Second Chances: A PAVAD Duet (16 page)

Ally was no stranger to
ultrasound machines, and her eyes immediately flew to all the vital
signs visible. It was still quite early in the pregnancy and she
knew not to expect great detail. The doctor moved the wand around,
then Ally saw it. The sac.

There was a baby. Ally’s
breath caught and she reached instinctively for Dan’s hand. He
wrapped his fingers around hers and she held him just as tight. She
looked at the doctor. “There’s the baby.”

“
Yes. Looks to be exactly
as expected, and I think we may be able to see the heartbeat for
this little one. Yes…right there. Congratulations, we have a viable
pregnancy.”

Ally stared at the screen
for several long moments, remembering how it had felt the first
time she’d seen her other two babies on the screens. It was just
like this, despite the awkward circumstances of this pregnancy. Her
baby.

The doctor moved the wand
again, deliberately slipping it to the other side. Ally focused on
the movements. The doctor let out a hmmm that had Ally’s attention
focusing back on the other woman’s face. “What is it?”

“
It appears we have a
second sac right here. Hiding a bit. And give me a second…it
appears we have a second heartbeat, as well. Congratulations, Dr.
Brewster, Agent Reynolds. I believe you’re having
twins.”

Dan nearly choked when the
doctor pronounced that there were two babies growing. He’d not
counted on that. Between the two of them, they’d have seven
children. Of course, his oldest were adults, but seven children?
Wow.

Could he handle having two
more babies in the house? He was fifty-two years old. He would be
seventy when they graduated. Yes, he considered himself to be in
pretty decent shape for a man his age—and his doctor agreed. Except
for the still healing bullet holes, he was as healthy as a man ten
years younger. But still, two babies, on top of three other
children in the house, was a lot.

He couldn’t miss the worry
on his little doc’s face. She stared at the screen and both little
blips. “This ups the chance of it being a high risk
pregnancy.”

That hadn’t even occurred
to Dan. Was she healthy? Could she handle carrying twins? How old
was she, anyway? Weren’t there risks for older mothers?

The obstetrician nodded.
“You know the percentages. We’ll set up frequent appointments. I am
also a high-risk OB, and have had many twins through my practice.
We can get you through this.”

The doc nodded, then looked
at Dan. “When we do things, apparently we do it big,
huh?”

He laughed, surprised. “Of
course. Is there any other way? Dr. Straub, what’s the first thing
we need to do?”

“
Prenatal vitamins are a
definite must. As is a healthy diet. Morning sickness may start to
set in soon, but you know how to handle that, right, Dr. Brewster?
Light to moderate exercise. And when you are feeling tired, take it
easy. Don’t overdo anything. Do not push yourself. You do have
someone at home to help, correct?”

Dan nodded before the
little doc could answer. “She does. Several people. We will take
excellent care of her. You can count on that.”

“
Somehow I believe that.”
Dr. Straub hit a button on the machine and Dan listened to it whirl
to life. A few minutes later and he held the most precious pieces
of paper. Their twins’ first photographs.

He waited for the doc to
get redressed, then they exited to the waiting room. She set up the
next appointment time. Five minutes later they were back in the
parking lot.

“
Two.”

He barely heard the doc
over the sound of the rain hitting the metal roof of the parking
garage. “Yeah. Surprise.”

“
The kids are going to
freak.”

“
Probably. How are you
doing?” What difference would one more baby make? They would love
him or her just the same. And Dan held every confidence that once
some time had passed, the rest of their kids would feel the same
way.

“
Still overwhelmed. And
scared.” The doc’s hand was in his, and he wondered if she’d
realized she’d been the one to grab his hand. She needed him, for
emotional support, if nothing else. How long had it been since a
beautiful woman had needed him, and only him? Dan couldn’t quite
remember. But it felt good, and he’d do whatever he had to in order
to make sure she knew she had him.

“
I think we should get the
kids together tonight and tell them. Show them the ultrasound
pictures, let them know what is happening.”

