When the doctor produced the ultrasound wand, Sergei experienced a moment of surprise. He had assumed it was always done on the belly, but apparently that wasn't true. He kept his gaze fixed on Bianca's worried face while the doctor did what he needed to do. She still gripped his hand so tightly her knuckles had gone white.
"Well, well, well," Dr. Jones said, his voice amused. "I have a feeling you two weren't expecting this."
Sergei's attention jumped to the ultrasound monitor. He couldn’t make sense of the grainy black and white image. The image shifted a little as the doctor made an adjustment and suddenly Bianca gasped. It wasn’t pain or fear that made her inhale so sharply. It was shock.
"Is that…? Are those…?" Wide-eyed, she gaped at the doctor and nurse. "Twins?"
Sergei damned near fell out of the chair. That wasn't possible. Twins? No. They were having one baby. One fat, healthy baby.
Except now that he looked at the monitor, really looked at the monitor, he easily spotted the two black sacs in the center of a fuzzy gray and white circle. Inside those dark sacs were two distinct white baby-like shapes.
My babies.
His heart threatened to burst as feelings unlike any he had ever known exploded within him. When Bianca had shown him the positive test, he had been stunned and flummoxed but also excited. Until now, until he saw his babies with his own two eyes, it hadn't been truly real. Watching the two tiny shapes move around on the screen left him nearly breathless.
"The babies look fine," Dr. Jones commented. "We've got good, strong heartbeats on both." The nurse used the ball-shaped mouse attached to the machine to help the doctor measure the babies. "Baby A is measuring at seven weeks and one day and Baby B is measuring at six weeks and six days. Those are both inline with your last menstrual period. Now let's see…"
Bianca winced as the doctor tried to find the source of her bleeding. Sergei caressed the back of her hand and hoped the doctor would hurry the hell up and stop hurting her.
"There," Dr. Jones said and gestured to a dark spot on the screen. "It looks like you've got a small subchorionic hematoma. It's basically a blood clot between the uterus and the placenta."
"Is it dangerous?" Fear laced her voice.
"Not usually," the doctor assured her. "This one isn't very big. It will probably resolve on its own. When you get home, your doctor will continue to monitor you until it dissolves completely. Some practices administer blood thinners to speed up the process but I don't see the need in your case."
Sergei finally relaxed. The ball of pain and worry that had been throbbing in his gut eased up some. He stroked her hair and cheek while the doctor gave them instructions. She was to rest, stay well hydrated and avoid any heavy lifting or exercise until she saw her obstetrician. Dr. Jones stared at him as he delivered the last instruction. "She needs complete pelvic rest so that means no sex."
"Not a problem," Sergei assured the doctor. He would give up sex for the rest of his life if it meant their babies would be all right. In fact, as he helped Bianca dress, he couldn't shake the feeling that this was his fault. A hematoma was a bruise. Had he done this to her?
Shame gripped him as he thought of all the nights and mornings he had made love to her. How many times had he taken her too roughly? Too deeply? He tried to be gentle with her, but when she started to come around his cock and he felt those silky walls of her pussy gripping him, he struggled to hold back those primitive needs. Faster, harder, deeper. If he had shown more control and care, this wouldn’t have happened. He cursed his dick and himself for being so weak.
No more. I won't hurt her again.
Fully dressed and waiting for her discharge papers, Bianca traced the images on the ultrasound printouts the nurse had given her. Watching her stare so lovingly and longingly at their babies made his heart swell. She lifted a teary, happy gaze to his face. "Twins, Sergei. Can you believe it?"
"No," he confessed. He rubbed her earlobe between his fingers and smiled down at her. "We're very lucky."
"Very," she agreed. With a shaky inhale, she said, "I thought preparing for one was scary but two? I don't even know where to start."
"We'll figure it out, Bianca. We aren’t the first couple to stumble through this. We've got our families to help us and our friends."
