doctor began chatting about her pregnancy, and Teresa was forced to take her mind off Jim. But he continued to hold her hand.
“You’ve gained a couple more pounds than I expected, my dear. Have you been doing a lot of munching between meals? You have to watch that. We want a healthy baby, you know.”
“Yes, doctor,” Teresa said, biting her bottom lip.
He must’ve seen her uneasiness. “Well, now, I’m sure you’ll be careful. The nurse is going to put some petroleum jelly on your stomach so we can get a picture of your baby.”
Teresa clutched Jim’s hand as if it were a lifeline. She didn’t bother looking at him to make sure he wasn’t staring in disgust at her stomach. Instead she kept her eyes on the nurse’s movement. The jelly felt a little cold and a bit slimey. But she so badly wanted to see her baby and make sure it was all right.
“Now I’m going to press down on your stomach,” Dr. Benson said. “It may be a little uncomfortable, but it will ensure a good picture. You watch the monitor.”
Teresa fastened her eyes on the small screen. When the picture came through, they all watched closely.
“Well, well, well,” the doctor said a few moments later, beaming a broad smile at Teresa. “I see now why you picked up the extra pounds. I should’ve expected this. After all, you are a triplet.”
Good thing she was lying down, or the news might have knocked her to her back. Was he saying what she thought he was? “Dr. Benson, does this mean…Am I having…”
He nodded his head. “Twins.”
Not one baby, but two? What Tommie had feared about her relationship with Pete—a multiple birth—had come true for her.
She sobered suddenly as a fearsome thought hit home. Would Jim think he was the father? After all, he was a twin. She tried to remove her hand from his. After getting this profound news, she couldn’t face another pronouncement right now.
Thankfully she heard the doctor ask, “Do you want to know the sex of your babies?”
Jim squeezed her hand. She didn’t know what that meant, but she’d made her decision before she arrived at the doctor’s office. “Yes, I do.”
The doctor beamed down at her. “You’re having twin boys, my dear. Your life is going to be very busy.”
“Yes,” Teresa agreed, avoiding Jim’s gaze. Twin boys. She didn’t know anything about boys. No, she corrected herself, that wasn’t true. She had about fifteen of them every year in her kindergarten class. But sons? She was having two sons?
As if sensing how overwhelmed she was, the kindly sexagenarian doctor patted her hump. “Now, I’m going to go to my office. After the nurse cleans you up and you get dressed, she’ll show you to my office and we’ll have a little talk. I can answer any questions you might have.”
“Thank you, doctor.” She waited for the nurse to take Jim back to the waiting room.
“Mr. Schofield, is it? You want to wait in my office for Teresa?” the doctor asked.
Teresa wanted to scream no. Jim had no business being in the consultation with them.
However, before she could protest, he bent over and kissed her forehead and accepted the doctor’s invitation.
“So, the babies are all right?” Jim asked Dr. Benson as he followed him into the office. “And Teresa?”
“All three are in perfect shape.” The doctor sat in his leather chair and smoothed his tie over his chest. “Mr. Schofield, if you don’t mind my asking, how are you related to this situation?”
“I’m Teresa’s sister’s husband’s brother,” Jim said. “I came with her as a friend, sort of as her brother.”
The doctor nodded his head, and began jotting some notes in a file. He didn’t look up as he spoke. “I think under the circumstances we’d better wait until Teresa comes in. But I hope you will continue to offer her support. It won’t be easy to raise two little boys by herself.”
“I’m a twin myself,” Jim said. At that, the doctor picked up his head, fully attentive. Jim knew what the man was thinking. A mother who was a triplet—and a father who was a twin? But Jim revealed nothing. He had no right to divulge the truth. Only Teresa could do that.
“Really?” Dr. Benson intoned, trying for mildly interested. “Then you’ll be a lot of help.”
Jim wanted that responsibility. Though he’d never pictured himself married, he was willing to take that leap so that he could be involved in his sons’ lives. He’d never deny his kids. He’d also never regret them. Though this complicated situation was created out of his own stupidity, Jim vowed to do what was right.
The door opened and Teresa, again dressed in a turquoise dress that made her blue eyes look huge, stepped into the office.
“Come in, my dear. I’m so pleased with your pregnancy. Now, do you have any questions?”
Teresa stared first at the doctor and then at Jim.
Before she could speak, Jim reminded her, “Don’t you want to ask about the baby, I mean babies, moving?”
“You felt the babies moving?” Dr. Benson asked.
“I felt what I would describe as a flutter. It worried me,” she admitted.
“That’s a good sign. Perfectly normal. Now, I want you to continue your normal activities, but don’t push yourself. A nap every day would be good. Pamper yourself, but don’t overeat.”
“Yes, doctor.”
“Do you have any other questions?”
“I—I can’t think of any others,” she said faintly.
“Good. But you call if you’re worried about something. I think the best thing for your babies is to have a happy mom. You should be spoiled and cared for. Mr. Schofield has promised—as your brother, sort of—to be sure you’re cared for. I’m holding him to his promise.”
“No! He isn’t my—It’s not his responsibility. I can take care of myself!”
“That’s exactly what I mean,” the doctor said as Teresa jumped from her chair. “It’s not good for the babies or for you to get agitated.”
Teresa sank back into her chair, assisted by Jim, and took deep breaths. “I’m sorry. I’ll be careful. My sisters will check in on me. That will be sufficient.”
In a fatherly manner, the doctor said, “My dear, you should never turn down a friend. We all need any help we can get.”
Jim watched Teresa’s jaw tighten, just as it had when he’d asked who was the father of her babies. “She’ll be careful, doctor. She loves children.”
“Good.” He stood and held out his hand first to Teresa and then to Jim. “Let me know if you have any questions.”
Teresa
