Unforgiven(94)

“I swear you and Landon are the same person. You both act like fifteen-year-old boys,” she scoffs jokingly. I sit in the chair, resting my left arm on the cushion while the phlebotomist wraps my arm in a giant band and pokes me, filling two vials of blood. One Band-Aid later and a quick hug from Reagan, and I’m out the door, on my way to work.
Getting settled at my desk, I begin my morning routine of checking voice messages, answering emails, and preparing for our morning production meeting. Elaine has been assigning me a lot of feature stories and I’ve even gotten some anchor time for the noon newscast. My cell phone rings on the desk next to me and I see Reagan’s name flash across the screen. I’ve got ten minutes until the production meeting, so I hit ignore and finish answering the email I’ve been working on. My desk phone rings and I notice Reagan’s number on the caller ID.
“Lindsay Kennedy,” I answer, just in case I’m mistaken and it’s not Reagan.
“Tell me you’re sitting down.”
“Uh, yeah, but I’m…”
“Stay sitting.”
“Why do you sound out of breath? What’s wrong?”
“Lindsay…”
“Yeah…”
“You’re pregnant.” And that’s where my heart stops beating.
“What?” I barely make out in a whisper
“You heard me. Your urine test was positive. You’re pregnant. We’re waiting on the blood work to come back tomorrow to confirm, but you’re pregnant. When was your last period?”
“I don’t know. I mean, they’re so off. Some months I have one, some months I don’t. I just… I don’t know,” I mumble into the phone.
“Come back to the office. We’ll do an ultrasound.”
“Yeah, um… let me go let Elaine know that I have to leave unexpectedly.”
“I’ll see you in a little bit.”
“Reagan? Please don’t say anything to anyone. I’m just…”
“I know. Just get back here.”
I don’t remember driving back to Reagan’s office. I don’t remember her talking to me. I don’t remember changing into the gown and doing a full OB check-up. What I do remember is Reagan handing me a long piece of paper that showed me the ultrasound with two babies and a due date. I notice the due date first, “September twentieth.” I look up at Reagan, who’s standing next to me. “That’s Matt’s birthday.” She smiles at me. My eyes fill with tears and I lay my head back against the pillow on the table.
“You’re almost nine weeks along, Lindsay—with twins.”
“Well, that would be why my clothes are getting tight.” I laugh.
“I know you’re healthy and doing well, but Lindsay, as a doctor, I have to say this. I need you to eat and not worry about your weight.” I listen as Reagan quietly addresses my past struggle with anorexia. “You and your babies need to be healthy. I want you to talk to your therapist, or me if you feel like you’re struggling with this. You’re going to gain weight—and more so than normal. You’re growing two babies.” I nod my head in acknowledgement and she smiles at me. “Everything looks really, really good.” She squeezes my hand while I swat tears away with the other one. “Now, go tell Matt,” she says, pulling me up to a sitting position.
I get changed back into my clothes and sit in my car outside Reagan’s office for god only knows how long. A million things run through my head and every emotion imaginable courses through me. When I returned to work two years ago, Matt changed his shift and now works the day shift. With only a couple of hours left in his shift, I decide to wait for him at home. Arriving home, I immediately begin prepping dinner and start a load of laundry, anything to keep me busy and my mind preoccupied.
“Linds?” I can hear the confusion in his voice just before I hear the front door shut. He usually gets home before me, so I’m sure my car in the driveway surprised him.
“In the kitchen,” I holler.
“What are you doing home?” he asks as he walks into the kitchen.
“We have to talk.” My tone is serious and his face contorts and loses color. I grab his hand and pull him into the living room. “Sit down.” I gesture to the couch. I untie the apron I’m wearing and set it on the coffee table before sitting down next to him.
“I have something to tell you.” My heart races in my chest.
“What’s wrong? You’re scaring me.” He pulls me closer to him, wrapping his arm around me in a protective nature.
“I’m pregnant.” Matt stills at those words.