Page 94 of Red Flag Warning

Four Weeks Later

“Can you hear that?” our cheerful ultrasound technician said. “That’s baby’s heartbeat. It’s a little fast but sounds strong.”

Hector was next to me, holding my hand as she moved the wand over my growing belly.

“Now, let’s see if baby wants to cooperate so we can get some good pictures,” she added. “Do you want to know the sex?”

“Yes, please,” I told her.

Hector didn’t care, but I did. I was a planner and needed to know for planning purposes.

She moved her wand back and forth, taking a few pictures here and there, but mostly remained silent as Hector and I just watched her, fascinated by everything.

Then I noticed the puzzled look on her face, and I began to get worried.

“Is everything okay?” I finally worked up the nerve to ask her.

“Yes, everything is fine,” she started, but there was a hesitation in her voice. “I’m just trying to check something, and baby is not cooperating.”

I knew I just needed to trust her for now and let her do her thing, but Hector obviously sensed my nerves and began to stroke my hand and arm, and then he leaned down and kissed me on my forehead. This man was my rock—my everything.

“Aha!” the tech called out. “I had a feeling because of the super-fast heartbeat. Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Madeira. You are having twins.”

My mouth dropped open as I stared at her in awe, trying to process what she had just announced.

“What did you say?” Hector asked before my own mouth could form words.

“Oh…wait…nope…sorry,” she apologized, and I about died from having held my breath for so long. “Okay, I was wrong. It’s not two heartbeats…I think…yep…There’s the third set of legs. Congrats! You’re having triplets!”

I didn’t think my mouth could have opened any bigger.

“Excuse me?” Hector choked out, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Triplets,” she repeated. “That would explain why the heartbeat was so fast. It was actually just more than one heartbeat. But everything looks great—six arms, six legs, everything is exactly as it should be.”

“I guess you’re getting your wish after all,” I turned to tell Hector.

“What?” he looked at me, still a bit dazed from the news.

“You didn’t want to be an old dad, so I guess we’re just going to get them all at once and then be done,” I reminded him.

He chuckled nervously and then turned back to me and smiled. “I guess all my wishes came true. Thank you, Iris, for giving me everything I could have ever wanted—a beautiful, smart, and caring wife and now a family of our own.”

THE END