Chapter Eighteen
Joaquim
#HeartbeatMeltyness
For the last three weeks, I’d been living in the apartment above Vivian’s garage. It wasn’t the ideal situation, but Brent hadn’t brought up moving in with him, and truth be told, we were still two people getting to know each other, yet having a baby together.
Over dinner one night, Vivian had mentioned visiting one of her friends at the city hospice care center. It wasn’t my first choice for work, but it was an option nonetheless. It piqued my interest, but I tried not to show it to Brent. He still had a hang-up about me sticking around town. said he claimed it was because he didn’t want to stifle my career, but deep in my chest, I worried there was something more.
Like maybe he wanted the baby, but not me as his partner.
I shook that nudging off at least three times a day.
I went to the hospice center to see if they had any jobs available. The place was running, but barely, putting out fires instead of running the place like it should be. Let’s face it, these people came here to live out the rest of their lives peacefully, not be forgotten in a stack of paperwork.
“You want to know the truth, Joaquim?” the plump older nursing supervisor, Jeanette, told me after giving me a tour.
I nodded, already sensing what she was going to say.
“We need someone to run this place the way it deserves to be run, but the other managers haven’t been in the medical field before. They were fresh out of business school, but they don’t understand patients. I need someone who understands both. Someone who can work out the spreadsheets and pay the bills but also put in an IV if needed.”
Without hesitation, I answered. “I understand. My only problem is that I live an hour from here.”
“No weekends. No nights,” she almost sang, trying to taunt me.
“Let me think about it, okay, Jeanette?”
She nodded and shook my hand. At least I had a good starting point.
That was yesterday, and today was baby doctor day.
It might be the best day ever.
I’d rented a car to get myself around town, and as soon as I pulled up in front of Brent’s apartment, I texted him to let him know I was there.
Two minutes later, he came out, looking like a different person than when I’d first gotten here. The first trimester had nearly passed and, with it, most of the sickness. He was eating better and sleeping like the dead at night. His studies and work kept him busy, and I made sure to fill the time between.
He wore a light-blue flannel button-down and brown corduroy pants that even with his little belly, fit him right in all the good places.
Brent was the most adorable pregnant omega.
“Good morning, sunshine,” I said as I got out to open the passenger door.
“Why can’t I have coffee again?” He smiled and planted a kiss right on my neck under my ear, his almost-favorite place on my body.
“Because caffeine isn’t good for the baby or you. I brought you a to-go cup of chamomile tea. That should help. Also, there’s a honey bun—for my honey bun.”
Brent looked at me. “That was terrible.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I’m just so excited to see the baby and to hear the heartbeat and to learn how you’re doing. Come on.” I grabbed his hand and pulled it to my mouth to kiss his palm. “Don’t be grumpy on heartbeat day.”
“Okay, honey bun.” He took a bite of the pastry and groaned then continued moaning through the whole thing.
“You’re trying to kill me,” I said, reaching over to run my hand up his thigh.
“How?”
“Those noises. Well, I know firsthand those are the same noises you make when we are making love. Keep on and we might not get to the doctor today.”
Of course he amplified the noises and made them downright silly.
He knew how to make me laugh.
We didn’t wait long at the doctor’s and, before I knew it, Brent was on the table, shirt up, being slathered with gross blue gel. He took my hand and squeezed it tight as the technician started looking for our baby.
“Here’s the head…” he said, going on to identify everything. “And here’s the heart...wait a minute.”
I gasped and covered my mouth with my hand. I saw it, exactly what the technician was now hunting for.
There was a second baby in there. I wanted to tell my mate, but damn if the words just wouldn’t come out.
“What is it? Is something wrong?” Brent’s head came up, and he began to sweat.
“Nothing wrong, Daddy. It looks like you two might need a double stroller, though.” The tech’s grin was almost as wide as mine felt.
It was Brent’s turn to gasp, and he looked a little pale.
“Brent,” I cooed as gently as I could. “Sweetheart, it’s amazing news. We have two babies.”
“It’s too early to know the sex, but we definitely have twins. Congratulations.” The tech finished taking all the pictures and printing out copies for the file and for us and then cleaned Brent up and left us with another wish for good luck.
The doctor came in next, an older woman who calmed Brent down, but when she patted him on the leg and said we needed to talk about something, my heart dropped.
“We noted a little elevated blood pressure. It’s not so bad now, but we want to make sure it stays that way. So, a little less salt. A little more relaxing. I’m sure your mate will help you.” She looked at me. “Maybe the daddy needs some foot massages and long warm baths, not hot, though, we don’t want to get overheated. It’s nothing to worry over right now, just to be cautious and aware of, okay, gentlemen?”
We both nodded. She left the room shortly after, also wishing us good luck.
I felt like a dick. The nurse who didn’t notice his mate was having high blood pressure. He was in trouble now. I would be taking his blood pressure once a day at least.
“No wonder you’ve been tired. You’re growing two tiny humans. I think I just fell in love with you more.”
He grimaced. “Can I just have a minute alone to get dressed and just chill out? I need to process.”
I nodded and leaned down to kiss his forehead, careful to mask the worry I was sure was written all over my face. I stepped out of the room and let out the biggest sigh in history.
“Joaquim, may I speak to you for a second?” It was Dr. Allie, as she liked to be called.
“Is it about Brent?”
She used her calming tone again. “Oh, no, honestly, I think you two can kick this little problem to the curb. I was actually wondering...have you ever worked as an OB nurse?”
“I haven’t, but I have delivered a baby or two in the emergency room. Why?”
“Well, I heard you are looking for work here, and I am looking for a new nurse. I need one who is knowledgeable about a variety of issues as well.”
I chuckled. “Well, I’ve seen just about everything all over the world.”
She handed me a folded piece of paper. “I wrote down a salary and the hours. You think about it and let me know, okay?”
Just then, Brent stepped out of the room looking less pale but anxious.
“Ready?” I asked him.
“I’m starving,” he said.
“Let’s feed you three,” I said with my chest puffed out. Yeah, I put two babies in my omega. How’s that for a bucket list item?