Chapter 57
The monitor started beeping.
Soft rhythmic sounds filling the quiet room. Images appeared on the screen. Black and white. Grainy shapes that slowly started making sense.
Dr. Matthews moved the wand across Elara’s stomach. Slow circles. Applying gentle pressure. His eyes fixed on the monitor.
“There.” He pointed with his free hand. “See that? That’s the head. And there, those are the tiny feet. Still developing but you can see them.”
Elara was smiling now, a bright beautiful smile. That fear she’d been carrying since she first saw those positive tests instantly turned to joy. All of the fear and how to tell Marcus or how Marcus would react when he found out totally left her head.
She was going to be a mother.
Mimi was smiling too. Standing beside the bed. Holding Elara’s hand, squeezing it gently.
“How do we know the gender?” Elara asked. Her voice coming out softer than intended. Emotional. “Can you tell this early?”
Dr. Matthews nodded. “Sometimes. At eight weeks it’s still early but we can try to see. The genitals are starting to form. Let me just…” He moved the wand again. Adjusted the angle. Zoomed in on the screen. “Yes. There. See that? Based on what I’m seeing, I’d say it’s a girl.”
A girl.
Elara felt tears forming. She didn’t know if she’d be a good mum yet, but she’s sure as hell going to do her very best.
She was having a daughter.
The doctor continued moving the instrument across her stomach. Checking everything. Making sure all
the measurements were correct.
Mimi looked at Elara. Switched to their shared Nigerian English. The kind only they understood after years of friendship.
“You know say, you go gats tell am now.”
Tell him. She meant Marcus, it’s due time he knew about the baby because if it goes farther like this he might not forgive her.
Elara nodded. “Of course I know. It’s overdue.”
She did know. She had known for weeks, she had been thinking of the best possible way to tell him. At first she planned that after the marriage and their trip from Santorini she was going to tell him, but right now there’s too much tension between them.
Well she thought of it and she’s going to tell him soon, but thinking and actually doing it were two
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Chapter 57
completely different things.
“Wait. Hold on.”
55 vectors
Dr. Matthews’s voice cut through their conversation as his entire face expression changed. He became focused and looked at the monitor so intense like he was seeing something unexpected.
Both of them stopped talking immediately.
He grabbed more gel. Squeezed it onto Elara’s stomach. Started moving the wand again. Faster this time. More deliberately as he checked and rechecked.l.
They were starting to panic now. The look on his face said something was wrong. Something he wasn’t saying.
Mimi’s grip on Elara’s hand tightened. “Is everything alright, doctor?”
Fear crept into her voice.
Elara’s heart was racing. “Please. Is my baby okay? Is she okay?”
Dr. Matthews looked up from the monitor. His brow lifted as his mouth came wide open, he was not worried anymore, he looked surprised even almost amazed.
“They….They’re okay.”
They?
Elara and Mimi looked at each other. Confused and lost at whatever the doctor just said.
“It’s two heartbeats.” Dr. Matthews pointed to the screen. “I almost missed it. But there. And there. Two distinct heartbeats.”
“Doctor, what do you mean?” Elara’s brain was struggling to process. Working too slowly. Like her thoughts were moving through water.
“I mean you’re having twins.”
Twins.
The word hung in the air as it echoed in the room.
“A boy and a girl,” the doctor continued. Pointing to different areas on the screen. “See? Here’s your daughter. And there’s your son.”
The shock showed instantly on Elara’s face. Her mouth opened and closed. No words coming out.
Wait. What?
Twins?
Two babies?
She’d been wrapping her head around one. Figuring out how to handle one baby. One secret to keep from
14:47 Mon, May 11 O
Chapter 57
Marcus. One life to prepare for.
And now there were two?
She looked over at Mimi. “Do you want one?”
Mimi looked at her like she’d lost her mind. “Me wey no carry belle? You think say I be fool? You wan give me pikin wey no be my own?”
They both laughed very loud. Probably too loud for a hospital room. But neither of them cared.
Twins. She was having twins.
The session continued. Dr. Matthews took measurements. Printed out images. Explained development stages and what to expect over the next few weeks.
When they finally finished, Elara cleaned the gel off her stomach. Pulled her dress back down. Sat up slowly.
Dr. Matthews handed her a folder. “All your results. Ultrasound images. Everything you need. I’ve also scheduled your antenatal care appointments. The dates are in there. You’ll need to come in every four weeks until you’re further along.”
“Thank you, doctor.”
“You’re welcome. And congratulations. Twins are a blessing. Exhausting, but a blessing.”
They thanked him again and left. Walked down the hallway, through the waiting area as they saw the receptionist again and waved her goodbye. They were out the front doors into the afternoon scorching
sun.
“You have to come see my mum,” Elara said as they walked toward the parking lot. “She’s always asking about you.”
“You know what, I’ll come tomorrow. Just send me the address of the hospital.”
“Okay. I will.”
They walked toward where Mimi’s car was parked. Parked under a tree for shade.
Elara stopped suddenly.
Mimi almost bumped into her. She was walking directly at her back. Had to catch herself.
“What is it?”
Elara turned, looking around the parking lot, the street and buildings nearby. Her eyes scanned everything.
“What is it?” Mimi asked again. More urgent this time. Like Elara was seeing a ghost.
“I kind of feel like someone is following us.” Elara’s voice came out quiet and unsure. “Not following us exactly. But like someone is watching us. I have this creepy feeling.”
Chapter 57
May
Mimi turned immediately to look around the entire area also.
But nobody was there. Just a few people walking past. Normal hospital visitors. Nothing suspicious.
She walked to her car. Unlocked it. Got in the driver’s seat. Looked at Elara who was still standing there. Still scanning the area like she was searching for something she couldn’t quite see.
“Let’s go,” Mimi ordered.
Elara quickly turned. Shook off the feeling and got in the passenger seat.
Mimi started the engine. Pulled out of the parking spot as they drove off.
AD
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