Page 57 of Echos and Empires
“I haven’t. There’s five of us,” he shrugged and didn’t sound the least bit concerned. “We’re taking turns.”
The doctor didn’t comment on the size of her harem, but off the island there were traditionally multiple men sharing the same woman. It was only here that the concept seemed strange.
The grainy image flickered on the screen as the wand moved over her belly, fragile and full of promise. Emma watched the growing orbs, her heart twisting with love and the ache of unfulfilled happiness. Liam sat beside her, a reassuring presence she couldn’t completely embrace. The joy that should have been overflowing felt damned by the weight of her own turmoil. As the appointment ended, the sense of defeat clung to her, areminder that each step forward was shadowed by the looming threat of falling back.
Her thoughts tangled in contradictions. She loved the life inside her, the anticipation of motherhood swelling with every flutter she felt. Yet the fear of what lay ahead, the shadow of Victor’s reach, eclipsed the happiness she so desperately wanted to hold on to. She squeezed Liam’s hand, a silent confession that she was struggling to balance it all.
“They’re amazing, like holy fuck, Em,” Liam said, his voice filled with a warmth that should have comforted her. Emma nodded, her eyes fixed on the screen even as they left the room. His hand squeezed tighter around hers.
She saw the future reflected in the small figures on the monitor, a future she longed for but couldn’t bring herself to fully trust.
“Hard to believe, isn’t it?” she murmured, her tone betraying the complexity of her emotions. It was hard to believe. Hard to believe that in a world so unpredictable, they could have something so pure, so hopeful. And even harder to believe that they could keep it safe.
Liam seemed to sense her inner conflict, the way her happiness was being drowned by a tidal wave of worry. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close as they walked. “They’re going to be perfect,” he said, his conviction strong and unyielding. “And so are you.”
Emma leaned into him, grateful for the solidity of his belief even as her own faltered. She wished she could be as sure, wished she could push past the fear that held her back. But every time she thought she was moving forward, doubt dragged her back, leaving her feeling like she was running in place.
The emotional push-pull gnawed at her, the constant tension of wanting to feel joy and being overwhelmed by doubt. She couldn’t escape the thought that she was failing, that herinability to fully embrace this moment was a sign of weakness. How could she bring a child into this world when she herself felt so fragile?
“Okay then,” the wand left her stomach. “If you don’t mind the extra attention, I’d like you to come see me every week instead. You’re nearly to the second trimester and I’d prefer no surprises.”
She froze, terror clawing at her that he would monitor her so frequently. “Doctor Larsen said every two weeks. Where is she, anyway?”
“My wife,” his gaze fell to his feet. “My wife was pregnant with twins when the bombs fell. We lived in New York. The whole city was gone, but the bombs didn’t get my wife. They got our babies, and she took her life, unwilling to survive without them.” he cleared his throat. “Which is why I want to protect yours.”
Tears blurred her vision at his confession, the words twisting her gut like a towel and cutting off her air.
“I’m so sorry,” she choked out, tears sliding down her cheeks.
“We won’t let that happen to your babies. Doctor Larsen has been reassigned, they all know what twins mean to me.”
“No, we won’t.” Liam cut in. “Also, the vitamins, do you like them?”
A flash of something passed in the other man’s eyes. “I’m not taking them. I don’t need to help with more babies. Not yet.” He cleared his throat. “I’ll see you in next week.” He pushed the rolling chair away, leaving Emma and Liam a moment later.
“Emma, they’re stunning, you’re stunning.”
She flushed, a compliment from Liam always got to her differently.
“Liam, did you hear what Dan said? He doesn’t take vitamins, and he’s checking on me without sending me to the backroom.”
“I know what you’re thinking, and I agree. Next appointment we’ll ask him to come with us, but for now, I think the idea of a good doctor on the inside.” He offered her his hand, “hop on down and let’s go home?”
She nodded, slipping her hand into his and letting him help her up. “I think it’s okay if you wait outside. I’ll get dressed and join you.”
“You certain?”
“Yeah, I could use a minute, honestly.”
“Oh, okay,” Liam let go of her hand and left without another word.
The heavinessin Emma’s silence weighed on Liam as they walked, an unspoken presence that trailed behind them like a shadow. They didn’t keep secrets, but lately, her withdrawal felt like one. As they left the doctor’s office, Liam’s determination to bridge the growing distance hardened. He told her he was there whenever she was ready to talk, knowing he couldn’t force the words out but hoping they’d come before the silence consumed them.
“Emma,” he said softly, his voice cutting through the thickness of unspoken fears. “You know I’m here, right? Whenever you’re ready to talk about how scared you are.”
She looked at him, her hazel eyes a mixture of gratitude and sadness. “I know, Liam. It’s just,” She paused, the weight of what she couldn’t quite say hanging in the air between them.
“You don’t have to do this alone,” Liam pressed, his sincerity wrapping around her like a protective embrace. “Whatever it is, we’ll figure it out.”
