Shelby took a deep breath and put her hands over her stomach. “I feel slight cramping.” She frowned slightly. “I guess it is nothing.”
“Girl, you have been on your feet most of the day. Aren’t you pregnant?”
She looked at the woman in surprise. “How did you know?”
Moya shot her a retiring look. “I have pushed out three kids, so I am quite an expert in the field. Sit for a minute and let me get you some tea. The designs will be ready on time and you are not supposed to be stressing. It will make the fetus react negatively.”
She sat and leaned back. “I guess you are right. It is the Christmas rush and the spread in the magazine that we got. Then there are the store designs that I wanted to do myself. I got the front section of Cox’s and that is a fricking big deal!”
“I know. I am pretty psyched myself,” Moya handed her the steaming cup of tea. “It’s ginger. A sure-fire way to settle your stomach. Drink all of it.”
She took a sip and grimaced but continued to drink some more and found that it was indeed settling her stomach.
“My mother was there when I was carrying all three children. She is from the old school and believe in the old remedies. I drank enough ginger tea to sink several ships, but it sure worked.”
At the mention of the woman’s mother, Shelby felt the stab of frustration and anger that her own mother had not bothered to call her since she had told her that she was pregnant.
“It must be nice to have someone there when you are going through so much.” Shelby said wistfully.
“The father is not in the picture?” Moya asked her sharply.
“He is, but we are not in a relationship.”
“Nonsense!” the woman scoffed. “Creating a child together causes you to form a bond that is forever. Barry and I were not speaking when I got pregnant and we made up pretty quick after I told him I was carrying his baby. You and that baby’s daddy will be rekindling flames soon enough. Mark my words.”
*****
“Hey.”
“Hey.” Shelby laid back against the pillows and wriggled her toes. After the second ginger tea at Moya’s, she figured that she had better call it a day and head back to her place.
“I am just checking in. How are you?”
“I had a little scare earlier today.”
“Scare? What does that mean?”
“I felt especially lethargic, but I figured it was because I was on my feet for the entire day and I did not remember to eat lunch. I made up for it by ordering Chinese takeout and I pigged out. I think our baby is partial to Chinese, specifically, sweet and sour pork.”
“Good to know. Should we call the doctor?”
“For an upset stomach?” Shelby chided, even though she felt the warm glow inside her for his concern. “I will live and so will the baby.” She put her hand on her stomach. “I got a sure -fire remedy as my seamstress Moya puts it, ginger tea and it works. Much better than those hated huge pills I have to swallow to counter the nausea. I am fine Gray, if I was in any sort of danger or feel that something was wrong, I would be rushing for the emergency room.”
“I would like you to call me if that ever happens. Please.”
“I will,” She told him softly. “I told you that we are in this together and I mean it.”
“I know you did.”
“I have to do some traveling next week and will be away for a couple of weeks. It is the holiday season and I have to do my own personal checks of the stores.”
“You will be going to all of them?”
“I am splitting it between myself and Benjamin. But yes, I want to make sure that they are not rundown, and the managers are doing what they need to do. I can be reached by my cell phone and if not, I would like you to call my assistant and tell her that you need to get in touch with me. It does not matter what time of day. Promise me that you will get in touch if anything is wrong.”
“I am not anticipating that anything will, but I will, of course, call. Thanks.”
“No thanks necessary.” He paused for a moment. “And try not to work too hard.”
“I will try and cut back.”
“Goodnight Shelby.”
“Goodnight Gray.” She murmured and hung up. “Don’t get all crazy Shelby girl. He is still the same guy who told you that he did not want a relationship and left you hanging. Not because he is getting all concerned and being the perfect baby daddy- “She shook her head and laughed out loud. “It really feels good to feel so special.” She admitted wryly as she got up to change out of her clothes. She stripped and placed her hands over the slight bulge of her stomach. She knew she was far from being slender, but the baby was growing too fast!
Chapter 4
“Am I having twins? How is that possible?” Shelby stared at the woman in shock. Thanksgiving had passed with her spending time with her two friends instead of her mother and she had been especially busy with her new line to even think about the rift between them. She didn’t call Gray when he was on his trip because there wasn’t any emergency, but he called in to check on her and for that she was grateful. Now he was back on time to go with her for her three-month check up with the doctor.
Doctor Manning had been startled to see the department store mogul come in with Shelby and had stood there staring at him for a full minute before she could get on with her job. She ran the instrument over Shelby’s stomach for a moment and listened attentively. “Two heartbeats. That is why you are getting so big at a faster rate than expected.”
“I have no history of twins in my family.” Shelby said dazedly.
“I do.”
Shelby looked up at the previously silent man standing at the head of the cot.
“My mother was a set of twins. Her brother died right after he was delivered. I had completely forgotten about that.” He told them.
“Oh.” Shelby looked back at the doctor. “Now what?”
“Now I will have to revise the delivery date. For multiple births, the pregnancy is a little shorter.”
“Are you saying that the babies could be premature?”
“We will do our best to try and keep them in close to eight months, but you might have to sit out two months as the pregnancy progresses. You are also going to eat enough for the three of you.”
“And risk the chance of packing on even more weight.” She looked up at Gray. “Shocked enough? We thought we were having a child, instead we are having twins.”
“Twice the fun.” He said with a faint smile.
“Or twice the heartache.” Shelby said dryly. “So, I might be delivering April?”
“Or May. I will be shooting for May. I want you to call anytime, if you feel you or the babies are in distress. With multiple pregnancies, there is also a chance of elevated blood pressure. You are going to have to take it easy and avoid stressful situations.”
“I take walks along the streets of my apartment even in this cold weather. Am I still allowed to do so?”
“Any exercise is good but do it in moderation. I will prescribe something for the lethargy. As for the swollen ankles, whenever you feel that coming on, I suggest you elevate your feet.”