Page 70 of 7+Us Makes Nine

The doctor looked over at me as his eyebrows shot up to his hairline.

“I don’t want to offend you, Miss Faust, but when I saw you at the door, the only thing I could think was that you looked more developed than a woman who was sitting at only five months pregnant.”

“What?” she asked.

“It’s why I suggested the extra five minutes for the ultrasound. But I think you’re going to want to give me a little more than that,” he said.

“Why?” I asked. “What’s wrong with our child?”

“Not child, Mr. Logan. Children.”

I looked down into Catherine’s face and watched her skin pale.

“What?” she asked.

“Do you see these four circles here?” the doctor asked.

He pointed to the screen at four very distinct ovals. Then, as Catherine groaned, I watched one of them spin around. A pair of feet came into view. And then another.

And then, another pair of feet.

Eight small feet, each with ten little toes.

“Oh my gosh,” Catherine said with a whisper.

“What?” I asked.

“You’re having quadruplets,” the doctor said.

I stared at the screen as they continued to flip around. It wasn’t until Catherine squeezed my hand that I came back to reality. I looked down at her and saw a massive smile crawling across her face as tears flooded her cheeks. And as if my entire world had stopped, I bent down and kissed her lips. I held her head cradled in the palm of my hand. I held her as close as I could get her. Joy filled my heart and elation permeated through my gut.

“We’re having quadruplets,” I said with a smile.

I kissed her over and over again as the doctor clicked buttons in the background.

“We’re having quadruplets!” I exclaimed.

I slid my arms around Catherine and pulled her close. She smiled into my neck and I couldn't stop laughing. Quadruplets.

Holy shit, we were having quadruplets.

“Do you want to know the genders?” the doctor asked.

“Yes,” Catherine said immediately. “Yes. Yes we do.”

“I would start saving back Michaela’s clothes,” the doctor said, “because you’re having three girls and a boy.”

Tears streamed down my face. My body felt as if it wasn’t its own. I felt like I was floating on cloud nine, drifting through space in an endless abyss of warmth. I smoothed Catherine’s hair from her forehead as she looked up at me, and my heart felt like it was going to burst with pride.

“I love you,” I said.

Her eyes widened as my admission stopped me in my tracks.

But it was true.

I loved this woman.

I was in love with Catherine Faust.

---