The test hadn’t even been completed. There were doodles up and down the margins. The name had been filled out and the few questions she had answered bore the responses of “I don’t care” or “Who cares?” The rest were left blank, and the paper was worn and crumpled as if the girl had fidgeted and toyed with it the entire testing period.
Rachel put the test to the side, determined to delve further into the matter.
She was absorbed in grading the rest of the test papers when the bell rang, startling her from her concentration. A moment later, the students began to file into the room, and she quickly sought out the girl whose paper had been rife with incorrect and unanswered questions.
Jennifer was her name, and she was a beautiful, shy little girl. Not yet up with most of her classmates who were beginning to experiment with make-up and showing mad interest in boys.
Rachel watched as Jennifer took her seat and hunched over at her desk, not looking anywhere but in front of her.
Something was terribly wrong, and Rachel just hoped it wasn’t too complicated.
It was difficult to continue casually in class without drawing notice to the fact she was preoccupied with Jennifer. The very last thing she wanted was to make the girl uncomfortable or draw attention to her.
When the final bell of the day rang, dismissing the kids to the respective bus and car lines, Rachel breathed a sigh of relief.
“Jennifer,” she called softly when the girl got up to depart the room. “Can I have a moment please?”
Jennifer turned, her eyes wide with alarm. Nervousness radiated from her in tangible waves, and she fidgeted as she approached the desk.
“I won’t keep you long so you won’t miss your bus,” Rachel said gently. “I was looking at your test paper from earlier and wondered what was wrong. It’s not like you not to perform well on an exam. You’re an excellent student with an A average in all subjects.”
Jennifer’s face crumpled as tears flashed in her eyes.
“I’m sorry, Ms. Kelly. I know what I did was wrong. I was just so angry and upset.”
Rachel put her hand on Jennifer’s and squeezed gently. “I’m more concerned about you than I am one test grade. Is everything okay at home?”
“N-no,” Jennifer sobbed. “My mom and dad are splitting up and it just sucks. They’re so selfish. They fight all the time, and they never think of anyone but themselves. They don’t care about me.”
Rachel’s heart sank as she viewed the devastation in the younger girl’s eyes. Thirteen was such a hard age under any circumstances. Let alone when your entire family was crumbling in front of you.
“I’m so sorry, honey,” Rachel said. “I know how upset you must be. I’m sure your mom and dad love you very much. Sometimes adults forget themselves and react emotionally, and often they say things they don’t mean.”
“Maybe,” Jennifer mumbled.
“How about you come in on your lunch break tomorrow, and I’ll let you retake your exam,” Rachel offered.
Jennifer lifted her head, her eyes a little more hopeful than before and not so desolate. “You’d do that for me? I don’t deserve a second chance. I screwed up big time.”
Rachel smiled. “Honey, we all deserve a second chance.”
“Thanks, Ms. Kelly. You’re the best. I’ll be here. Promise.”
“Keep your chin up, okay? Things will get better.”
Jennifer sighed but didn’t respond. She turned, clutching her books to her chest, and hurried out the door.
*
Rachel sat in stunned silence in the exam room, hardly able to process what the doctor had told her. It was shocking enough to find out she was, by the doctor’s approximation, at least twelve weeks along, but when he’d done the internal sonogram to ascertain fetal age, he’d found two heartbeats.
Twins.
She couldn’t even wrap her head around it. Her hands shook every time she pried them away from one another, so she finally gave up and left them clasped tightly in her lap.
Ethan leaned against the exam table where she sat, her legs dangling over the edge, and he seemed every bit as in shock as she was.
His breath was explosive in the small room.
“Holy shit,” he breathed. “Twins.”
Then he turned to her, his eyes glowing with excitement.
“Twins!” he said again.
A broad smile attacked her face, and then she latched onto Ethan’s shoulders all but shaking him in her excitement.
“Oh my God, Ethan. Two babies.”
She felt light-headed, and for a moment she wobbled like a drunken party girl in four-inch heels. Ethan made a grab for her and held her steady so she didn’t fall off the exam table.
“Whoa, sweetheart. Why don’t you come over here and sit. I don’t want you taking a header.”
He led her to the chair against the wall and then eased her down. He knelt in front of her, her hands gathered in his.
“We’re so blessed,” she whispered. “I can hardly believe it.”
He smoothed the hair from her cheek and tucked it behind her ear. There was concern as well as elation in his eyes.
“We’re going to have to be careful, baby. You’re going to have to take it easy. I don’t want anything to happen to you or to the babies.”
She leaned into him, touching her forehead to his. “I’m scared out of my mind, but I’m so happy and giddy that I could just explode.”