“I’m pregnant.”
I drew back, cupping her face. “They said it would take time, maybe more than one round . . .”
She ran her fingers through my hair. “I know. I wasn’t even thinking when I saw Dr. Hastings this morning. She did a pregnancy test, then told me the news.” Her mouth curled into a small smile. “I was so shocked when she asked about my period, and I realized it was late.”
“You waited all day to tell me?”
Avery rolled her eyes. “I saw her three hours ago. I was so dazed I sat in my car for a while. Then I had to go and find your spoon.”
“Are you okay?”
“I’m good. I have to go see Dr. Pritchard next week.”
“Tuesday.”
“Yes.”
“That’s why you’ve been so tired.”
“Yes, it is.”
“I want to take care of you. Both of you.”
“Oh, Daniel, you already do,” she crooned. “We’re so lucky to have you.”
“Do you need anything? Is there something I should be doing?”
“No. Let’s just enjoy this and celebrate.” She covered my hand with hers. “Our baby.”
“Our baby,” I repeated in awe.
Her lip quivered. “Yes.”
“My parents, my sister—Beth . . . God, they’re going to be so excited. When can we tell them?”
“Let’s wait ‘til after next week.” She decided. “I picked up some other spoons, too! They’ll love it!”
“I love you.”
She cradled my face between her palms, her expression one of joy. “I love you.”
I was anxious as I paced the small room.
Avery laughed at me. “Relax, Daniel.”
I stared at her, incredulous. How could she be so calm?
The ultra sound technician and the doctor would arrive any minute, and I knew—I was certain—they were going to tell us Avery was having twins. They had told us it was a possibility with the fertility treatments, and although we’d been fine with the idea, the thought it might be a reality, was making me nervous.
When I had brought the idea up, Avery remained composed, only shrugging and stating we would know soon enough. But she was already huge. Not that I would ever tell her that—again. I had discovered only a few weeks into her pregnancy she was freakishly strong. The word “huge” would never pass my lips again, and I wasn’t sure my right nipple would ever be the same.
At only eight weeks, she looked bigger to me than I would’ve expected; even given her tiny stature. I was so confident last night, I got up and measured the room Avery wanted as a nursery; to make sure we could fit two cribs and dressers, and a change table in it.
The door opened, and Dr. Pritchard came in smiling as he looked at us. Tall and older, he radiated a calm Avery and I liked. “How are you?” he inquired as he shook my hand.
“I think it’s twins,” I blurted out.
His eyebrows shot up as he snickered. “Well, I guess we’ll see in a few minutes. Should I ask why?”
I arched my eyebrow at him and side-eyed Avery. I didn’t want to say it out loud. She might hurt me again.
“He thinks I’m already showing too much for it to be one baby. Huge, I think, was the word he used. Right, Daniel?” Avery smirked at me from the examination table.
I found the smirk rather sexy.
Dr. Pritchard started to laugh. “Oh, Daniel.” He clapped his hand on my shoulder. “I’m surprised you’re walking upright.” He pulled up the stool, still laughing. “You’ll learn, son. You’ll learn.”
“I already did,” I murmured, absently rubbing my nipple.
He chatted with Avery and took some notes while the technician got everything ready. I sat down beside Avery, held her hand, grinning as she gasped over the cold gel, and watched eagerly as the wand began to move. Dr. Pritchard was quiet as he checked and measured, his eyebrows rising as he peered at the screen and then threw me a smirk. “So you think it’s twins, Daniel?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Looks as though you’re correct.”
I felt a little smug. I knew she was too big to be carrying only one baby. I smiled down at her, trying not to chuckle over her panicked expression.
“It’s okay, Sprite. We’ll figure this out. We’ll have plenty of help,” I assured her, pressing a kiss to her palm.
Dr. Pritchard suddenly barked out a laugh. “Well, it looks like you’re going to need it.”
I looked at him puzzled. “Oh?”
“You were wrong. I was wrong. It’s not twins.”
“Oh, well, one is fine.” I squeezed Avery’s hand, wondering if she was upset, but she wasn’t looking at me. Instead, she was staring at the monitor.
He turned and faced us fully, his finger tapping the screen. “I hope you have a big house. It’s triplets.”
Now, she looked at me, her eyes as big as saucers.
The word echoed in my head.
Triplets.
The last thing I heard was my voice, loud and ringing in my ears. “The cribs won’t fit!”
My eyes fluttered, and I frowned. Why did my head hurt so much? I looked around. Why the hell was I lying on the floor? My puzzled gaze met Avery’s startled eyes, and it all hit me.
Avery was having triplets.
Triplets.
Three babies. We’d made not one, not two—as I’d suspected—but three babies.
I was gonna be a daddy to three babies. All at once.
How the hell did I get on the floor?
Dr. Pritchard chuckled as his hands slipped under my arms, pulling me off the floor. “Up you go, my boy. Sit beside your wife.” Still laughing, he handed me an icepack and my glasses. “You might need that. Nice goose egg.”
I looked at Avery sheepishly. “Oops.”
“Are you okay?” She stroked my head, concerned. “I guess that was a bit of a shock?”
