Page 90 of Pack Baby for the Silver Foxes

The sound was rapid, impossible, tiny and enormous at once.

Mary stared at the screen, all the color gone from her face except the blue of her eyes and the pink where she’d bitten her lip. “That’s real,” she whispered.

“It’s real.” Jessica moved the probe again, then paused. Not long, but long enough.

Mary’s head turned. “Is everything okay?”

Jessica smiled. “I just need a clearer angle.”

Lincoln’s hand tightened around Mary’s, and I stepped closer to the bed.

The probe shifted, and another shape appeared on the monitor. Another flicker… Another heartbeat.

Jessica’s smile widened. “Well, congratulations. There are two.”

Mary blinked. “Two what?”

Lincoln made a strangled sound.

Jessica’s smile softened. “Two babies.”

Mary looked at me, then Lincoln, then the screen. “Oh my God.” Her voice was faint.

“Twins,” Jessica said.

“I’m having two babies. My nephew was right.” Mary’s eyes filled with panic so quickly I felt it like a hand around my throat.

“It’ll be fine,” I whispered. Inside I was doing cartwheels, outside I was trying my damndest to remain calm.

“That’s...” She swallowed. “That’s frightening.”

Jessica, busied herself with measurements.

Lincoln pushed Mary’s hair back from her face. “We’ll look after you.”

Mary’s eyes moved to him, then to me.

“You can’t just say things like that.”

“I just did,” Lincoln said.

“It makes me want to believe you.”

“Believe it.”

I looked at Lincoln, and he looked back. There was no hesitation in him or in me.

I turned to Mary. “Move in with us.”

Her mouth parted.

Jessica became intensely interested in the machine controls..

“Try it,” I said.

“I’ve a room at Maeve’s.”

“Keep it.”