This Piece of Our Being-Tampa Suns Hockey (Clearing the Ice #3)

by Robyn M Ryan

  “Tolerable.” She touched her forehead, probing the tender area. “I wanted to give you a gift…”

  “You did.” Caryn watched as a smile crossed his face. “The best freaking fantastic gift ever. You and I—parents in a few months.”

  Caryn thought for a moment as she processed his words. “But, I don’t remember giving it to you before…it’s not the way I wanted to tell you we’re pregnant.”

  Andrew leaned to brush his lips against hers. “Doesn’t matter, babe. I opened it later and experienced the excitement all over again.” He pulled the ultrasound from Toronto from his shirt pocket. “Hey, I like the way you said we’re pregnant. Unfortunately, you get to experience the morning sickness and everything else that goes with pregnancy.”

  “I have a book at home that will help you catch up on what’s happened in the past sixteen weeks. Then you’ll know what to expect…I think I already have pregnancy brain.” At his questioning expression, she added, “Forgetfulness. Warning—my hormones are all over the place. I’m going to act like a bitch at times. I’ll ask forgiveness in advance.”

  Andrew chuckled. “If it’s anything like the smack down you did on Kristen yesterday, bring it.”

  “Even if I take it out on you?”

  His eyes told her the answer. “Anytime, sunshine.” He kissed her forehead. “I may not experience the physical changes or fully understand how morning sickness can last all day, but I will walk beside you every step of this journey. I don’t want to miss a thing.”

  “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”

  He pressed his fingers against her lips. “That’s entirely my fault, Caryn. If I hadn’t shoved you away, asked you to ‘give me space,’ I wouldn’t have missed these past months.” He shook his head and looked away, and Caryn watched him take a deep breath and swipe at his eyes. Painful memories of the past months flashed through her mind, but she pushed them aside. She reached for his hand and squeezed it.

  “I love you, Drew.”

  His blue eyes captured hers and she read the regret and pain. “Thank you for giving me the chance to make things right between us. I don’t deserve it, but I will do whatever I need to do to regain your trust, earn your love.”

  “We’ll do that together,” Caryn whispered. “It’s not all on you. I have plenty of regrets.”

  Andrew shook his head. “Not today, babe,” he said quietly. “Let’s get you released and back home first. Then we can sort through everything and hopefully put it behind us.”

  He reluctantly left her side for therapy, but only after both doctors assured him she’d improved greatly overnight. Forster walked down the hall to the Rehab Center with Andrew. “We’ll see how Caryn feels after the migraine’s gone.”

  “Thanks, Dan. So, her confusion’s a normal reaction…”

  “To the concussion, meds, migraine, and pregnancy? Yes.” Forster looked at Andrew with a wry smile. “Take your pick. Probably a combination of all of the above.” Forster stopped to speak with an intern who approached, and Andrew stepped aside to provide privacy.

  He hated leaving Caryn’s side, even for a few hours and even if it involved his therapy. Priorities change. Too bad it takes something like this to put things in perspective.

  “So, we’ll observe her today,” Forster continued. “We’ll get her up to walk when the migraine eases. I’ll keep her at least another twenty-four hours.” The physician shook Andrew’s hand before he turned toward a different hallway. “I’ll check your brother’s schedule and time her release so he’s home that day.”

  Andrew stopped by his room to change into gym shorts and a T-shirt and took a moment to scan his iPhone for missed calls and texts. Something new from Lauren. He swiped the text, relieved to read Lauren had worked out the contract difficulty with McRainey:

  On way to Tampa for a planning session with Jim Wesley. Will touch base to check if Caryn’s cleared for visitors.

  Andrew sent a brief thank you reply and invited Lauren to stay at the house while she was in town. He slid his phone into his pocket and remembered he still had Caryn’s phone in his jeans’ pocket. He retrieved it and plugged it into the charger. I’ll bring it to her during a break. At least I can tell her Wesley’s off her case.

  By late morning, Caryn felt the migraine receding. “You’ll get word to my husband with the room number?” she asked the nurse assigned to her.

  “You were transferred last night,” she replied with a smile. “I’m Katie—your lead nurse today.”

