Chapter 34
Six weeks later Shane had been getting ready for work when she realized she was late. She had difficulty focusing all day. On the way home she asked Oliver to stop at a drug store. "I'll run in quickly you don't have to come with me," she said when he turned off the car.
"It's not a problem," Oliver said. "What are we getting."
Not wanting to spring it on him and have the conversation in the store. "I'm late."
"I didn't think we had plans tonight." Oliver replied.
Shaking her head, "No Oliver, I'm late. We need a pregnancy test."
"Oh. Well I'll come with you in case you need help picking one out." Oliver said trying to be supportive.
"When was the last time you picked a pregnancy test out Oliver?" Shane asked exiting the car curiously.
"Well never." He said stiffly following her into the store determinedly.
Shane thought this should be interesting with a faint smile.
Arriving at the row of tests, "I hadn't realized there would be so many of them? It's a good thing I'm here to help." Oliver said enthusiastically picking up the nearest one to read the box. "We'll need to get a couple." He said absently reading.
"Why?" Shane asked curiously.
"Well if it's negative, you'll need to take another one tomorrow morning. This early on your hcG levels may not be high enough to register in the evening. It's better to take it in the morning. I didn't think you'd want to wait until tomorrow morning to give it a whirl."
"How on earth do you know that?" Shane asked looking at him in shock with a pregnancy test in each hand.
"One of the fertility books I read. Oh, how handy. This one is meant for early detection and there's two in the box. I think we have a winner." Oliver said delighted as if he won the lottery.
Shane rolled her eyes. "Sounds great. Let's go."
"Do we need anything else while we're here? Refills on vitamins?" Oliver asked solicitously.
"I'm good. Let's go." Shane said again impatiently feeling like she'd landed in the twilight zone.
Shane was increasingly nervous the closer they got to the house. Oliver let the dogs out while Shane headed to the bathroom. Returning he knocked on the bathroom door. "Need any help?"
"Oliver, I learned to go the bathroom on my own some time ago." Shane said testily.
Oliver paced waiting until he heard the sink turn on and she exited. "It takes a few minutes." Shane said not wanting to watch. He pulled her closer holding her. "I don't know if I can look." She said letting go of him pacing while he now sat on the bed.
"Shane, love, we won't know if we don't look," Oliver said going into the bathroom. "I'm assuming a plus means you're pregnant."
"Oliver. Let me see." Shane said rushing in to look.
Turning it around Oliver was grinning until she burst into tears. Putting it down he wrapped his arms around her, "Shane, shh. It's going to be fine."
"I'm so happy and terrified at the same time." Shane said burying her face in his chest.
"We can call your doctor tomorrow morning. I don't want you going by yourself. I'm coming with you." Oliver said.
Shane hugged him back.
"I'm going to need more books." He said immediately. Parting slightly, he put his hand at her waist hardly believing it was real.
"They do have information on the internet as well." Shane said smiling while he dried her tears.
"You can't believe everything you read on the internet." Oliver said teasingly.
When the doodles stuck their heads in wondering about dinner, they finally left the bathroom. While Shane pulled food out to start making dinner, Oliver fed the dogs asking from the utility room, "Where might I go to get a cell phone?"
Hearing a crash in the kitchen Oliver ran in, "Are you ok?"
"No, I dropped the chicken because I almost passed out from shock," Shane said melodramatically gripping the counter as she leaned against it. "You can't do that kind of thing to a pregnant lady Oliver."
Oliver grinned wryly kneeling to pick up the package of chicken before the doodles could steal it. He slid it on the counter pulling her towards him, "I want to be able to get in touch with you anytime." Staying in place he leaned his head on her stomach, "I want you to be able to get in touch with me anytime." Realizing he was worried as well; she ran her hands through his hair before he stood up.
"We can pick one up on the way to work tomorrow." Shane said running a finger over his lips before leaning in to kiss him. They finished getting dinner ready.
Sitting down to eat Oliver said grace, requesting God watch over Shane, and help them both find peace. They both ate quietly for a while lost in their own thoughts. As they finished eating, Oliver took Shane's hand, "Do you think it was the afternoon we lost power?" He asked running his thumb over her ring.
Shane looked at him tenderly. "The timing would have been right, and you certainly were determined to spend time loving me that afternoon all afternoon." She said with a smile blushing thinking about the afternoon while taking his hand between hers and brushing her cheek against his hand. It always delighted him when she blushed seeing her fair skin turn rosy. Drawing her off her chair towards him he pulled her onto his lap kissing her. She tucked her head in the curve of his neck cuddling into him. He wanted her in his arms for what he had to say next.
Knowing her first instinct was to blame herself when she had the miscarriage, "Shane, I'm sure everything will be fine. Whatever happens I love you."
"I know."
"How have you been feeling?" Oliver asked.
"Tired and there's been a few mornings I've felt queasy but nothing major."
"Maybe we should stock up on saltines."
"Probably a good idea. Can we wait to tell anyone?"
"Whenever you're ready Shane." Oliver thought Rita will figure it out quickly, but they'd cross that bridge when it came.
Eventually they finished cleaning up the kitchen, took the dogs for their walk and Shane texted Rita they might be a little late in the morning.
Walking into the store, Oliver noticed all the little rectangular phones looked exactly alike to him. The salesman approached them, "What may I help you with this morning?"
"Mr. O'Toole needs a cell phone."
"We can take care of that. What are you currently using?" He asked Oliver.
"Oh, I've never had one."
Looking at the distinguished looking gentleman the salesman was sure he hadn't heard correctly. "Excuse me."
Shane smiled slightly, "You heard correctly. This would be his first. He's never had one." Letting him know what make and model they'd prefer, "You can put it on my plan."
