Page 123 of Hidden Empire
“Correct,” the doctor agrees, picking up a clear bottle with blue gel inside. “We don’t have a full ultrasound machine here, but I have a smaller one that’s portable. It’ll do.”
“Do you want me to wait outside?” Ivan asks, and I scoff, pulling up my shirt and tucking it under my bra so it stays up.
“Don’t you dare leave,” I bark, reaching for him with a grabby hand. “I’ve got two hands, and you’re each holding one.”
Ivan blinks but smiles. “Yes, ma’am.”
“I’m already pregnant. Don’t make me feel old, too,” I gripe, snatching his outstretched hand up.
“We’re the same age.”
Yeah, and only one of us has a bun in the oven.
“You too, mister,” I tell Dmitri, grabbing his hand just as greedily.
He presses a kiss to my knuckles, and I squeeze him in return.
“This will be a little cold.” The warning comes just before ice-cold gel is applied to my stomach, and I wince. “It’ll warm up soon.”
Jeez, it would be nice if it came out warm to begin with.
Using a small white wand, he smears the gel around, watching a tablet-sized screen. Gliding it around, he finds a spot that he likes and manipulates the tool much slower, pushing into my belly deeper.
When a whooshing sound starts to pulse through the speakers, I gasp. It’s a wild beat, drumming heavily. I can’t make out anything but black and gray blobs on the screen. Even without being able to make out the image, the sound tells me all we need to know. That’s a baby.
“Well, you’re definitely pregnant,” Dr. Petrov reports. “Congratulations.”
My heart swells at the word. He’s happy for us. Unmarried and accidentally pregnant, and he’s still wishing us congratulations. I decide I like Dr. Petrov.
Dmitri was right, and I don’t think I’m upset about it. I’m nervous as hell because I have no idea what I’m doing, but not sad.
“That’s the heartbeat, right? So the baby is okay?” I ask, biting my lip.
“Both babies are fin?—”
“Both?” I gasp, shaking my head. There’s no way he just said that.
“Yes—”
“There’s two?” I squeak, leaning forward to squint at the blurry screen. I’m crushing Ivan and Dmitri’s hands, squeezing so hard, but I can’t let go. “Is this some kind of old Russian humor I don’t understand? There’s not two, right?”
Dr. Petrov doesn’t laugh. No one does.
“Dmitri?” I turn to him, eyes wide with worry.
“It’s okay, Krasotka, but he isn’t joking.”
How is he not freaking out? Is he in shock? I wish I was in shock, but I’m all too aware of what's happening. I’m not just knocked up, I’m double knocked up.
Looking back at the doctor, I wince. “Are you sure?”
His nod confirms it.
“You see here,” he points to the little blobs, dragging his finger along the line that separates them. “Two sacks, both growing fetuses. You’re having fraternal twins.”
“Oh my god,” I whisper, blinking rapidly. “How did this happen?”
“Well,” he clears his throat. “Do fraternal twins run in your family?”