Page 21 of Break

“I’ll draw some blood. We need a workup done and we’re going to check out your hcg levels. Can you tell me about the swelling and numbness you’re experiencing? Your blood pressure looks great, so I’m not too worried.”

“I eat pretty healthily, nothing processed since I found out… So I’m not sure what’s going on. I drink a ton of water and rest and elevate my feet at work when I chart, but for some reason my legs just get that pins and needles feeling and my ankles swell.”

He frowns and writes down some notes. “Well, hopefully the blood work and your urine will tell us more.” He winks at me and focuses on drawing some blood before setting it all to the side to label it. He walks to the back of the room, dragging the ultrasound machine over to me and gets me in position. Theclinic must be tiny, I’ve never had a doctor draw up my blood before. I do it in our clinic because we don’t have a phlebotomist. Maybe it’s the same here.

Feet up in the stirrups and legs spread under a blanket, I feel so out of place, so alone. Ah, balls. An intravaginal scan. Great.

I spread my legs and he taps around on the keyboard after lubing it up and inserting it into me. I’m quite shocked that he’s doing so much on his own. Maybe he’s a new doctor, or just a smaller clinic, less patient load.

He moves the screen over to me as he adds more pressure against my insides. Christ, this is uncomfortable.

He hums and furrows his brows. “Do multiples run in your family?”

I blink at him and shake my head. “No… Not that I know of. The baby’s father has twin sisters, that’s all I know. I never met my extended family. Well, I met my grandfather once, but he passed away when I was little.”

He shrugs and points at the screen. “Two sacs, two babies… fraternal twins. Were you on any fertility meds or anything?”

I snort and blink the tears out of my eyes. Fuck. Me. “No. I was on the pill. I took it religiously… They were conceived after we drank a little too much, celebrating an engagement of some mutual friends.” I sniffle and clear my throat. “I thought we used condoms, but the night is sort of a blur.” I chuckle at myself to stop the tears from streaking down my face. Shit this man might think I’m a psychopath or something.

He nods and takes some measurements and I hear him printing out the images. “Well. Looks like you’re double blessed,Ms. Edwards, regardless of how it happened. You’re due around May 9thof next year… you’re almost nine weeks along. Since you’re having twins, you’ll most likely deliver sometime in April.” He smiles at me and leans back, setting the machine aside. “Maybe my parents can have us over for dinner, you look like you need a friend.” He smiles softly at me and I find myself nodding.

Friends, I can use more of those.

“That would be wonderful, thank you,” I croak and he helps me stand, handing me some paper towels to clean myself up with.

“Don’t mention it. I’ll let you get dressed. I’ll be right back in.” He hands me a cup to pee in and takes the blood out with him before I get dressed. I take photos of the ultrasound images and send them to the group chat with the girls. I rush to the restroom and piss in the cup and leave it in the cubby, at least I didn’t have to walk across the hallway with it in my hand. I hate doing that.

Me:It’s your fault I’m having two! Aunties Caroline and Alyssa, meet your TWIN nieces or nephews. Or one of each. Damn it.

I set down my phone after putting it on silent and stare at the beige walls. It was one thing to be a single parent toonechild… but now it’ll be two. I’ll definitely have to hire a nanny now. Or I can work from home or something.

I’ve heard that I can do insurance or chart audits, or those online doctor sites where I can video call patients.

Fuck my life.

Brenton knocks on the door and steps in with a smile. “We’ll have all of your labs back in a couple of days. Are you taking prenatals?”

I nod and spout off the brand name, along with the other slew of supplements I’m taking.

“Good. I’ll have Marissa call you with the test results… With twins I would suggest seeing a high-risk doctor depending on how everything is going in the next few months. You’ll be my first patient that’s having multiples.” He smirks at me, leaning up against the counter. “Any questions? I imagine as a PA you know what you should and shouldn’t do. But I can still give the spiel.”

I shrug and pull out my phone and wave it around. “I definitely had to refresh my memory… It’s been a few years since I did an OB rotation. I know what not to eat or drink, all that good stuff at least.”

He nods and claps his hands together once. “Well, good. I’m going to give you my personal number, not for anything medical related.” He narrows his eyes at me. “But let’s set up dinner at my folks’ place. I’m sure they’d love to see you.”

I nod and shake his hand, collecting my purse, phone, and the ultrasound images. I make my next appointment before racing out of there and breathing in the cold air before I hop into my car and drive.

I can’t believe this. I can’t believe it for one second.

Two babies.

I head back to the office and throw myself into work. Appointments, patients, charting, anything to take my mind offof the shit show that is my life. I still can’t comprehend this. It’s so much more real now.

Shit, I forgot to ask about skating at the rink. I pull out Brenton’s card and shoot him off a text.

Me:Shit, sorry… this is sort of medical related, but I forgot to ask. It’s Marie Edwards by the way… anyway, I work in sports medicine and my practice is usually on site for the hockey games. Would I be able to skate when needed on the ice? It will be for a few months until our second location opens.

I set down my phone and check the clock, definitely time for me to get out of here and cook dinner for the girls. I hear my phone go off as I’m packing up and shutting off my computer.

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