Page 36 of Wandering in Love

“We’ll need just a minute before you can come back, Sheriff,” Julie, the nurse, informs me.

“What?”

“Ian.” Eva places a hand on my chest. “Just give me a minute, then she’ll come get you.”

I growl and step back to let Eva pass me. I pace across the office, my hands clenched as I wait for Julie to come back. It’s an eternity later when the door opens and I’m able to stomp my way down the hallway.

“Second door on your right,” she says behind me, since I’m not stopping to wait for her.

I don’t knock, just turn the handle and open the door. The lights are off, and a strange whooshing sound fills the small space. Stepping around the curtain that protects her privacy, I freeze with my eyes on a black and white screen.

My heart rate matches the galloping coming from the machine. Two little tiny-human shaped spots move on the screen.

“Congratulations, Sheriff. You’re gonna be a daddy.”

My head swings to Eva, who has tears rolling down her cheeks and a huge grin on her face.

“But how?” I step up to Eva, gripping her hand tightly in mine, awestruck by the miracle I’m witnessing.

“Eva told me about her previous miscarriage. They’re very common. The six-to-eight-week mark is where the brain and spinal cord are being developed. Humans are complicated little buggers, so if something isn’t quite right at that mark, the body rejects it.” The doctor pushes some buttons on the machine and prints out some grainy pictures. “These two are about ten weeks along, so you’re past that point and almost out of the woods. While second trimester miscarriages can happen, it’s not nearly as common. Twins do make this a high-risk pregnancy, so we’ll want to keep a close eye on them, but I suspect in a few months you’ll have healthy, if not early, babies.”

Eva sniffles, wiping tears from her face.

My gaze swings back to her.

“I love you so much.” Leaning down, I kiss her quickly, though the need to claim her is strong.

“I love you too,” she says through her tears

“Does she need to stop working in the stables?” I ask the doctor. It’s physically demanding work.

“I don’t think so. As long as she’s being safe and not pushing herself too hard, she should be fine. Once she gets further along, she’ll need to be much more careful around the horses. Getting kicked in the stomach will be very dangerous, and climbing on ladders will be out, since her center of gravity will be off. Chemicals and medications for the horses should be handled by someone else as well. If something changes and she starts to go into labor early, I will rescind that, however, and kick her out of the barn.”

“You can try to keep me away from the horses,” she smirks.

“Wildflower, you will do as your told to keep those babies safe. I’ll sic Momma on you.”

She huffs, but doesn’t say anything else.

“Alright, we’ll see you in a few weeks,” the doctor says before leaving the room.

Eva gets cleaned up and redressed before turning to me. Dropping down to my knees in front of her, I lift her shirt and run my hand over her belly. She’s just starting to get a little bump above her jeans. Leaning forward, I kiss her skin where she’s growing the most precious gift a man could ask for.

Eva runs her fingers through my hair, and I look up at her.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

A tear rolls down her cheek and I reach up to brush it away.

“You’re welcome,” she smiles at me, love so clear in her gaze it hurts. “Thank you for not giving up on me.”

“Never. I’ll never give up on you. You’re it for me. My one and only. The stars never lie.”

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