Page 48 of Bear with Me
"But?" As nice as her basement office was, Denise was pulling out all the stops to make this trip into a horror movie.
"Let me check for another heartbeat."
"Three?" I risked a glance at my mate. His lips parted in a sweet smile. He was already over the moon about this pregnancy. All I could think about was the two of us trying to feed three babies at once, or change their diapers while they were screaming for food, or …
"False alarm. Two babies and one healthy papa." She wiped the gel off, and I tugged my sweater back into place as Ollie helped me sit up.
Back on my feet, I couldn't move fast enough toward the stairs.
"Let's talk on the porch," Denise said to Ollie behind me.
The old farmhouse had a deep front porch. Thick wooden posts supported the house above it, and a cool breeze blew through the open area. I sank into the chair closest to the edge of the porch, ready to bolt if she told me any more disturbing news.
"You're about four months along," Denise said. "Humans might go the full nine-and-a-half, or you might go as early as eight. Ollie's family usually goes early, so we could be looking anywhere from the end of August to the beginning of October."
She said more, but my brain was already racing ahead, making a list of everything we would need for two babies. Would two cribs fit in the nursery? Did I have enough time to build them before my belly became too cumbersome?
"Blake?" Denise's voice cut into my list planning.
"Hmm?"
"He'll be there," Ollie answered for me. "I'll make sure of it."
"I'll be where?" I asked once we were back at his truck.
"Your next appointment."
"Okay. Yep. Sure."
He reached across the bench seat to take my hand in his. "I know this is a lot to handle all at once, but?—"
"It'll work out."
He beamed at me and nodded. "It will."
For the first time since I'd heard two distinct heartbeats, I believed it.
The weekendafter my second appointment with Denise, Ollie's parents showed up with a truckload of baby furniture. I loved his mom immediately. She was petite, but her presence expanded to the entire room. She hugged me close and whispered to my belly, "Hello, little ones," before stepping back and offering me her hand. "I'm Nora Beaman, and you must be Blake."
I didn't know if I was supposed to shake her hand or kiss it, so I went for professional. "Nice to meet you."
Like Ollie's, the corners of her eyes crinkled when she smiled. "Yes, it's a delight to meet you, too, Blake. You're feisty. I like that."
"Feisty?" I glanced at Ollie over the top of her head and stage whispered, "What did you tell her?"
"You can't tell her anything," Oliver Beaman said, coming up behind his wife and offering me his hand. "She has this idea that our other sons-in-law are boring, and I can't talk her out of it. Boring isn't bad, you know. I'm boring."
"You are dependable." She nudged him with her shoulder, and he wrapped his arm around her. Their casual display of affection reminded me of my parents, and my eyes stung at the corners.
I turned and grabbed the screen door, adjusting it so it would stay open while we brought in the furniture. By the time I'dfinally gotten the fickle metal piece where it belonged, the three had emptied the truck bed of its contents and were on their way inside.
"There's a pile of blankets in the cab," Nora said as she passed me.
I needed something to do to feel useful, and she didn't have to tell me twice. I bounded off the porch with nervous energy. When I returned, they already had the double crib and dresser set up in the spare bedroom.
"Follows directions the first time," Nora said, making a checkmark sign in the air.
"These little performance evaluations might be why Dan and Michelle are afraid of you."
