Page 225 of Redeeming 6

“Lovely,” the technician said, gaze flicking between the wand and the screen as she tapped on the keypad and changed angles. “Yes, you’re definitely pregnant.”

“Oh fuck,” Molloy and I choked out at the same time as we both shifted closer to get a better look at the screen.

“That’s it?” Molloy asked, squeezing my hand as we both eyed the tiny alien-shaped creature floating around on the screen. “That’s the baby?”

“Yeah, and listen to this.” Pausing, the technician pressed a few buttons on the screen, causing a galloping noise to fill the room. “That’s a beautiful, strong heartbeat.”

“That sounds like a racehorse,” Molloy breathed. “That’s really the heartbeat?”

“Uh-huh, and judging by the size of this little bean, you have your dates spot on. You’re at fourteen weeks and three days gestation, giving you an EDD of 20-09-2005. Congratulations, Mom and Dad.”

“Oh Jesus, Joe,” Molloy choked out, swinging back to look at me. “It was the Tommen party.”

“Yeah,” I managed to get out, though I was sure my heart was thundering ten times faster than the kid housed in my girlfriend’s womb. “Fucking Gibsie and his spliffs of Moher.”

“And the champagne.”

“Fucking champagne.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Nothing,” we both chorused in unison.

Shaking my head, I asked, “So, ah, what happens next?”

“Well, Mom here will be given an appointment with a midwife to go over medical history, family history, and whatnot, and we’ll go from there.” She continued to scan Molloy’s stomach as she spoke. “As you can tell from the crowded hallways and waiting room, we’re pretty swamped this afternoon, so an appointment will be sent out in the post for the next week or so.”

“What are you checking for?” Molloy asked, tone wary as she watched the technician move the wand over her stomach.

“You’re a twin, so I’m just making sure we don’t have any little surprises hidden away from view.”

“What the fuck?” I demanded, heart gunning in my chest. “There’s more?” I glared at my girlfriend. “There’s more?”

“No, no, no.” Molloy chuckled nervously, pushing the technician’s hand away. “One surprise was quite enough, thanks. Don’t go looking for problems, dammit.”

“Don’t worry. I can only see one fetal membrane sac.”

“Thank Jesus for that,” I strangled out, sinking back on the chair and pressing my hand to my chest. “Don’t do that to me.”

66

Sold on You

AOIFE

“Are you okay?” Joey asked when we parked up at the footpath outside of my house later that afternoon.

The drive back from the hospital had been spent mostly in silence while we both mentally reeled. He had his eyes locked on the road ahead of us the entire time, while I had been unable to tear my gaze away from the strip of ultrasound images the technician had printed off for us.

It was real. I had heard the heartbeat. There really was a little baby growing inside of my body.

“Molloy?” Killing the engine of the car, Joey unfastened his seatbelt and turned in his seat to face me. “Are you okay?”

I wasn’t sure. It all felt so surreal. I didn’t know what to do or how I felt.

“Are you?”

He shrugged almost helplessly. “She called me Dad, Molloy.”

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