The doctor gently pressed Megan’s abdomen and Megan held her breath, her heart racing frantically.
“I’m not going to bother taking your blood pressure,” the doctor teased. She pressed Megan’s stomach again and Megan thought that this was a strange examination. In the past, the lumps of cancerous tissues had been right under her ribs and along her upper thighs. Could it be a different kind of cancer? Was she that unlucky?!
Doctor Mortier nodded to herself, then turned to the nurse in the doorway. “Could you draw some blood? Let’s get a white blood count as well as an HCG count.”
The nurse wrote down the instructions, but at the mention of the last test, she stopped, startled, and looked up at the doctor. Then at Megan.
“Right,” she dropped the thick file and moved to the counter where she grabbed sterile gloves and a needle to pull the blood sample.
The doctor picked up the file and wrote down something that she didn’t repeat to Megan. Megan looked over at her mother who was sitting nervously on the edge of the chair. No one said anything more as the nurse pulled the blood carefully, then hurried out of the room.
“Tell me what you’ve been up to,” the doctor encouraged, relaxing against the counter. “It’s going to be a few minutes while we get the test results.”
Megan nodded, pulling her sleeve down. For the next few minutes, the kind doctor asked questions and Megan answered as best she could. But then the nurse stepped back in, handing the test results to the doctor.
The nurse looked very odd, pressing her lips together and holding a file folder to her chest. Megan pulled her eyes away from the nurse and looked at the doctor. An odd look came over the doctor’s face. Tears shimmered in the woman’s eyes as she looked over at Megan. “Well, your white blood cell count is not elevated,” she said, smiling.
Megan couldn’t breathe for a long moment. An elevated white blood cell count was the first indication that that the body is trying to fight something bad. It could be a simple bacteria or one of any number of viruses – or more complicated, like cancer…whatever it was, the white blood cells sought out the infection and tried to kill it. So if it was normal, then…?
“But…!” Megan started to argue, but the doctor lifted her hand.
“You’re tired?”
Megan nodded, trying to hide her worry but…well, she’d just flown halfway across the country to find out what might be wrong with her, what was causing the fatigue.
“And food tastes strange?”
“Yes. But…”
The doctor’s face split into a grin as she hugged the thick file to her chest. “Megan, you’re pregnant.”
There was absolute silence. Megan’s wide eyes moved from Doctor Mortier’s glowing face to the nurse who was literally bouncing up and down.
“I’m sorry?” Megan whispered, looking back at the doctor.
“You’re pregnant, Megan,” she repeated softly. Then laughed and clapped her hands. “You’re still cancer free, but even better, you’re going to have a baby!”
Amy’s mouth was hanging open and there was very little color in her face.
“No way!” Megan whispered, her hand moving to her stomach, as if already needing to protect the tiny life. Seconds ago, Megan hadn’t even known that there was a life there!
“Yes!” the nurse cheered gleefully, jumping up and down and clapping her hands, her face wreathed in happiness. “You’re going to have a baby!”
She whipped open the door to the exam room and there was a huge cheer. The nurses and staff were pressed together in the hallway, cheering and clapping, some of them jumping up and down in excitement. “Congratulations!” some of them yelled. Others just screamed in excitement.
The doctor laughed, wiping a tear from her cheek. “Sorry about all this, Megan,” she said with a chuckle. “In our line of work, we don’t often get to relay this kind of good news. Everyone is very excited for you!”
Slowly, Megan’s face broke out in a grin. “Seriously?”
The doctor moved forward and took Megan’s hands. “Yes!” she laughed. “You’re a healthy woman, Megan. I’m about to be replaced as your primary physician!” She leaned in and hugged Megan. “As soon as you find a good obstetrician, I want their name and number. I’ll work closely with them, not for any medical reason, but just to be in the cheering squad and for back up in case the doctor finds anything out of the ordinary. But otherwise, you should keep on doing what you’re doing. Exercise. Eat right. Take your vitamins and enjoy the beauty of being pregnant!”
