I nod in agreement. For now, I let her plan rest. We’ll stay in Dallas until my season is over. Then we’ll move to Houston so she can practice medicine. In April, well, I guess we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. I make a decision to approach our relationship like football playoffs. It’s one week at a time.
Two weeks later, after securing back-to-back trips to the Super Bowl, Charlie and I visit Doctor Starr. To our complete and utter surprise, we’re not expecting just one baby. Charlie is pregnant with twins.
Chapter Eighteen
Charlie
I’m lying in the movie room in one of our recliner theater-chairs. My legs are above my cervix, just as Doctor Starr recommended. My mom is changing Ainsley’s diaper in her nursery. Brad is downstairs popping popcorn for us, and bringing up everything that we’ll need for the next few hours.
I clutch my phone in my hand, willing it to ring. And not just anyone to call. I want to hear Colin’s voice.
As if I am able to control the universe, my phone vibrates in my hand.
“Hello,” I all but scream into it.
“How ya doing, beautiful girl?” His voice is like velvet to my ears.
I melt into my chair. “Okay,” I sigh. “So sad that I’m not there.” I’m trying to not sound as pathetic as I feel.
“You’re doing something more important. You’re keeping our twins safe,” he reassures me.
Three days before I was supposed to get on a plane to the Super Bowl, I discovered blood in my urine. After an emergency trip to Doctor Starr’s office, she told me the news. Twins are a high-risk pregnancy. I’m on bed-rest until I’m out of the first trimester, and that meant no Super Bowl. I’m relegated to this chair, and one bathroom break an hour.
Colin was understandably disappointed that I couldn’t be there, but his worrying has reached over-the-top levels. He suggested hiring a private nurse. I reminded him that I’m a doctor and Brad’s a nurse, which is still a touchy subject. Reluctantly, he agreed that Brad could stay with me until he returned home.
It has been almost three weeks since Brad and I saw each other. We’ve been like preteen girls getting caught up after a long stay at summer camp. Nothing will soothe the ache in my stomach that I can’t be with my husband today, but having Brad around is a nice distraction. He’s also made a point to get lost when Colin’s around, or at least fade into the woodwork. I’ll give him credit. He’s doing an excellent job of toning himself down.
“Any more bleeding?” Colin asks.
“No. And you’ll be happy to know that my mom and Brad are not letting me lift a finger.”
“Good. That’s exactly what they’re supposed to be doing.” The stadium noise behind him is so deafening that’s hard to understand him.
“Don’t you have a game to win?” I use the same tone I would for, “Can you pick up something from the grocery story?”
“Yeah. Yeah baby, I do.” He chuckles. “I just needed to hear your voice one more time.”
We both get very quiet. The only sound is the chaos surrounding Colin. Not all has been forgiven and forgotten. My unexpected pregnancy, plus the complications with the twins have essentially given Colin exactly what he wanted—Ainsley and I at home in Dallas, and me unable to practice medicine at all. I know that it’s a hollow victory for him. He’s been almost back to his old self, but this is not the way he wanted to win. He’s shifted from irate and brooding to worrying himself sick about the twins, Ainsley, and me.
“Bring me home a souvenir,” I pause for effect, “like another MVP trophy.”
“You got it. Give Ainsley a big kiss for me.”
That’s how we end our phone call before my husband plays for another championship.
Chapter Nineteen
Colin
“Colin, are you fucking crazy?” Aiden asks, leaning over my desk as if he wants to punch me.
“Decision is made. We have a meeting with the team scheduled in thirty minutes.” I’m the calmest that I think that I’ve been in ages.
We’re sitting in my office at CharCol Inc.
“Your daughter’s first birthday party is in four hours. Can’t this wait until tomorrow?” I know that he wants me to think this over. Aiden believes that I’m making a rash decision. I’m not. As soon as I saw two heartbeats on the ultrasound screen, I knew what I was going to do, regardless of the outcome of the game that I played a week ago today.
“This is Ainsley’s birthday gift. I’m giving her my undivided attention. We’re doing it today.” I cross my arms and lean back in my chair, cool as a motherfucking cucumber.