“What?” Lia’s eyes widened.
“Both babies are fine,” Holly said.
“Both babies? Wait. Am I having twins?”
Holly blinked. “Yes. Didn’t you know that?”
“No. This is my first sonogram. Dr. Steinbeck never said anything about there being two babies.”
Holly turned the screen toward us. Sure enough, I saw two little nuggets, each with its own pulsating heartbeat.
“Oh my goodness.” Tears blurred my vision. “They’re beautiful.”
Lia laughed. “Twins. I can’t believe it. My cousin has twins.”
“So twins run in the family?” Holly asked.
“They do.” My voice wobbled. “I’m also a twin. I mean, I was a twin.”
Lia took my hand. I didn’t talk about Cheryl that much because it was just too painful. Yet, how could I not remember her in this moment?
Lia squeezed my hand a little tighter. “You’re crying, Mom.”
“Am I?”
I swiped at my eyes, surprised by my tears. “It’s just so amazing, isn’t it?”
“It is.” Lia smiled at me in a way she hadn’t smiled at me in a long time.
“Are you interested in learning the gender today?” Holly asked.
Lia nodded. “Yes.”
Holly pointed to the screen. “Baby A is a girl, and Baby B is also a girl.”
Lia laughed. “Two little girls. I can’t believe it.”
I shook my head, unable to believe any of it myself. My sweet Lia was having not one but two babies, and they were both perfectly fine. As a bonus, I’d been here to learn the news. What was better than that?
Now I really didn’t care if I got fired. Nothing. Nothing had been more important than being there right then.
* * *
After Lia’s appointment,we went to lunch at the little sandwich shop near the fountain. As we sat by the window, I found myself overjoyed. “That sonogram was incredible. It was like we were really seeing the babies. The picture they gave you is even clearer than the one Brandy had.”
Lia studied me carefully. “Did you have a sonogram when you were pregnant with me?”
I froze, not wanting to think about that day.
“Mom?”
Forcing a smile, I nodded. “I had a sonogram with you, but the technology wasn’t the same. I can’t stop thinking about seeing your little girls on the screen.”
Lia sighed. “I seriously can’t believe I’m having twins. I’m going to need two of everything. Brandy is going to freak out when I tell her.”
“She’s going to be thrilled,” I said.
Lia beamed, making me feel like we were in safe territory. Unable to stop myself, I asked the question I shouldn’t have asked. “Now, what about the father, Lia?”