Megan turned to her mother and a flash later, they were hugging, tears of happiness and relief streaming down their cheeks. After the day they’d had, the emotional stress and the flight and the worry…this was news that neither of them had ever thought to hear!
“Oh Mom!” she laughed through her tears. “I’m going to be a momma!”
Amy laughed and cried as well, hugging her daughter tightly.
“Let’s get out of here,” Megan whispered, tenderly wiping her mother’s tears with a tissue.
Megan turned to the beaming doctor and nurses, who were ecstatic with the news. “Thank you!” she whispered, her look encompassing all of them.
“Seriously,” the doctor said with a huge grin, “and I can’t say this loudly enough, this was our pleasure!”
As Megan and Amy left the clinic, every nurse and staff member had to hug them. It had been the same when Megan had gotten the news that she was in remission. But this…this was…well, not better news. But amazing news!
“We need to eat!” Amy announced as soon as they were tucked into a cab. “What do you want to eat?”
Megan thought for a moment. “A burger!” she replied. “And a huge glass of milk!”
“Amen!” Amy agreed.
Chapter 10
Jake stomped to the long window of his house, looking out at the lights and stars. “Megan!” he growled, furious that she’d just taken off again. At least she’d left him a voice mail this time. That was more consideration than she’d given him years ago.
He pulled his cell phone out and pressed the redial button. Lifting the phone to his ear, he waited as it rang and rang and rang. No answer.
He ended the call, muttering curses, and pressed another button. The sound of her voice both soothed and infuriated him. “Jake, I have to go out of town. I’m sorry, but I’ll explain everything as soon as I can. Just…I’ll work on the project from my end and will send you code updates as I finish them.” That’s it. No explanation as to where she was going, when she’d be back or even why she’d had to leave so abruptly.
What the hell was going on?! He took another sip of his scotch, trying to understand. He was worried now that he knew that she’d left him the first time in order to deal with her cancer without him. Angry that she hadn’t included him now in whatever was going on. Terrified that he’d never see her again and anxious because he wanted to know why she’d left him.
Thinking back, he knew that she’d been extra tired lately. Did that mean that the cancer had come back? Was she okay? He’d been a live wire since he’d returned from lunch, snapping at anyone who dared speak to him. The team was still working. He should call them, tell them that they should go home. But he couldn’t focus on anything beyond worry…and anger…but mostly worry.
He listened to her message again, trying to discern some clue as to what was going on. But the words didn’t reveal any new information, he didn’t hear a secret message. He’d called her several times over the past several hours, but no answer. Nothing. Not a word or a text back.
A knock on his door startled him, causing him to swing around. A glance at his phone told him that it was nearly midnight. “Megan!” he growled, storming over to the front door and throwing it wide.
Only to be disappointed when his brother stood in the doorway.
“What’s wrong?” Jackson demanded.
Jake wanted to slam the door in his twin’s face, but instead, he turned and stalked
back into his house, back to the window so that he could glare at the darkness. Jackson could come inside or leave, Jake didn’t give a damn.
He wasn’t Megan. Right now, she was the only one he cared about, the only one he wanted to see or hear from.
There was a bump on his hand and he looked down. Jackson was taking his empty glass of scotch, replacing it with a half full one.
Jake might have muttered his thanks, but maybe not. He lifted the glass to his lips mechanically and took a long swallow.
Jackson didn’t say anything. He sat on Jake’s couch and waited. Jake knew that his twin wanted Jake to talk about it, about what might be on his mind, but Jake didn’t think he could. Besides, Jackson had been against Jake getting involved with Megan again, right from the start. His brother had warned him that she’d do this. But Jake hadn’t listened. He’d arrogantly been sure that he could handle Megan this time around. That he wouldn’t become emotionally involved. He wanted to get drunk, but the scotch wasn’t numbing his mind. Or his heart. He wanted to throw something, but he couldn’t seem to pull his thoughts away from the worry over her absence long enough to figure out what to throw and where to throw it. And he definitely didn’t want to discuss where Megan might be or why she’d left so abruptly.