"I'm going to have to start pestering Benny for advice. You'll have to ask Dimitri about the best car seats and cribs and—"
He swept in and silenced her with a tender kiss. Knowing her need to plan everything down to the tiniest detail, he murmured, "Later, Bianca. There is plenty of time for that. Tonight, you need to rest."
A nurse brought the necessary paperwork and Bianca signed where indicated. With an arm against her back and his hand on her hip, he walked her out of the emergency room and into the waiting area. His mother and Vladimir had been joined by Vivian and Nikolai. All four were tense and clearly displayed their concern on their faces. The sight of Bianca walking toward them seemed to put them all at ease.
Vivian was on her feet first and hugged Bianca. "I called your phone, and Sergei's mom answered. She told me what had happened. We got here as fast as possible."
Even if Vivian was hurt that Bianca hadn't let her in on their secret, she didn't show it. He suspected Vivian felt guilty for keeping her secret form them. Pulling back, she kept her hands on Bianca's shoulders. "Are you okay?"
Nodding, Bianca made sure to speak loud enough for the others to hear. "It's a blood clot. It's probably not dangerous to the babies, but I have to be careful."
"Babies?" Vladimir seized on the word.
Sergei couldn't stop grinning. "We're having twins."
Now that the fear of a miscarriage had passed, everyone seemed overjoyed for them. Hugs and congratulations were exchanged. To make room for others patients and their families, their small group moved outside. Assured that Bianca and the babies were fine, Vivian and Nikolai said their farewells. Before he got into the idling cab, the boss gripped Sergei's hand. "If you need anything, you call me."
"I will. Thank you."
Smiling, Sergei slapped him on the back. "Congratulations, Sergei. You're going to be a fantastic father."
Certain that was the highest praise he could ever hope to earn from the boss, he stepped back and watched their cab disappear down the busy street. Nestled next to Bianca on the ride back to their hotel, he found himself imagining the wildest things. A vision of his two children playing with Dimitri's daughter and Nikolai's son made him smile. He wasn't sure why he imagined having a son and a daughter with Bianca or why he assumed Nikolai's firstborn would be a son. It felt right.
Back in their suite, he stood outside the shower while Bianca went through her nightly routine and tucked her into bed. He promised he wouldn't be long, but she urged him to take his time and enjoy his family while he could. Out in the living room, he found his mother and Vladimir sitting at the dining table having a late night snack. He joined them.
His mother had the printout from the ultrasound in front of her. She blinked away tears as she gazed at the grainy images of her grandchildren. Whatever her reservations about accepting Bianca into the family, she seemed to be letting them go now. Smiling at her sons, she grasped both of their hands. Sergei refused to think about how very few hours he had left with his mother and brother. Right now they were together. That was all that mattered.
Soon, he promised himself. Soon he would have his entire family—Bianca, their babies, his mother and Vladimir—in the same city. No matter the price, he would make it happen.
Chapter Eight
Back in Houston, the weeks rushed by so fast. Before I knew it, the last week of August had arrived and with it the end of my first trimester. That bleeding that had scared us so badly while in London had continued off and on until eleven weeks. It had been almost fourteen days since my final day of spotting, and I was finally beginning to believe that scary episode was over.
My doctor had kept a close eye on me, and sure enough, the clot that was ca
using me so much grief shrank and shrank until it had disappeared completely. The babies continued to grow on target. Thankfully my morning sickness had eased up some after hitting its peak around ten weeks. Poor Sergei spent most mornings holding my hair back and dabbing at my neck with a cool washcloth. Sometimes I wondered if he wasn't suffering more than me. He carried so much guilt for my predicament and wouldn't listen when I reminded him we shared that burden equally.
"Bianca, do you need more help?" Vivian tapped at the door to the dressing room I had commandeered at the back of my bridal shop. "Your mama is getting awfully antsy out here."
Connie, one of our bridal consultants, smiled over my shoulder as she finished tightening the corseted back of the gown. She had been with the shop for nine years and knew only too well how difficult Mama could be when she wanted to see a bride in one of her dresses. Renee, the seamstress who had done the final alterations on my gown, helped primp the skirt and snipped away any tiny threads that had been missed.
