She gives her hand to her father, who helps her climb onto our laps. We’re practically a human pyramid now.
Guillermo takes her chubby little hand and places it on my abdomen. “Inside Mommy’s belly, there’s a little baby. A little brother or sister for Princess Nina.”
She looks from me to him, looking confused, but after a while, she points to her toy baby lying on the floor. “Baby.”
“That’s right, love. A baby.”
She smiles, and I think maybe she’s thinking she’ll get another doll. A few seconds later, restless as she is, she goes back to her toys.
“I won’t pretend I’m not thrilled, but could you have waited a bit longer? Are you okay with pausing college? You might miss one or two semesters.”
“Life is short, love. Nothing is guaranteed. I don’t want to wait. Besides, I’m sure we can handle this together. We’re already raising Valentina; another baby will be a breeze.”
One month later
“Congratulations, you’re expecting twins! Twin girls, to be precise. We have two perfectly visible little girls here.”
I look at the doctor, waiting for him to start laughing and say it’s a joke, but he seems perfectly calm as he points out two dots on the screen.
Of course, I knew there was a chance of having twins someday, since I am one, but on the first pregnancy?
I mean, I planned for one child, and now my head spins with all the planning that will be needed.
“You said two . . . girls?” Guillermo asks, leaning against the examination table’s headrest. “Two more women? Three daughters to protect from all the scoundrels out there?”
The mix of desperation and urgency in his voice finally reminds me I’m not the only one caught off-guard.
He’s looking from the screen to my abdomen. “Did you hear what he said, beautiful? Two . . . We’re going to have three girls!” For the first time since I’ve known him, he lookslost. The strong man, the one who’s never shied away from his responsibilities, suddenly fears raising three little girls.
“Hey,” I call, and he turns his gaze to me. “We’ve got this.”
“I’ll do everything right. I promise you, Olívia.”
“Love, you’re the best dad in the world! I don’t need any reassurance.”
“It’ll bethree,” he repeats, seeming stuck on the number.
“They could’ve been triplets all at once,” says the doctor, with a terrible sense of humor.
Guillermo refocuses on the screen. “Are you sure it’s only two?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Look, you don’t have to lie to keep me calm. I can handle it.”
I swear I want to be supportive, especially since I’m scared too, but he’s acting so funny, and I start laughing. “Husband, everything will be fine.”
He comes over to where I am and kisses me on the mouth. Then he presses his face against my gel-covered belly. “We need to stop by the bookstore after this. I have to find everything I can about twins.”
“Love, calm down. It’s still a long way off,” I say, still laughing.
“It’s never too early to start preparing.” He takes a deep breath. “Come on out, girls,” he says to my belly. “Daddy will be ready for you when the time comes.”
A few months later
“Promise you’ll keep having these cravings after our daughters are born.”
I lie back on the bed, naked and satisfied after eating half a tub of Ben & Jerry’s triple caramel ice cream. And the fun didn’t stop there. How do I put this without sounding too naughty? We’re both in a sweet mood right now.
