The sound of rattling paper followed the sound of fingers stretching gloves. Chilly gloved fingers pushed thick paper into my pants and folded it over the top.
“I’m going to place another right underneath your shirt to keep it from getting messy as well.”
She repeated the same steps to protect the white button-down that was cropped, exposing half of my belly. I’d paired it with wide-leg denim and pointed-toe heels. The look was complete with the heavy presence of jewelry and a flawless beat. My hair was up in a loose ponytail. Curled strands hung in the front, on each side of my face.
“You don’t have to worry. This is warm.”
As promised, a warm gel caressed the skin of my belly. The twirling of the wand followed. The lights lowered.
Swoooooosh.
Swooooosh.
Swoooooooosh.
The sonography device filled the silence.
Swoooooosh.
Swooooosh.
Clicking began as Dr. Grant continued probing my stomach. I sniffled, hoping the tears would subside.
Pull yourself together.
I inhaled deeply, pulling in a healthy amount of oxygen before releasing it.
“And, there is ba–” Dr. Grant paused.
Swoooooosh.
Swooooosh.
“Is everything okay?” Roaman questioned, placing a hand on my shoulder.
“Uh– yes. Everything looks good.”
The galloping sound of a hundred horses was heartening.
“That sound, Ms. Childers, is the sound of not one heartbeat, but two,” she explained.
My heart melted against my spine. I placed a hand over my mouth. Pulling myself together was pointless.
Swoooooosh.
Swooooosh.
“Two?” I tried drying the tears that fell down my face with my other hand.
“Yes. Two. You’re having twins,” she confirmed.
Roaman’s hair brushed against my forehead as she leaned in. She kissed me while pulling my face closer.
“You’ve got this, baby,” she claimed. “We’ve got this. Okay?”
I smeared my tears while nodding my head. “Okay.”
Swoooooosh.