“Three babies, Avery!” My hand flew to her stomach.
That changed everything.
She smiled, her eyes wide, beaming with happiness. “I know.”
“The nursery will have to be down the hall. Three cribs won’t fit in the room.”
She laughed. “So you yelled just before you passed out.” She cupped my cheek, brushing her lips over my skin. “It’s okay, Daniel. We’ll figure it out.”
I pulled her close, burying my face in her neck. “Avery, we’re gonna have three babies. Three!”
“Your favorite number.”
I kissed her and ran my hand in small circles over her stomach where my children were growing. “These are the best three of them all. Thank you, my beautiful wife.”
Panicked, I looked at Dr. Pritchard. “Did I miss the heartbeats?”
Both he and the technician laughed. “No, Daniel. You, ah, interrupted the ultrasound.”
“Sorry.”
“You up to finishing the scan?”
I nodded eagerly, wincing a little.
“Okay. Let’s finish this up, then we’ll go to my office and talk. I’ve no doubt you have many questions. I’ll give you some Tylenol, as well.” He threw me a grin as he lifted Avery’s T-shirt. “Try to stay upright, Daniel.”
I chuckled. “Just don’t change your mind and tell me you missed another one.”
“Don’t even say that!” Avery gasped, her fingers pinching my side.
I groaned as I rubbed the sore spot and kissed her head in apology.
Freakishly strong.
I needed to remember that if I was going to survive this pregnancy.
And then . . .
The rapid sounds of multiple heartbeats filled the room and nothing else mattered.
Only Avery and my three children.
My family.
Daniel
I slipped in the side door, to greet my mom, and Janett. She had arrived a few days prior to help Avery during the last part of her pregnancy.
“How is she?”
Janett shrugged. “Cheerful. T
ired. Crying. Anxious. And all in the space of about ten minutes.”
“Uh, yeah.” That was about normal these days. “Is she asleep?”
“I think so.”
“I’ll go check.”
“Don’t wake her if she is, Daniel.”
I held up my fingers. “Scout’s honor.”
My mother snorted, looking up from peeling potatoes. Avery had a constant craving for them now. “You were never a scout, Daniel.”
I chuckled. “I won’t wake her up.”
I peeked in the door, my lips curling into a smile at the sight of my wife asleep on her side. There were various pillows surrounding her, to support her now undeniably huge stomach, but I was sure she was still uncomfortable. We only had a short while to go, then Dr. Pritchard was confident the babies would be fine if Avery went into labor. She was confined to bed, and if needed, he was prepared to put her in the hospital. She didn’t want that, so she was following his orders to the letter.
Some days were harder than others were, though.
Most of the time, Avery was strong. Happy. So thrilled to be carrying our children, the difficult days were easier to handle. She was usually more tired and worried on those days, and the thing that seemed to make it easier on her was if I was beside her. I would talk and tell her stories, stroke her hair if she cried, and I’d kiss her until she fell asleep.
I’d kiss her a lot.
It was, my Sprite informed me, still her favorite thing.
It was mine, as well.
I started to step back when her wide eyes met mine and I realized she’d probably been awake the whole time. Slipping inside, I lay beside her, my hand rubbing her stomach in large, soothing circles.
“You’re supposed to be asleep. One of our moms will kick my ass.” The two of them were a force to be reckoned with, and I didn’t want to test it.
“I rest better when you’re here.” Her hand covered the top of mine. “Can you stay?”
I kissed her forehead. “For a while. I want you to shut your eyes and rest.”
“I’m tired of resting.”
“You only have to make it another couple days, Mommy.”
I knew she wanted to last longer and give the babies more time inside her. None of us expected her to make it this far, but she proved to be right. My wife was stubborn to the core. The problem was that they were getting bigger, and she was so small.
“You’ve done so well, Sprite.”
A small tear rolled down her cheek and I kissed her smooth skin. “Don’t cry, Avery. Please.”
“Can I have three?” Her voice was soft and pleading.
I leaned my forehead to hers. She needed lots of threes these days.
“Everything is fine. You and the babies are doing well. We’ll get to hold them soon.” I pressed another kiss to the side of her lips. “And here’s the bonus. I love you.”
A small shuddering sigh rippled through her. “I love you, too.”
“Then everything is good. Right?”
“Another kiss would make it perfect.”
I nuzzled her mouth until she was asleep.
I stood, looking down in amazement at what Avery and I had done.
Our children.
All three of them—at once.
Two boys and one girl.
I thought I was ready for today. I had read up on the subject of multiple births, I knew everything that could occur, and I was ready for all emergencies.
Nothing I read prepared me for the emotion of seeing my children as they were born.
Nothing prepared me for the incredible joy I felt when I knew they had all arrived safely, and Avery was fine.
I took more pictures and a short video, then left them sleeping to go back and check on my wife.
I walked into her room, meeting her exhausted, but happy eyes.
“They’re perfect, Avery.”
I showed her the pictures and video, reassuring her that they were all doing well, and she would be able to see herself the next day. “And for the first time since they were born, all three of them are asleep at the same time.”
That made her laugh. They had been active and fussy, but finally exhausted themselves and slept.