“She’s gone again,” he said, proving his last thought wrong. Apparently, Jake did want to talk about it.
“I guessed as much,” Jackson replied, but nothing more.
Jake listened carefully, waiting for the judgment. He suspected that Jackson didn’t like Megan much and Jake couldn’t blame his twin. If the situations had been reversed, Jake probably would search out and destroy anyone who hurt his twin brother. Or anyone in his family, for that matter.
Jackson must be aware of how Megan was different. Special. Jackson wasn’t going to destroy Megan. Especially not now that they knew why she’d left years ago.
“She might be sick again,” Jake offered.
There was no response from his brother. That was the thing about being a twin. They could almost read each other’s minds. Words were sometimes superfluous. But in this situation, Jake would greatly appreciate it if Jackson would argue, maybe say that Megan would be back and she’d be healthy.
“She’s probably on her way back here and you’ll both laugh about this. She’s perfectly fine and you’ll make your world famous omelets for her tomorrow morning.”
Jake smirked. Twin powers, he thought.
“Thanks.”
Another nudge of his hand and Jackson handed him another glass. Jake hadn’t realized he’d finished the last portion of scotch. Nor did he give a damn. Maybe getting drunk would help. It might actually allow him to get some sleep. But a glance at the time told him that the night was almost over.
Jake pondered asking Jackson why he was here instead at his own place. But Jackson must have sensed something was wrong. Again with the twins thing. They just knew. Jackson knew that something was wrong with Jake and he’d come, no questions asked.
“She’s fine,” Jake said. No response from Jackson, but knowing that he was here, supporting him, was enough.
Jake didn’t take his eyes off the window, staring blankly out into the night. Megan was out there somewhere. She was scared and worried and…damn it, he needed to be there with her! First, he would smack her adorable ass and tell her that she was never, ever, going to put him through something like this again! And then he was going to tie her to her bed and make love to her until she understood that she was never, ever, going to do this to him again! She would never leave him! They were…she would….
He didn’t know. Jake didn’t know anything because she wasn’t here to explain! One thing he did know was that Megan was not going to die! She had to be fine! There was no other alternative. Damn it, she had to be okay!!
Chapter 11
“Mom!” Megan whispered urgently.
Amy rolled over, her eyes flying open. “Honey? What’s wrong?”
Megan laughed and kissed her mother’s cheek. “Absolutely nothing, Mom!”
Amy struggled to sit up, pushing her hair out of her eyes. For a brief moment, Amy remembered the terror of the day before. Their lunch conversation. The frantic flight to Minneapolis. And then…the news!
Amy grinned. “How do you feel?” she asked, sighing as she realized that she was going to be a grandmother.
Megan danced, twirling around the room, but then grabbed onto the dresser of their hotel room, waiting until the dizziness stopped. But as soon as she could, she turned and beamed at her mother. “I’m pregnant! I’m not dying, Mom. I’m pregnant!”
Amy laughed, delighted with her precious daughter’s happiness. “Yes. It’s all coming back to me.”
Megan bounced in place, clapping her hands. “I booked flights home for both of us, and my flight leaves in just under two hours.” She hurried over to her mother. “I’m going to catch a cab to the airport. Your flight leaves a bit later, I’ve texted you the information. Will you be okay by yourself this morning? I really want to get back home and tell Jake the news.”
Amy chuckled. “Go, my dear.”
Megan paused for a moment, turning serious as she contemplated the future. A completely different future than she might have thought about yesterday, but a happy, amazing, wonderful future!
“He might not want to be a father, Mom.”
Amy’s hand lifted, dismissing Megan’s fear. “That man is head over heels in love with you, Megan. He’s going to be thrilled.”
