Page 63 of Power Move
“How do you know?”
“Vibes. I don’t know. Tread carefully.”
“I won’t hit on women in front of you, Eva,” Davey agreed. “I’m trying to be a reformed bad boy, not a dick to you. Besides, after last night, you are heads and tails above the competition.”
That warmed my heart more than I wanted to admit.
“Evangeline Pav-lack?” A woman called.
“Here,” I answered, not even correcting her.
“Alright, we’re going to do your scan before we send you over to imaging for an x-ray on that hand of yours.”
“Great,” I said.
“Can she have an x-ray while pregnant?” Davey nervously asked.
“Yes. It is safe. We will cover her up well. Promise. An OB is monitoring all of this. She’s in good hands.”
It was a Catholic hospital, so I was concerned if that was true or not, but it was the best I could do. Driving back to Chicago felt like a chore, but I sensed Davey wouldn’t have resisted if asked. He was wildly protective.
“Should I take my panties off?” I asked.
“Let’s try to get a picture externally first,” the tech said.
I breathed deeply. Last time, we’d started this way, only to switch to the dildo wand of doom so I could learn everything was over. My world once came crashing down in a room like this. As my heart beat out of my chest, the tech squirted ultrasound gel on my growing stomach. I looked away, catching Davey’s gaze. He held my good hand tight and lovingly tucked hair behind my ear. My curls from earlier fell in the humidity on the way here.
“Well, here’s a nice little heartbeat,” the tech said. “Good for the gestation.”
I turned back to the screen as she took photos. Sure enough, I saw a baby looking very much like a baby with a proper beating heart. Last time I made it here, a stunted fetus with no activity looked back at me. Tears welled in my eyes as relief set in. As I breathed again, the tech began scrolling. I realized something was amiss from her confused face.
“I’m just going to go get someone quick,” she said. “No need to panic.”
OfcourseI was fucking panicking!
“It’s going to be fine,” Davey reiterated.
The tech returned with someone else a few excruciating minutes later.
“So, I see worried faces,” the man said. “Deep breaths. I’m Dr. Wallace and Alyssa identified something but there is no need to panic.”
“See. Deep breaths,” Davey said.
“They won’t tell us until they know beyond any doubt there is a reason to panic,” I said, now crying sad tears.
“There is the second sac.” The doctor pointed. “You are correct.”
“Second?” I gasped. “Second sac?”
“It was hiding. But the placenta… that’s the concern.”
“Looking here…” The doctor swirled the ultrasound wand on my stomach. “That’s the giveaway. It’s Mo-Di.”
“In English?” Davey asked. “What are you saying?”
“Sorry,” The doctor said. “These are Monochorionic-Diamniotic twins. That means they share a placenta but separate sacs. That is preferable to sharing both. Alyssa couldn’t confirm the separation, but she has now.”
“I’m sorry, but… what the fuck? Are you saying it’s twins?” I asked.