  “Did you tell me already?” Caryn experienced a sense of déjà vu. “I tend to ask the same questions, I think.”

  Katie laughed. “You have two good excuses—pregnancy brain and post-concussion confusion. Don’t worry about it. We’ll get this IV removed, and then you can change out of this lovely gown.”

  “You’re my new best friend.” Caryn laughed. “Drew brought me one of his shirts…I can wear it until someone brings some clothes.”

  Katie held up the shirt at the end of her bed. “Denim. Looks comfy and long enough for a dress.”

  “It’s soft and extremely comfortable—and not drafty. Especially since I don’t have the IV connected any longer.”

  “If the pain worsens, Dr. Forster left orders for medication. We’ll track how much water you drink today, as well as your food intake. No restrictions, but you might want to take it slowly,” Katie smiled.

  “After months of morning sickness, I have a pretty good idea what works for me.”

  Katie consulted the notes again. “Would you like a shower? I need to grab a shower chair. We should have plenty of time before the lunch break. Both doctors would like you to walk, but only if someone is with you…And Dr. Turner will stop by to meet with both of you during lunch. Do you want to rest first?”

  “Shower, please,” Caryn quickly replied. “The gel from the ultrasound is getting pretty sticky.”

  “In that case, I’ll grab the shower chair and we’ll get started.”

  Bill Turner entered the room soon after Andrew had returned, iPad in hand. He nodded in approval when he saw Caryn sitting up on the side of the bed. “Much better. Any pain? Nausea?”

  “None. I'm pretty good at the moment,” Caryn answered with a smile. “Especially after a shower and ditching the gown.” From the corner of her eye, she caught Andrew suppressing a smile and swatted his leg. “I’ll take your shirt any day.”

  “Excellent, since you’ll walk periodically today.” Turner sat on a chair facing them. “I planned to discuss the ultrasound in depth yesterday, but decided to wait. You had enough going on without me adding to it.”

  “What? Is something wrong?” Caryn asked quickly as fear gripped her heart.

  The physician held up his hand. “No, nothing’s wrong. I want to show you something.” He handed the iPad to Caryn and Andrew. “This is a portion of the video I received from the technician. Watch and listen closely.”

  Caryn leaned her head against Andrew’s shoulder as the image of their baby played on the screen. “I don’t remember hearing the heartbeat yesterday. It sounds…strange. What do you think, Drew?”

  Andrew shrugged. “I don’t know, honey. This is all new to me.”

  Turner smiled as he replied. “You’re right, Caryn. You’re hearing a very irregular heartbeat.”

  “What does that mean?” Caryn’s voice reflected her anxiety.

  “Hang with me, Caryn. Look at the image of your baby. Did you notice anything?”

  Caryn was quiet for a moment and then looked up at Andrew before answering Dr. Turner. “Our photos yesterday were a little blurred, or else my vision. But, this video is much more clear. Is there a shadow behind the baby? Do ultrasounds usually show shadows?”

  Turner shook his head. “You’re correct, Caryn. It does look like a shadow, but it’s not. What you’re seeing are…”

  “Two babies?” Andrew cut in, his voice tinged with awe.

  “Twins?” Caryn echoed in disbelief.

&n
bsp; Turner nodded, suppressing a smile. “You had enough going on yesterday without springing this on you.”

  Caryn shook her head, her eyes suddenly brimming with tears. “I can’t believe there are two babies.”

  “You’re sure just twins?” Andrew cut in as he squeezed Caryn’s hand. “Triplets would be fun.”

  “Don’t even think that!” Caryn retorted. “Does everything look all right?”

  Turner smiled reassuringly. “Just fine, Caryn. Does your family have a history of twins?”

  “Not that I know…though my mom had several miscarriages, so I wouldn’t know if any were twins. Andrew, don’t you have twin cousins?”

  “I do. Isn't your grandmother a twin—or did I misunderstand her French?”

  “Oh, yes…I’d forgotten. My great-aunt died over twenty years ago. I barely remember her.”

  “Well, you both contributed to this miracle. We charted some key measurements, and we can clearly see everything is within all normal ranges. Hopefully, we can get a peek at both at your next ultrasound.”