Megan grinned, thinking about having a baby. Jake’s baby! What a wonderful, amazing thing! And if Jake were in love with her…that would just be the icing on the cake, she thought. But Megan had to be realistic. She and Jake…they had no understanding. They’d been sleeping together, spending time together, for several weeks now. But…neither of them had brought up being exclusive. Or a future. Jake in love? “Oh, I don’t know about that.”
Megan snorted. “You should have seen the look on his face when I told him why you’d left him the first time.” She nodded sagely. “He’s in love with you, honey.”
Megan’s happiness came flooding back and she sighed. “Regardless of his feelings for me, I know that he will be a wonderful father,” she announced. “He’s a good man, Mom.”
“I agree, Megan,” Amy chuckled. “I wholeheartedly approve, my dear.”
Megan smiled and hugged herself, then looked around at the hotel room. It was nice, but it wasn’t home. The colors were bleak brown and white. Megan preferred to surround herself with colors and textures, light and happiness.
“I need to catch that cab,” she sing-songed, grabbing her purse. “My cell phone ran out of power last night. We didn’t pack anything and I don’t have a charger with me. I’m going to try and grab one at the airport, but I really need to hurry if I’m going to make my flight home.”
Amy stood up, wearing only a tee-shirt that they’d picked up in a gift shop on the way to the hotel along with a few toiletries. She smiled at her daughter, leaning in for a hug. “Go, honey. Then call me when you land so that I know you’re safe.”
Megan kissed her mother goodbye, grabbed her purse, and rushed out the door. “I love you!” she said as the hotel room door closed. Megan didn’t look back. Instead, she hurried down the carpeted hallway, feeling as if she’d been given a new chance at life, love, and happiness. Her hand found her stomach and she wondered about this baby. Oh, what a difference twenty-four hours could make! Yesterday, she’d been so tired and terrified that the cancer had returned. Now she was not only cancer-free, but also pregnant!
The cab driver dropped her off at the airport and she checked in, ignoring the curious looks from the airport staff when she told them that she didn’t have any baggage as she checked in for the flight. Yes, that was strange, but the whole past twenty-four hours had been strange! Strange and wonderful and more miraculous than she’d thought possible!
She barely had time to grab a breakfast sandwich before her flight was called.
Boarding was slow, but better than yesterday. This time, she wasn’t boarding a plane with the anticipation of being told that she’d have to go through hell again. This time, she was boarding a plane to meet the man she loved, the father of her baby!
A baby! Oh, goodness, this was the happiest moment of her life, she thought, closing her eyes to savor this moment, preserve it in her mind.
“Move up!” an angry voice behind her snapped.
Megan’s eyes opened and she realized that the line had moved forward and there was about two feet of space between herself and the woman ahead of her in line.
Normally, Megan hated to fly because the entire ordeal was an exercise in humiliation. The security agents were impatient because of the stupidity of passengers. The flight crews were irritated that the passengers weren’t considerate. The passengers were tired and frustrated from taking off their shoes, moving through the long security lines like cattle, sitting for hours in a seat designed for torture. Traveling was not fun. It was an hours long, miserable experience from beginning to end.
But Megan didn’t care. She was going home to Jake! She was pregnant! And best of all, she wasn’t dying!
The flight seemed longer than any flight she’d ever taken, but that was probably because she was so eager to speak with Jake. She hadn’t been able to find a phone charger as she’d only had time to grab some food before boarding the plane to go home.
When the flight finally landed, she waited impatiently for the others ahead of her to disembark. By the time she was out of the gate, she was literally running through the airport, desperate to find Jake and tell him the news.
Would he be happy? Or would this be the end of their time together? Because she hadn’t known what her future would hold, Megan hadn’t allowed herself to think about the future, to consider possibilities. She wouldn’t talk about it because she didn’t know if there could be a future.
Inconveniently Tempted Page 11
