Heart hammering inside my chest at the truth of my admission, I lean in slow, as the first tear slides down her cheek, giving her time to step away, hell, run for the hills if she needs to, but she doesn’t.
My entire life, I’ve known that I am expected to take care of the family’s land, money, heritage, and foundation. I’ve wanted to run from it all for many reasons, but the heaviest is responsibility. This is a moment; one I’ve never experienced. One that I desperately want it all.
Her phone buzzing causes her to jump, and the moment is gone, but not lost.
She stares at the screen for half a second before unlocking it.
“It’s Dr. Kaplan,” she says quietly.
Lucy.
The word doesn’t need to be spoken.
She reads.
Her face shifts. Not panic. Not relief. Something steadier.
“Erin, the social worker just sent them her most current immunization records,” she sighs with relief and says, almost toherself. “She just needs the one DTaP. That’s it. She’s compliant for daycare once she gets it.”
“One shot,” I repeat.
“One,” she nods.
There’s something about that. About how manageable it sounds. About how close it all suddenly is.
Lucy is downstairs with a pediatrician who promised no surprises.
Hildy glances toward the restroom door.
“I need a minute,” she says.
I nod.
She slips inside the bathroom, shuts the door gently.
The lock clicks.
I stand there for a beat, and pull the picture out of my hand and stare at the ultrasound photos in my hand.
Twins.
The fact this doesn’t terrify me, is terrifying all by itself. I’m in so damn deep I’m drowning and give zero fucks about what’s ahead, what I… we will face. I want to celebrate this with dinner, a fucking ring, and cigars in the locker room, but I can’t, not right now anyway.
The bathroom faucet turns on.
Water running.
I imagine her leaning over the sink, hands braced on porcelain, breathing.
I cross the small room and head to the nurses’ station.
“Excuse me,” I say quietly.
She looks up.
“Do you have an extra bandage?”
She raises a brow but hands me an adhesive strip without question. I peel it open and press it onto my upper arm, over nothing. She watches, amused.