The salesman went to get it out of the back. Returning another staff member accompanied him. "You've really never had a cell phone?" He asked Oliver.
"No, I haven't."
"How do you find where you're going?"
"I ask directions, or I use a little thing called a map." Oliver responded patiently.
"Fascinating."
Another sales member joined them. "Did I hear correctly? You've never had a phone?"
"Oh, I've had a phone. Just never a cell phone." Oliver responded eyeing Shane who was struggling not to laugh.
"How do you find contact info without a phone? How do you order food?"
Oliver had difficulty not rolling his eyes. "I look in a phone book."
"They still make those?" He asked curious.
By this time, another member had joined, "How do you know what the weather is?"
"I watch the news on tv or look out a window." Oliver said slowly losing his patience as he heard a snicker escape from Shane.
"Interesting."
Finally, the original salesman had the phone activated. "I'm assuming you'll need help setting this up."
Shane handed him her credit card and answered knowing Oliver was extremely uncomfortable by this point, "I work tech support. I can handle it."
They finally wrapped up and got back to the car. Shane couldn't hold it in any longer and started giggling.
"You would have thought I was an exhibit in a museum." Oliver said huffily.
"Oliver dear they were all young and had probably never met anyone over the age of 12 that had never had a cell phone."
Shane finished setting up the basics on the way to the DLO, putting in the phone numbers he'd use most often, and then called her doctor's office. She was able to get an appointment late that afternoon.
Arriving at the DLO, "Sorry we're late Rita, Norman. There was something we needed to pick up on the way in." Oliver said still incredibly flustered after the experience.
"What was that?" Norman asked.
"A cell phone." Oliver said helping Shane out of her coat.
"What happened to your phone Shane?" Rita asked.
Before Shane could stop him, "It was for me." Oliver stated.
Norman and Rita both dropped the mail they had in their hands in shock. "Oliver purchased a cell phone?" Norman asked. Shane closed her eyes knowing what would come next.
Rita squealed, "Congratulations when did you find out you were pregnant?" She ran over to hug Shane.
"Last night I took an early test at home, but my doctor's appointment isn't until this afternoon." Norman gave Oliver a hug who was still confused as to what just happened.
Rita and Shane wandered off to talk.
Later in the morning Joe and Leah stopped by while running errands to see if they had time for lunch. Picking up their coats Oliver picked up the new cell phone off his desk to slip in his pocket. Joe asked curious, "Oliver are you keeping Shane's phone for her now."
Again, before she could stop him, "It's not Shane's we picked up one for me this morning."
Leah and Joe's mouths dropped open before asking, "Congratulations. That's wonderful when did you guys find out?"
Rolling her eyes at Oliver like have you not learned. "Last night it's early yet but my doctor's appointment is this afternoon." Leah could tell Shane was uneasy and gave her a hug.
They all headed to Ramon's Bistro for lunch. Sitting down at the table Joe was showing Oliver how to use his new phone when Ramon came by to take their orders. "Ovileer did you get a cell phone? Shane that's wonderful when is the little one arriving?"
Giving up Shane answered, "Thank you Ramon. My doctor's appointment is this afternoon. We'll know more then."
After he took their orders, Oliver asked, "Why does everyone assume Shane is pregnant?"
Joe started laughing, "Son it's the only scenario anyone could envision you purchasing a cell phone. Even then it's a colossal shock to the natural order of the universe." Leah and Rita smiled at Shane understandingly.
They spent the afternoon working in the DLO before Rita left to pick up Cassie at school and Oliver and Shane left for her doctor's appointment.
On the way to the doctor Oliver apologized, "You asked me to wait to tell anyone. I'm sorry I didn't think about how people would respond to me getting a cell phone."
"It's fine Oliver. It wouldn't have taken Rita long to notice anyway." She patted him on the leg.
Since it was a last-minute appointment her doctor was running a little late, they ran labs before taking her into an ultrasound suite. Waiting Oliver could tell Shane was getting even more nervous, he ran his hand over her hair before taking her hand. When her doctor finally came in, "Congratulations. The test is positive. The rest of the labs may take a few days to get back. Before we start the ultrasound any questions?"
"Will you be able to tell if the baby is healthy at this point?" Shane asked.
"At 6 weeks the baby is about the size of a grain of rice. We usually can start hearing the heartbeat around 6-7 weeks. Today we're looking to make sure structurally everything is sound as well as where the baby is sitting. You ready?"
Shane nodded while Oliver never let go of her hand. Oliver didn't realize it was the type of ultrasound it would be and winced a little at first finding out where the wand went. "Sorry Shane."
She rolled her eyes more worried about finding out the results. Her doctor started taking measurements and checking things out. "Everything is looking good. Shane you never mentioned do multiples run in your family?"
"My grandmother is a twin why?" Shane asked nervously.
The doctor leaned over asking the tech to turn the volume up so she could listen. Noticing how tightly wound they both were, "Mr. O'Toole are you sure you wouldn't like to sit down?"
"I'm fine what's wrong?" Oliver asked.
"Nothing is wrong in fact everyone is looking really good."
Shane clued in first. "Everyone?" She said faintly her head dropping back on the table.
"The sound you're hearing right now is their heartbeats." The doctor took over from the tech moving the wand to get more pictures from different angles.
Noticing the 'their' Oliver swallowed, "Their…heatbeats…We're having twins?"
The doctor gestured towards the tech to move closer to Oliver just in case before responding. "No Mr. O'Toole you're having triplets."
"I'll take that seat now." Oliver said turning pale.
"They always say they're fine standing…." The doctor commented.