Page 34 of Twin Babies For The Grump

He’s said over and over again how he doesn’t want to ruin his father’s legacy and how he wants to use Grapefest as a means of starting his own. If it gets out that something like this has happened, it could skew public view of Owen.

I let out a heavy, shaky breath. Maybe I’m just getting ahead of myself!

The test only takes thirty seconds to run, but doctors seem to function on a timeline that is unknown to literally everyone else. It feels like almost a solid hour before anyone comes back in. The doctor is smiling, which means it’s good news.

The question is, what does he consider good news?

“Congratulations,” says the doctor, sitting back down on his stool. He rolls it closer to me. “You’re going to be a mother.”

The words crack into me, somehow both joyous and awful. You shouldn’t be allowed to feel two strongly conflicting things like this!

Tears prick at my eyes.

The doctor continues, “We have a great support system here for expecting mothers. I’ll have the girls up front set you an appointment up, and we’ll— You have the portal, right?”

I give a mute nod.

Unaware, or uncaring, of the emotional turmoil that I’m going through, the man continues, “We’ll send you some resources through it, so you can make your own decision on who you want to see.”

He continues, rattling off the bare essentials of what someone that’s pregnant should know; the fact that you can’t drink now, smoking is unadvised, don’t do drugs, try to rest as you get later into your pregnancy.

All things that I know.

Honestly, it’s a haze after that. I make an appointment with someone else at the office for two weeks out and then find myself on the long dirt road that leads to Delia Winery. There’s something comforting about the drive. It’s familiar. I’ve made it countless times before.

With sweaty palms, I pull over onto the side of the road and step out of the car. I need to get to work, but at the same time, I just need a few minutes. I step around to the back of the car, leaning against the trunk, and looking out over the patchwork valley around me.

It’s beautiful in a way that’s hard to put into words.

Using the scrunchie on my wrist, I pull my hair back out of my face and try to work out the situation. The calming surroundings help settle my thoughts, making it a lot easier to think about this on a more objective level.

I don’t want to keep it secret from Owen forever, but I decide that if there’s any way to keep the news under wraps until after the festival, I’m going to do it. That way, it can’t affect the media view of the winery, and it can’t affect our ranking in Grapefest.

With my decision made, I get back in the car and finish the long drive out to the winery. Unfortunately, I’ve barely been there for five minutes before Owen spots me and heads over, shaking his head.

“What are you doing here?” Owen asks me. “I told you not to come in while you’re sick.”

“I’m better,” I say. “I went to the doctor’s and everything.”

“You look pale.” He reaches out like he’s going to press a hand to my face, then catches himself at the last minute and gestures around at the winery instead. “This place isn’t going to fall apart because you’re off for a few days.”

“I don’t need to be off anymore,” I insist, frustrated. I should have gotten a doctor’s note, but I didn’t think about it. The shock over being pregnant had taken hold, and I had just left the place in a total haze.

It’s clear that Owen’s not thrilled with that. He makes a frustrated sound in the back of his throat. “Half a day.”

“What?” I ask, surprised.

Owen says, “You can work a half day, and then I want you home. You can’t be pushing yourself right now.”

It’s better than him just insisting I leave right then, so I take it.

“A half-day,” I promise. “And Owen? I seriously am fine.”

Chapter Fifteen

Owen

IknowthatTesssays she’s alright, but I can’t help keeping a close eye on her throughout the day.

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