Through You (The Hidalgo Brothers Book 2)

CLAUDIA

I have successfully avoided hospitals my entire life with the exception of the time I had my appendix removed, and for my mother’s appointments. Unfortunately, those days have come to an end. Now that I’m pregnant, checkups and ultrasounds will be frequent events in my life. Surprisingly, I feel more ready and calm than I thought I would be. Who is not feeling quite the same is Artemis, currently pacing back and forth in the gynecologist’s waiting room. He runs his hand through his hair and keeps loosening his tie while I let out a sigh.

“Artemis, can you sit down?”

He comes to a halt in front of me, his chest puffing. He takes a deep breath and exhales. His beautiful brown eyes watch me.

They appear to be searching for the serenity he needs to calm his nerves.

I don’t get why he’s so nervous. Perhaps one of the reasons

I’m calm is because he’s so wound up. It wouldn’t work out if we were both panicking. Come to think of it, I’ve always been better at handling my emotions. Artemis, on the other hand, only knows how to conceal them in order to avoid dealing with them.

Or unravel, like he’s doing at this moment.

“Please,” I tell him, and he sits down next to me.

“I don’t know how you can be so calm.”

“It’s only our first appointment.” I take his hand and turn to him. “Everything is going to be fine.”

“I should be telling you that. But no, look at me, I’m already a mess.”

“No, you’re not.”

I caress his cheek, and feel his light beard against my fingers.

I can’t resist his lips when I move in closer, so I kiss him. I enjoy being able to kiss him whenever I want to. I no longer have to hold back or hide the attraction and affection I’ve always felt for him. I’m free to pull Artemis Hidalgo by his tie and kiss him with all my heart. He slowly opens his eyes when we come apart.

“You should have calmed me down like this from the beginning.”

“Don’t get used to it.”

“Claudia Martinez,” a nurse calls from the door.

The nurse leads the way to Dr. Diaz’s consultation room.

Dr. Diaz is a woman in her forties, with black hair and eyes. She smiles when she sees us. Her eyes linger a little longer on the man next to me, and I don’t blame her. Artemis is far too attractive for his own good.

“A pleasure to meet you.” She shakes our hands. “My name is Katherine Diaz and I’m very happy you chose me to be part of an important phase in your lives. It’s Claudia, right?”

I nod, and she looks over at Artemis.

“Artemis Hidalgo,” he replies cordially.

“Hidalgo?” Dr. Diaz raises her eyebrows in surprise. “From Hidalgo Enterprises?

“Very well,” she says from the opposite side of the desk, while she looks over the forms I filled out a few days ago. “First of all: congratulations on your pregnancy, Claudia. According to the information you’ve provided, you are eight weeks along. Today, we’re going to do some blood tests to check that your levels are normal in light of the medical scare you went through recently due to a mild case of anemia.”

“Yes, she fainted,” Artemis adds.

“How do you feel now, Claudia?”

“Good.” I tell her the truth. “I get nauseated from time to time. And my breasts hurt, but I assumed that was normal.”

“Right. We’re going to check your progress and conduct an ultrasound to confirm that everything is all right.”

She leads us to an adjacent examination room, where I lie on the table next to an ultrasound machine with a fairly large screen.

Artemis sits next to me and takes my hand. Dr. Diaz puts on her gloves and spreads a gel on my lower abdomen while I take a deep breath. My eyes remain fixed on the screen, hoping I’ll be able to see everything.

“There it is,” she murmurs. Artemis and I exchange looks because I can’t see anything on the screen except for gray-and-black images. Dr. Diaz smiles and points to the smallest circle I have ever seen.

I squint and try to get a better look until she enlarges the image.

“It’s still too early to get a good look in a sonogram but I wanted to make sure everything was fine because you had anemia,” she comments while she carries on with her assessment.

Artemis is spellbound. His eyes are fixed on the screen. I smile at his reaction and turn back to look at the monitor.

“And here’s the gestational sac, and inside we can see the small embryo growing.”

An unfamiliar sensation seizes my heart, and for the first time since I received the news, I feel absolute happiness. I never thought it was possible to love something this quickly, but perhaps seeing it has changed everything.

You’re a tiny circle, baby.

“Very good, everything looks normal,” she says as she completes the exam. “I’ll set up an appointment for tomorrow so we can get your blood work done. For now, continue to take the vitamins prescribed by the emergency doctor, and keep a healthy diet,” she explains with a smile. “I’ll see you in two weeks to check that everything is coming along. Once again, congratulations, Mrs. Hidalgo.”

My mouth freezes as it’s about turn into a smile. Mrs. Hidalgo?

Artemis and I respond at the same time.

“No . . .”

“No . . .”

We both stop and exchange glances, and I can feel the heat on my cheeks.

“We’re not married,” I clarify with a forced smile.

“Oh.” Dr. Diaz blushes. “I apologize, I didn’t mean to assume.”

An awkward silence settles around us. I stand up and say good-bye, and we rush out of her office as soon as she gives me the slip with the information for the next appointment.

On the way home, I start to grow nervous. I’m impressed with how calm I was during the doctor’s appointment, which is a big contrast to how I’m feeling as we make our way to face what I think is the most difficult and uncomfortable challenge in our current predicament.

Our families.

Artemis and I agreed to break the news to them right after we confirmed everything was okay with the baby. Also, we wanted to take advantage of Ares visiting and the fact that Mrs. Hidalgo hasn’t moved out yet. Today is the last day all the members of the Hidalgo family will be together at the house. Still, I can’t help but be nervous about how they’ll all react to the news.

