— “What… twins? Is it true?” — Mikhail looked at the ultrasound image in confusion, as if trying to see something new in it.
His facial expression was so amusing that Arina couldn’t hold back her laughter.
She had just told her husband about her pregnancy, and his reaction was exactly what she expected.
— “Here is the first one,” — she pointed to one of the tiny spots — “and next to it is the second. See?”
— “Are they boys?” — Misha’s voice trembled with excitement.
— “How would I know? It’s still too early!”
At the thought that they would have two children, Mikhail felt his breath catch.
They had been through so much, waited so long for this moment… and now it seemed almost unbelievable that they were going to become parents.
Even before the wedding, they had talked a lot about family and children.
Both were mature, independent people, and the prospect of becoming parents didn’t scare them — on the contrary, they eagerly awaited it.
Arina worked as a weather presenter on local TV.
Independent and self-reliant, she drove a car, rented an apartment, and cared for her ginger cat named Murzik.
Misha was a successful lawyer, owned his own place, supported his family, and helped his younger brother.
He also had a beloved dog — a lively and loud mutt named Rex.
They seemed like completely different people, but after their first meeting, there was some strange, inexplicable attraction between them.
The most surprising thing was that their acquaintance began quite unexpectedly.
That day, Misha was rushing to court, got stuck in a traffic jam, and when it finally moved, someone hit him from behind.
Behind the wheel of the culprit’s car was a pretty woman.
However, her beauty was deceiving — she cursed so fiercely that Misha’s ears even turned red.
For a moment, he felt like a schoolboy being scolded for not doing his homework.
— “Why did you suddenly brake?! Don’t you see the line behind you?” — she shouted angrily, and for some reason, he smiled.
— “Are you having fun?” — the woman asked irritably and pouted like an angry sparrow.
— “I… I just bought the car recently,” — she suddenly sobbed and started crying.
Tears silently rolled down her face.
— “Don’t worry, insurance will cover everything. It’s nothing serious, just a few scratches. But maybe you should calm down. Would you like some tea or coffee?”
— “Tea, please…”
— “Great! Then let’s go there.”
He pointed toward a café, got into the car, and took her to have tea.
Already at the table, he noticed that the woman reminded him of someone.
— “Have we met before?” — he asked cautiously.
Arina smirked and, taking on a professional tone, said, “Good morning! Here’s your weather forecast…”
Misha slapped his forehead:
— “Of course! That’s why you look familiar to me! By the way, I want to say: your weather was wrong today! They promised rain, I even took an umbrella, but it’s sunny outside!”
— “Don’t say anything, that’s not my department,” Arina shrugged. “I just read what I’m given. I’ll pass your comments on to the meteorologists.”
— “Oh, I was just joking…” — he blushed.
Suddenly she smiled and pointed out the window:
— “And here’s the rain. Look.”
Dark clouds were gathering on the horizon, rapidly approaching.
Misha remembered he was late.
— “Sorry, I have to go. But let’s meet again, and then I’ll be all yours.”
He left a business card and some money on the table, said goodbye, and ran out.
Somewhere overhead, the first thunder rumbled, and shielding his head with his hands, he dove into the car.
They couldn’t meet right away. Arina caught a cold in that rain and got sick.
Misha didn’t dare offer help but called often.
From her voice, it was clear she felt bad.
Finally, he gathered courage, found out her address, and came by himself.
He brought lemons, oranges, herbal tea, and a whole bag of medicines — everything the pharmacist had recommended.
— “Do you live alone? Why don’t you ask your parents for help?” — he asked, entering her cozy apartment.
Arina’s face darkened:
— “They’re far away. We haven’t seen each other in a long time…”
Misha didn’t ask further, just nodded and handed her a cup of tea.
For two whole weeks, he didn’t leave her side — giving her herbal infusions, cooking broth, buying medicine.
And somehow it happened naturally that when Arina recovered, he didn’t go home but stayed.
