Page 45 of The Road Back to Us

“Just because we’ve had bad experiences in the past doesn’t mean this will be one, too,” Cole said quietly.

“I’m sorry for the losses you’ve both experienced,” Doctor Navarro said gently. “I understand how difficult this can be. I’m happy to do the scan however you need, to give you the most peace.”

“Honestly, the sooner we can get it over with, the better,” I replied, knowing that I must have sounded like the worst mother in the world because what mother would want to rush through this?

She nodded and got everything ready while I laid back on the bed, adjusting the gown I was wearing. I had done this so many times that I knew what to expect. She talked us through every single step, with Cole responding to her while I tuned everything out. I needed to get out of my head as much as possible, and I couldn’t do that if I heard the hope in her voice as she started the scan.

I closed my eyes and played a song in my head, trying to force myself to hear anything other than what was being said. Tears slid down my cheeks as Cole held onto my hand again, making sure I knew he was still there with me.

I was so lost in my head that I didn’t hear what the doctor said next. It wasn’t until I felt Cole gently shaking my arm that I opened my eyes and lifted my head to see the doctor smiling at me.

“They both have very strong heartbeats,” Doctor Navarro said happily.

My eyes widened as I looked from her to the monitor, staring in disbelief.

She pointed to the screen while holding the probe still as she explained what she was pointing at.

“Here is Baby A and here is Baby B,” she said, her grin so wide it forced one of my own to appear. “You can see that there is a separate gestational sac and the fetal pole for each of them is measuring around 1.5 cm, so I would say you’re around eight weeks pregnant.”

“There are two of them?” I asked, my voice raspy as my throat suddenly felt too dry. “Two babies?”

“Yes. It appears to be fraternal twins given the separate sacs, but we can confirm that after birth if you’d like. Would you like to hear the heartbeats?”

I nodded, my lower lip trembling so hard that I bit down on it in an attempt to stop it.

I held my breath and waited while she turned a knob on the machine.

The sound immediately filled the room as I continued to stare in disbelief as she showed us the rapid flicker in the chest area for each baby, confirming that they were both okay.

I leaned back against the bed when she was done, trying my best to stop getting too attached to the idea of having twins. I knew that Cole was over the moon ecstatic about this, but I held off any enthusiasm because I wouldn’t put it past the universe to take something this special from us. It had happened before, which meant it could happen again.

Forty

Cole

“Do you think we should tell them?” I asked, leaning against the wall as Lyric brushed her teeth.

She shrugged, but I could see the anxiety on her face at the thought of telling our family that we were having twins. She finished brushing, rinsed her mouth, then spit in the sink, wiping her mouth when she was done.

“I guess we have to? I don’t think I can hide it much longer,” she said, rubbing a hand over her stomach.

There was a very noticeable bump beneath the thin fabric of the tank top she had on, pulling it so tight that I couldn’t help but stare at it. I loved Lyric’s body regardless of what it looked like, but pregnant Lyric was like my kryptonite. I couldn’t help myself and was constantly turned on watching her body change as she grew our babies inside of her.

“Well, we’re past the fourteen-week mark,” I said gently as I pushed off the wall and pulled her into my arms. “You’ve officially entered the second trimester, and Doctor Navarro said everything was looking great. The babies are growing and developing how they should be.”

She nodded, letting out a soft breath as she looked up at me.

“I still can’t believe we’re having twins.”

“I know, me either,” I admitted. “Not only that, but a boy and a girl. It’s literally the perfect combination.”

Lyric tipped her head back and laughed.

“Leave it to you to always see the positive in everything.”

I grinned and kissed her forehead.

“What can I say? I’ve always been a glass-half-full kinda guy.” I shrugged.