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Dr. Jenkins turns to Luna. “The urine sample you left this morning contained some protein. Luckily, your blood pressure read lower today than it has for the last few weeks. If it had still been elevated, I would have had you admitted to the hospital immediately.”
“No,” Luna breathes, backing away from him. “I don’t want to stay here.”
“I’m not going to force an admittance,” Dr. Jenkins continues. “However, given your history of high blood pressure and the protein I detected this morning, I would recommend that you elect to stay for observation.”
Luna shakes her head. “No. I can’t stay here. I can’t—I’ll be okay at home.”
I squeeze her hand and face Dr. Jenkins. “What’s the risk?”
“Preeclampsia. Left untreated, it can lead to fatal outcomes for both the mother and the?—”
“Then fucking treat it,” I spit.
“Luna is already on medication for her blood pressure, but the protein in her sample is cause for concern. It could be something as simple as dehydration or it could be?—”
“I didn’t drink enough water yesterday,” Luna cuts in. “I know that’s it. I was distracted with getting the nursery ready and I didn’t hydrate. I’ll be better.”
“It could also be a sign that her kidneys are damaged,” Dr. Jenkins continues, talking directly to me now. He knows I’m the one he’ll answer to if anything goes wrong with this pregnancy. “If she chose to be admitted, we could keep her here for a few days to make sure symptoms don’t get worse. If she remains stable, she’ll be released. If things go downhill…”
“Then what?” Luna presses.
Dr. Jenkins offers a sympathetic smile. “We would induce labor.”
Luna goes white. “They’re too small. It’s too early.”
I feel the familiar ache in my chest. The same one I felt when I heard Mariya was in the hospital. When Nik dropped to the pavement. When my father took his last breath in my arms.
I can’t lose Luna. I won’t.
“Is it serious enough that you think early labor is likely?” I ask. “Or are you being cautious?”
I threatened Dr. Jenkins’ life if anything happened to the babies. I understand the man being careful. But if Luna is going to be miserable just because Dr. Jenkins is afraid of me, that defeats the entire purpose.
“This would be a precaution,” he admits. “Like I said, her blood pressure has gone down over the last couple weeks. Still, the protein is a cause for?—”
“You’ll come to the house and check on her twice per day,” I order him. “In the morning and evening, you’ll examine her and make sure everything is fine. If need be, we’ll move to three times per day. That way, Luna can be comfortable at home and, if anything changes, we’ll catch it quickly.”
Dr. Jenkins doesn’t look thrilled, but he doesn’t argue. He nods and then holds out the envelope. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning, Luna. Until then, here’s the good news.”
Luna stares down at the envelope like it might start talking. After Dr. Jenkins leaves us alone in the room, she’s still staring at it.
I pluck it gently out of her hands. “Opening it might be more effective than staring holes into it.”
“Yes. Open it. Please.” She chews on her lower lip and shifts from foot to foot. Her hands rub nervous circles over her bump.
I slide my finger under the flap and start to pull out the results. Then I stop and turn to Luna.
“Yakov, open it! What are you?—”
I grab her chin and force her eyes to mine. “What’s in here doesn’t mean anything to me. The only thing that matters is that you and our children are safe. If anything changes—no matter how small—over the next few days, you’re going to tell me and I’m going to rush you to the hospital. Do you understand me?”
Luna pushes my hand away and stretches onto her toes. She kisses me, lingering there for a breath. Then she smiles. “I swear. Now, open that damn envelope.”
I chuckle and pull out the sonograms. There are two, each one labeled clearly with silver marker.
“Well, I was right,” I say, handing her Baby A’s sonogram. “Boy.”
There isn’t any disappointment at all. Luna’s face lights up. “A boy. We’re having a boy.”