Staring at my reflection in the mirror, I tried to wrap my head around the image I presented. Organza and satin, pearls and rhinestones—I looked like a freaking princess. A pregnant princess, I corrected with a wry smile, but a princess nonetheless.
Between Mama and Galina and a dozen sketches that had gone back and forth between email, we had finally managed to nail down the perfect design. The strapless gown featured a sweetheart neckline and a corseted back that allowed for an easier fit for my baby bump. Ruching paired with dainty pleats and some gorgeous beadwork camouflaged the more pronounced curve to my tummy. The chapel train could be easily bustled for the reception, and the lacy bolero that would cover my shoulders for the ceremony was the perfect compromise.
When I stepped out of the dressing room, Mama gasped and Vivian happily clapped her hands together. Erin bounced up and down in her seat as she hugged the thick binder that she used to organize all the wedding details. Because the store was about to close, most of the staff was free to stand nearby and watch. Some of them clapped. Others grinned and gave thumbs-up signals. Even Ten who hovered in the background while keeping an eye on Vivian showed his approval with the tiniest lift to the corner of his mouth.
Dabbing at her eyes, my mother smiled at me. "Oh, sugar, look at you."
Standing in front of the mirrors, I couldn't believe the transformation either. Even after working in the field for years and years, I was taken aback by the sight of myself in a wedding dress. It wasn't happening the way I had always imagined. That whole thirteen weeks pregnant with twins thing wasn't quite according to plan, but I didn't dare entertain the what-ifs. I trusted that this was always the way it was supposed to be for me. Too many different lives had intersected and changed for the better for me to think otherwise.
I still hadn't settled on the veil I would be wearing so Junie from our accessories department brought over the two that I liked best. She slipped the first 0ne, a two-tiered fingertip veil, into place and stepped back so everyone could get a good look. She replaced the fingertip veil with a longer walking length veil in a sheer netting.
"The first one," Mama proclaimed from the best seat in the house.
"Definitely," Vivian agreed.
"Yep," Erin chimed with a nod.
Glancing around the room, I noticed only a handful of dissenting opinions. I had Junie attach the fingertip veil again and admired the way it curved around my shoulders and complemented the gown. It really was the perfect fit.
With my veil and headpiece chosen, Mama had Renee make some final adjustments to the gown. She wanted the hem lifted a tad in the front and shook her head when the bustle wasn't just right. Knowing Mama was this exacting with all the brides she helped dress for their big days, I stayed silent and let her do what she did best. Renee made quick notes on the pad she retrieved from her apron and placed pins in the necessary spots.
My second to last fitting came to an end, and I reluctantly slipped out of my dress. I couldn't believe that I would be wearing that and walking down the aisle in a week. In a whirlwind of busy days, it would all be over.
Back in my normal clothes, I found Vivian, Erin and Mama discussing the wedding preparations. It had been my mother's idea to schedule our wedding for the same weekend as the Perry family reunion. All of Mama's family would already be in town so it was the most logical time to sneak in a wedding on such a short notice. Between all of our friends and my contacts in the industry, pulling together a wedding in seven weeks hadn't been nearly as difficult as I had expected. It was pricier, but Mama hadn’t spared any expense.
"So Benny has everything arranged for the delivery of the cake and desserts," Erin said as I joined them. "Yuri is loaning us his backup DJ for the night. Oh, and Nikolai's catering contact said that he wasn't sure we had ordered enough alcohol for the night so he's sending extra, just in case. Whatever isn't opened, he'll take back the next day."
Oddly enough, I didn't even mind that Erin and Mama had taken control of my wedding day. For the first time in my life, I actually enjoyed letting someone else shoulder the responsibility. I had been doing a lot of reading about pregnancy and had decided that my constant on-the-go lifestyle where I was always rushing to meet a design deadline or spending fourteen hours at the shop had to stop. I refused to put the twins at risk.
