Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
CANDY
Mrs. Sugar from the Sugar Plum Boutique reminds me of Mrs. Claus, her store being a winter wonderland. Not only that, we left there with a million things to decorate the house with.
Each store we go into, we get more and more. To the point that we have no way to get it back up to the house, so someone is set to deliver it. This afternoon has been so amazing. I can’t remember the last time I smiled this much or actually enjoyed life.
For so long, I was stuck in a pattern with Max, always doing what he wanted because I felt beholden to him for the help he’d given me.
I forgot what it was like to do small things and enjoy them.
I mean, there had also been that kiss earlier.
That had really sealed the deal of this being one of the best days of my life.
“I’m not sure we need three trees,” I tell Hollis. We have now landed at the Christmas tree farm at the end of town.
“The entryway, the main living room, and I think one in the bedroom.” He’s dead serious.
“It’s your house, so if you say so.” I laugh.
“You’ll be helping decorate. Is three too many to decorate? I don’t want to overwhelm you.”
“I suppose I don’t have any plans, but don’t you?” He’s not only the mayor, but he also has other projects he works on. I don’t want to make him get behind. I’m already about to throw a wrench into his life.
It’s safe to say that Hollis will want to be a part of the baby's life. He’s that kind of man. That also means I might need to move here no matter how this plays out.
Hollis is the one with a whole life. I’m not tied to anywhere. I’ve been in limbo, but this town is special. It would be no hardship to live here. Also, I really like the idea of our child growing up in a small town.
"The party planner might want to do the entryway one. If there is a theme."
"How about we do two, and if we're up for the third, we can do that one too."
"That sounds like a plan." Hollis pays for the three trees, having them set up to be delivered too.
"How about the bakery next? I'm sure you're getting hungry."
"There is always room for pastries and hot chocolate." I rub my belly.
"I agree." He takes my hand as we walk down the sidewalk. I don't miss the glances from people that let me know who is local and who is a tourist.
A lot of them stop and introduce themselves. It was surreal at first. I think I have lived in the city for so long that I’m jaded to people being so friendly. It’s not that city people are unfriendly; it’s just busy all the time.
"Hollis." A woman stands up from a bench she was sitting on. She appears to be in her forties. There is a smile lighting up her face as she looks from Hollis to me, and I swear her eyes drop to my stomach momentarily. No one else has noticed, at least not that I'm aware of.
"Dr. Parks." Hollis greets her back. "This is Candy, the woman we spoke about."
"Oh, I've put that together." She holds her hand out to me. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm the local doctor." Dr. Parks nods to the building she was sitting out front of.
"It's nice to meet you, too."
"Would you two like to step in for a few minutes? Everyone is gone for the day, so it's only me here," she offers. I worry my bottom lip between my teeth.
"We can do whatever you want," Hollis tells me.
Dr. Parks glances up and down the sidewalk before leaning in so we can only hear what she says next. “I have a sonogram machine.”
“Okay,” I blurt out. “I would love that so much.” My eyes start to sting with tears. I have only seen the baby once, and it was really early on. All my trust has been broken with the fertility clinic at this point. Who knows if they even showed me my own baby? I believe nothing from them now.
“Come on in.” She opens the door for us, follows in behind, locks the door, and pulls a cover down over the glass door window. “We’re going to room four. That’s where the machine is.”
My excitement grows more when we enter the room. "Do you think we might be able to tell the sex?"
"Let me get a look, and if we can, I'll tell you. But know I'm generally careful because I don’t have the most advanced technology. I can do the basics, but when you get further along and want a hospital birth, I would suggest going to the city."
"That's okay." I'm thankful she's doing this at all.
"I'll step out for a moment to grab a few things. Just take your coat off. We can lift your sweater."
"Thank you."
"No need to thank me." She winks at me before leaving the room.
"I'm sorry," Hollis says the second she's gone.
"Why?"
"I told her about you. She's the town doctor, and I thought—"
"Thank you, Hollis." I cut him off. It might have been an overstep, but it was for me. When Max oversteps, it's always about him. Hollis is generally worried about the baby and me. I think Max's worry was disingenuous and more about control.
I lift on my tiptoes and press my mouth against Hollis’s. He wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me flush against him. When I slide my tongue across the seam of his lips, he lets out a small groan that I can feel rumble from his body.
