College Sweethearts: A Romance

"The doctor will be right with you sweetheart, he's actually on time today!"

She laughed politely and took my vitals before leaving the room.

"How the hell can you be so calm Reid? We're most likely about to be told we are going to be parents! Why aren't you freaking out?!?"

His large hand covered mine and squeezed,

"Because I could never be freaked out by something that proves how much I love you, love. This is scary, but it feels right to me."

And that's when my nerves calmed down and my heart exploded with even more love for the man sitting next to me. The rest of the appointment went smoothly and my doctor informed us that I was in fact a month and a half pregnant. Reid's face was bright with a huge smile that was contagious, and I soon found myself smiling that same goofy smile. During the drive home, I called everyone and had them meet us for dinner that night at our favorite hole in the wall. At six o'clock that evening, we were all gathered around a large table reading menus and chatting about my upcoming wedding when the waitress came for our drink order.

"Will it be your usual tonight guys? Five brews, one margarita and three child size cokes?"

My sister and Jessica nodded their approval and the waitress moved to walk away before I spoke up.

"Actually, I'll just have water with lemon please."

All eyes were on me as Reid draped an arm around my shoulders with that same goofy ass grin on his face.

"Okay, four beers, one water, one margarita and 3 child size cokes coming right up!"

No one moved as the waitress left, and I innocently picked my menu back up to 'read' the specials.

"Spill it Taylen Renee Andrews, spill it now."

My extremely bossy sister looked me directly in the eyes and awaited my response.

"Spill what, I just don't feel like beer tonight is all."

I squeezed Reid's knee telling him to play along for now and his responding squeeze to my shoulder told me he understood.

"Don't give me that shi- crap!"

A small giggle passed my niece's lips as she colored her kid's menu innocently.

"You always have beer with your pizza, so why change it tonight?"

"Well for your information," I paused and looked around the table at my family and friends, "my doctor said you weren't supposed to drink when expecting."

I said my statement matter-of-factly and resumed reading my menu waiting for the erupting screams or joyous laughter, silently pleading for the latter.

"Oh. My. God!! I'm going to be an almost aunt!"

Jessica jumped up and down in her seat before finally jumping up to hug me.

My family sat silently before Kellan looked up and asked, "Expecting what Aunt Tay?"

My family burst out in fits of laughter and made their way to hug both Reid and myself happily.

A few months later

Back in May, we were blessed with the news that we were having a baby. After the appointment with my doctor, I made an appointment to see someone that specialized in birthing and would be able to treat the baby once born. Doctor Whitlock is a pixie like woman, standing just barely over five feet tall with short black hair and a ballerina body. During my exam, we did my first sonogram that is used to check the heart rate of the baby while also determining how far along I really am. Everything was going perfectly normal until Doctor Whitlock's eyebrows furrowed together slightly.

"Well that was unexpected."

Unexpected? Unexpected??? What the hell does that mean?!?! That's all she said before removing the device, telling me that I could get dressed and stepping out into the hallway. I looked at Reid who wore the exact same facial expression as I was which was full of worry and confusion.

"What do you think is wrong Reid? Oh god, something's wrong with our baby!"

Reid wrapped his arms around me protectively as I sobbed into his chest. We sat like that for a few moments before Reid helped me into my clothes and pulled me into his lap to comfort me. It felt like forever, when it had realistically only been five or ten minutes, when Doctor Whitlock returned with some prescriptions and a few samples in her hands.

"I'm sorry to have run out on you like that; as I was gathering your samples it occurred to me that I hadn't congratulated the two of you."

"But, you said it wasn't expected. What wasn't expected Doctor, please tell us we're going crazy here."

Reid's normally calm voice was laced with fear as he pulled me closer in his lap.

"Oh dear, I'm so sorry! Oh, what a mess I've made. I only meant that I wasn't expecting to find as many heart beats as I did during the test. You're having twins Taylen! Congratulations! I've written you some prescriptions for some prenatal vitamins and I've also brought a few samples to use until your prescriptions can be filled."

