But as I snuggled into Matt, the distant sound of the waves hitting the shore calmed my anxious mind, and my nightmare felt a lot less scary, making it possible to think about it without my heart rate spiking.
There had been so much blood covering Matt and Grannie Carol. As Darryl wandered around the edges of my dream, I’d tried to save them all, but as with all stupid dreams just as I was making progress I’d been transported back to high school. To a biology class to be exact. The chalk board was covered with the same blood that had covered Matt, and I had a drive to learn where it was coming from. As the Grim Reaper greeted me at that classroom door, I’d woken up, tears streaking my cheeks. But what had it all meant?
It probably meant nothing other than my mind doing its nightly download, placing memory where it needed to be. I just wished it could do that job in a much happier environment. Something along the lines of a tropical beach and Chris Hemsworth walking towards me shirtless.
I sighed. Where were those dreams when you needed them?
Neither Matt nor Harper shared my insomnia, their snoring in sync with each other, and by the time the clock ticked over to two a.m., I gave up on sleep and shuffled my way to the kitchen for a hot cup of cocoa and one of those Tim Tams I’d stashed in the back of the fridge.
I’d been living in the same apartment for just over three years and I knew every sound it made. The creaking of the walls as they released the last of the days heat rivalled the hum of the refrigerator, and the quiet whoop whoop of the fan. A lone mosquito buzzed past me, but I didn’t bother swatting it. Instead, I opened the fridge door and blinked as the light blasted my retinas. Small sacrifice for the chocolate biscuit I grabbed. Popping it in my mouth, I filled a cup with milk and zapped it in the microwave, yet all the while parts of my dream moved to the front of my mind.
As the microwave turned, I leaned my hip against the counter and allowed the thoughts to swirl. It was the blood bothering me. But why? Sure, it was scary but that wasn’t the part niggling me. It was the biology classroom. What was written on the board to be more precise.
I couldn’t see the details but it was an assignment we’d been asked to complete and as the dream drifted into background noise, a memory of that assignment surged forward.
Picking the skin around my fingernail, I grabbed my hot milk, dropped a spoon of cocoa into it, and went in search of my laptop. Finding it nestled against the latest edition of Vogue, I fired it up and did a quick search on blood groups. I found an awful lot of information for an overtired woman struggling to understand, but not even my tired brain could misinterpret the graph I came across.
On the left was the mother’s blood group, on the right was the father’s, and at the top was the child’s. Running my finger across the screen I looked for AB and cross checked it with the parents.
For Darryl to have AB type blood, both of his parents had to have either A, B or AB. I reread it over and over again, just to make sure I was correct. Both parents had to have it. Both.
But I was confident Grannie Carol had O. I remembered that biology assignment, asking my family what they had and documenting it all for the teacher to grade.
But this graph clearly showed if Carol had O type blood then she could not be the mother of a child with AB. It just wasn’t possible.
I closed the laptop in a daze, wondering what it all meant.
Maybe all it meant was this website wasn’t reliable, and I was misinterpreting the facts. Maybe it meant I shouldn’t eat chocolate at two in the morning because it fired up my brain. Or maybe it meant I just couldn’t read a graph.
But in another eight hours I had a follow up appointment with Doctor Lara Jensen, and I was sure it was a question I was going to ask.
****
“Molly, can you please sit still?” Matt begged.
“I’m sorry. I’m just really fidgety.”
“Are you worried about the scan you’re about to have?”
“A little bit. I know last week Lara said the baby was safe, but we’re about to find out if there’s one or two of them. What if there’s two?” I smoothed the skirt of my wrap dress, my finger hovering over a pale blue polka dot, and tapped the sparkly toe of my Jimmy Choo Romy Flats (special delivery at eight a.m. this morning. God, I loved my delivery woman).
“That really worries you?” Matt was so calm it frustrated me.
“It doesn’t you?”
“Not really. If there’s two that’s just one more to love.”
I sighed. “Yes, but can we cope with two? There are days I barely look after Harper.”
Matt laughed, a deep throaty sound tickling my navel.
“Harper is looked after a bit too well.”
I chewed my lip, my real feelings bubbling to the surface.
“What’s really bothering you?” he asked, swiveling in his seat to face me.
Unexpected tears sprang and I blinked them back, as I whispered, “I’m never going to be alone again.”
“And you don’t like that?”
I shook my head. “It’s the opposite, but at the same time it’s quite overwhelming.”
He took my hand and intertwined his fingers with mine. “You don’t need to feel that way. I’m going to be here every step of the way. There’s nothing we can’t handle together.”
I smiled and contentment settled into my soul. “Thank you.”
We sat in silence for a while as I watched the patients walk in and out of Lara Jensen’s rooms. Matt perused a Mother & Baby magazine he’d been flicking through, but I was far too anxious to focus on reading.
“Excuse me Molly,” Adele called from behind the reception desk. “Did you bring your urine sample?”
My cheeks flushed knowing that I had a small container of this morning’s urine in my handbag, but as my full bladder twinged in preparation of the ultrasound I was about to have, I guessed it was the least of my worries for the day.
