big!.”
Things had been going well the last few weeks between Mason and me. I’d really started to trust him, and he stepped up and took care of Sky and me when we needed it the most. I could tell he loved the baby already and that he would be a good father.
“You’re beautiful,” he said, kissing the top of my head.
“Thank you, but if we’re going to get there on time, I need to make myself presentable.”
I slipped from the sheets and started getting ready for the big day. Skyler was at her dad’s, which always made me nervous. But since the day he’d taken her without asking, he’d been on his best behavior - always making sure she was home exactly when we’d agreed to and everything. Almost like he knew he’d fucked up and the law would likely side with me. Or maybe he was just scared of Mason. Whatever caused the change in his behavior, I’d take it. My tummy was filled with butterflies every time he took my daughter for the weekend, though, and I wasn’t sure it would ever get better.
One of these days, I’d have the resources and the evidence to fight him for full custody, but only if I had to. If he kept being a good dad to our daughter, I felt like it would be wrong to take her away from him. She often looked forward to the visits, and she had family on his side that she loved and that loved her.
Just please, let him keep this up. Don’t let the old Greg return, I thought.
I finished getting ready, and Mason was already dressed.
“Ready to go?” I asked.
“I am.”
Mason was quieter than normal. The drive across town to the OB was mostly quiet. I knew he was nervous.
We were the first appointment of the day, and thankfully, we didn’t have to wait long. A friendly blonde woman with a nice smile called us back within a few minutes of us sitting down. She introduced herself as Rebecca and said she was the ultrasound technician who would be helping us today.
“Must be exciting,” Rebecca cooed. “Seeing your baby for the first time.”
“Yes, very much so,” I said with a smile. I clutched Mason’s hand. He still seemed much too quiet, and I was beginning to worry about him.
They situated us in a room, and I changed into the hospital gown and climbed on the table with Mason’s help. As we waited for Rebecca to return, I decided to pose the question, “Are you okay, Mason?”
“I’m fine. Why do you ask?”
“You just seem quieter than normal, that’s all.”
He opened his mouth to answer just as there was a knock on the door. “Come in.”
Rebecca bounced into the room. “Alright, let’s get this party started, shall we? I’m sure you’re anxious to see your baby.”
She exposed my belly and applied the cold gel to it. I tried to relax, but my heart was racing. What if something was wrong with the baby? What if they couldn’t detect a heartbeat? I hadn’t planned for this blessing, but it didn’t matter. I loved that little bean so much already.
”Well, look at that. Both babies have very strong heartbeats.”
“Both?” Mason and I croaked at the same time. I was certain my expression mimicked his wide-eyed fear.
“Yes, you’re going to have twins,” Rebecca said. She pointed on the screen. “And see, right there? You can see both babies. This one here looks to be a girl.” She moved the wand around on my belly. “Oh and there he is - this one is a boy. Congratulations, you two.”
A boy and a girl.
Two babies.
I stared at the screen as if maybe the tech had made a mistake, but she seemed fairly confident there were, indeed, two babies, one of each.
I looked at Mason, whose jaw was on the floor. He stared at the screen as if he couldn’t believe it either.
“I know it’s a lot to take,” Rebecca said, her voice soothing. “I’ll have the doctor come in and verify everything I told you, as well as talk to you about what this means for your pregnancy.”
“Thank you,” I squeaked, my voice not sounding like my own.
Twins. We were having twins. I was going from a single mom with a daughter to having three kids. I wasn’t sure how I would manage. Then again, this time, I wouldn’t be alone.
I looked to Mason for some reassurance, for anything. He was still staring at the screen even though it