Free Undertow by Leigh Talbert Moore Page A

this baby Marco in honor of the location, although that could backfire if it had dark hair like Billy’s daddy. I giggled. I was already planning his little room theme and colors when the phone rang.
    “I want you to decide where you’d like to have dinner tonight and see if you can get a sitter,” Billy announced on the other end of the line.
    I blinked. “What’s the occasion? Did something big happen?”
    “Nope,” he said, sounding as happy as he had in Mexico. “I just made a resolution that I’m not going to work late again, starting now. There’s no need for it. We’re right on schedule.”
    “Billy! That’s wonderful! Did Lexy say something?”
    I heard him frown. “No, why?”
    “No reason.” I was not about to kill his joy by saying I’d discussed him with her. “What are you in the mood for?”
    “Whatever you want. I’m not picky.”
    I hung up the phone elated, and I immediately started going through my mental Rolodex of single guys. Lexy and I had talked in Mexico about how alone I always was, and she’d said she would try to get their team on a more family-friendly schedule. If Lexy had worked it so that she and Billy were home more, I was going to have to return the favor by setting her up on some dates.
    Let’s see, there was Rain and Chuck…
     
    March 5, 19--
    Twins.
    The doctor said I’m having twins.
    I felt my heart drop to my feet, and I thought I might throw up.
    Billy was going to be furious.
    It had only taken a few weeks after the trip for me to notice something was different. I’d taken a home pregnancy test, and it lit up in less than a minute. At first I was sorry. Billy has been so sweet and attentive these last several weeks. He really listened when I said I was sad, and now I was going to have to tell him I was pregnant. He’d know it wasn’t an accident—especially after our fight before the trip. I’d all but threatened him, and I knew he knew what I was thinking.
    I kept waiting for the right moment to tell him, but after another month, I noticed I was gaining weight faster than I had with Will. I thought it was just because it was my second pregnancy. I’d heard you started showing faster with number two, but I had to be sure. So I left Will with a sitter and made my doctor’s appointment. A quick physical exam, and I was sent back for an immediate ultrasound. Sure enough, two heartbeats. I needed help fast, so I grabbed the phone.
    “Meg?” Lexy’s voice was instantly concerned. “Is everything okay?”
    “Oh, Lexy!” Suddenly I felt like I couldn’t breathe. “Help!”
    “What is it?” she said. “What happened? Is Will okay?”
    “I just left the doctor’s office. He said I’m having twins.”
    “What?” For a moment she was confused, then instantly happy. “But that’s wonderful! Right? And wow. Twins.”
    “Shh!” I hissed loudly, quickly unlocking my car and climbing inside. “Are you at work?”
    “Where else? Your husband is a ruthless taskmaster. And now he says no overtime. I barely get a break.”
    “He doesn’t know yet,” I said in a low voice.
    “What? I thought you two had decided together—”
    “No,” I snapped. “I did what you said and dropped the pills down the sink.”
    “Wait,” her voice was nervous, and I could tell she was already changing the story on me. “Meg, no. Not that.”
    “You told me to!”
    “I also told you to volunteer or get a part-time job. This is not good.”
    “Oh my god, Lexy!” Panic hit me hard, and I was almost in tears. “You can’t turn on me now! Billy’s never going to forgive me, and now it’s twins!”
    “Calm down,” she said softly. I could hear her walking fast. “First, he will forgive you. He’ll be shocked, and he might be a little annoyed, but he will forgive you. Keep positive. Bill loves babies. Remember how happy he was when you were expecting Will?”
    “But he thought that was an accident.” My voice was still a high-pitched whisper. “He’s