Our entire family is divided,” I tell her.
“And what do you think?”
“I just want them healthy.”
“They are.” She smiles reassuringly at me. “They’re both measuring and weighing in the high percentile, which is fantastic for twins. You’re doing everything right, Momma.”
Her praise reassures me a little, but the doubt lingers. There’s no getting around that.
“Are you ready?”
No. Dimitri’s not here. I raise my hand and press the necklace, but it stays silent. Rose grips my hand and my eyes shift to her vibrant green ones. She smiles and I slowly return it as I remember she did all of this alone with Liam. Drawing on her strength, I squeeze her hand and turn to the doctor. “I’m ready.”
“Let’s see,” the doctor shifts the wand a few different ways, causing the screen to change views. “Baby number one is…a girl.”
Rose high five’s the air and exclaims, “Yes!”
I smile wide at the baby’s silhouette on the ultrasound screen. A little girl. I can see her now in my mind’s eye. Rich, dark hair like her father’s and his beautiful blue eyes. Not as bright, but just as special and unique.
“And baby number two,” the doctor continues, “is being a little stubborn. Come on, little one.”
I watch Michael push off the wall and approach. He sets his hand on my shoulder, and I cover it with my own. We may have our differences about Dimitri, but he’s still my big brother and these babies are his family, too.
“Ah, there we go…and wow,” the doctor exclaims. “There’s no doubt about it. Baby number two is a boy.”
She points to the screen. The paused image is odd—two pencils sticking out of a blob with some sort of lump in the middle with another protrusian. I tilt my head, trying to see it from a different angle, and then it clicks in my brain. I’m looking at my baby’s bottom and legs. And that mass in the middle is proof that he’s a boy.
“Damn, girl,” Rose whistles low. “Is Dimitri—”
“Don’t even think about finishing that question, Rosa ,” Michael warns.
I catch Rose’s curious expression and answer her unspoken question with a wink and a smile.
A little boy. I wonder if he’ll have my eyes or his father’s.
Michael’s phone rings, and he steps out of the room to take the call.
The doctor finishes her measurements and prints out a strip of photos, including two that prove the genders of both. “The receptionist will burn a CD of the recording for you, and I’ll see you in about a month. Let me know if you have any questions or if anything happens between now and then.”
She leaves just as Michael returns, quiet and obviously deep in thought with his eyes cast down to the floor.
“What is it, honey?” Rose asks, seeing the same thing I am. “Something wrong?”
“Yeah.”
The sinking feeling comes back with a vengeance, causing my heart to pump loudly in my ears. My hand drifts to my necklace and I grip it tight. “Say it, Michael.”
Slowly, he lifts his eyes and I see it. I see my heart breaking. I see my world flipping on a dime. “It’s Dimitri. He’s dead.”