Page 103 of The Doctor's Twins

Madison called me the next day.

“Hey, sis. How are you? How’s little Gabi?”

“Hi, Pey. We’re all great, thanks. Craig and I decided that he needs to go for the snip. Honestly, I think my heart was a few sizes too big when I thought that having more than three kids would be fun. Gabi had cured me of that dumb ass idea.”

I laughed.

“That busy, is she?”

“OMG, Pey. She’s got more spunk than the two boys put together. The kid is allergic to sitting still. We went to the beach the other day, and I swear I dug around in my bag for a mere ten seconds just to look up again and find Madam was missing.”

“Oh, crap, Madi. What happened?”

“Her Highness took a stroll to see if she could find anything interesting to eat in someone else’s bag. The kid scared the shit out of me. There I was, running around the beach like a mad woman, thinking my kid had been kidnapped.”

“Shit, Madi. Where’d you find her?”

“The little shit was chatting away to the lifeguard and sharing his packet of crisps with him. Well, I was finished! We packed up and went home. I swear, I’m going to have to put a leash on that kid.”

I couldn’t help laughing at my sister. Madi had always been so calm and put together. Hearing her losing her shit was oddly comforting. I didn’t feel like the inadequate baby sister anymore.

“Anyway, I didn’t call to complain about my pint-sized terrorist. How are you and Ben? How’s work?”

“Ben is an angel, and work is exhausting but good.”

“That’s wonderful, Pey. What else is news?”

“I spoke to Ben last night about having a baby.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful. What did he say?”

“He’s keen. It’s not going to be easy, though. I’m not sure I can fall pregnant after the mess Mateo made of me.”

“I’m so sorry, Peyton. My heart aches for you.”

“Thanks, Madi. Ben is going to see if he can do a little damage control. Pray for us.”

“Of course. When is he going to operate?”

“I’ll let you know.”

We chatted for a while longer before we hung up.

Hope springs eternal, Peyton.

* * *

The pressure was on. The burden of helping Peyton and hopefully being instrumental in her being able to have a successful pregnancy weighed heavily on me. I called in a few experts in the field of surgical gynecology to assist me with the operation.

Peyton was nervous. I could tell by the way she was chewing away furiously on her button lip as she lay on the gurney in the operating theater.

“Stop stressing, my love. That’s my job,” I smiled and kissed her.

“Ugh! I wish it was over already.”

“You and me both, beautiful. Are you ready?”

Peyton nodded.

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