He brought Rex along, who immediately got along well with her Murzik.
A year later, they exchanged rings, moved into a shared apartment, and started dreaming about a child.
But something went wrong…
Months passed, but the long-awaited pregnancy didn’t come.
The couple went through many examinations, strictly followed all doctors’ recommendations, but without results.
Their strength was running out, and then they made a difficult decision — to temporarily give up trying and just live on.
And now this pregnancy! So desired, so unexpected…
Misha literally tiptoed around Arina, afraid even to sneeze.
The pregnancy was not easy for her — the twins brought a full set of trials: morning sickness, swelling, stretch marks, extra weight, and even strange food cravings.
But it didn’t scare them — on the contrary, they were happy and nervously preparing to meet the babies.
However, inside Misha a worry slept, which he carefully hid from his wife.
When it was time to go on a business trip, he didn’t want to leave, but Arina insisted:
— “Mish, you understand — this is a chance for you! Win the case, and your career will take a new turn. You have to go!”
— “But I don’t want to leave you alone…”
His concern angered her:
— “I’m pregnant, not disabled! Nothing will happen to me. Besides, you’ll be gone only a couple of days. What could happen?”
But everything happened at once. First, the car broke down — he had to call a tow truck.
Then it turned out the documents for the case were not gathered, and the deadlines were extended.
And at that very moment, a message came from Arina: “Labor started early. I’m at the hospital.”
To make matters worse, his car was still being repaired, the client had gone out of town, and the taxi didn’t respond. No one stopped.
He had to hitchhike. But fate seemed to want to test him: every car that stopped went anywhere but where he needed.
He had to travel with transfers, losing precious minutes.
On one road, where no one stopped, Misha was already waving his hand hopelessly when someone unexpectedly touched his shoulder. He jumped and turned around.
Before him stood a Gypsy woman. Her long multicolored skirt fluttered in the wind, her dark eyes were outlined with black kohl, gold sparkled on her neck and arms, and a bright scarf covered her head.
Before he could say a word, she grabbed his hand and, looking straight into his eyes, spoke in a deep, slightly hoarse voice:
— “You’re late, dear… Don’t rush anymore. You have already lost what is dearest to you. This is your punishment for sins. You will not be a father! Your sons are gone… But if you pay — I will help!”
Misha froze. Before his mind’s eye flashed Arina’s face, the ultrasound image, memories of his parents, his whole life. What sons was she talking about? What sins?
— “Sorry, I really need to get there!” — he pulled his hand away, averted his gaze, and almost ran into the first car, asking the driver not to wait.
All the way to the hospital, his thoughts were torn between fear and confusion.
He remembered every word of the Gypsy woman until he burst into the emergency department, trembling with fear to hear the worst.
— “Are you nervous? Maybe a little sedative?” — a nurse kindly offered him a glass of water with medication.
Misha drank it in one gulp, calmed down a little, and again asked to be taken to his wife.
— “By the way, you’re just in time! They’re waiting for you at the partner birth. The operation is about to start.”
He exhaled, but his heart still tightened with anxiety.
That damned Gypsy woman and her curses!
Misha quickly changed clothes, followed all the medical staff’s instructions, and finally saw Arina.
She was smiling and looked calm.
— “The babies decided to come early, but the doctors say everything is under control,” — she said softly, but he still felt some inner tension.
But when they handed him two small, warm, screaming newborn girls, he felt his heart fill with warmth and happiness.
— “Congratulations, daddy! The daughters are healthy and strong! What will you name them?”
He couldn’t answer — the words got stuck in his throat from overwhelming emotions.
Holding his daughters close, he smiled at his fears.
How could he have believed some adventurer?!
She said sons, but he had two daughters! Everything is fine, everything is right.
Let that Gypsy woman go far away with her fortune-telling.
Mikhail looked at the peacefully sleeping children and felt such blissful calm.
The main thing — he made it in time.
And the rest really doesn’t matter.
