Double

Alex paced the little room as Zoey changed out of her clothes and filled a specimen cup in the bathroom. 

What if something was really wrong? Had Dave given her a disease? Done something to permanently harm her? Or was it stress causing all the bleeding? 

Hopefully it was the last one only. Until the day before, Zoey had been holding onto the news of the pregnancy all on her own—on top of dealing with everything else. 

Alex knew firsthand how difficult it was to move on from an abduction. Both physically and mentally. Adding to that the strain of pregnancy, it was nothing short of a miracle that Zoey had held herself together for as long as she had.

The bathroom door opened. She stepped out, wearing a stiff-looking hospital gown. 

He raced over to her. “Do you need anything?”

She grimaced. “For the bleeding to stop.”

“I wish I could do something about that.” He helped her over to the examination table and held her hand once she was settled. “Do you want me to find a blanket? It’s kind of cold in here.”

Zoey shook her head. “Just stay with me.”

He kissed her forehead. “I won’t leave your side.”

She moaned and rested her free hand on her rounded belly.

“Does it hurt?”

“Just a little cramping.”

“That doesn’t sound good.”

She closed her eyes and groaned.

Alex squeezed her hand and brushed some hair from her face. “I’m still here. I won’t let anything bad happen to you.”

Hopefully he could make good on that promise. He would do whatever he could to make that happen.

A few minutes later, a woman in a white lab coat came in, introducing herself as a doctor. She went over to the computer on a small desk and read over some notes and asked Zoey some questions.

Once she was done, she made more notes on the computer then turned back to Zoey. “I’m going to have an ultrasound machine brought in so we can take a look. How was the last one?”

Zoey’s grip tightened around Alex’s hand. “I haven’t had one yet.”

“This far along?” The doctor’s eyes widened. A mixture of concern and judgment covered her expression.

Zoey bit her lip. “It… I… I’m not a bad mom!”

Alex glared at the doctor. “This pregnancy is the result of an assault. She’s doing the best she can!”

The doctor’s expression changed completely. “Why didn’t you mention this before?”

“Does it matter?” Zoey’s tone was defensive.

“It helps to have a full picture.”

“Fine. I was abducted and raped. Now I’m pregnant. Does that explain my bleeding?”

Knock, knock.

A man and a woman entered with a rolling table full of computer equipment. It had to be the sonogram machine.

Alex clung to Zoey’s hand while they prepared her. 

As one of the technicians squeezed lubrication onto Zoey’s stomach, the doctor’s eyes widened. “Are you sure about how far along you are?”

Alex’s stomach twisted. “Of course she is. Why?”

“Judging by the size of her belly, she should be further along.”

“This isn’t my first pregnancy.” Zoey squeezed Alex’s hand. “I’m showing faster. That’s all.”

Alex’s mind raced as the technician’s explained what was on the screen, though it was obvious. Even though the baby looked more like a bean than a person, it was clear which end was the head and which was the feet.

The doctor stepped closer. “Move it to the right.”

The technician did.

“More.” The doctor nudged the wand.

Alex’s mouth dropped open. “Is that… ?”

Zoey lifted her head off the pillow. “A second baby?”

“Two of them?” The room spun around Alex. Zoey was not only pregnant with one of Dave’s babies, but two? Could this get any worse?

Alex sat in the chair, unable to process anything anyone said. He still held Zoey’s hand.

How could this be happening? Wasn’t it bad enough that they had one baby to deal with? Now two? Two!

His mind continued racing until he realized the technicians were leaving with the machine.

He couldn’t get the image of the two babies from his mind. 

The doctor was speaking. She sounded miles away. 

Alex forced himself to concentrate. This was about Zoey, not him.

“…considered pregnancy options?”

“There’s nothing to consider!” Zoey glared at the woman. “Just tell me why I’m bleeding so I can go home.”

“Everything looks great. They both look as I would expect.”

“Then why am I bleeding? Cramping?”

The doctor sat on the bed and gave Zoey a sympathetic glance. “Sometimes it happens, and we don’t know why. It could be the strain of a twin pregnancy. I’m going to recommend you go on bed rest.”

“What? Until when?”

“At least until the bleeding stops.”

“I can’t get up at all?”

“You can use the bathroom.”

Zoey groaned, then turned to Alex. “Will you stay with me?”

“Yes, but I have academy all week.”

“Right. I forgot. Maybe my mom can come over. That means I have to tell her about being pregnant.”

“Or you could stay over at their house during the week. My parents can check on you during the day. Dad works at home.”

“You two are together?” asked the doctor.

“Yeah.” Zoey rubbed her temple. “Why?”

“Would you be interested in a paternity test? To find out for sure whose babies these are. Maybe set your mind at ease if they’re actually yours.” She glanced at Alex.

Alex gave her a double-take. “You can do that? While they’re in the womb?”

“Yes. There is a slight chance of miscarriage, but it’s very low. This procedure is common. It’s how we check for Down’s Syndrome.”

Zoey turned to Alex, worry in her eyes.

Alex squeezed her hand and turned to the doctor. “Will it hurt Zoey?”

“Not at all. Nor the babies.”

“Unless I miscarry.” Zoey’s hand tightened in Alex’s.

“It’s a very low likelihood.”

She turned to Alex. “What do you think?”

“It’s up to you.”

The doctor leaned closer. “Any chance they’re his? This could help you make the best decision.”

“I’m not ending my pregnancy. Doesn’t matter how the results come out.”

“How long does it take to find out?” Alex asked. 

“Depends on the lab. I can send it to the one that will process it faster. You could know in a few days.”

Alex and Zoey exchanged a glance.

“It’s up to you.” Alex squeezed her hand again. “I’m here no matter what.”

“Even with twins?”

Pressure squeezed from his temples to the back of his head. Their love was about sacrifice. She’d put up with a lot of his crap, forgiving him for far more than he deserved. Now it was his turn to step up to the plate and sacrifice for her. “Even with twins that aren’t mine. All I want is you, and the babies are part of you.”

Zoey turned to the doctor, her hands shaking in Alex’s. “Let’s do it.”