The hospital was quieter than I expected. The faint hum of fluorescent lights filled the air, punctuated by the occasional murmur of conversation and the distant beeping of monitors. My heart was pounding as I sat on the edge of the examination table, staring at the ultrasound machine in the corner.
Caleb sat across the room, leaning back in his chair with an air of forced calm. But I knew him too well. His fingers tapped a restless rhythm on the armrest, his eyes darting around the room as if he were trying to distract himself from what was coming.
“You okay?” I asked softly, breaking the silence.
He shrugged, offering me a small smile. “I’m good. You?”
I nodded, though my stomach felt like it was tied in knots. “Yeah. Fine.”
A knock at the door made us both jump slightly. The door opened to reveal Dr. Foster—a warm-faced woman with kind eyes who immediately reminded me why Maria had trusted her.
“Emma, Caleb,” she greeted us with a gentle smile. “I’m Dr. Foster. Let’s get started, shall we?”
Caleb stood, glancing at me. “Do you want me to grab you some water or something before we start?”
I hesitated, then nodded. “Yeah, that’d be great. Thanks.”
He gave me a quick smile and stepped out of the room, leaving me alone with Dr. Foster.
The moment the door closed behind him, my breath hitched. This was my chance.
“Dr. Foster,” I began, my voice low and urgent.
Her kind eyes flicked to mine, and her expression softened. “Go ahead, Emma. Whatever it is, you can tell me.”
I hesitated, my fingers twisting together in my lap. “There’s... something I need to ask you. Something I need you to keep between us.”
She tilted her head slightly, her expression careful. “Alright. What is it?”
I swallowed hard, forcing myself to meet her gaze. “I need a paternity test. For the twins. And Caleb…he…”
Dr. Foster blinked, surprised, but she quickly recovered. “I understand. You don’t want Caleb to know?”
I shook my head quickly, my voice trembling. “Not yet. I can’t tell him. Not until I know for sure.”
Dr. Foster studied me for a long moment, her gaze thoughtful. Finally, she nodded. “Alright, Emma. I understand. We’ll run the test discreetly, and I won’t say anything to Caleb. But you need to be prepared for the results, whatever they may be.”
“I know,” I whispered, though the weight of her words made my chest tighten.
The door opened just as Dr. Foster finished speaking, and Caleb walked in, holding a small bottle of water.
“Here,” he said, handing it to me. “Figured you might need it.”
“Thanks,” I murmured, avoiding his gaze.
Dr. Foster cleared her throat, breaking the brief silence. “Alright, Caleb, I’ll need to run a quick blood test for the standard prenatal screenings. Then we’ll get to the ultrasound.”
Caleb nodded, rolling up his sleeve without hesitation.