“
So soon?”

“
Yes. Like the doctor said,
you’re going to need help. You need to rest, and what if the
morning sickness is bad? I can’t always be there, but Kelly or Emma
can, at least a good deal of the time. I don’t know what the doctor
meant about high-risk, but I don’t want you taking any chances, not
with your health or the babies’.” If he had his way, she’d be
living under his roof by the end of the night. “And I think they
will be a bit more upset with us if we wait too long to tell them.
Like we were trying to hide it.”

She nodded slowly. “Kelly,
especially. Ok. Tonight. I’ll get my kids and meet you at your
place around seven. I want to take them out to eat first. Spend
some time with them before I spring this on them. Ryan…Ryan still
thinks his father and I will get back together soon. Jack hasn’t
spoken with him since weeks before the move. This will crush Ryan.
I can’t take that lightly.”

“
I’ll call Kelly and Emma
and have them meet us by seven then.” Dan pulled the little doc
closer, then wrapped his hands around her waist. It took so little
effort to lift her up. He kissed her, pouring every bit of the
conflicting emotions running through him into the embrace. They
were both a bit short of breath when he pulled back. “Doc, we can
do this. And we have the rest of our lives to get it
right.”

Ally avoided Kelly as much
as possible for the rest of the afternoon, but near the end of the
shift, she couldn’t put off speaking with the younger woman any
longer. Kelly’s attention, thankfully, wasn’t fully on what Ally
was saying, so the daily report went smoothly.

“
My dad wants us at his
house tonight for dinner.” Kelly told Ally as Ally handed Kelly her
coat. “I don’t know what time I’ll be home.”

“
I’m taking the kids out to
dinner. I’m not sure when I’ll be home either.”

“
Are you ok? You act like
something is on your mind.” Kelly’s green eyes were worried as they
looked at Ally. All of Dan’s children had those green eyes. Her two
had her blue ones. What would the babies have? Which would be
dominant? Ally shook that thought away and focused on her best
friend.

“
I’m a bit tired, that’s
all.” Ally wanted to cry. Kelly had so much trouble trusting people
in her life, and tonight Ally was going to crush their relationship
in a very permanent way. “I got to go, get the kids. I’ll see you
later.”

***

They sensed something was
wrong, Ally had no difficulty seeing that. Ryan was
uncharacteristically surly and Aislin clingy. It was a difficult
dinner and she knew the remainder of the evening was about to get
even more difficult. For all of them. She turned the SUV onto Dan’s
street. “Kids, I have something important to tell you.”

“
Are we moving again?” Ryan
tapped his feet on the back of the driver’s seat. This time Ally
ignored it.

“
Well, I don’t know. Maybe.
To a bigger house. Eventually.”

“
I don’t want to move! I’m
starting to have friends here!”

“
Honey, you would still go
to the same school. I don’t even know if we will be
moving.”

“
Then what do you have to
tell us, then?”

“
I’ll tell you in just a
minute. We need to get with Aunt Kelly and her sisters first. And
their dad.”

“
Why do they have to be
there? Is he your new boyfriend?” Ally didn’t know how to address
that so she just kept quiet as she turned off the ignition. When
had Ryan developed this animosity toward her? Toward Dan? Was it
because of Jack? Or something else? Had he sensed something during
those weeks they were staying with Dan?

This wouldn’t make what was
about to happen any easier.

“
Whatever happens inside,
young man, you will remain civil to Dan and everyone else. Do you
understand?” Ally’s words were resigned, and she knew it. All her
fears were starting to be realized and they hadn’t even told their
children yet.

“
Yes, ma’am. There’s Aunt
Kelly!”

Ally looked at the porch,
seeing the younger woman standing with her sisters. Kelly was
obviously puzzled. Dan hadn’t told them she was coming,
then.

There he was, standing just
behind his three daughters. Dan had only fathered daughters, what
were the chances the twins would both be girls?