  “When will that happen?”

  Turner shrugged. “I don’t want to speak for your doctor, but I’d imagine within a couple weeks. With twins, the goal’s always to help you carry these babies as close to full-term as possible. Has your brother worked in obstetrics?” He directed the question to Andrew.

  “I’m not sure, but possibly a rotation when he was an intern. And he did deliver a baby in the ER once.” He playfully brushed his hand against Caryn’s hair. “Comforting, isn’t it, Cary? In case of an emergency.”

  Caryn looked at him, her eyes narrowed. “Tom’s not delivering my babies.”

  Turner laughed softly. “Don't worry about it. We’ll closely monitor your pregnancy. I expect you’ll be in the hospital long before you do go into labor.”

  “What do you mean?” Andrew asked.

  Turner leaned forward, his hands on his knees. “With multiple births, we treat the pregnancy as high risk. As I mentioned before, the goal is for you to carry the babies as long as possible, Caryn. We watch for signs of premature labor or any complications. At the first sign, we’ll admit you and try to postpone labor just as long as possible.”

  Caryn took a deep breath, and Andrew drew her against his side. “So, how do we accomplish this?” he asked.

  “You may see your doctor weekly at first, Caryn. Sixteen weeks is a bit later than we normally begin prenatal care. But, you’ll be monitored frequently. There are a few things you can do immediately, beginning today. Improve your diet. Don’t skip meals. Get plenty of rest. Gain weight. At sixteen weeks, with twins, it should be obvious you’re pregnant.”

  Caryn nodded as she gripped Andrew’s thigh. He shifted closer to her as she processed Turner’s words. “Could I…I’ve lost weight. Has that harmed the babies?”

  “It’s not uncommon to lose weight with morning sickness, Caryn. I’ll send you home with some anti-nausea medicine. It may make you fatigued—be sure to eat a good meal before you take a nap. Listen to your body. Cravings usually relate to nutrients your body needs—calcium, sodium, carbs, protein.”

  “No pickles,” Caryn replied firmly. “I hate the taste.”

  “You may find your food tastes change. If you crave something, try it. Even pickles. Just don’t binge on one item only. Try to balance your diet with small meals during the day. I’m sure your doctor’s practice has a nutritionist on staff who can work with you.”

  Caryn glanced at Andrew as an idea formed in her mind. “Dr. Turner, do you have private patients?”

  “I do, though I limit my practice due to my position here.”

  “Would you be able to include me?” Caryn took a deep breath. “I haven’t met the doctor I’m scheduled to visit next week. You know my issues…” Her voice trailed off.

  “Of course, Caryn,” Turner said easily. “Call the office and tell them I want to see you next week. We’re located in the attached doctors’ building. Ask my receptionist to schedule your appointments during Andrew’s break so he can join you if he’d like.”

  “Absolutely,” Andrew said.

  “Good. Next week we’ll try a bit more detective work on baby number two.”

  Caryn giggled softly. “Thank you,” she said as she took the card he offered.

  “My advice when you’re discharged: start by taking time to recover from the fall. You’ve got a concussion. Don’t rush back into your normal schedule. Catch up on your sleep, take it easy when you can. Have friends help with the shopping, hire a cleaning service.” Turner met Caryn’s eyes. “Do you work?” When she nodded, he continued, “Take time off if you can. Do you travel with your job?”

  “Sometimes.”

  “Avoid it if at all possible.”

  “I usually work from home,” Caryn said quietly. “It’s my company.”

  “Good—tell the boss you’re under doctor’s orders to cut your hours.”

  Caryn nodded with a small laugh. “Noted. Not a problem.”

  Turner stood and shook their hands. “Don’t worry, you’ll find everything we discussed in your discharge papers. If you have any questions, call me. Don’t wait for your next appointment. Don’t let this overwhelm you or cause any anxiety.”

  25

  When Tom stopped by later in the day, he found Caryn relaxing with the TV muted and his brother lying back on the reclining chair, apparently asleep. He rolled his eyes as he set the pot of bright daisies on the bedside table and then kissed Caryn’s cheek. “What’s with sleeping beauty?”

