A Course of Passion

18: Double Whammy

"Hello Maddison, Dominick, it's a pleasure to meet you both." My new doctor comes into our room with a smile on her face.

Sonny quickly stands when she enters the room, thrusting his hand forward to greet her, "please, call me Sonny."

She nods, taking his hand and then comes to my bed side to shake mine, "well, I went over both your medical histories and things seem okay at the moment. I might have a few questions later, but right now, would you like to see your baby?" She smiles, sitting down next to the sonogram machine.

"Yes" Sonny blurts happily, taking his seat at my side and taking a hold of my hand.

I nod to the doctor, keeping the breathe in my lungs. Her words about asking questions got me worried, and I know I'll have to tell Sonny my secret soon. However, as the doctor runs the cold gel over my belly, I exhale and allow this happy moment be all that surrounds me, "well, let's see what we have here." She puts the wand on my stomach and begins to move it around. After a few moments of Sonny and I staring intently at the screen to try and see anything she hums out, "interesting" and keeps moving her wand.

"Interesting what?" I sit up a bit from the bed I'm on, my heart beat rising, "interesting good or interesting bad?"

"Calm down Madds, let her look." Sonny puts an arm around me to try and calm me, clearly over excited about seeing his child.

"No, no. I need to know" I return, "interesting what?" My voice is shaking.

"Well" She clicks a few things and then removes the wand from my stomach, placing 2 tissues on it for me to wipe at, "so, right here" she points to the screen for us, "is your babies heart beat." I exhale a bit, relieved to hear that. She continues, moving her finger "and right here, is the other babies heart beat."

"What?" Sonny and I spit out together.

She turns back to us and her smile is wide, "Congratulations, you're having twins." I can't find anything to say and I guess Sonny can't either as we just stay where we are in shock. Our doctor, probably having been through this some times before, excuses herself from the room, "I'll give you two some time and will rejoin you in a bit for a more thorough exam."

I don't know how much time passes. Maybe 5 minutes, maybe 20, it all blends together but Sonny is the first one to speak up and break the tense silence, "twins Maddison. Twins" He whispers, leaning down to kiss me on the cheek.

Our hands are still entwined from when she came in and I squeeze his hand tightly as his lips touch my skin, "I--I don't know what to say."

"It's okay!" He encourages me, "I'm so excited, wow! He adds on, removing his hand from mine and starts to pace the room, "I mean, who would've thought that coming in here today we'd learn not only that we have one healthy baby, but two!"

"Sonny" I try to get his attention.

"It's beautiful. I mean, I always wanted a big family--" He goes on.

"Sonny." I try again to pull him in.

"and now we'll have two--" He rambles.

"Sonny!" I call out a bit more forcefully. This finally gets his attention and he stands still looking at me, "please, come here."

He walks back over to me, "what's up?"

I sit up a bit, wrapping my stomach back in the gown, "I have to tell you something." I simply say, ready to just blurt it out and answer all his questions. He nods, taking a seat and grabbing a hold of my hand. He doesn't say anything, waiting for me to go on. I take in his delicate facial features and all the words escape me. The hue of his blue eyes, the dimple on his cheek as he smiles at me patiently, I don't know how to bring it up to him.

I go to open my mouth but the door opens and our doctor returns, "okay, I know this is big news and may take some time to get used to but everything looks good so far. I went over your labs just now and everything is where it should be for someone carrying twins." She smiles as she says this, trying to ease my nerves or whatever it is that I am feeling.

"Wonderful!" Sonny smiles back.

My doctors eyes change for a moment and I know what she is about to bring up, "Maddison, your chart here says you've had a miscarriage. How long ago was that?"

I feel Sonny's posture adjust just a bit but he keeps himself composed. I can feel his eyes looking at me as hers are, waiting for an answer. I respond, "about a year and a half ago."

She notes this in my chart, "I see, were you under any abnormal stress at the time? Do you happen to know how far along you were?"

I exhale, too afraid to look next to me so I keep my eyes trained on her pen, "no, no stress. And I was about 11 weeks."

"Alright. I'm going to go ahead and start my examination now. This is going to take some time. So, Sonny, you're more than welcome to stay but I suggest you get comfortable." She addresses him, placing the chart down and going over to the sink in the room.

I look over to him, his eyes on me, "I'll be good." He squeezes my hand to comfort me. I'm relieved he wants to stay with me and hope that means he understands why I never told him. The doctor begins her examination on me and I do my best to keep my heart rate down as we go through everything together.

At the end of the examination she states to us, "everything seems fine Maddison. We would normally have you come back in 4 weeks from now. However, considering your past and the fact that you're carrying twins, I would like to see you in two weeks."

"Okay. Thank you." I smile and she shakes my hand. Sonny also shakes her hand and the doctors exits.

Sonny grabs his jacket from the chair and says without looking to me, "I'll wait out here while you change."

He goes to the door and I try to call after him, "Sonny" but he doesn't turn around. I quickly change back into my clothes, wanting to leave the office and talk to him about everything past and present.