Dr. Bedi looked between us. “Reduce stress where you can. More rest. Are you experiencing any particular anxiety or tension at home?”
I opened my mouth, but Aris spoke first. “She is, yes.”
My head snapped toward him. “Aris…”
Dr. Bedi clicked her pen, setting the chart down. “At this stage of a twin pregnancy, elevated blood pressure puts you at higher risk for preeclampsia. I’m recommending that you cut back your work hours immediately and implement stress reduction techniques. Meditation, prenatal yoga, whatever helps you relax. If these numbers don’t improve by next week, we may need to discuss medication.”
“I’ll handle it,” I said, wiping the gel off my belly.
The car ride started in silence. I watched the scenery blur past my window, Dr. Bedi’s warnings replaying in my head.
“You never mentioned your daughter,” I said, turning to face him. “Santo’s twin.”
Aris’s jaw tightened. He signaled and pulled the car over to the shoulder of the road, putting it in park before turning to face me.
“It is not something I talk about, no.”
“But I’m carrying your babies, Aris. You want us to marry. Don’t you think that’s something I should’ve known?”
He released my thigh and reached for my hand. “You are right. I should have told you.” He took a deep breath. “Her name, it was Kalliope. She was stillborn, yes. Santo came out screaming, perfectly healthy. My baby girl... she was just gone.”
“Oh, Aris.”
“The cruelest part, it was the delivery took everything out of Lydia. She hemorrhaged, and they could not save her.” He was quiet for a moment. “I became a father and a widower in the same hour. Gained a son, lost a daughter and wife.”
“That’s why you’ve been so worried.”
“No, it is not this. I am terrified, Dede.” His voice cracked. “I cannot lose you too, no.”
My throat tightened as tears pricked my eyes. All this time, I’d been focused on protecting Tia’s feelings, and unintentionally dismissed his.
I unbuckled my seatbelt and leaned across the console, wrapping my arms around him as best I could with my belly between us. His arms came around me immediately.
“We’ll talk to the kids when we get home,” I said against his neck. “I’ll tell Tia everything.”
“Dede—”
“I’ve been so worried about losing her that I haven’t been taking care of what matters most. Our family. These babies.” I pulled back to look at him. “Us.”
The rest of the drive home was quiet, but it was a soothing kind of silence. When we pulled into the driveway, I noticed my car was gone.
Inside, the chef was finishing up in the kitchen. “Oh, Ms. White. Mr. Christakis. I didn’t expect you back so soon. Tia and Santo said they were going out for dinner and a movie, so I prepared dinner for two tonight. There’s plenty if they’re hungry when they get back, though.”
“Thank you, Reid,” I said with a smile.
After he left the house, Aris came up behind me, his hands settling on my shoulders. “Are you okay?”
“I will be. After we talk to the kids.” The emotional weight of the day pressed down on me. “Let’s go to bed,” I said softly, turning to face him. “I don’t want to be alone.”
His eyes darkened. “It is five PM.”
“After everything today, I just... I need you.”
“Then you have me, agápi mou.”
Half an hour later, heat coursed through my veins as Aris worked magic from behind. I lay on my stomach with a pile of pillows propped beneath my hips to support my pregnant belly and elevate my ass.
My cheek pressed against the sheets while my fingers clutched them. This pregnancy had heightened every touch and every flick of his tongue against sensitive flesh.
