I would like to apologize for the long delay since the last installment. Life attacked in a big way and I had one hell of a case of writer's block on this piece. I seriously considered ending the story. Every time I pulled it up, I just sat there. I wrote other things, some very good. However, I just couldn't move forward. Then one afternoon, I had a scrap of story hit my brain. So I started writing. I realized that it had been nearly a month. Gads!!!
About the same time I started to write again, little voices began to drop queries in my email wondering if I had somehow vanished. No, I had not. I appreciate those voices from the wilderness. Special thanks to GiftySands for supplying a lovely line which I borrowed. One of my character issues had been Angie, and the line was perfect.
So, here is the next chapter. I've already started on the next one as the creative juices are flowing. I hope you enjoy the latest chapter. My partner is smiling again too as he has been enjoying this series even though I snitch bits of his life to add a slice of reality.
*
Luc headed off to work alone on Monday. Meg was headed in to see Jeff and get conformation on her pregnancy. He was humming away as he parked his car. He also hoped he could keep quiet until Meg arrived. Angie was waiting at the door for him. He unlocked it quickly and let them inside.
"Remind me to get you a key," he said to Angie.
"Okay. Where's Meg this morning?" she asked.
"She had an appointment first thing and will be in around 10am," said Luc.
"Alright. My questions can wait until then," she said.
"Is it anything I could answer?" Luc asked.
"Um, well..." Angie started and then went all shy.
"Oh, never mind, I'll let Meg answer those kinds of questions. Do you have any about the office," he asked smiling and wondering what Angie wanted to ask.
"No, I think I have it all in hand," she said. "Plus Ginny said she'd be in today to show me a few things."
"Okay. I'll be in my office," said Luc and headed down the hall. He got started on the list of things from Friday which included a few phone calls.
*
"Morning Angie," said Kevin as he came in the door.
"Hello Kevin," she replied. "You have two appointments scheduled. I put the notes on the computer for you.
"Thanks. I could get use to this," he said and went to his office.
Cal and Peter walked in just as Kevin headed down the hall. They waved to Angie and headed back to the loading dock. Angie waved and then started working to make the space her own. She set the stuff that she knew was Ginny's on her desk and started to arrange things. The two women had chatted briefly about this at the dinner party. Between answering the phone, and moving things, time passed faster than Angie expected. The door opened and when she looked up, Ginny and Patrick entered the office.
"Morning Angie," said Ginny and looked over at the reception area Angie was setting up. "Hey, this will do."
"I put your vase over on your desk," said Angie with a smile.
"Vase?" asked Ginny. She looked to where Angie pointed and then started to giggle. "Oh god. Those guys! Don't know whether to kiss them or kill them," she said.
"Just thank them. You can kiss me," teased Patrick. "Besides, I like beef jerky."
That made Ginny and Angie laugh. Patrick walked down to talk to Luc while the two women figured things out. The last thing he wanted to do was get in their way. He walked into Luc's office and found him talking on the phone. He waved Patrick towards a chair.
"Yes, I understand. We'll be out as soon as possible. No, no extra charge, but this time you need to make sure the password stays in secure hands. No, you can't trust certain individuals. Yes. Goodbye," Luc said into the phone.
"Oh boy, that sounds like a real winner of a client," said Patrick.
"Special case. Business exec gave his piece of ass his password and now has an entire business system from the server on down with a virus and from the sounds of it, a root kit," said Luc. "Oh, and he tried to blame us."
"Some people shouldn't be allowed anything more than pencils and paper," said Patrick. That made both men laugh.
*
Meg was waiting in the exam room. She hated physicals. The room is always too cold to be sitting in a paper gown. She grabbed her sweater and put it over her shoulders. The door opened and Jeff walked in. He saw her wrapped in her sweater and frowned.
"It is cold in here isn't it," he said.
"Yes, exam rooms are always cold," said Meg.
"Not all of them. Mine should be warm. Cold shifters shift. Stay here a second, and I'll be right back," he said. He disappeared out of the door and a second later Meg heard the heat kick on.
"That should be better. Monday morning hick-up. No one turned the heat on. Sorry about that," he said. "Now if you'll lay back, I'll check you out."
Meg laid back and put her feet in the stirrups. She stared up at the ceiling and started to giggle. On the ceiling were pin-ups of good looking men and one in the same position she was with a look of horror on his face.
"So, you like the pictures?" Jeff asked as he checked her out.
"Yeah, that's pretty good. Much better than counting holes in the acoustic tile. So Doc, am I pregnant?" she asked.
"Yes and we have one last test to do," he said. With that, he stood up and went over to another machine. He grabbed a paddle and a bottle of gel.
"What is that?" Meg asked.
"Ultrasound," said Jeff.
"Don't I have to have a full bladder or something?" she asked.
"Normally, but I'm not looking for sex or details. I'm looking for heartbeats," said Jeff as he lifted her gown, smeared her stomach with gel and put the paddle on top of the gel.
"Heartbeats? Not heartbeat?" said Meg.
"Your hormone levels are a bit high for a single baby. So, I'm looking for heartbeats," Jeff said.
"Twins? You think I'm pregnant with twins?" said Meg a bit panicky.
"Settle down, lots of women have twins," he said. "Hold still." He moved the paddle to the left a little. "Yes, there it is!" Jeff said with a smile. He pointed at the black and white image and two flutters on the screen. "Two heartbeats Meg. Congratulations."
"Oh boy... puppies," she said with a bit of sarcasm.
Jeff just smiled. "Could be worse. Could be quads or more like a real canine," he teased.
Meg blew raspberries at him as he wiped the gel off of her stomach. "Luc will be over the moon literally for the next week," she sighed.
"Yes, and now we know why he's been so protective of you too. His wolf probably knew and just didn't communicate it," said Jeff.
"Oh shit, I didn't think of that," said Meg. "Can I get dressed?"