by Lesley Jones
“Sorry to keep you waiting. A little bit of excitement with my last patient when we unexpectedly found out she was having twins.”
“My mummy has a bubby in her belly.” Carter informed the doctor with his confident little smile in place.
“Yes, she does, and hopefully you’ll get to see that bubby today. What’s your name, young man?”
“I’m Carter Daniel Delany. That’s my mum, Sarah, but daddy calls her ‘pretty girl’ and him there”—he pointed at Liam—“he’s my dad.”
“And what’s your dad’s name, Carter?”
“He gets called Liam.” He turned and held Liam’s face in his chubby hands and kissed him. “He’s my daddy, and I love him.”
After Carter finished winning hearts and asking questions, the doctor asked me to confirm my details, and we started the scan.
We were not a minute in when she turned first to me and then looked over to where Liam was standing with Carter in his arms. “Well, I can honestly say this is a first for me.” She turned the monitor around to show us.
“Twice in one day.”
And there they were. Two, strong healthy-looking heartbeats.
“You’re shitting me?” I heard Liam whisper.
“No say ‘shit’, Daddy. It’s a bad word. Tell him, Mummy.”
I didn’t tell Liam anything because I couldn’t speak.
“I most definitely am not,” the doctor told him with a smile.
Yes. A smile.
“Are there twins in the family?” she asked, still smiling.
“Yeah,” Liam told her. “I have twin sisters, and one of them has twin daughters. I think my grandad on my dad’s side was a twin, too.”
“Didn’t really stand much chance of dodging that gene then, did you?”
She laughed at her own joke while I fought the urge to punch her right in her laughing, smiling face.
“Sarah?” I turned my head towards Liam.
“What?”
“I asked if you were okay.”
“I’ve had better days.”
“Oh, come now. It’ll take a bit of getting used to, but this is something to celebrate,” Doctor Smiley Face stated.
I didn’t respond. I had nothing to say. I was about to have three children under the age of four, which meant life was about to get very interesting in the Delaney house.
“You let Luke know that you’ll be working no more than thirty-seven hours a week, no weekends, and zero travel for the next ten years at least.” I informed an also smiling Liam. He kissed the back of my hand.
“No travelling for at least a year, I promise. I love you,” he told me quietly. “We’re gonna be fine. We’ve got this.”
Carter grabbed his face. “Me too? You love me too, Daddy?”
“Yes, bud, I love you, too. And you know who else I love?”
“You love Mummy. She’s you pretty girl.”
“I do love Mummy and she is my pretty girl. But ya know who I also love?”
I watched as Carter shook his head until it looked like it was about to come off his shoulders.
“I love the two bubbies that are growing in mummy’s belly.”
“Two bubbies?” Carter held up three fingers, and Liam bent one down.
“That’s right, bud. Daddy’s very clever and put two bubbies in Mummy’s belly.”
“Two? Two bubbies? But how will they fit? How will they grow? Are you trickering me, Dad?”
“I wish he was,” I whispered. Even though I was smiling on the inside at Liam and Carter’s exchange, I probably looked shell shocked. The doctor finally finished and let us know that, according to my measurements, I was due mid-February.
We took Carter to TGI Fridays to celebrate, during which he proceeded to hold court, standing on his chair and telling the entire restaurant that his daddy was so clever because he put two babies in his mummy’s belly. He then proceeded to hold up four fingers and earned himself a round of applause from everyone listening. It made his day.
***
By late September, things were not so good. My blood pressure was high this time, and I was once again ordered on bed rest, which was impossible since I had Carter running around and a husband that worked very long hours. I couldn’t shake the perpetual fatigue, either.
My nan and grandad came to stay with us, and that took a little of the load off. Liam’s mum was coming in November and staying until after the babies were born, but for now, I was enjoying being spoiled by Nan.
“What you fancying for dinner tonight sweetheart?”
“I don’t mind, Nan. Luke said he was coming over, shall I ask him what he wants?”
My brother was still single and went through women at a rate of knots I couldn’t keep up with. We had attended several work and industry functions over the last few years, and he turned up with a different one on his arm every time. All stunning, some were girlfriend material and some not so much, but we never saw any of them again.
Sasha, meanwhile, was still attempting love long distance. Shain had asked her to move over to Australia, but she didn’t seem to be ready to commit.
She recently moved back in with her parents so that she could save money for the airfares she was constantly paying out for. I was not sure how that was going, though. Sasha’s mum was great when we were younger. She had Sasha’s older sister when she was just sixteen and Sash at eighteen so she was always the pretty, young cool mum to us. She would let us dress up in her clothes and try out her makeup. She was just good fun in general, but as she got older she got kind of bitter, often telling Sash that she wasted her life by getting pregnant so young. Her parents were still together, but I didn’t think it was the happy home I remembered from my childhood any longer.
“He’s not out with one of his fancy bits of fluff tonight?”
“Don’t think so. He said he was coming here when I spoke to him yesterday.”
“I wish he’d find a nice girl and settle down. He’s a good-looking boy, I don’t know why he has a problem holding on to a woman. If I were his age and we weren’t related, I definitely wouldn’t be in any hurry to kick him out of bed in the morning. In fact, I’d be tying him to it so that he couldn’t get away.”
