Page 108

“We didn’t.” Vera chuckled as she put a hand on Alexis’s knee. “But she still had a beautiful water birth and Harper is the perfect granddaughter.”

“I wholeheartedly concur.”

“Okay, so,” her mama seemed to effortlessly step out of mother-in-law mode and into doctor mode. “Are you okay if Ellie is in here with us today?”

“Totally,” Alexis waved her concerns off with a smile. “Most of the Mackenzies have already seen my vagina. Two have been inside.”

Vera rolled her eyes. “Alexis.”

“I’m just saying.”

“And we’ve all seen the photo. Mama has it hanging up in her office.”

“Oh, I know,” Alexis laughed.

“I sent her a selfie with it when I hung it up.”

Ellie was relieved that their first “patient” was someone she was comfortable with. It made all her anxieties and worries melt away, and Vera explained what they were going to do. Alexis was super sweet and let Vera show Ellie more than she normally would have for an annual checkup.

As was protocol, Ellie’s Aunt Melanie was also in the room.

Well, she wasn’treallyEllie’s aunt.

Melanie Wright had been Vera’s favorite nurse since before Ellie was born. Although she typically only worked in the labor and delivery department, she had been pulling double duty recently since two of the nurses were out on maternity leave. She was basically an honorary Mackenzie at this point, which essentially made her Ellie’s aunt.

It also meant she understood the Mackenzies in ways most people didn’t. The Mackenzies were a tight-knit family. Nothing was off limits for them. Ever. They didn’t get embarrassed by each other, even when their sister-in-law was sitting in on their pap smear.

“Everything looks great, Alexis.” Vera moved the overhead light out of the way as she took her gloves off. Alexis sat up on the bed while Melanie lowered the stirrups. “We’ll give you a call in a day or so about the bloodwork and the results, but I don’t see anything to be concerned about.

“Sounds great. Thanks, Vera.”

“You’re welcome sweetie.”

They all chatted a few more minutes before Ellie walked Alexis out to her car. “I gotta say, you held up in there better than your sister.”

“Oh geez,” Ellie laughed. “What did she do?”

“Every ultrasound I had with the twins she looked pale. Vera even made her sit down at one appointment.”

“She’s not as strong as me.”

Alexis laughed. “I’m going to tell her you said that.”

“I’d expect nothing less.”

After saying goodbye to Alexis, Ellie scampered back inside. She tagged along for a few more appointments—being much less involved this time—before they went into Molly’s room. Vera had told Ellie that Molly was twenty weeks along and they hoped to find out the gender of the baby, which made Ellie insanely excited.

“Okay, so, before we go in, just know the ultrasound has already started. I’ve checked with the tech and Molly, and they’re both okay if we watch. I’ll show you what the tech is seeing and doing though, okay?”

“Sounds good.”

Ellie followed Vera, hanging back by the door as Vera put a hand on Molly’s shoulder. She looked at her with tender and caring eyes. Molly had her shirt pulled up to her chest, and her belly was covered in gel as the tech, Austin King, performed the ultrasound.

“Hey, Molly. How are you feeling?”

“Huge.”

“I’ve been trying to tell her she’s not as huge as I was at twenty weeks.” Hayden, Molly’s wife, was standing on the other side of the table holding her hand. “She looks great.”