Through it all, Jake sat in the blue chair in the corner, looking perfectly comfortable with being in a gynecologist’s office. His dark eyes were tracking her every move, but she couldn’t read his expression. Frankly, she didn’t want to know what he was thinking. Because even though she was nervous about being here with him, she suddenly realized she was even more nervous about the pregnancy.
Now that she’d started to get her head around being pregnant, she really wanted this baby. She prayed that the doctor would say everything was all right after her examination. A healthy baby was all she wanted now.
You want Jake, too, she had to admit as she finished filling the cup and set it on the bathroom counter for the lab technician to take. It was why she’d agreed to give him seven days.
But she wanted so much more than just his body. She wanted his heart...and for him to open up a window to his soul.
Sophie sighed, knowing it was long past time to give up those dreams and focus on something real. Like the child inside her. And the fact that she and Jake were going to have to figure out a way to bump along together as parents during the next fifty years.
Sixty seconds later, she had her clothes neatly folded up and the cloth hospital gown on. She held it tightly closed in the back as she exited the bathroom, which was ridiculous, since Jake had already seen her naked more than once.
The doctor was already in the room chatting easily with Jake and Sophie’s heart skipped a beat as she watched him so easily charm the woman who had been her gynecologist since she was a teenager.
“Sophie!” Marnie moved to fold her into a warm hug. “Well, isn’t this a wonderful surprise?”
Sophie plastered a smile on her face. “Yes. Really wonderful.”
Her doctor patted the padded table. “Scoot on up here and we’ll do a quick exam to make sure everything is progressing well.” She referenced Sophie’s chart. “The HCG levels in your urine sample concur with twelve weeks.”
Relieved that the tests she’d taken at home hadn’t been wrong about the pregnancy, Sophie slid onto the table and put her feet in the stirrups, trying not to think about how strange all of this must look to Jake.
“Jake, why don’t you come stand over here. It will be easier for you to see the ultrasound monitor.”
He moved to her side and put his hand on her shoulder. He smiled down at her and Sophie was amazed to find herself more comforted by his presence than embarrassed. She’d been planning to come here alone. But she was—suddenly—incredibly glad she hadn’t had to.
Marnie reached for something big and thick and light blue. It already had a condom over it, and acute embarrassment swept over Sophie at the thought of Jake watching her doctor slide that into her.
“This shouldn’t hurt,” her doctor said, “although it may be a little cold at first.”
The lubricated ultrasound wand slid in easily and she could have sworn Jake’s eyes were twinkling at her predicament. The doctor typed in a password on the ultrasound machine and the monitor switched to a picture that looked like a night sky with faint clouds and stars.“Now, let’s see where the little guy—or girl—is hiding.”
Sophie’s heartbeat ratcheted up, but before she could reach for Jake’s hand, he was sliding his over hers. They held onto each other tightly, neither of them breathing until Marnie smiled.
“Ah, there it is.” The doctor pointed to a faintly throbbing white light on the screen. “That’s the heartbeat.”
Sophie’s eyes filled with tears. There was a new heart beating inside of her, one that she and Jake had made together.
“Wow.” Jake’s hushed voice echoed her feelings exactly. “Amazing.”
Marnie smiled at him, then Sophie. “Always. The size of the fetus looks perfect for twelve weeks, too.”
Sophie assumed they’d be done now, but instead of pulling the wand from her body, her doctor said, “Twins usually skip a generation, but I’ll take a quick look to make sure there isn’t anyone else in here.”
“Twins?” Jake repeated.
“Anyone else?” Sophie could hear how strangled her voice was.
“While it’s not likely, it’s certainly not impossible that you’ve got—” The doctor gave a happy little shout. “Right here. There’s another heartbeat.”
Jake squeezed Sophie’s hand so hard, she almost yelped. But it was hard to register the pain when she was busy being totally shocked by what the doctor had just said. Marnie moved the wand around inside her some more. “Yes, looks like there are only two.”
Only two?
Oh God, when she’d been making those proclamations to Jake and her sister about doing it all herself, she’d been assuming she was only in for one baby. Not two!
Sophie shot a panicked glance up at Jake. His tanned skin was as pale as she’d ever seen it, even whiter than it had been right after she’d given him the news that she was pregnant.
Marnie slid the wand out, then handed her the picture that she’d printed. “For your scrapbook. Have you been taking prenatal vitamins?”
Sophie shook her head as she sat up, feeling lightheaded. She was so glad to have Jake standing strong behind her. “I wasn’t planning to get pregnant.”
Marnie’s expression didn’t betray any surprise or condemnation. “Okay, then. Here’s a prescription for the ones I like best for my patients.” She handed Sophie a bag from inside one of the cupboards. “Here are a few other things you might find helpful. Although I have to warn you, please don’t freak out when you read the What To Expect When You’re Expecting book. I’m giving it to you to use as a resource, not to feed any fears you might have about pregnancy.” She smiled at Sophie. “You’re a healthy young woman and if we look at your mother’s history, we can be pretty sure you’re going to have no problems at all.”