I shook my head and tried to rid myself of the thought of my nan tying my brother to the bed.
“I don’t think him hanging on to them is the problem, Nan. It’s more that they can’t hang on to him. He’s just not found the right one yet, it’ll happen one day.”
“I always thought he’d end up with Sasha, ya know? They’d make a lovely couple. Just imagine how gorgeous their babies would be.”
I thought back to the conversation I’d had with Luke when I was pregnant with Carter. I still had no clue what the issue was, but I knew just by the way he looked at her that my brother was hurting and still very much had feelings for Sasha.
“I think we all thought that Nan, but she’s got Shain now.”
“Pfft, Shain. There’s something about that boy I just can’t take to and I’m not convinced he’s the one for Sasha. She never seems too enthusiastic when she talks about him and he’s nowhere near as good looking as Luke. Now him, I’d have no trouble kicking out of bed.”
I give my head another shake. “I’ll call Luke and check that he’s coming.”
“I’ll call Uncle Luke. Let meee Mummy, please.” Carter jumped up from the floor where he was playing and bounced on his toes in front of me.
“Let me talk to him first mate, then you can.”
“Don’t be long then. You always talk for a long time.”
“I won’t be long.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
I called my brother.
“Sunny girl, what can I do for you?” Luke said in way of a greeting.
“You still coming over tonight?”
“Sure am. Why’s that?”
“Nan’s cooking, as guest of honour, you get to choose what we eat.”
“Well that’s ex
tremely civilised of you.”
“I have my moments. Oh, and she said to bring any washing and ironing you want doing with you.”
“I can most definitely do that.”
“So food? I’ve got steak, chops, or burgers?”
“Too easy then. Steak, baked potato, and some of that spicy coleslaw stuff that you make.”
“I’m on total bed rest.”
“You can’t make a coleslaw from your bed?”
“Okay. For you, I’ll try.”
“Good girl. How ya feeling anyway?”
“Fed up. Midwife came this morning and said that my BP’s still at the higher end of normal, so I’m allowed out of bed, but only as far as the sofa. At least the twinsies are doing fine. Heartbeats are strong and healthy, and I think I’m starting to feel them move.”
I heard what sounded like a smothered yawn.
“Sorry, Luke, am I boring you?”
“No, sorry. Just tired.”
“Well, it’d be really cool if you and my husband could get home at a reasonable time today and eat dinner when the rest of us do.”
“We will, I promise. I’m actually gonna knock off soonish and go get my laundry for Nan. I’ll make sure Del leaves early, too.”
“Sounds good. I’ll see you then but can you just talk to the little man before you go.”
“Sure can, put him on.”
I hand the phone to my son, who holds it to his ear and paces like a professional, while chatting to my brother.
***
My afternoon was spent lying flat on my back while Carter played with his Batman figures on my belly.
“Why don’t you let Mummy have a sleep, Carter, why are you playing on her belly like that anyway?” Nan asked him.
“Coz I’m teaching my brothers about Batman and how to play with me.”
“Your brothers? How’d you know they’re brothers in there? They might be sisters.”
“Noooo. Silly, Nanna. My dad told me they were brothers. He said we can have a sister next time.”
“Next time my arse,” I said quietly from my prone position on the floor.
“Actually, that wouldn’t be a bad idea, love, at least then you wouldn’t get pregnant.”
“Nan!” I screeched. “Little ears are listening.”
“Oh, he has no clue what we’re talking about, do you, mate?”
“My brothers,” Carter told her, still almost entirely focused on his action figures.
“Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it, that’s all I’m saying.”
“Nan, seriously. I’m not having this convo with you in front of my child.”
“What convo?” My brother asked as he came through the front door.
“Uncle Luke!” Carter abandoned his toys and launched himself at Luke.
“Anal,” Nan stated loudly, which made Luke’s eyebrows shoot up. The look he gave me was both horrified and amused at the same time.
“Oh yeah? Obviously not something Sunshine’s into, otherwise she wouldn’t keep getting knocked up.”
“That’s exactly what I told her.”
I looked between my nan and my brother, who was swinging my screaming, child upside down by his ankles.
“Told her what?” Liam entered the room and asked.
“No,” I shouted and pointed at both of them. “Do not go putting ideas in his head.”
I watched in horror as Luke threw—yes, threw—my child what looked like twenty feet (although it was more like three) across the room to Liam. Lucky for my husband, he caught him, spun around in a circle, and then blew a raspberry on his naked belly before throwing him back to Luke.
“Anal as a form of contraception,” Nan kindly informed my husband.
I covered my face with my hands. “Little ears,” I reminded them all again with a groan.
“He’s no idea what we’re talking about, do ya, little man?” Luke asked my child, who was once again being swung upside down by his ankles.
“Anal!” Carter shouted. “What’s anal, Mummy?”
I sat up and glared at my nan.
“You. This is all your fault. You’re supposed to be here helping to get my blood pressure down, not making it bloody worse.”