“Yes. I did.” I opened my handbag to retrieve it. My bag was usually very neat and tidy, but lately—like the rest of my life—it had fallen in to disarray.
I pulled out the pamphlets I’d been given the first time I was in this room and placed them on the chair between me and Matt. I then pulled out my wallet, my phone, three lipsticks, and a lens cover I’d lost two weeks ago. It was as I pulled out the empty M&M packet I realized it was time to change my habits and get back to the old me.
“What are you looking for?” Matt asked, dropping the magazine onto the leather seat.
“My urine sample. The doctor said I had to bring it with me and Adele needs it.”
“Well, where did you leave it?”
“I thought it was in my handbag. I distinctly remember zipping it into the plastic bag in case of any leakages and putting it in here. Only I can’t find it.”
“What about that pocket on the front? Did you put it in there?”
“I never put anything in there. It’s purely for decoration.”
Matt looked like he didn’t believe me. Opening the pocket far enough to put his fingers in, he rummaged around. He was unbelievable.
“I do know what’s in my own handbag,” I argued. “Besides, the container was a reasonable size. If it was in there it would be easily spotted.”
Matt grinned and pulled his hand out holding a small oval shaped black box about four centimeters in diameter. It had a diamond pattern on the front and three little lights which were presently off.
“What on earth is that?” I asked. I knew pregnancy had muddled my brain, but surely, I would have remembered putting that in my bag.
Matt’s jaw tensed. “Where did you get this from?”
“I have no idea what that even is.”
“It’s a GPS tracker.”
Shock slapped me hard.
“So, you’ve never seen it before?” Matt asked again.
“No. Why would I have it in my bag?”
Matt tilted his head and pressed his lips together as he studied the device.
; “Someone wants to know where you are at all times, would be my guess,” he concluded.
Air hit the back of my throat as I sucked in a sharp breath.
“But, but how did it get there?”
“Have you left your bag alone at any time? Left it lying around for someone to see an opportunity?”
“Considering I don’t even know how long it’s been there, I can’t answer that.”
Matt pinched his nose as he closed his eyes.
“Who wants to know this kind of information about me?” I whispered, nausea rolling in my stomach.
“The same person who left a similar device on my car, would be my guess.”
I was about to question him further when Adele called my name. “We’re ready to do your ultrasound now.”
****
I rested my head back onto the pillow and closed my eyes as Lara squeezed a cold gel across my abdomen. Matt stood alongside me, holding my hand as the ultrasound monitor flashed to life, and as Lara placed the probe on my stomach the room filled with a staticky sound.
Moving it around, she pressed a few buttons on the machine before moving to another spot. My bladder complained about the pressure she was placing against it, and I winced, wishing she would hurry up so I could pay a much-needed visit to the bathroom.
“Does everything look okay?” Matt asked, breaking the silence between us.
“Yes. Everything looks just the way it should.” She peered at the screen before moving her hand piece once again, this time digging it hard against my skin. “I know this is uncomfortable. I’m sorry Molly, but I promise I’ll be as fast as I can.”
I turned to look at the screen, recognizing nothing more than flashing white and grey masses.
She stopped the probe and clicked a couple more buttons, then pointed to the flashing dot on the screen. “There’s your baby.”
Tears welled as a tiny dot beat like a beacon calling my name. My baby’s heartbeat. I knew I’d seen it only the week before, but it was a sight I would never get tired of.
“How many are there?” Matt asked, his voice husky.
Lara moved the probe and the beating disappeared. I didn’t want it to. I wanted her to go back so I could see it all over again.
She must have read my mind as a few seconds later the dot reappeared and my tears welled for a second time.
Lara grinned. “And here’s the other one.”
Wait. What? “Did you say the other one?” I queried.
“Ahuh. You’re carrying twins.”
It was lucky I was lying down as the room swam in front of me, but as I blinked against the tears and stared at the monitor and at the heartbeat of my second child, my tears turned to big flat blobs of happiness. My fear disappeared, replaced with a drive to keep them safe, to see those little bleeping beats grow and become fully formed babies. Babies I could hold and love and smother in kisses.
“That’s awesome!” yelled Matt, high fiving Lara across my chest.
“And, and everything with them is okay?” I asked, nervously picking my thumbnail.
“Yes. The sizes of the fetuses are what I expect at this stage. The heartbeats are strong. You have nothing to worry about.”
Relief mixed with all the other emotions I’d been bottling up and before I knew it, I was struggling to catch my breath as Matt helped me sit up.
Lara was a gem. She was obviously used to emotional women as she just handed me the tissue box, cleaned the gel from my stomach, and told us to meet her in her office when we were ready.
Once she’d left the room, Matt held me tight and released a few silent tears of his own.
“Who knew this would be so emotional?” I said, as he helped me from the bed.
“I can’t believe it. I really can’t believe it.” He planted a hard kiss on my lips, his grin large and fast. “Two! Two babies.”
“Yeah, two nappies, two prams, two lots of everything,” I added, reality settling in now the monitor was turned off.
“Lucky you have two boobs.”
