TAKE TWO_ Who says you can't ma - Heather M. Orgeron Page 0,60

the curtain being slung open jars me. “Mrs. Watts, I have some test results I’d like to go over with you. Would you like your husband to step out of the room?”

The fuck? “All due respect, I’m not fucking going anywhere.”

Nya snorts, shaking her head slightly. “He can stay.”

The nurse nods. “I just wasn’t sure if you knew.”

“Knew what?” I don’t mean to snap, but I’m starting to freak out here, thinking this woman is about to tell me my wife has some terminal illness.

“You’re pregnant.”

Pregnant. The word bounces around my head. Suddenly I’m feeling woozy and have to sit down. I rest on the edge of Nya’s bed and watch as she processes the news. I can tell by her reaction she’s just as stunned as I am.

“A—a baby?” Tears well in her eyes, and she looks to me, her face a mix of hope and fear. “But how? I’ve been on the pill for years.” She’s talking to the nurse, but her eyes are still fixed on mine.

“There are a number of ways the pill can fail…even taken correctly, four to seven in every one hundred women will still become pregnant.”

Nya’s forehead breaks out in a cold sweat. She’s sucking in deep breaths and blowing them out slowly, like she’s trying not to become sick.

“I’ll give you two a minute.” Shelly, our nurse, disappears behind the curtain of the little triage room.

I pry Nya’s hand from where it’s white-knuckling the bed rail and bring it to my lips, kissing each of her knuckles one by one, the tips of her fingers, the center of her palm. So much has happened in the span of so little time, I’m having trouble processing it all, but I know that I love this woman beyond reason. This baby, who we’ve only learned of seconds ago, will be the greatest blessing.

“So, uhh…” I say nervously, trying to gauge her reaction. “Guess we’re going home with another souvenir, then?”

“Liam, I didn’t—I didn’t do this on purpose,” she starts, her lips trembling. “I know how the pill works. I didn’t miss any. Wasn’t on antibiotics. I’m meticulous for taking it at 6:00 p.m. I have an alarm on my phone and everything.”

“Shhh,” I say, brushing the back of my hand along the side of her face. “Never thought for a second you had. Why would you? It’s not like you need to trap me. I’m caught, baby.” I laugh, because it’s the truth. She’d be hard-pressed to find a way to get rid of me this time.

“You’re not upset?”

I grunt. “Are you kidding me? A little shocked, sure… But I also know how babies are made, and I didn’t use a condom.” I lean down, placing a kiss on her temple. “I’ve always wanted more kids… I just wanted them to be with you.” The vision of her growing round with my baby has me smiling like a loon. “Will you punch me if I say I might even be a little happy about it?”

She squeezes my hand. “I’d kind of given up on the idea… I can’t believe it.” Her hand goes to her flat stomach. “A baby.”

“How far along do you think you are?”

She shrugs. “I can’t remember my last period, and my head is so fuzzy right now…”

I nod, my windpipe suddenly closing in as the possibility that it’s not mine comes crashing down around me.

“It’s yours.” A gentle hand lands on my knee, putting my fears to rest. “I’ve had my period since you moved in. I just can’t recall the last one… and we never…” I can tell she’s uncomfortable mentioning sleeping with another man. “I’ve only ever had unprotected sex with you, Liam. I swear it.”

“Wasn’t expecting to see you back here so soon.” Dr. Bing shakes Nya’s hand before congratulating me and shaking mine when he enters the exam room. Then he crouches on his little rolling stool and pops on a pair of latex gloves. He’s an older Asian guy, short, with glasses and small hands—I’m sure my wife appreciates that fact considering he’s about to be all up in her vagina.

I don’t know why I’m so damn nervous all of a sudden. Like it’s possible we could fail this test. She already peed in the cup and they confirmed her pregnancy, but I’m standing here seeing spots and sweating fucking bullets.

A nurse enters shortly after the doctor, lugging some sort of machine on a cart behind her. “Told ya you had nothing to worry about,”