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She bites down on her bottom lip and nods. “I know… I’m sorry. I should have trusted you. I honestly thought, with the baby, there was no way you’d let me try to help Nalani. And I knew I could. I felt it in my bones, Hurricane. I got through to her. We were almost out and on the way back to the club when the guard saw me trying to go through the window. We were a couple of seconds too late to escape.”
Exhaling, I swipe my hand through my long hair and shake my head. “I still think you took far too big of a risk goin’ in alone like that. Not talkin’ to me about it first was fuckin’ crazy. But…” I take a deep, long breath, “… we got the win in the end. Let’s hope it’s not at the cost of somethin’ else.” I place my hand on her stomach. The anxiety flowing through me is catastrophic.
She rests her hand over mine and nods. “I’m pretty sure peanut’s okay. I haven’t had any cramping or spotting, but we need the ultrasound to check.”
As if on cue, the curtain pulls back, and a doctor strolls in with an ultrasound machine and a bright smile on his face. “I’m Dr. Kapule. I note you’ve had a positive pregnancy test but haven’t had any scans for confirmation as yet?”
Kaia shakes her head, and I stand taller, puffing out my chest. “Doc, listen. My wife got knocked around by this jackass. Don’t worry, I took care of that motherfucker, but that’s all beside the point. What I mean to say is… this kid means everythin’ to us. So I need you to ensure the little peanut is doin’ okay in there. So can you check every-fuckin’-thing you can?”
He smirks, then wheels the ultrasound unit over to Kaia’s bedside. “Protective father already. He’s going to be a good father, Kaia,” Dr. Kapule states.
She reaches out for my hand, gripping it tight. “He already is. We have a little one at home back in New Orleans. She’s close to two and a half years, and Hurricane is so patient with her.”
“Little bit cold…” The doctor squirts some gel on Kaia’s stomach, “… and she didn’t come on the vacation with you?”
“It’s our delayed honeymoon. Things haven’t exactly gone to plan,” I reply.
He places the scanner on Kaia’s stomach and begins searching. “Not quite the sit-by-the-pool-and-relax weekend getaway you were hoping for?”
Kaia smiles as I let out a snort. “Not quite, no. But findin’ out about the baby was excitin’. So I’m pumped to see the little peanut on the screen.” I reach out for Kaia’s hand, squeezing it tight as she smiles at me.
The doctor spins the screen for us to both see and tilts his head. “Well, I can tell you that everything looks great from where I am sitting. Nothing has been affected by your injuries. Would you like to hear the heartbeat?”
A bright smile flashes across my face. “Fuck yeah.”
Kaia chuckles as the doctor hits a button, and the whooshing sound starts. I hear it instantly, and my head snaps to Kaia. Her eyes flood with tears, and I lean down, pressing my lips to hers.
“That’s your little peanut,” the doctor says, then he moves the scanner on her stomach. “And this is peanut’s little sibling,” he announces when another whooshing sounds over the speakers.
I snap my head back to the monitor as I stare at the screen. “I’m sorry, what?”
Kaia widens her eyes as the doctor points to the two embryos on the screen. “Congratulations, you’re having twins.”
I laugh, but Kaia turns pale as I shift back to her. “T-twins?” she whispers.
“You want me to give birth twice in a row? It was hard enough doing it once with Immy. Now you want me to do it twice…” She pauses. “In a row?”
I reach out, grabbing her face and forcing her to look at me. “Where’s that strong woman who was tellin’ me how brave she is for standin’ up for what she believes in and fightin’ for those she cares about? Where’s my strong Old Lady who has the balls to put everyone in their damn place? You have been through so much in your life. You’re the strongest person I know. You can do this. You will do this. And I will be right by your side every damn step of the way.”
A single tear rolls down her face, and she nods. “Have I told you that I love you?”
I let out a small laugh and nod. “Yes, but I love hearin’ it.”
Kaia sniffles and spins back to the doctor, who is printing off a scan of our twins and going about other checks while we silently freak out off to the side.
“Hey, Doc? Don’t I have to be a few weeks along to be able to see that we’re having twins?” Kaia asks.
He tilts his head. “From what I can tell, you’re around ten weeks or so.”
Kaia furrows her brow. “But I had a period about four weeks ago. I mean, it wasn’t heavy. It was more like spotting than anything, but I assumed it was a light period. Is that normal?”
He wipes the gel from Kaia’s stomach and gently pats her arm. “Totally fine. It’s normal to have the occasional spotting early on. But from what I can see for your twins, everything is absolutely normal. You will obviously have to keep up with your routine checks and scans when you arrive back home, but right now, you’re clear to go, the nurse will have your discharge papers waiting for you at the desk.”
“Thanks, Doc, really appreciate this,” Kaia says.
I shake his hand, and he gives me the printout of our twins. I glance down at them, and suddenly, I am all smiles. “Thanks, Doc.”
The doctor walks out as I turn back to Kaia with a warm chuckle, shaking the image in my hand. “Twins, huh?”
