Page 11 of Surprise Quadruplets for the Mob

“Abby…” Dr. Mitchell hesitates for a moment as she moves the ultrasound wand over my stomach again. “The good news is you aren’t sick. You’re pregnant. With…it looks like quadruplets.”

I blink as the whole world comes to a screeching halt.

“Quadruplets?” The word sounds ridiculous to my ears. My mind races with a whirlwind of emotions—shock, disbelief, fear. “Wait, wait…pregnant? I’m pregnant?”

“Given your current symptoms, and the difficulties associated with carrying so many fetuses to term, there may be some complications,” she continues, pointing to four tiny, distinct shapes on the screen. “We’ll need to monitor you closely throughout your pregnancy, should you choose to go through with it.”

“I… I…” I stare at her, still in shock. I’m freakingpregnant?But… But…

The doctor puts her devices down, eyes darting between my undoubtedly flabbergasted face, and my sister, before she quietly stands. “I’ll give you two a moment alone.”

She walks out, and Maggie squeezes my hand, no doubt sensing my turmoil. “We’ll get through this together, sis. Whatever it takes. Did you have any idea you might be pregnant? You haven’t even mentioned seeing anyone recently.”

I blink forcefully, trying to bring my brain into focus. “Well, it wasn’t super recent. It was a couple months ago, at the fundraiser.” My cheeks start to burn from the confession. “His name was Alec. We spent the night together, and I haven’t seen him since.”

Maggie’s expression softens. “Oh, sweetie, it’s okay. You’re an adult, and you have the right to make your own choices. You don’t have anything to be ashamed about, okay? But…two months ago? Didn’t you wonder why you skipped your periods?”

“But I didn’t!” I cry, sitting up straighter and clutching her hand even harder, as if that is somehow my lifeline. “I…well, I was spotting for a couple of days last month. It was super light and it ended way too quickly, but I figured maybe it was a side effect of the fertility drugs… It’s a period still, right? Sometimes it’s heavy, and sometimes it’s… I mean…”

But Maggie is shaking her head, and I stop talking. “No, women can sometimes have spotting in early stages of pregnancy, but it’s not the same as a period. I’ve looked into it before, but we can call Dr. Mitchell back if you want?”

“No,” I say quickly, “No, wait, give me a second, I’m not ready for anyone else to see me yet.”

“Okay, sweetie, okay. It’s going to be alright.”

I gulp audibly, and just sit there for a minute, silent.

“Abby?” I look back at my sister. “We don’t have to discuss it now, and you don’t even have to make a decision now, but sooner rather than later, considering you’re already two months gone, you’re going to have some decisions to make.”

“I know,” I swallow hard, pulling my hands back into my lap and wringing them. “I didn’t plan any of this, Mags. I wasn’t even sure if I wanted kids before, but now these babies are a part of me. They’re right there, you saw them. They’re alive. They exist, its… It’s real, you know? And whether or not Alec is in our lives, I think I want them. I don’t think it would be right to do anything else. They’re… They’re my babies.”

“Listen to me, Abby.” She grips my shoulders, her gaze unwavering. “No matter what happens, I will be there for you and those babies. You’ve got my support, always.”

“Thank you,” I say, tears prickling at the corners of my eyes. “I know it’s going to be hard. People are going to talk. They’re going to make assumptions.”

“Fuck ’em. You don’t owe anyone an explanation. This is your life, your body, your choice. And I’ll be damned if anyone tries to bring you down.”

“Okay.” I take a deep breath, steadying myself. “When the doctor comes back, I’ll tell her I’m going to keep the babies. I’ll deal with the risks as they come.”

“We’ll deal with them together,” she gently corrects me with a smile. “That’s what sisters do. That’s what you promised to do with me.”

“I’m terrified,” I admit. “Stupid fertility drugs. Did it really have to befour babies? At once?”

Maggie lets out a quiet chuckle, tears pooling in her eyes to match my own. “You always were the lucky one.”

“Lucky!” I cry, an incredulous smile pulling at my lips, but then my gaze darts down to her own still-flat stomach, and I flop backwards. “I guess I’ll only have to do it once, and I’ll have an entire family set up and ready to go.”

“They’ll be nearly the same age,” she tells me gently, and if she’s trying to take my mind off all the scary parts of this whole ordeal, it’s working. “My kids and yours, cousins, running around making trouble together.”

I take a deep breath and reach for her hand again. “I’m so glad you’re here with me.”

Maggie pulls me into a tight embrace, and I feel her warmth and strength seeping into my soul. “You’ll be okay,” she murmurs in my ear. “We’ll take it one day at a time, and we’ll get through this. Together.”

The door opens, and the doctor walks back in, her expression calm and professional. “Have you made a decision, Abby? Or should we reschedule in a week to discuss? I wouldn’t recommend waiting too much longer, unfortunately.”

I nod, my voice steady. “No, I know what I want. I’m going to keep them.”

“Very well.” She nods, making a note in her chart. “We’ll need to schedule more frequent checkups and ultrasounds to keep a close eye on your condition. You’ll also need to take extra care of yourself. Proper nutrition, rest, and hydration will be essential to your health and the health of your babies.”

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