Chapter Thirty Five

Chapter Thirty-Five

The next few weeks passed in a blur.

Mostly because both Harper and Daisy felt awful.

Not sick enough to stay in bed.

Just sick enough to complain constantly.

Which they did.

Frequently.

Roman found it hilarious.

Noah found it slightly less hilarious.

Especially when both women would text each other at three in the morning complaining about being awake.

Again.

The only people genuinely enjoying the situation were the men.

Roman looked like he'd won the lottery twice.

Noah wasn't far behind.

Both women found them deeply irritating.

Daisy was exhausted.

Completely exhausted.

Some mornings she barely made it through breakfast.

The fatigue hit harder this time.

Maybe because she was chasing a six-month-old around.

Maybe because she was already a mother.

Maybe because pregnancy simply enjoyed humbling people.

Whatever the reason, Roman had noticed immediately.

Which was how they'd ended up hiring a nanny.

Not full-time.

Just a few mornings each week.

Someone experienced.

Someone wonderful.

Someone who adored Lillie.

At first Daisy resisted.

Naturally.

Then she accidentally fell asleep sitting upright on the couch while Lillie was playing.

Roman had gently woken her up.

The nanny started the following week.

Daisy still wasn't thrilled about it.

But she secretly appreciated the extra help.

Today was important.

Their first appointments.

Both pregnancies.

Both couples.

Back-to-back.

The original plan had been coincidence.

Then someone had suggested going together.

Now nobody could imagine doing it any other way.

Support.

Strength in numbers.

And honestly?

Misery loved company.

Lillie was spending the morning with her nanny.

The little girl waved happily from Roman's penthouse as they left.

Completely unconcerned.

Meanwhile Daisy looked nervous.

Very nervous.

Roman noticed immediately.

"You okay?"

"No."

"Fair."

Daisy looked down at her hands.

Then at him.

Then away again.

The truth was she wasn't scared of bad news.

She was scared of good news.

Scared because the reality hadn't quite sunk in yet.

One surprise baby had changed her life.

Now there was another.

The thought still felt impossible.

Harper wasn't doing much better.

She sat beside Noah in the waiting room.

Quiet.

Which immediately concerned everyone.

Harper was never quiet.

Ever.

Noah squeezed her hand.

"You okay?"

"No."

"Fair."

The exact same conversation happening at the exact same time.

Across the room Roman noticed.

Then laughed.

Noah laughed too.

The women glared at both of them.

Immediately.

The nurse finally appeared.

"Daisy Miller?"

Roman stood instantly.

Daisy glared.

"I'm the patient."

"I know."

"Then why are you standing?"

"I'm supportive."

The nurse laughed.

Daisy groaned.

Then followed her down the hallway.

Roman right beside her.

The appointment itself was quick.

Routine.

Questions.

Blood pressure.

Paperwork.

Then the scan.

The room became quiet.

Immediately.

Daisy sat on the examination bed.

Roman beside her.

The sonographer smiled warmly.

"Ready?"

No.

Absolutely not.

Daisy nodded anyway.

A few moments later the screen flickered to life.

And there it was.

Tiny.

Perfect.

Real.

A baby.

Roman immediately grabbed her hand.

Hard.

Daisy didn't complain.

Because tears were already filling her eyes.

The baby moved slightly.

Just enough.

The sonographer smiled.

"Everything looks wonderful."

Roman looked like he might cry.

Actually cry.

Daisy laughed through her tears.

"Oh my God."

Because suddenly it was real.

Again.

Outside the room, Harper and Noah waited.

The second Daisy emerged, they knew.

Roman was smiling.

Daisy was crying.

Both signs were extremely obvious.

Harper stood.

"Well?"

Daisy immediately hugged her.

The answer clear.

Harper's eyes filled too.

Because despite all the shock.

All the panic.

All the unexpected surprises.

They were doing this together.

Again.

An hour later it was Harper's turn.

This time Noah went in with her.

Daisy sat beside Roman in the waiting room.

Both of them smiling now.

Still emotional from their own appointment.

Still processing the tiny life growing inside Daisy.

Minutes passed.

Then more minutes.

Longer than expected.

Finally the door opened.

A sonographer stepped out.

Smiling politely.

"One moment. Let me just get someone."

Harper frowned immediately.

Noah sat up straighter.

"What?"

"Nothing to worry about."

The woman smiled.

Then disappeared.

The second the door closed, Harper looked at Noah.

Noah looked at Harper.

Both suddenly felt sick.

Really sick.

Because nobody wanted to hear the words:

Let me get someone.

Not during a scan.

Not ever.

"Why are they getting someone?" Harper whispered.

Noah swallowed.

"I don't know."

Neither liked that answer.

A few moments later another specialist entered.

The woman sat down calmly.

Smiling.

Professional.

Completely unbothered.

Which helped.

Slightly.

She took over the scan.

Studied the screen.

Then smiled.

A bigger smile this time.

Harper immediately panicked.

"What's wrong?"

The doctor looked surprised.

"Wrong?"

"You got someone."

The doctor laughed softly.

"Nothing is wrong."

Noah visibly sagged with relief.

For about three seconds.

Then the doctor pointed toward the screen.

"There are two gestational sacs."

Silence.

Complete silence.

Harper blinked.

Once.

Twice.

Noah blinked too.

Then Harper frowned.

"What does that mean?"

The doctor smiled.

"It means you're having twins."

Nothing.

Not a single sound.

The room became completely silent.

Harper stared.

Noah stared.

The doctor continued talking.

Neither heard a word.

Twins.

Twins.

Twins.

The word echoed endlessly.

Harper looked at Noah.

Noah looked at Harper.

Both appeared mildly traumatised.

Twenty minutes later the waiting room door finally opened.

Daisy immediately stood.

Roman stood too.

Then both froze.

Because Harper and Noah looked awful.

Not physically ill.

Just completely shell-shocked.

Harper looked pale.

Noah looked like he'd aged five years.

Most concerning of all?

Noah wasn't smiling.

Noah was never not smiling.

Especially around Harper.

Daisy's heart dropped instantly.

"Oh my God."

Roman was already moving toward them.

"What happened?"

Neither answered.

Harper sat down heavily.

Noah sat beside her.

Still staring into space.

Daisy felt panic rising.

"Harper?"

Nothing.

"Noah?"

Nothing.

Roman looked genuinely worried now.

"Talk to us."

Finally Harper looked up.

Then immediately burst into laughter.

The slightly hysterical kind.

Which somehow made things worse.

Daisy grabbed her hand.

"What happened?"

Harper pointed toward Noah.

Noah covered his face.

Roman frowned.

"You're scaring us."

Harper looked at Daisy.

Then at Roman.

Then laughed again.

Finally she managed:

"We've got twins."

Silence.

Complete silence.

This time Daisy blinked.

Roman blinked.

Then both together:

"What?"

Noah groaned loudly.

Harper laughed so hard she cried.

And suddenly Roman understood why the man who'd walked into the hospital laughing had walked out looking completely defeated.

Because one surprise baby was life-changing.

Two at once?

That was enough to terrify anybody.

Especially Noah. ❤️📖