Page 67 of Until Ireland

“I’m going to be a dad.” He ran his fingers through his hair and blew out a breath. “We’re getting married tomorrow. I don’t give a shit.”

I knew it. “Oh? And where are we going to get a marriage license and officiant on such short notice?”

“Where we’re going, we won’t need that. It’ll be provided for us.”

“Vegas?” I said with a small chuckle.

“Damn straight. You got a problem with that?”

I shook my head. “Not at all. In fact, I was just thinking about the perfect place to get married.”

“Little Chapel of Love?” Mack wiggled his brows.

“Little Chapel of Love,” I replied with a grin.

“I love you, Ireland Banks,” Mack said, gathering me in his arms.

“I love you too, Mackinley Redman III. Always and forever.”

Sixteen years later...

“Congratulations, Mrs. Redman, you’re pregnant.” My gyno grinned as she showed me the results of the test. “I know this must come as a shock...”

A shock? No, a shock would be finding extra money in my wallet or waking up to see that all three of the boys had cleaned the house. This... This was life changing. I was forty-two for fuck’s sake. The baby factory closed twelve years ago when we had Calhoun—Cal for short. I didn’t have anything left to prepare for another baby.What the fuck is going on?

I held up my hand, cutting her off. “First of all, I’m going to need you to back the fuck up. Second, didn’t you just tell me a few months ago, I was pre-menopausal and that I’d need hormonal supplements to help me through this ‘fantastic’ transition in life?”

Her smile faltered as she flipped through my chart. “Well, yes.” She scrubbed her forehead. “When you came in, you were complaining of not having a period for two months, feeling rundown, and even when you had your periods, they were sporadic. So, we removed your birth control and replaced it with supplemental treatments for pre-menopause.” Then her smile returned. “I should have done a pregnancy test that day, but I’d figured there was no reason to, considering your advanced maternal age and the birth control. Can you tell me if you were on any other medication at the time? Or if you remember when you started feeling unwell?”

“Two weeks after I began the hormonal treatment. I thought it might be a side effect of the hormone pills,” I said drolly. “So, are you saying this pregnancy could be halfway through and I didn’t even know?”

Yeah, I’d heard about those stupid television shows where the woman was rushed to the hospital complaining of abdominal pains and thinking it was food poisoning, only to find out she was pregnant and about to deliver. I didn’t believe them. Now, I questioned my skepticism.

“Well, an ultrasound will tell us an approximate due date and then we can figure out the rest counting backwards,” she said before opening the door to the exam room. “I’ll have the portable ultrasound brought in, and we’ll go from there.”

Fifteen minutes later, my belly was covered in blue goo, and a picture of the baby I was carrying appeared on screen. I stared at the image, scared shitless. I’d been on hormone therapy. Mackinley IV was getting ready to graduate high school. Rory was graduating eighth grade, and Calhoun was about to join the all-star football team for the city. We were a flurry of activity in our house, not to mention the garage and Flame.I think I’m going to be sick.

“Well, this little peanut is measuring at twenty-three weeks and five days and is weighing one pound two ounces. It appears you’re almost six months pregnant with a very healthy baby. Would you like to know the gender?” It was as if she was trying to soothe me while also control the situation. I wasn’t having it. “Wait... Hold up a second.” She narrowed her eyes, peering at the screen as if unsure of what she saw. “Well, I’ll be.” She turned to me then and grinned. “Congratulations, Mrs. Redman. Twins.”

“Excuse me?” I didn’t think I heard her right.

“You’re having twins.” She turned the screen so I could see them. “There’s baby A and baby B.” She pointed to each of them.

“Holy fuck.” I stared in shock as she rubbed the wand around my belly once more, taking measurements of the second fetus. Twins?Twins? What the fuck were we going to do with twins? I couldn’t stop saying the word.

“I know this must truly be a shock for you, but—”

Fuck it, I went for broke. I was already sick to my stomach with worry and confusion, so why not add a little anger to the mix to really get me going? “Six months? How the fuck is that possible?” My tone, though loud, was deceptively calm. I shook in disbelief. The corners of my eyes burned with unshed tears.I will not break down in front of my gyno. I will not break down in front of my gyno.“No. Mack and I have never known the sex of our children before they were born, and we’re not starting now.” Okay, maybe I needed to breathe a little because that came out way bitchier than intended. Then, I consoled myself by telling myself I was pregnant and allowed to be a bitch.

The doctor printed off several sonograms pictures then handed them to me. “I can call someone for you, if you need them.”

I waved her off. “I’ve got this.”

“Okay.” She cleaned off my stomach. “Look, Mrs. Redman, I know this is a huge adjustment. I can’t even imagine how you feel right now, but from everything I saw on the ultrasound, there is no reason to be concerned or alarmed about your babies health. If you’d like to schedule an amnio test to be assured there is absolutely nothing wrong, we can do that. You’re far enough along to reduce the risks of the procedure. However, if you don’t want the amnio test, we could do an NIPT. It’s the less invasive option.”

One, fuck that.

Two, I didn’t care if there was something wrong with my babies. They were ours, and they would be loved forever and ever.

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