As we get out of Artemis’s car in front of the house, the sky is covered with clouds, and thunder rolls in the distance, signaling the coming rain. I lean back against the car, cross my arms, and stare at the Hidalgo house. I’ve spent a large part of my life in this place. I can almost see all of us as children, running out the front door and playing with water guns, fighting each other.

“Claudia.” Artemis’s voice brings me out of my thoughts. “Are you okay?”

He stands in front of me, and there’s concern in his coffee-colored eyes.

“I’m fine.”

“It’s normal for you to be nervous, but you’re not alone. We’re doing this together, okay?” He offers me his hand, and I take it.

It doesn’t take us long to gather the whole family in the study.

“Artemis?” His father arches a brow expectantly.

Their gazes are fixed on us. Sofia gives me a quick head-to-toe glance, disapproval evident in her expression. Going by what Artemis shared with me, I suspect she’s playing the role of repentant mother. She may fool her sons and husband, but she doesn’t fool me. I know exactly the kind of person she is. Sure, we all deserve second chances, but I don’t think that’s exactly what she wants. Her promises to change her ways are not and will never be sincere. This is an act so that just in case Mr. Juan one day decides to cut her off financially she can fall back on her children to provide her with the kind of support she’s accustomed to. I don’t fault her boys for wanting to believe in her; she’s their mother and they love her. Who knows, maybe she truly feels regret.

“Claudia and I have something important to tell you.”

Artemis takes my hand and Sofia grimaces while my mom smiles.

Artemis looks at me and I nod so that he may continue, because there is no way I’ll be able to finish what we need to say.

“Claudia and I have been dating for a couple of months,”

Artemis explains.

“With all due respect, Artemis,” Grandpa says, “we already knew that. You both may think you’re very good at keeping your relationship under wraps, but you’re not.”

“This is true, my daughter,” my mom agrees.

“There’s more.” Artemis clears his throat. Ares looks confused while Apolo bites his lips and tries hard to hold back a smile.

Does he already know? I’m going to kill Artemis.

Everyone waits, and Artemis squeezes my hand. I turn to look at him. He’s turned pale and is having a hard time swallowing. Drops of sweat trickle down his forehead, even with the air-conditioning on full blast. If he stays like this, I’m afraid Artemis will have an attack of some sort before he has a chance to share our news. As before, his nervousness gives me the strength to pull through and remain calm under pressure.

“I’m pregnant.”

Simple. Clear. Straightforward.

There’s complete silence. No one speaks; no one moves. There are a few looks of surprise. My bravery appears to give Artemis a push.

“Even though it’s not something we planned, we are very happy.” He smiles as he waits for their response, watching everyone. Sofia excuses herself and leaves the room.

Grandpa claps and breaks the silence.

“Congratulations!” he tells us with a smile. “I’m going to be a great-grandfather!” He puts his fists up in the air. “I never thought I would be around to meet a great-grandson or great-granddaughter.”

“Congratulations, son.” Mr. Hidalgo’s expression is a mix of amazement and pride. “And I never expected I would be a young grandfather.”Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

I notice a movement out of the corner of my eye but I barely have time to turn around when suddenly I’m enveloped in Ares’s arms. He hugs and lifts me off the ground.

“I’m going to be an uncle!” he says over and over in my ear, and his joy makes me giggle. As soon as he lowers me, he cradles my face with both hands and plants a kiss on my forehead.

“Congratulations, lovely.”

“Thank you, you idiot.”

Ares keeps teasing and congratulating Artemis. Apolo also gives me a hug.

“It’s always been him, huh?” Apolo jokes as he pulls away.

My mother opens her arms to me. “My baby,” she whispers.

“I know it’s unexpected. But it’s a great relief to know that I’ll be around to meet my grandson or granddaughter, and that you are no longer alone.”

Tears spring to my eyes because I understand the true meaning of those words. Her doctors are not optimistic about the progression of my mother’s illness. I can still remember my heart breaking the moment we were told that she had one year left, maybe two at best. Her relief pierces my soul, yet I’m glad that this, although unexpected, brings her some peace.

I suppose sometimes there are positive outcomes to what’s unexpected.

That thought takes up residence in my head as I watch them smiling, looking overjoyed and showering us with congratulations. This was not the reaction I expected. The excitement in their expressions makes me feel like I’m a part of something; it makes me feel like I belong to a family. The tears that my mother’s words brought to my eyes are swelling in size because I never thought I could have this. I never imagined I would have the support of people who care about me; people who are this happy for my son or daughter. I blame the pregnancy hormones for the tears that I shed, and quickly wipe them away.

“Do you know if it’s a boy or a girl?” Apolo asks me, and they wait for my response with bated breath.

“Not yet, it’s too early.”

“I bet he’s a boy,” Grandpa adds. “No Hidalgo has had a girl for many generations.” It almost sounds as if he would prefer one instead.

“Maybe Clau will break that tradition,” Ares says encouragingly.

“A Hidalgo girl,” Mr. Juan mumbles. “That’ll be interesting.”

“Have you thought about names?” Apolo asks.

Ares grabs him by the shoulder. “Don’t be so intense.”

“Well, forgive me if I want to learn more about my future niece or nephew.”

“Doesn’t matter. I’ll still be their favorite uncle,” Ares replies arrogantly.

Apolo snorts, then turns to me. “Who do you think will be the favorite uncle, Claudia?”

I play dumb and simply shrug.

I find myself surrounded by Ares and Apolo’s childish quarrel, my mother’s words of encouragement, Grandfather’s joy, Mr. Juan’s acceptance, and Artemis’s look of pure love. And I smile like I have never smiled in my life because I realize that I’m not on my own, and I won’t ever be alone.

The small girl in me, the one who grew up on the streets, is smiling back at me because now she has the one thing she longed for with all her heart: a family.