“Bad word, Carter. We mustn’t say that one.” Nan had the good sense to at least pretend to look contrite before turning to Luke. “I’ll go and put the washing machine on and start dinner. Where’s your shi—stuff, Luke, in the laundry?”
“I left it by the front door. Thanks, Nan.”
Liam reached down and offered me his hand, and I took it. He pulled me straight up and into a kiss while Luke and Carter made ewww and yuck noises from behind us.
“Are you supposed to be upright?” Liam asked.
“Thirty seconds won’t hurt anyone.”
He lifted me up under my arse cheeks so I could wrap my legs around his hips and my arms around his neck. Just like with my last pregnancy, my sex drive was off the charts, and my husband was more than happy to accommodate my needs.
“How long till dinner, Mai?” he called out.
“About an hour and a half, maybe two.”
“Excellent. I’m just taking Sarah upstairs for a nap.”
“Is that what they’re calling it these days? It was called a bit of afternoon delight back in my day or a mid-day quickie.”
“There’ll be nothing quick about this—believe me.”
“Please, don’t encourage her,” I told Liam from where my face was now buried in the crook of Liam’s neck.
***
After our afternoon delight, which was anything but a quickie, I spent thirty minutes having an interesting conversation with my husband about anal and why we’d not ever tried it. Liam gave Carter a bath, I read him a story, and we both tucked him into bed. Then, we finally sat down for dinner.
The men were discussing China and supply and demand of something or other that failed to hold my interest, when Luke dropped into the conversation . . .
“Well, we’ll take it all into consideration when we’re there.”
“Where?” I asked, my interest specifically on his use of “we”.
Luke shot Liam a quick look, and the table fell quiet.
“China,” Liam said quietly, “and Hong Kong.”
“Both of you are going?”
“Sorry. Shit, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to put my foot in it.”
“Don’t be sorry, Luke. You’ve done nothing wrong.” I looked pointedly at Liam, letting him know it was him I was pissed off with. Once the look was delivered, I decided not to be a bitch and cause an atmosphere at dinner, plus, winding myself up about it wasn’t going to do my blood pressure any good.
“When d’ya go?” I was pretty sure I managed the calm, interested, and friendly tone I was aiming for. Given my history and the fact that we were expecting twins, the doctors warned us that we should expect another premature delivery. If they arrived as early as Carter, they would be here by the beginning of December, and neither Liam nor I wanted him to miss the birth.
“November,” Liam said without looking at me.
“When in November?”
“The last three weeks.” He finally met my gaze, and I tried to keep my stare neutral, hiding the panic I was starting to feel bubble inside me. I had an uneasy feeling about this. It wasn’t just that I was pissed off. It was something else.
“Best make sure you take your phone charger this time then,” Nan said, breaking the atmosphere.
My grandad was decidedly quiet. In fact, he had been since they’d been here and I was a little worried about him.
“Oh, Luke, before I forget. I pulled these out the pocket of a pair of jeans before I put them in the wash and wasn’t sure if you needed them.”
She pulled four foil wrappers out of the top pocket of the linen shirt that she was wearing and passed them across the table to Luke. My brother blushed a deep scarlet, and Liam smirked. Grandad just raised his eyebrows and gave his head a little shake, as if passin
g condoms around the table was something we did at every mealtime.
“Pass the gravy, would you?”
“Of course. Would you like a condom with that?”
“Yes, please. I’ll take a Magnum Ribbed in large if you have it?”
“Thanks, Nan.” Luke stared down at his dinner as he spoke.
“They haven’t been through the wash, in case you’re worried.” And then after a beat, “Ya know, I’ve always wondered what the point was in making them flavoured. I mean, it’s not like a fanny has taste buds or anything like that, is it?”
I spat water all over my baked potato, and Luke, Liam, and Grandad almost choked with laughter.
“Let’s have them here, son. I’ll show her later what you do with a flavoured Johnny.”
Luke stopped laughing at that point.
It was the first week in November, and my blood pressure had improved enough that I was allowed to leave the house. So, I had been out shopping and busy decorating the house early for Christmas, which was probably going to be quite the party.
After much badgering from me, the boys gave Shain three weeks off, so he was coming over this year, and he and Sash would also be joining us. The biggest shocker of all, my brother was seeing a girl as in, dating and taking her out, not just home for flavoured condom sharing. Her name was Grace, and she worked with Will. The other big shocker was that she looked a lot like Sasha—not a just a bit like her, either. She was a carbon copy, and my jaw actually dropped when he’d first introduced us.
I had not divulged this fact to Sasha yet—I mean, she knew he was seeing someone. I just hadn’t mentioned that that someone happened to have dark hair and eyes and looked a whole lot like her.
It would be interesting to see how things played out if they were still together at Christmas and she made an appearance.
I was still a bit upset about Liam having to leave. It wasn’t so much the fact that he hadn’t told me, although it did hurt to find out like that, it was more about the fact that he broke his promise not to travel again while I was pregnant. He knew what a mess I was the last time when everything went wrong with Carters delivery. I just didn’t think he really got how important it was for me to have him close by in case there were any unexpected complications this time. I just couldn’t shake the anger, even though I knew it was doing me no good.