Page 112 of What if It's Us

The tech presses the ultrasound wand against Marlee’s belly, and in a second, the room fills with those quick, waterywhoosh-whoosh-whooshheartbeats again.

Music to my ears.

This heartbeat sound is different though. Like the baby’s heartbeat is too rapid or beating out of sync. But before I can ask why the sound is different from what we had heard before, the tech says, “Alright, there’s Baby A… Looking good. Strong heartbeat.”

Baby A?

“And here’s Baby B, tucked in low. Also thriving.” She smiles.

But I’m not smiling.

And neither is Marlee.

We glance at each other confused.

Eyebrows raised, the tech adjusts the screen and points to it happily. “And…there’s Baby C! Hiding behind your left side. Sneaky little peanut. Probably why you’ve been more uncomfortable lately.”

“Wait. Baby A?—”

“B and C?” Marlee blurts out. “You said A, B, and C?”

I blink, completely speechless and then ask, “Baby C? What do you mean C? Like… there’s more than one baby in there?”

“Yep.” She nods. “Triplets.”

There’s a long pause followed by a lot of blinking before the tech speaks again.

“Did you guys not know you were having triplets?”

I shake my head as Marlee gasps and then explains that the first ultrasound we had showed just one baby.

One. Baby.

Not three babies!

“Oh,” the tech chuckles. “Wow, what a surprise this must be then, huh? I’m guessing babies B and C were hiding behind babyA at your first appointment. That would explain why you didn’t see them. Happens more often than you might think.”

Three.

“Three babies.” Marlee’s eyes widen and my jaw drops.

“Triplets?” I ask again. “Are you sure? Like really fucking sure?”

This has to be a prank, right?

No way are we having three babies.

“One hundred percent sure,” the tech confirms. “See here on the screen? A, B, and C. She points to each baby one at a time and I see it with my own eyes. Three heads. Six arms, six legs.

“Congratulations, guys. This is a very exciting time for you.”

“Oh my god!” Marlee laughs, bringing her hand to her mouth. “I thought the heartburn was just aggressive. But I’m literally carrying a small army.”

My mind is reeling from this new news.

Three.

We’re having three.

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