I leaned down and kissed her. “And Mommy should be sleeping, too. You must be exhausted. You were amazing today, Avery. Just amazing.”
“You’ll stay close to them?”
I wrapped my hands around hers, squeezing them in comfort. Our children had to stay in NICU for a while since they had been born early. Avery’s biggest concern was the fact she wasn’t able to be beside them every moment.
“As soon as you’re asleep, I’ll go back.”
Nothing was going to keep me away from my children.
“They’re so small.” She looked back at the pictures. Her lip started to tremble as she gazed at our children.
“Small but healthy,” I insisted. “Dr. Pritchard is in awe of how long you carried them. He was sure you wouldn’t make it to thirty-four weeks. You gave them the best chance we could have hoped for, and in a few weeks, we can take them home.” He was filled with praise for Avery, and he had been a constant support to us during the delivery.
“Things will certainly feel real then.”
I ran my fingers through her hair. “It’s all worked out. Between our moms, Caitlin, Beth, and the nanny we hired, we’re covered. You can recover, our children will be cared for, and we will find our way. Together—the way we have from the start.”
She nodded, eyes heavy, fighting the weariness I knew she was feeling.
“Sleep, Sprite.”
“We have to choose their names.”
“After you sleep, before the crowd arrives.”
I knew my dad was holding them back; otherwise, the room would already be full. The last I heard, he had made a list and assigned times to everyone, so we weren’t overwhelmed. My mom laughed at him, but he insisted a schedule was the best way to go.
“I’m sure there will be lots of people, more flowers, and presents arriving.” The room was already full of packages and bouquets from friends and patients. The one set of flowers that arrived with clown balloons attached was carefully removed before Avery saw the scary faces on them. I could only imagine the reaction they would have caused.
My gift to her was still in my pocket. When we were alone later, I would give it to her. Three slender white gold rings to represent each of our three children. Two were delicate woven vines and the middle one was a simple band, and they all fit together perfectly. Scattered with diamonds, they caught the light beautifully and I knew she would love the rings.
She fell asleep fast, exhausted from everything she’d been through. I sat beside her, wanting to make sure she stayed asleep before I left and went back to our children. I heard the door open behind me, and my mom entered in the room. She walked over and wrapped an arm around my waist. “How is she?”
I smiled. “Magnificent.”
She smiled in agreement. “I popped in and saw the babies. The nurses said they’re all doing well.”
“They are. I was going back as soon as I knew she was asleep.”
“You go be with your children,” Mom urged. “I’ll stay with my girl here. Janett will be here shortly, too. When she wakes up, we’ll let you know.”
I watched my mom stroke Avery’s hair, her eyes filled with love for my wife. She had become a second daughter to her and my dad, and the sister Caitlin never had. I had become Doug’s “favorite son-in-law,”—a term he enjoyed throwing around when teasing me. He and Janett had become part of the family and visited regularly during the pregnancy. I had a feeling we’d see even more of them now the babies had arrived.
I dropped a kiss on my mom’s head, a gentle one to Avery’s smooth cheek and left to go back to my children.
The unit was quiet when I returned the next day with Avery. We watched our little miracles together, our hands held tight. Her poignant reaction to seeing them made my throat ache with emoti
on.
“Dr. Pritchard says he is sure they’ll only have to stay a few weeks,” I told her, keeping my voice low.
“I can’t wait to hold them.”
I knew how she felt. We were allowed to touch them gently, skin to skin, but as a precaution, we hadn’t held them yet.
“Soon, I promise. Only a couple more days.” I kissed her hand. “You ready to choose their names?”
“Maggie Rose,” she replied with no hesitation.
I laughed at her decisive tone. She’d been firm on that name for a while. I liked it; it was pretty, so I nodded in agreement.
“And?”
“You choose the next one.”
“I still like Carter as a name. And we can use your dad’s as the middle one.”
“Suck up. You’re already the favorite.”
I laughed at her teasing. “Just cementing it in for life.”
“Carter Douglas Spencer?”
“Yes. It’s a good strong name for our oldest.”
Avery grinned. “Oldest by one minute. Carter Spencer. I like that.”
Both boys had been born before Maggie—a fact I knew they would hold over her the rest of their lives.
“Okay.” I reached into the tent, placing my hand on my son’s back. “Our middle child.”
“Our troublemaker.”
Avery insisted he was the one who caused her the most grief in her pregnancy—pushing on her bladder and shoving the other two for room. One of them had been in constant motion, often a tiny hand or foot clearly visible through her skin, pushing and shifting. My other two children came out quiet and laidback, but he arrived, screaming and red-faced, arms flailing and legs kicking, letting us know he wasn’t pleased to be outside his warm nest. It only made sense he’d been the active one inside, as well.
“Dylan?” I offered. It had been on both our lists. “It sounds like a good name for a troublemaker.”
“Dylan,” Avery repeated. “Dylan Spencer. What about a middle name? Sean after your dad?”
“Dylan Sean Spencer,” I mused. “It does sound good.” I transferred my hand to each of the other babies, keeping my touch light as I gazed down on them. I sat back down beside Avery. “Carter, Dylan, and Maggie. Yes?”
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