“All right.” He lifts his head. “Before this gets out of hand.”
“Right.” I can’t hide my smile as I wiggle my coat and winter gear off. A knock sounds a few seconds later, and Dr. Parks reenters the room.
“Actually, I want to go ahead and check your vitals since you’re here and it’s relatively quick.”
“Whatever you think, I’m okay with.” I’m just happy she is taking the time to do this for me. I’ve been under a lot of stress, so it will be nice to know that everything is okay.
“Are you okay removing your sweater? It’s thick, and I need to check your blood pressure.” I pull the sweater off before getting up on the exam table. I’m not worried about it because I have a small baby tee on under it.
Hollis takes my hand as she listens to my heartbeat, having me take deep breaths in and out to check my lungs. Then she moves on, placing the blood pressure cuff on my arm. She pumps it up a bit and then a little more.
“Do you tend to run a little high on blood pressure?” Dr. Parks asks.
“No, I think I’m pretty normal. Why?” Hollis gives me a reassuring squeeze.
“Don’t freak out. That’s not going to help.” She pulls the cuff off me. “You’re only a touch high. It could be because of what you ate last or the excitement or worry from the day, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. We’ll just keep an eye on it.”
“I’m going to get one of those automated machines to monitor her at home,” Hollis says. “I think it will give us peace of mind.”
Dr. Parks' eyes bounce between us. “Okay, but don’t get obsessive with it. That will not help, and like I said, it’s not worrisome. Not even enough for me to issue a prescription. We’ll just keep an eye on it, and watch your salt intake, and as always, water, water, water.”
“I can do that.” I nod vigorously.
“And I’ll be with you to make sure you’re taken care of and worryless.” I love how genuine Hollis is. I’m not sure why he has this need to take care of me, but I’m not complaining in the least.
I know after this sonogram I’m going to have to come clean.
It could be the stress of all of this, and getting it off my chest will help.
I also know once Hollis knows everything, he’ll be making calls and doing what needs to be done.
There were numerous instances of misrepresentation and lies in that contract with Max.
“Let’s have a look at this baby. Please lean back and lift your undershirt for me." I do as instructed, watching Dr. Parks. “A little cold,” she says as she puts on the jelly stuff, then places the probe over my stomach and starts to move it. My attention immediately goes to the screen.
She moves it across my stomach, and a quick thumping fills the room. I squint at the screen, wondering if I’m seeing it right.
“That’s fast,” Hollis says.
“Yes, babies’ hearts beat at a fast rate, but also”—she smiles, turning her head toward us—“there are two. Which makes sense, you're showing so much already.” Wait, what did she say? “Normally, first-time mothers take a little for their bumps to pop out.”
“Two?” Hollis says, confirming I heard her right.
“Yes, two. You’ll definitely have to go to the city for your delivery.
Don’t be getting home birth ideas.” Her eyes come to my face, her brows rising.
She must see the shock written on it. “You didn’t know?
” I shake my head no. “What fertility clinic did you say this was again? Twins are common, but you should have known well before now.”
“I’m handling the clinic,” Hollis tells her.
“Okay.” She nods. “The babies are healthy and a good size already. After the holidays, I do want you to get into an obstetrician.”
“We will. I have already reached out to a few,” Hollis informs her.
“Of course you have.” Dr. Parks laughs. “But hey, with twins the blood pressure tends to run a smidge higher, so there you go.” I’m dumbstruck and unable to form words. I thought my surprises were over for a little.
“Hey.” Hollis leans down over me. “We got this.”
Tears fill my eyes. “Promise?”
“I vow it.” I suck in a breath at the word "vow." It makes me think of weddings. Holy butterscotch. I need to pull the reins back on that sleigh.
“The sex of the babies?” Dr. Parks asks.
“Do you want to know?” Hollis asks, letting me know it’s my choice.
“If you do.”
“Right now all I care about is keeping that precious smile on your face.”
“Can you write it down on a piece of paper? Maybe we could open it on Christmas.” I’ll be here for Christmas, right? I already just assumed without a thought.
“I love that idea,” Hollis says in agreement, confirming it.
Yeah, and I think I might be falling in love with him.