“Talking about me, Letícia?”
Diogo stood in the doorway, looking none too pleased.
“You know I can't stop praising you.” Dr. Carneiro gave her adopted brother a warm smile. “And you're just in time. Look.”
Moving the wand against the goop on Ellie's belly, she pointed at the monitor. Ellie looked, as well, and instantly forgot everything as she saw the tiny flicker of her baby's heartbeat on the monitor.
Diogo's hand suddenly reached for hers. He sank into a nearby chair, his eyes similarly riveted on the monitor. “That little light…. that's our baby?”
“That's the heartbeat,” Letícia said. “And there, you can see the legs…the spine. The head. Do you see?”
“A boy?” he asked.
“It's early to be absolutely sure, but do you see that? Yes. A boy, I think.”
“A boy!” Diogo exulted.
“And there, you see…” She suddenly frowned. “Wait. That's not… It can't…”
The doctor's voice trailed off as she stared at the monitor with her brow furrowed. Ellie felt Diogo's hand tighten around her own.
“What is it? What's wrong?”
Ellie glanced at him. His handsome features were anxious and vulnerable as he looked from the monitor to the doctor. Ellie realized he was trying to hide his fear.
And the thought struck through her like lightning: he loved this child as much as she did.
“What is it?” Heart in her throat, Ellie could barely manage to whisper the words. “What's wrong with our baby?”
Dr. Carneiro turned to face them, her thin face lit up with a smile.
“You're going to have a girl.”
“A girl!” Ellie crowed happily. She turned to Diogo triumphantly. “Ha! You see? I told you it would be a girl!”
“Not a boy?” Diogo said, frowning.
“Yes,” the doctor said.
“What?”
“A boy…and a girl. The girl was hiding behind her brother.”
Ellie and Diogo both blinked at her, uncomprehending.
The doctor gave a laugh. “Look.” They stared where she was pointing. In all the unrecognizable lines and blurs of the monitor, Ellie at first couldn't see what she was talking about. Then she saw it. Another tiny flickering light. Other arms and legs. Another shape of a head. Another baby.
“Two heartbeats. Twins. Congratulations!”
“Twins?” Ellie gasped.
Two babies to love. Two babies to care for. Two babies who would need everything their parents could give them!
Sucking in her breath, she glanced at Diogo. Just a few months ago, he'd had a vasectomy to prevent having a child. Now he was going to be father of two. A ready-made family. How would he take the news?
“Have you picked any names?” the doctor asked.
Ellie shook her head. “It's all happened so suddenly. We haven't really thought about it.” She tried to see Diogo's face. “We could call the girl Lilibeth. Or maybe Lily?”
He finally turned to face her. Ellie was shocked to see his dark eyes were bright with unshed tears in his handsome, rugged face. “She will be called Ana.”
“Oh, that's wonderful!” his sister exclaimed. “Our mother would be so proud.”
Ellie lifted her chin and pleaded, “But my grandmother…”
“My daughter's name is Ana,” he informed her coldly.
Ellie ground her teeth. Just like a man to not listen to anyone's feelings but his own! But on the other hand, if his adoptive mother really had saved him from starving on the streets, it seemed a small enough thing to ask.
She closed her eyes. “Ana,” she tried aloud. “Ana Jensen.” Opening her eyes, she nodded. “All right. Ana.”
But Diogo didn't look grateful. He stared at her, his dark brows lowered.
“Jensen?” he demanded. “Their last name will be Serrador.”
She shook her head. “You expect me to raise the babies in Flint with a name different from mine?” she protested.
“Raise them in Flint?” he thundered. “Are you out of your mind? You are going to live here with me—all of you!”
“I might stay until they're born. But longer than that? You can't honestly expect me to remain here forever, sequestered in your penthouse like some trapped princess in a tower!”
“I thought,” he ground out, “that we could raise the children together. I am their father.”
She nodded. “And you will always have access to the children. We'll work out custody. But—” she raised her chin “—you are not my husband. You will not have access to me.”
* * *
Twins.
Looking back at the heartbeats on the monitor, Diogo suddenly saw everything clearly for the first time.