"Oh my god, what's wrong?" I whisper, not wanting to hear the answer.
"Oh I'm sorry I didn't mean to scare you, nothing is wrong except you are expecting twins" she looks over and smiles.
"OH WOW!" comes the sound from Kate. I know I should be saying something but I can't even begin to put into words what I am feeling.
"B...but there was only one last time" oh come on Steele, that's the best thing you can say?
"It is harder to detect multiple pregnancies at six weeks and they have a crafty way of hiding behind each other so this is not unusual" the ultra-sonographer comments as she writes something on my notes.
"Oh, right, err thank you" I manage to say. She leaves the room. I glance over at Kate and I can see she wants to burst and it makes me smile.
"Well say something then" I look at her.
"Oh my god Ana, this is amazing! Two babies, this just gets better and better and the picture was just fantastic" she is jumping up and down, that reminds me of Mia. "Say something Steele!"
"I don't know what to say to be honest Kate, one baby was going to be hard enough but two is a whole different ball game, how will I cope?" I am being serious now.
"I know Ana, sorry I shouldn't have carried away like that" Kate apologizes "What did Grace say last night?"
"She is fine with the pregnancy and thinks she may be able to bring Christian around eventually, she has offered me every help and support which is lovely but I want Christian" I look down as I can feel the tears building in my eyes.
"That's understandable honey; perhaps I could speak to Elliot and see if he would be willing to talk to him?" Bless Kate.
"I guess he could, although I don't want him to feel like he is being ganged up on, oh I don't know Kate, what a mess, why couldn't this have been straight forward?" Tears threaten again.
"Life doesn't happen that way, it sucks big time but it is what it is" she tells me and I nod in agreement.
Grace knock knocks and comes in the room and picks up my chart
"Oh my Ana, its twins?" she looks shocked. I just nod my head and wait anxiously for her to say something else.
"That's wonderful" but she notices the look on my face "but how do you feel Ana?"
"I wish Christian were here" I show her the scan picture "Please could you give this to him for me?"
I hear a voice that stops my heart beating for a moment.
"Why? When you can give it to me yourself" I look over and there he is, standing in the doorway looking like a model, he's not quite as polished as normal but oh my! My face flushes and the familiar sensations begin to flow, how is that possible with what's going on?
"Hi Christian, how are you?" I am not really sure where this conversation is going to go but I have to start somewhere.
"Mom, Kate, would you mind giving us some time alone?" as he looks at them both.
"Of course, no problem, we will be outside if you need anything" as Grace pulls a nervous Kate out of the door.
We both watch them go out of the door and we turn back to face each other.
"Ana, please let me say what I have come to say" holy shit the last time he had something to say I didn't see him for over a month.
"Firstly I want to apologise for not having contacted you for the past month, my head has been all over the place since you told me you are pregnant. Ana I still don't think you realize how screwed up I am. I have this fear that I will screw up a child's life because of the way I am, that may sound silly to you but it's a genuine problem I have. However after my Mom talked to me last night and told me you were here, she pointed out a few home truths about me and this situation. She can be quite frightening at times" he chuckled, oh boy it's good to hear that noise again.
"Christian, I am glad you have spoken to your mum but I need to know what your intentions are from this point onwards. You're mood swings are giving me a whiplash. You can't be here one day, and gone the next time something happens that you can't deal with. Life doesn't work that way. I don't think I can take losing you again. I have shed and cried enough tears and I don't think my heart can stand any more. With you, it's like being on a roller coaster, while the ups are fantastic, the downs tear me up. I cannot do this again. I am sorry." I honestly don't know what he is going to say.
"I want to try Ana but I am so scared" he admits
"Do you not think I am too? This is happening Christian, not ideal timing but what has happened, has happened and we can't change that. I have managed the last month on my own and I will do the rest on my own if you can't commit to us. If you are going to be part of my life, I need a 100% commitment cause anything else would not be fair." I say as confidently as I can.
"Will you consider moving to Escala so Mrs Jones can help with cooking and cleaning? I will see if she would like to help with the baby when the time comes, if not then we could hire a nanny" he looks a little worried at asking that question as the last time I refused.
"Have you spoken to your mom this morning?" I cautiously ask.
"Not really, why?" here it comes
"Were having twins" I look down not wanting to see the look on his face.
"What the fuck?! Two!" he begins to raise his voice.
"Please don't swear Christian, you are making me feel nauseous again" I scold him. He runs his hand through his hair and I can see it's taken a lot to come here today.
"Look Christian, I will stay at the apartment for a few more weeks and you can come see me there if you want to, if then you decide you still want to go forward, I will move in with you and we can trial that for a while" it's a compromise but hopefully in the end it will work out right.
"Ok, that sounds like a plan" he looks relieved.
"You can call, text and come around or we can go out you know, I am not going to be tied to the bed all of the time" I realise what I have just said and curl up into a ball laughing at the pun. It takes Christian a while but he finally catches on and laughs with me.
"Don't give me idea's Ana" still laughing.
"So, what next?" I ask.
"Well let's see how you are for the next twenty four hours and decide then" he suggests.
Grace knocks on the door,
"Everything alright you two?" she gingerly asks
"Yes mom" and I nod my head.
"Great, but now Ana needs to rest so Kate, Christian would you mind coming back later?" she advises.