I glared at him before playfully swatting his arm. “Trust you to say something like that.”
I ducked to the bathroom before Matt led the way into Lara’s office. We took a seat as she clicked a few keys on her keyboard.
“Now do you have any questions for me?” she asked, turning her attention to us.
“I do,” I replied, raising my hand in a small wave as nerves jingled for a completely different reason. “Can I ask you something off topic?”
“Of course. Ask me anything.”
“Well as I’ve told you earlier Matt and I believe Carol Fuller is grandmother to both of us.”
“Yes, but I don’t think you should worry yourself too much, Molly.”
“Ahuh. But my question is, if her blood group is O positive can her son be AB negative?”
Lara frowned and bit the end of her pen.
“That’s an interesting question.”
“I just remember something from high school where we researched blood groups that said it’s not possible.”
“Well, you’re correct. If the mother had O positive blood, then her son can’t have AB negative. Is this a hypothetical question or is there more to this?”
I told her about Darryl having AB negative blood like Matt and about the dream I’d had. I then asked her if having sex was bad for the baby at this stage because after going back to bed this morning, I’d woken Matt and used the time well.
“Sex is perfectly fine, but let’s get back to the blood group question,” Lara added. “Are you sure your father is AB?” she asked Matt, who was now blushing and looking at me like he wished I would just shut up.
“Yes. We had a chat about how we both donate blood because it’s so rare.”
Lara shook her head as I sat up straight.
“I’m sorry Matt but there are a lot of combinations that can occur. However, if you’re adamant your father is AB negative and Molly, you’re adamant your grandmother is O positive, then either one of you is mistaken, or they are not related. It’s not possible.”
“What do you mean it’s not possible?” Matt queried.
“It’s not genetically possible.”
“But Grannie Carol admitted Darryl was her son,” I interrupted, not wanting to celebrate too quickly.
Lara’s frown deepened. “What’s your father’s date of birth and full name?”
Matt recounted what she needed as she reached across her desk and hit the speaker button on her phone. We all heard the loud buzz as she called reception.
“Adele, can you look up some old hospital records for me please? I need the birth information of a baby boy born 5th June 1966. Mother Carol Fuller.”
“Of course. Do you have a deadline you need it for?” Adele’s voice boomed through the speaker.
“Just as soon as possible please.”
“I’ll get right on to it.”
“Thank you.”
I allowed the information to sink in, my head dizzy as the thoughts swirled .
Matt paled as he looked back at me. “But I’ve just found my father. Are you saying I’ve found the wrong person?”
“No, I’m not saying that. I’d need a lot more information than I have right now before I can say either way. But you did ask Carol to get a DNA test done, didn’t you?”
Matt nodded.
“Good. Have you organized yours?”
“Not yet. I’ve been too busy finding my father.”
I wanted to be supportive and upset for him, but I couldn’t stop the smile from spreading. “Matt, don’t you get it?” I said, grabbing his sleeve.
“What?”
“If this is right and Darryl isn’t your father then it means the babies are fine. We’re not related!”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, Molly,” Lara warned. “I’m not a betting woman, but if I were, I would place my money on the fact Darryl is Matt’s father. AB negative blood is just too rare for it to be a coincidence.”
&
nbsp; My heart sank.
“However, I’d be tempted to investigate the generation prior,” she continued, tapping her computer keys as she made some notes.
“Huh?”
“If there is any muddle up here, then I’d think it was that Carol is not Darryl’s mother. That’s what the blood groups tell me, anyway. But I don’t want to get your hopes up,” she hurriedly added, holding her hand up towards me. “There could be any number of misinformation that means Carol is related to you both. We need to get the DNA tests.”
Her printer buzzed to life, spitting out a form she hurriedly scribbled her signature on. She then stood, suggesting this was the end of our consultation.
Matt took my hand and held it tight as we followed her from the room. Stopping at reception she leaned across to Adele and handed her the paperwork.
“Can you take some blood from Matt please, then send this request off to get his DNA?”
Adele looked quizzical as she accepted it. “Is this in relation to the records you’ve requested?”
“Ahuh. There seems to be some doubt around Matt’s genealogy. If we can prove he and Molly aren’t related it will relieve a lot of stress on them both.”
Adele nodded her understanding before smiling at Matt. “Come this way, young man. I can do this test right now.”
Chapter Sixteen
“Does Adele help Lara with the births?” Matt asked, leading the way to the carpark.
“I’m not sure. Why?”
“I don’t think she’s a very good nurse. It took her three attempts to take my blood. She dropped the first vial on the floor, and then had to retake it, only to keep missing the vein. I’m going to be black and blue by this time tomorrow.” He rolled up his sleeve and showed me the numerous tiny band aids now dotted over his skin.
I grimaced. “I think she’s mostly admin now. Well, let’s hope so anyway.” I shivered with the thought she could be around at the time of the birth and hoped it was her day off when I came in for delivery.
Matt smiled. “It was good news about the babies.”
“I think I’m still in shock.”
“It’s a good shock though, right?” Matt’s smile froze as he glanced down at me.
Wicked Little Lies- Molly Page 15