Free Sins of the Father by LS Sygnet

who are twins or the child of a
twin.”
    Johnny’s jaw dropped. “There are two babies?”
    “Yep.” She pointed them out on the screen.
“There, and there. Both just as healthy as can be.”
    “Can you tell what sex they are?”
    Johnny’s stunned elation couldn’t overshadow
the gripping panic in my chest. Was I carrying twins because I was
a twin? I started praying. Please don’t let him figure out what
I’m really doing. Please don’t let Johnny do that mind reading
bullshit and see right through me!
    “Mrs. Orion?”
    My eyes snapped into focus on the tech. “I’m
sorry. What did you say?”
    She laughed softly. “I think your wife is in
shock, Mr. Orion.”
    “No doubt,” he grinned. “Honey, did you hear
her? We’re having twins!”
    “Good thing I didn’t start buying furniture
yesterday, huh?”
    “How soon can you tell us what we’re
having?”
    “It’s a little early, Mr. Orion. In another
couple of weeks, we should be able to have a much clearer picture
of them when we take a peek again. If you want to know what you’re
having before they’re born, that is.”
    I didn’t. I suspected already – we would get
a girl and a boy, just like the Conall family had the first time
around.
    “So are you a twin yourself, Mrs.
Orion?”
    “Only child,” Johnny piped up. “The both of
us.”
    “I see,” she smiled. “Well, there has to be
a first somewhere, doesn’t there?”
    “You’re sure they’re fraternal?” I
asked.
    Her fingers flew over a keyboard and froze
one section of the screen. “Two amniotic sacs. You can faintly make
out the outlines, here… and here. See them?”
    Johnny leaned forward. “Uh-huh. Are those
the heads? Wow. Helen, can you see this? You can make out their
little arms and legs and spines. I’ve never seen anything so
amazing in my life.”
    “This probably explains the extreme morning
sickness you told the doctor you’ve been experiencing,” she said.
“You’ve got more than the typical amount of HCG in your blood
stream. Let’s hope it doesn’t adversely affect your appetite.”
    “It’s getting better,” Johnny said. “For the
first time in her life, Helen actually has a decent appetite.”
    “That’s great! Now, if you’ll give me a
minute to take some measurements, we can give you a much more
accurate due date for these little darlings, and then I’ll print a
picture for you to take home with you.”
    “Since she’s having twins, does that mean
she’ll start showing sooner?”
    “I’m right here, Johnny. You don’t have to
talk about me like I’m not in the room.”
    He laughed and squeezed my hand again.
“Sorry, sweetheart. I feel like I just got the best news a man
could ever hear.”
    “Good thing you got two on your first try,”
I said dryly. “I’m a little old to be going through this
again.”
    “Did you give the doctor the date you
believe you conceived, Mrs. Orion?”
    “Yeah,” I said. “Unless contraception failed
after that one reckless event, we’re certain that it was early in
January.”
    “Well, that seems to jibe with my
measurements. I’d estimate that you’re about ten weeks pregnant
based on the size of the babies. That would put your due date about
28 to 30 weeks from now. Late September, early October. We have to
go with the 40 week due date officially, but twins seldom go to
term. Better have that nursery ready by the end of September,” she
paused and grinned, “Congratulations.”
    She printed the traditional snapshot of the
ultrasound image and handed it to Johnny.
    “Thank you,” he said. “Thank you so
much!”
    I laid there silently watching him while the
tech cleaned the gel off my belly. His eyes gleamed with joy while
he stared with an awestruck expression at the little
photograph.
    “Would people think I’m nuts if I got this
professionally framed?”
    “I would think you’re nuts, but when has
that ever stopped you?”
    Johnny grinned. “Wanna see it?”
    I stared at the