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“It really does. I’m three months pregnant, myself, and it’s exhausting.” She leaned forward and patted my hand. “If it’s okay with you, I’m going to go ahead and start the scan. Dr. Ruth is running behind today after a surprise delivery this morning. I’ll start the ultrasound and she’ll come in to chat after.”
I shrugged. “Sure.”
I heard one of the guys take a deep breath when I pulled my shirt up and settled back on the table but I continued to ignore them. Their silence was a dull roar in my ears and I could feel a headache forming. I didn’t understand why they were even there.
The jelly the nurse squirted on my stomach was cold but I bit my lip to keep quiet. I didn’t want to be the first one of us to show a single act of weakness. I stayed perfectly still as she grabbed the wand and began running it over my belly.
“Alright. There’s a perfect little baby.” She frowned and moved the wand around. “Dr. Ruth said there were twins last time?”
The world around me faded to nothing. “You only see one?”
“I’m sure the other one is just…” She trailed off and I caught a glance she threw in the guys’ direction. It was concerned.
I could feel the energy shifting and the sound of the men shuffling more was loud. They thought they’d been right. They’d come for their proof, it seemed. The realization was just as crushing as the first time around.
“Oh!” The nurse’s surprised sound filled the room and she breathed out a relieved sigh. “There’s the second baby… I’m not used to doing these on my own just yet and this little baby was just shy.”
I let out my own relieved breath and gently pushed her hand away. “You just scared the crap out of me. Is it okay if Dr. Ruth finishes up?.”
She shot a look at the guys and stood up, her face red. “I’m so sorry. Dr. Ruth will be in shortly.”
I leaned back and closed my eyes, so relieved that both of my babies were okay. As soon as Dr. Ruth told me they were healthy, I’d be even happier. Then I’d walk away and start working towards separating myself from the alarmingly quiet men in the room with me.
“Fiona…” Sebastian started but when I held up my hand, he stopped.
“You showed up here thinking you’d find me out? You didn’t believe the first scan. Why believe this one?” I let their silence sting my skin for a few seconds before I answered. “Well. Now, you know.”
Dr. Ruth came in then and looked pissed off. “I am so sorry, Fiona. Aimee is great at her job but I think she got a little flustered. She only does the scans if we’re running behind. This is a small practice and I like doing my own work. Is it okay with you if I finish the imaging? No more scares, I promise.”
I nodded. “It’s okay. Go ahead.”
“If you’d lost a baby since I last saw you, you would’ve known. Of course, there are two babies in there.” Dr. Ruth blew out a big breath. “I’m so sorry, Fiona. The last thing an expecting mother needs is more stress. Now, let me look at them and make sure they’re enjoying their stay inside your body.”
Ten minutes later, I knew that the babies were growing perfectly, if not a little faster than normal, which was their normal considering how large the guys were. Both babies were doing great and I was carrying them without any problems. It should’ve been a moment of celebration. Instead, when Dr. Ruth finished with me, I scheduled my next appointment and then left the office without speaking another word to the guys.
Once we were all outside and I marched in the direction of the bus stop, Jake spoke up. “It was all bullshit.”
I didn’t stop or turn around. “Of course, it was all bullshit, Jake. Look at your sources.”
“Where are you going, angel? We always get ice cream after.” Sebastian flinched like I’d hit him when I spun around and glared up at him. “Sorry. I just…”
“I would rather stick my tongue inside a Saw trap. Stop following me.” I looked at each of them. “Did you really think I was lying?”
None of them could look me in the eyes. They didn’t even bother denying it. Jake rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m sorry, Fi. This wasn’t-”
“Just go back to thinking that I’m a con artist and leave me alone.” I turned around and kept walking, needing to be far away from them.
“Where are you going? Where’s the car?” Ryder walked around me and stopped in front of me. “You’re not taking the bus, are you?”
I glared at him. “That car is sitting where it will continue to sit. Parked in the driveway of a house I have no interest in. I am taking the bus and if any of you say a single word about it or think you still have that right, you’ve lost the plot.”
“Jesus. Come on, Fiona. Go with us and talk. Please.” Ryder still didn’t apologize.
I waved them off. “Go talk to your ex-wives if you need to talk so badly.”
48
***Fiona***