By Valentine's Day, I would be on maternity leave. I had already started talking to some of the senior employees about the changes that would occur once the twins were here. Mama and I had shared several long discussions about the best way to move forward with the business. There were already key employees in support positions who were more than qualified and trusted to take over some of the duties I had insisted on piling onto my already overflowing plate. Running a small but thriving business was always going to be hard work, but I had to stop making it even harder on myself.
On the drive to the new house Mama shared with Aunt Penny and Aunt Sara, I chatted with her about the upcoming reunion. There was some big drama over the Saturday barbecue sign-up sheet that had everyone in a tizzy. Some of the older women in our family were so territorial when it came to the potluck dishes. I didn't really understand what was so insulting about Uncle Terry's new wife bringing the potato salad.
Mama clucked her teeth and muttered under her breath. It sounded an awful lot like she had said, "Dirty tart," but I convinced myself I had simply misheard. Upstart. Yeah, that was it. She had called my new Aunt Molly an upstart. Because I simply could not fathom my mother calling someone a tart. I just couldn't go there.
"I had a call from Adam Blake's social worker," Mama announced as I pulled into the driveway of her house. It was a damned good thing I was about to put the car into park because I nearly slammed on the brakes in surprise at hearing his name.
"What?" I twisted in my seat to face her. "What did that monster want?"
"He wanted to see if we would be willing to meet with him. It's part of a face-to-face program that allows inmates and victims to speak openly."
The thought of sitting across from the man who had beaten me and murdered my brother sickened me. "Why? What could he possibly have to say to us?"
"He wants to apologize."
I scoffed. "He can write a letter."
"It's not the same, Bianca." Mama toyed with the strap of her purse. "I said yes."
I could not believe what I was hearing. "What? Without even asking me?"
"I'm asking you now." The corners of her mouth pulled tight. "Do you want to come with me?"
"No, I don't, but you know I will." Irritated that she had boxed me into this position, I shook my head. "When do you plan to have this get-together?"
She shot me a look that warned me to watch the sass. "The social worker discussed early October."
I tried to picture my schedule and didn't see any conflicts. The possibility of Adam bringing up his brother Derek in the conversation bothered me. What my mother didn't know was that Adam's older brother had attacked and attempted to kill me in the storeroom of the sh
op earlier in the summer. Sergei, Nikolai and Kostya had arrived in time to save me, but the three men who had come there intending to do me harm that night had never been seen again. I worried that Adam might have more sinister intents than his supposed desire for forgiveness.
"Would you like to come inside for dinner?"
"No, ma'am." Feeling suddenly tired, I sagged against the seat.
"Go home and get to bed, honey. Growing one baby is hard enough but two?" She shook her head. "You need to keep those feet up in the evenings and make sure you're getting in bed early."
"I am, Mama."
"Good. Oh! That reminds me." She reached into her purse and produced an envelope. She tugged the card out of it and handed it to me. "I got this from your mother-in-law yesterday! Vivian helped translate the part at the bottom for me."
Surprised by the contact Galina had made with my mother, I read the short note Vivian had translated. It was really sweet and heartfelt. I hadn't told my mother about the early friction with Sergei's mother. There wasn't anything to be gained from it. Honesty truly was not the best policy in all situations.
"This was very nice of her." Galina was trying, and I respected her for that. I understood this wasn’t easy for her, and I felt myself warming more and more toward her as she proved how much she loved Sergei and wanted him to be happy, even if he found that happiness with me.
"I'm going to send a card to her. Vivian offered to help."
That didn't surprise me in the least. After tucking the card back into her purse, Mama leaned over to kiss my cheek. When she reached for the door handle, I asked, "Do you want me to help you?"
She shook her head. "I've got this."
And she did. I couldn't believe how well she was doing these days. She easily slid out of the passenger seat and hauled herself to a standing position. Her balance was so much better, and she walked confidently on her prosthetic. I waved at her when she reached her front door and waited until she was safely inside to back out of the driveway.