Page 121 of Fight for Me

They sat in comfortable silence, Blane half listening to Anne crunch her cookies, the sitcom playing at a low volume in the background.

“I want to buy all the baby clothes ever.”

Blane looked up from his book. “Buy whatever you want. We’ll fill up their closets with clothes they’ll grow out of in a week.”

She snickered. “And those cute little tiny shoes.”

“Why do they need shoes when they can’t walk?”

She shrugged. “Because I think they’re cute?”

“Then they shall have shoes.”

Maybe Daniel wasn’t the only one who was Anne’s willing slave, he thought with a smile.

* * *

The next three months were a whirlwind. Between preparing for the twins and the campaign pace getting even more frenetic, Anne barely had time to think.

Their wedding and the subsequent photos had catapulted Blane and Anne to celebrity status. Glowing articles appeared, praising her style and fashion sense. Anne had to call in reinforcements in the form of Maria and her mother to help her buy a whole new wardrobe consisting of a lot of Dior, Alexander McQueen, Dolce & Gabbana and more. Shoes and a few hats followed.

Several of the design houses offered to make custom maternity clothes for Anne, an offer which she gratefully accepted. While she didn’t appear at most of Blane’s events, there were a few she couldn’t skip, so she had to look as good as possible. She felt as big as a house and the twins took turns using her bladder as a soccer ball.

The media and public went wild when they announced they were having twins. Baby gifts arrived at Blane’s office on a daily basis, driving security crazy since they had to go through and check each one. Anne thought it was very sweet that members of the public would take the time and effort to send a baby gift to them. Since she was forced to be in bed and off her feet for several hours each day, she spent the time writing thank you notes.

Her due date was tentatively August eleventh. Blane cleared the week before and the week of so he could be with her. He worked remotely from home and held meetings via video conference. Anne admitted that it was reassuring to have him so close, especially since she was on full bed rest now in the final month.

The doctor was concerned about the weight of the twins and wanted her to eat plenty of food and stay in bed to keep the babies developing for as long as possible. Every time Blane came to check on her—which was at least a half dozen times throughout the day—he brought something for her to eat. Daniel was making all her favorites and she could hardly turn the food down when he was going to all that trouble.

Setting aside the empty plate and teacup, she scooted down into the bed and pulled the blankets up over her. Lying on her back was out of the question. Gingerly, she shifted onto her side facing Blane, who helped her arrange pillows to support her belly. Their nightly routine. Every night, he’d rub her back and her feet, easing her discomfort considerably. Tonight the twins had decided to burn the midnight oil and bumps appeared, elbows and knees poking and rolling underneath her skin.

“They’re awake,” Blane declared, his voice excited. He never tired of watching them move around.

Her stomach jumped and Anne groaned. “Ugh. One of them has the hiccups again.”

Blane laughed in delight.

“Yeah, you can laugh,” she groused. “It’s the weirdest feeling ever.” Only two weeks left. She couldn’t wait for them to move out. She was ready to meet themandget her body back.

Blane tucked the pillows in for her one more time, then set aside his book and flipped off the lamp.

“Goodnight, babe.”

“Goodnight,” she sighed, eyes already shut as sleep crept over her, despite the hiccups.

* * *

Anne was slow to wake, but a creeping discomfort had her eyes opening, dragging her from slumber. She glanced at the clock. A little after one in the morning.

She winced, rubbing her stomach. Indigestion, probably. Goodness knows she couldn’t eat more than a few bites of anything without getting heartburn.

The pain eased and she adjusted her pillows, her eyes sliding closed. She was almost asleep when the pain struck again. She looked at the clock. Eleven minutes had passed. The pain started in her lower back, then crept around her stomach, all the muscles tightening. The closest thing she could compare it to was really bad menstrual cramps. Anne knew what this was.

It was time.

Panic struck her. Oh God. It was time. This was really happening. It was really going to hurt.

Once the pain receded, she made herself calm down. The pains were far apart. It could be false labor and they’d quit soon. No sense waking Blane and rushing to the hospital only to be sent home.

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