Ally shook those thoughts
away as she pulled her daughter out of her carseat. She sat Aislin
on her feet and the little girl skipped to Kelly’s side. Aislin
loved Kelly so much. Ally’s hand covered her stomach where the
twins rested, and where the nausea was beginning to
roll.

Dan stepped off the porch
and approached her. She heard him tell the girls to go inside, that
they would be inside in a minute. She watched him as he came
closer, barely aware of his children and hers doing as he said.
“Doc?”

“
Ryan’s already upset with
me. He doesn’t want to move again, and I haven’t even told him we
may. I don’t know if I can do this.”

“
I don’t think we have much
of a choice, doc. What do you say we just do it? Get it over with
the best way we can? Deal with the fall-out as it comes. Together.”
He held a hand out to her, much like he had the first time they’d
met. Ally drew in a deep breath, and took it.

Dan kept her hand in his as
they followed their children into the house he’d bought twelve
years ago. He’d had dreams of raising his children in the house and
he’d wanted them to have room to spread out. With seven bedrooms
and four baths, he had that. And now he’d have a family to fill
it.

It had been a sacrifice to
afford the home at first, back when he’d first started out. But
he’d trusted his financial advisor—Ed Dennis—and the other man had
made several wise investments on Dan’s behalf. Now the house was
paid for, and he had three college funds just waiting for his
daughters to access them. So far Kelly had proven resistant to that
idea, but the money was hers. And Emma’s was hers, waiting until
she graduated.

Dan made a mental note—he
had four more college funds to set up. He’d talk to Ed about
shifting some of his assets around first thing next week. He should
be able to manage it, if he readjusted some things. And he’d need
to put Ally and the kids on his life insurance policy. He had a lot
of changes to make next week.

The doc’s two children were
rolling around with Cletus under Emma’s watchful eye. Gracie sat in
the corner, watching everyone with a considering expression on her
face. Kelly stood, arms crossed, in the kitchen. Waiting for him
and the doc. Dan hesitated. How should they do this? Tell the older
two separately from the children? Kelly and Emma were adults, they
had to respect that. Or should they tell all of their children at
once? Treat them like a united group from the very beginning? Which
would be best?

“
Dad? Ally? What is this?”
Kelly’s tone was full of suspicion. Her eyes were trained on the
hand Dan still held. “What’s going on?”

“
We have something to tell
you all.” Dan pointed to the kitchen table. Kelly stared at them
for a long moment. Emma picked up the doc’s little girl and carried
her to the table. Gracie and Ryan followed, both looking confused.
Kelly was the last to table. Instead of sitting, she stood, one
hand on the back of Gracie’s chair, the other on Emma’s. Emma had
little Aislin on her lap. Ryan kept looking between his mother and
Dan, confusion and worry on his face. Poor kids, they all looked so
confused.

Dan’s stomach clenched. It
had sounded so easy when he and the doc had been making their
plans. But five sets of eyes on them didn’t make it the least bit
easy.

“
Mom? What’s going on? Why
are you holding Mr. Reynolds’ hand?”

Dan heard the doc’s breath
catch. In that moment he knew she was about to cry. He pulled her
closer, then scooted the chair at the head of the table over to one
side. He pulled a second chair up next to it, and nudged the doc
into that chair. Kelly finally slid into the chair at the end.
Facing her father. He looked at his family. The doc was on his
right. Emma and Aislin his left, then Gracie, Kelly, and the only
boy, Ryan. All were in a position where he and the doc could see
their faces.

Dan took a deep breath. “We
have something to tell you. It’s going to change
things.”

“
Oh, God. You didn’t!”
Kelly suddenly said. “Ally? You and my dad?”

“
Kelly…” the doc’s voice
shook. She was shaking.

“
Let us finish, please.
Kelly’s not wrong.” Dan looked his eldest in the eye. She would be
the hardest, he knew that. Especially for him. “The night you were
shot, Ally stayed here with me, yes. Things happened.”