Chapter 37

Madison had expected to have some morning-after regrets, to second guess her decision to put the betrayal behind her and move on. To her relief, she had nary a flicker of doubt as she woke up beside her lover. Her only moderate regret was perhaps a lack of sleep. She was exhausted from their marathon lovemaking and couldn’t stifle a yawn.

He grinned. “I wore you out.”

To her amusement, he also yawned. “It looks mutual, my love.” Trailing her hand up his chest, she rested her palm between his pecs. “I had planned to go to the clinic today.”

He frowned, but didn’t issue a dictate. She gave him points for diplomacy when he said, “Maybe you should take a nap this morning and go in the afternoon.”

Madison nodded, having already reached that conclusion. “I think you should join me.”

Tiernan lifted a corner of his mouth. “We both know there won’t be any sleeping if I stay.”

Sticking out her lower lip, she said, “I need you more than sleep.”

He shook his head, softening the rejection with a kiss to her forehead. “That might be true for you, but she needs her mother to rest.” He rubbed her stomach.

She put her hand on his, pressing it against her belly. “You keeping saying ‘she’. Do you want a girl?”

“I want her to be healthy most of all, but I just feel like it’s a girl.” He pushed hair off her face with his free hand. “Or maybe it’s wishful thinking. I want a baby just like you.”

“I’d rather have a little boy.” She stretched a bit, bringing his hand over to the side of her tummy. “He’s kicking. Can you feel him?”

He nodded. “Yes, she’s active.”

Madison grinned. “Well, I still say he will be a copy of you, down to your incredible hazel eyes.”

He shrugged. “She might have my mother or father’s eyes. I’m apparently a mix of the two. My mother had vivid green eyes, and I’ve heard her companion had brown eyes.” Tiernan kissed the side of her mouth. “I’d rather she have your blue eyes.”

“He or she will be perfect just as they are.”

As though agreeing, the baby picked that moment to kick under his hand. Madison frowned, making him frown. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I guess the baby is just participating in the discussion. He hit me and kicked me at the same time.” She pointed to another spot a few inches above where his hand rested. “Talented already, isn’t he?”

“Yes, she is,” he said with a twinkle in his eyes.

* * *

Madison put off returning to the clinic until the next day. She had been nervous to see Vinny and Figg, since they had been injured indirectly because of her, but both expressed gratitude to find her doing well and seemed to be happy to be back on her security detail.

The clinic was in its new building, and the sight filled her with satisfaction. It was neat and well kept, in a safer neighborhood, but still within walking distance of the old clinic. The reception area was much more controlled chaos, and she hid a grin when she saw Lucy give Vinny a discreet kiss.

Susan seemed surprised to see her, but soon found Madison tasks that weren’t strenuous. Organizing the new filing cabinets might have been mind-numbingly boring if she hadn’t spent weeks cooped up in the Seattle-Archer Government Building.

Surprisingly, just a couple of hours left her tired—and she couldn’t blame Tiernan for keeping her up all night again, since he’d spent a good part of last night catching up on his missed sleep. After battling heavy eyelids for a few minutes, she sought out Susan apologetically. “I think I need a nap,” she said as soon as her friend finished with her current patient.

Susan nodded. “That’s completely normal.”

“It seems ridiculous to me.”

Her friend smiled. “Give yourself a break. Growing a new human is hard work.”

She didn’t argue with that. “Okay, you talked me into leaving early.” At Susan’s chuckle, she hugged the other woman. “Thank you so much for everything, Susan.”

She patted Madison’s shoulder. “It was my pleasure, honey. You’re like the daughter I always wanted.” Her voice was thick for a second, but she cleared her throat and sounded normal again. “Joan is coming by tomorrow.”

Madison stepped back with a nod. “Yes. Will you be with her?”

Looking regretful, Susan shook her head. “Sorry, Madison. I am booked solid.”

“That’s okay. I’ll see you the next day.”

“I’ll be glad to have you, but you mustn’t overdo it.”

Waving her hand, Madison said, “Don’t worry. I already promised Tiernan I wouldn’t, and I’m sure he’s timing me.” She grinned to indicate she was fine with that.

Susan pushed hair out of her face as Lucy led back another patient. “He does worry about you.” With a small wave, she led her next patient back into the room.

Madison left the clinic feeling happy and content. She had missed doing something useful, and while it was debatable how necessary organizing files was, it was wonderful to be back at the clinic. Not that taking a nap wouldn’t also be wonderful, she conceded, as she smothered another yawn.

* * *

Joan arrived just after she had finished lunch the next day. Madison greeted her with a hug, and they chatted about her general health for a few minutes before the midwife requested she lie down.

Once in position, Madison stayed still as Joan measured her belly with a cloth strip marked with inches. Seeing the other woman’s frown made her heart rate jump. “What’s wrong?”

Joan looked up at her with a slightly unfocused expression before blinking. “Oh, nothing to worry about. You’re just measuring a few weeks ahead.”

Madison frowned. “I’m sixteen weeks. I can’t be any farther than that, since I didn’t miss my tea at all until that time.”

Joan shrugged. “Even contraceptive tea isn’t always effective, but I’m sure your dates are right, dear. Every woman grows at a different rate.” She rooted around in the brown leather bag she’d brought before bringing out a wooden horn about eight inches along. “And you should be far enough along now that we can hear the little one’s heartbeat.”

“What is that?” Madison studied the device as Joan brought it to her stomach. She winced a bit when the midwife pressed it into her flesh before bending to place her ear at the other end.

“It’s a Pinnard horn and very useful for hearing the heartbeat.” Joan repositioned slightly. “In fact, I prefer it to some of the equipment we used at the hospital. It’s more precise, without so much background noise.” She smiled. “Yes, there’s the little love.” After falling silent for a bit, she said, “The heartbeat is nice and strong.”

Standing up, she moved the horn to a different spot. “I’m going to see if we can figure out how the baby’s positioned.” Her expression told a different story, and it was obvious she was looking for something as she bent to the horn.

Madison swallowed the lump in her throat. “Please tell me what’s wrong? Is the baby okay?”

Joan put up a hand to request silence, and after what seemed an interminable wait, she stood up again. Her smile was reassuring. “The baby is fine. Both are fine.”

Madison blinked. “What?”

Joan’s grin widened. “You’re having twins, dear.”

She blinked again. “Whoa. I did not expect that.”

Her midwife chuckled. “Most people don’t, but it’s more likely to happen when it runs in the family. Well, fraternal twins run in families. Identicals are just a happy accident of nature.”

She cocked her head. “I don’t remember any twins in my family.”

Joan put the horn away. “Since the commander was a twin, he’s more likely to father a pair.” Suddenly, the old woman’s face paled, and she swayed.

Madison got up in a hurry, taking the other woman’s arm to lead her to the settee. She held off questioning Joan until some color returned to her skin. “Tiernan was a twin?”

Biting her lip, Joan finally nodded. “I wasn’t supposed to say anything. Commander Archer swore me to secrecy.”

She must be referring to Catherine Archer, since Tiernan had been a baby. “What happened? Did the baby die?”

Joan shook her head. “Oh, no. He was a sweet little thing with the most beautiful green eyes, just like his mother. Most babies are born with blue eyes, but Tiernan and his brother both had their eye colors right from the start.”

Madison sank down beside the other woman. “What happened to the baby? Tiernan’s brother?” Had Tiernan known? He’d certainly never mentioned it.

Again, the midwife hesitated. “It was tragic.”