  Caryn laughed as Andrew’s voice came from the direction of the chair. “I’m not asleep.”

  “Could have fooled me.”

  “I took away the remote,” Caryn explained and then nodded toward the daisies. “They’re beautiful. Thank you!”

  “Actually, Kelly and Terri sent them. I’m here to get you both a non-hospital dinner. What’ll it be?”

  “You’re too late. Cravings—I called out for pizza,” Andrew told him with a smirk.

  “Craving pizza?” Tom looked at Caryn.

  She shook her head. “Not me. I had soup and crackers.”

  “Since when does the pregnant father get cravings?”

  “Since he found out he’s having twins,” Andrew replied, standing as he pulled the chair to an upright position. A grin spread slowly across his face as his words registered on Tom’s face. Tom glanced at Andrew, and then turned toward Caryn, expecting her to deny Andrew’s statement. Her smile was confirmation, and Tom hugged her gently.

  “Well, congratulations! When did you find out?”

  “Today. Dr. Turner did not want to give us the news yesterday while I had the migraine and everything else going on,” Caryn answered. “Here are the ultrasound photos.”

  “Looked like one baby to me,” Andrew added. “Evidently that ‘shadow’ is, in fact, baby number two.”

  “Well, you’ve got company. Looks like a shadow to me.”

  “Well, that’s certainly a comfort.” Andrew stretched and then clapped a hand on his brother’s shoulders. “Well, Uncle Tommy, you’d best brush up on your pediatrics. I don’t plan on needing any more neurological consults.”

  Tom laughed quietly. “Let’s certainly hope not.”

  Andrew nodded toward the other chair. “Have a seat. Want some pizza? Coke?”

  “I ate earlier.” He looked at Caryn. “Kelly said to make a list. She’ll go shopping for you before you go home. Whatever you feel like eating.”

  Andrew stepped to the sink and splashed cold water on his face, then grabbed a towel to rub it dry. He leaned against the counter, his gaze on Caryn as she talked with Tom about the prospect of twins. Wisps of golden hair that escaped her low ponytail framed her face, and he restrained the urge to brush it with his palm. There was no mistaking the sparkle that had returned to her amber eyes as she spoke of their children-to-be, and he winked when she turned those eyes toward him.

  She started to speak and stopped mid-sentenc
e as the door opened and Kristen leaned into the room.

  “Okay if I come in? Wanted to be among the first to congratulate you guys.”

  “For…” Andrew said slowly, glancing at Caryn.

  “You’re having a baby, right?” Kristen laughed.

  “Actually, twins,” Caryn added, her words clipped. Andrew heard no warmth in her tone and wondered again what Caryn hadn’t told him that caused her obvious hostility toward Kristin. Has to be more than the massage.

  “Then, you’ll work twice as hard getting yourself up to full-speed, Chadwick.”

  “Intend to.”

  “You feeling all right?” she addressed Caryn. “I was surprised to hear you were here. I’m so glad everything’s okay.”

  “Ready to go home.” Andrew felt Caryn’s patience wearing thin. He looked at Tom, who had picked up a magazine and flipped through it. “You going to be here a while?”

  “Sure.”

  “I need to make a few calls and pick up some drinks. Anything you want, Cary? Tom?”

  “Nope.” Tom concentrated on the random article he’d started to read. “Good here.”

  “Maybe some frozen yogurt?” Caryn suggested.

  “Chocolate, vanilla? Strawberry?”

  “Swirl—vanilla and strawberry.” She bit back a smile.

  “I won’t be long,” Andrew whispered as he kissed her cheek.

  Caryn made a face at Kristen’s back as she preceded Andrew from the room. Will that woman ever understand she’s not wanted?

  “Bitch,” she spit, then giggled when she caught Tom’s expression.

  “I’m thinking about doing a research paper,” Tom said dryly, “on the correlation of head injuries and subsequent cluelessness.” He shook his head as he set the magazine aside.

  Caryn giggled as she swiped at her eyes. “Tom, you’re terrible.”

  “You know Andrew was totally oblivious to Kristen’s scheme, Caryn. Until she took things too far—even Andrew couldn’t miss that connection.”