Christian leans in and softly kisses me on the lips and I give him the scan picture to take away with him. Kate smiles and wave's goodbye and all is quiet again. I sleep until obs check again and then food arrives. Tomato soup, bread roll and butter, Chicken escalope, vegetables and apple pie and custard. Wow, I will never eat this much but I make a good attempt. I don't think I have eaten this much in weeks.
Grace returns about an hour later.
"Thank you Grace, whatever you said to Christian obviously hit the mark and we are going to try and make things work. Slowly to begin with but then I will move in to Escala and see how we go" I say.
"I am glad dear, for all of you" she smiles "Now you can go home tomorrow morning if you eat well today and your nausea is under control. I have written up for oral meds and some rehydration sachets in case you have a bad day at least you will be able to prevent dehydration but please Ana don't leave it as long if this happens again. You have two babies that need you to be healthy and well so the first signs of fatigue and vomiting you must take it easy and rest, ok?"
"Thank you Grace, I really appreciate your help and sorry you had to find out this way" I apologise.
"Here is my mobile number Ana, call me anytime, day or night if you need help or advice" she hands me a business card.
"Thank you again" I say gratefully
"Look after those grandbabies for me Ana" and she bends over and kisses my cheek before leaving the room. I feel so calm with Grace, she doesn't take grief from anyone but gets her point across in a firm but polite manor, I like her a lot.
I finish reading an article in GQ magazine by Sasha Cameron titled 'The life and times of the rich and shameless' this week focusing on The Kardashians. I move on to the second book Kate left me, it's the latest erotic thriller by Jane Harvey-Berrick and I am engrossed in the book until late afternoon and the next set of obs and dinner is served, I still feel full from earlier but make an effort to eat the fruit medley, pasta and ice cream.
All is good and things get better when Christian comes back about fifteen minutes before the end of visiting time to wish me a goodnight and that he will be here at ten in the morning to take me home. He says the press have got wind that I have been brought here but so far the only information released is that I have had an issue with my arm from the accident and I would like to keep it like that for a little while longer.
After another good night, I am discharged with my medication, Christian is here and for the sake of appearances, I wrap my arm in a sling. We run the gauntlet of press asking how I am feeling and what's happened with my arm. I smile and say nothing as usual but it is a relief to get in the car and head for home.
Kate has left for work but she left me a note telling me to chill, lunch is made and just needs heating in the microwave and I am not to do anything but relax and read or watch television. This is going to get boring but at least I can be in my bed. Christian is fussing around me like a mother hen, do I want some water, a blanket, a pillow or the remote. I tell him I don't need to be mollycoddled but that I would settle for a kiss before he goes to work.
He bombards me with e-mails and messages to make sure I am ok, we go from no contact for a months and then I get seven messages in the space of five hours. The last message mentions going to see Grace and Carrick at the weekend to break the news to the family, I readily agree, it's a wonderful idea. I don't have much family so it is a great feeling to be surrounded by people who care. I almost wish the weekend would come quickly to get back to the manor by the lake with the boathouse.
Kate and I have fun for the next couple of evenings, we watch some classic movies, talk about the future, Christian and Elliot, and how their relationship is going. I tell Kate I appreciate the fact she has given up a lot of her time with Elliot to be with me.
Thursday is a real drag; I want to do some work but Christian refuses to let me even browse over a few scripts. I potter around the apartment; I make some tea for myself except we have run out of milk. I put my shoes on, grab my purse and keys and head for the grocery store. Taylor accompanies me; we walk side by side now instead of him walking behind at a distance, Christians orders no doubt. The fresh air is lovely until it is stagnated by the botoxed Barbie doll.
"Ana, how are you?" as she air kisses, which is fine by me as I don't want her to touch me anywhere.
"Elena, I'm fine thank you" ugh she makes my skin crawl.
"I hope your hospital stay wasn't too traumatic" she probes.
"Just my arm, a precautionary measure" I don't want her to know anything.
"Just as well to take precautions darling, must dash" she air kisses again. I shudder, she knows something, that was a dig at my pregnancy but how could she know? I am certain that Christians inner circle and family wouldn't have said anything.
"That woman gives me the creeps Taylor" I tell him
"Yes Miss Steele, me too" I laugh.
I buy some milk, a small bar of milk chocolate and some water to consume on the way back. It's a nice day so I walk through the small park, sit on a bench under some tree's and eat my chocolate. The sky is blue and the birds are happily chirping, I feel happy and contented for the first time in ages.
The walk home is less eventful and I enjoy that cup of tea when I get back. I text Christian when I get back to tell him about bumping into Elena and my suspicions that she knows about the pregnancy. He is fuming and he can't believe someone would release that information but as he points out, he has no control over the EMT/hospital staff and who they talk to.
I tell him I am looking forward to seeing him tomorrow and going to his parent's house for the weekend and he replies the same and he will pick me up at 6.30pm tomorrow night so we should arrive in time for dinner.
I wish him goodnight and hang up.
A/N:
I posted a little joke about on demand update service, to highlight the issue about troll and demanding reviewers. I am fortunate enough, that a present time, I had time to write and do frequent updates, however there are many great and talented authors, who are full time workers and parents. They have social and family commitments that come first and finally if they get any leisure time for themselves, they spend it writing, sometimes late at night after everyone is asleep.
They put a lot of work into providing hours of reading pleasure for their readers without any expectation of monetary gain and deserve thanks and gratitude. However, it seems some people don't appreciate the efforts and the sacrifice, and instead settle for cheap shots. I am not saying that critical reviews don't have a place. All authors welcome criticism when it properly directed, logically constructed and not personal in nature.