Angel's Rest(75)

“Sage said you had a concussion.”

“Yeah. I got a lecture in the ER about the danger of neglecting blows to the head, but everything checked out okay. They want to keep me for another hour for observation, but then I can go home. Can I hitch a ride with you?”

“Absolutely.” He gave her hand a squeeze, then released it and sat back. “Sage described what happened. You’re lucky you weren’t hurt worse.”

“I know. I was scared about the pregnancy there for a while. Believe me, I’m going to be much more careful from now on. Especially since I’m going to be on crutches for a few weeks.” She closed the magazine she’d been reading, and set it on the bed tray. “Now, tell me what’s up with you. How is Will?”

Gabe drew a deep breath, then exhaled in a rush. He’d been so consumed with worry that it took him a moment to adjust to the change of subject. “First, are you telling me everything? Is there anything we need to be concerned about?”

He tensed when she hesitated before saying, “You know about all my injuries. I promise. I’ll be just fine in a few weeks. Now, tell me about your brother-in-law.”

Hmm. Why did he think she wasn’t telling him everything? Unwilling to press the point right now, he responded to her request. “Better. Much better. This has been a wake-up call for him. He’s always been a workaholic, but this scared him enough to make some lifestyle changes.”

A rap on the door caused them both to look up. A woman wearing a lab coat entered the room saying, “Nic, I have those photos you requested.”

Gabe didn’t miss the nervous glance Nic shot him before saying, “Thanks, Liz. Gabe, this is my obstetrician, Dr. Elizabeth Marshall. Liz, my husband, Gabe Callahan.”

“Nice to meet you,” the doctor said, shaking his hand. Handing Nic the photos, she added, “I know this was a scare for you today, but your wife and babies are doing just fine.”

From the corner of his eye, Gabe saw Nic grimace. Why would she … His heart began to pound and his eyes flew open wide. “Excuse me? Did you just say …?”

The doctor pursed her lips in dismay. Looking at Nic, she asked, “Did I speak out of turn?”

“He just got here a few minutes ago.”

Gabe cleared his throat. “Nic?”

She tried to smile, but it was a sickly effort at best. “I had a sonogram today.” She held up the pictures. “Gabe, we’re having twins.”

He exhaled as if she’d punched him in the gut and closed his eyes. Twins. He dropped his chin to his chest. Twins. He leaned over, propped his elbows on his knees, and cradled his head in his hands. Twins.

His stomach rolled and his skin grew clammy. Without saying a word to the women, he rose and walked into the room’s bathroom, where he turned on the cold water, leaned over, and splashed his face for a full minute. Then he shut off the water, gave his head a shake, and looked up, staring at his reflection in the mirror. He was as white as the snow atop Sinner’s Prayer Pass. “Twins,” he murmured.

“You’re not going to faint, are you, Mr. Callahan?” Dr. Marshall asked from the doorway. “We don’t want you to bang your head today, too.”

“I’m fine,” he lied, grabbing a white hand towel off a towel bar and wiping his face. He replaced the towel, took a bracing breath, and exited the bathroom.

Nic watched him with an anxious expression, her hands clasped and resting protectively over her stomach. Was she worried he’d be upset? Angry? Maybe he would get angry later—at fate, not at Nic—but right now he was too numb for that.

Twins. Double the risk. Double the responsibility.

Double the potential loss.

Great. Just great.

He addressed the obstetrician. “Do you have any special instructions for Nic I should know about? Any limits to her activities?”

“Only those dictated by common sense. She’s now classified by my office as a high-risk pregnancy, but don’t let that worry you. It’s the norm for all my moms carrying multiples, and it means we’ll follow her a little more closely, see her more often, do a few more tests. You can probably plan that she’ll deliver early.”

“Here at this hospital? Does she need to be at a neonatal center?”

“Not unless problems develop later on. I’ve given Nic a packet of literature to take home. It’ll answer most of your questions, and of course you’re always welcome at her prenatal appointments.”