Doctor Whitlock set down the mentioned items on the examining table and went about explaining when I should schedule my next appointment. I don't think I blinked the entire rest of the appointment, not only were we having a baby, but we were having twins! We walked in this room thinking we were having baby. A baby, one, uno, as in singular. But to hear that we are in fact having twins threw me for a loop. My mind shut down and focused purely on the idea of twins.

****

"What about this Taylen, it's really cute and frilly!"

I groaned and rubbed a hand idly over my ever expanding stomach.

"But I hate pink Jessica; we don't even know what I'm having yet! We can't possibly buy a gender dominant color until later today. Once Reid's classes are over for the day, we're going to see Dr. Whitlock's office to find out the sex of the babies! I'm excited if you couldn't tell."

We laughed as we walked through the baby section at Wal-Mart, getting ideas of what to put on the baby registry Saturday.

"I know, but I'm pulling for a girl. Just think of the dresses and frilly things we could dress her in!"

I rolled my eyes at her and continued down the aisles of baby goods. I felt lost amongst the millions of different diaper choices and bottles, where the hell are the instructions for the things growing in me?!? I ran a hand protectively over my bulging belly; I'm twenty-two weeks into this pregnancy and today is the day we find out the sex of the babies. I honestly couldn't be more freaked out! I mean, I've been told it flies by after you find out what the baby is and I don't know if I'm necessarily ready to be birthing two babies yet! I checked the time on my phone and was extremely glad to see that Reid would be getting off of work in less than thirty minutes.

"Okay Jess, I think we should head to the doctor's office now since my appointment is in about 35 minutes. Did you want to stick around, or be surprised at dinner tonight like everyone else?"

I watched as she internally weighed the pros and cons of the situation while we walked to her SUV.

"I'm so excited to find out, but I don't think I'd be able to keep it to myself so I guess I'll wait impatiently with the others."

We laughed and sang along with the radio on the way to the hospital. While pulling into the parking lot, I noticed Reid's silver Honda and smiled brightly knowing that he was so excited that he beat me to my own appointment. I said my goodbyes to Jess and waddled into the building spotting a nervously smiling Reid instantly.

"Hey handsome, or should I say impatient?"

He kissed my forehead and we made our way to the office that held our future.

We all gathered around the very same table as always and ordered our drinks. I could tell from the look on everyone's faces that they were getting impatient, but I couldn't help but hold out on them a little while longer. Reid and I were shocked by what Dr. Whitlock had told us today at the doctor but were extremely excited nevertheless. Impatient glances were sent my way while I nonchalantly read the menu deciding what to eat.

"Taylen, you're driving us frickin insane so will you tell us already please?"

I stared at my brother who very rarely spoke at all; Stephen was never one for words even though he has a Masters in just about anything you can think of. I slowly and deliberately set my menu down and took a sip of my lemon water before looking around the table. I could feel Reid's knee bouncing excitedly beside me as a cute little voice broke the silence.

"Aunt Tay, Kellan says the babies are going to be boys and that they will make me eat dirt and that they will never play with me. If they are boys Aunt Tay, can you tell them not to make me eat dirt? I just don't think dirt would taste very yummy."

I laughed as she crinkled her nose and shook her head at the thought of eating dirt.

"Well Brooke, I can honestly say that at least one of the babies won't make you eat dirt. I can also promise to stop any dirt eating before it can happen, does that sound fair?"

She chewed on the end of her crayon, nodded and went back to coloring her picture. I went back to innocently looking over my menu as the screams and clapping began. I smiled brightly behind my menu and kissed Reid on the cheek as we listened to our friends and family chat excitedly about new things to buy for the babies. I can't wait to see my babies in my arms, but thankfully we still have a while before that happens. I rubbed my belly and quietly hummed a lullaby to my precious little ones, all the while thanking my lucky stars for such a great life.