“Wait a minute.” Justin dragged his hands down his face and started pacing with his hands on his hips. “The twins are yours?”
“It’s a possibility.” Mahari answered before squatting to become eye level with Lance. “Was I wrong for fuckin’ Aspen while y’all were together? Yes, but let’s be real; it would’ve happened eventually. You’re sitting here trying to paint me as the bad guy when we’re both in the wrong.”
“I’ve never wronged you, Mahari.”
“Oh, but you have. You must’ve forgotten you’re actually the one who’s a dirty bitch, Lance. Before you and Aspen got together, I confided in you about my feelings for her. A year after Heaven passed, I talked to you about how my feelings for Aspen were developing beyond a friendship, but I felt like it was wrong since it had only been a year since Heaven passed. Remember that?”
Lance sucked his teeth. “I didn’t think you were serious, mane.”
“I see because you approached her shortly after, and I took that shit to the chin. You getting with her made me think the feelings would go away. It made me think that maybe, just maybe, what I feltwaswrong, so I stood back. That was the wrong thing for me to do.
“Do you know how hard it was for me to stand back and watch you do her wrong? For me to talk to you until I’m blue in the face, telling you to straighten up and do better by her. I wasn’t saying that shit out of spite. Regardless of how shit is, I wanted what was best for the two of you. And thing is, I feel you knew exactly what you were doing every time you asked me toshow up for her when you were out doing you.” Mahari chuckled. “You can’t blame anyone but yourself for me giving in and giving her what she wanted. What I wanted. You should be grateful it only happened one time.
“Yeah, we’re blood, and I love you, but I’m not coming up off Aspen. Whether the girls are yours or mine, we’ll have to figure some co-parenting shit out if you decide to be involved. I stood back and sat on my feelings for too long. Like I said, I love you, but in the same breath, it’s fuck you too.”
Mahari straightened his posture and looked around at everyone. Immediately, everyone dispersed. He was unsure of whether the news would hit the blogs or not, and if so, he’d know who to approach about it.
Nothing else needed to be said. Mahari headed to his office to process everything. Once he was alone, the unsettling feeling came back. He searched for his phone, but it wasn’t anywhere in sight. Assuming he’d lost it during the fight, he went back out front to find Justin and Lance arguing. Mahari’s first mind was to ignore it, but when he heard Aspen and labor in the same sentence, he inserted himself.
“What about Aspen?” Mahari interrogated, walking up on them.
Justin mushed Lance’s head with two fingers. His jaw tightened, and he glanced at Mahari. “It’s best if we get to the hospital.”
“What happened?”
Lance looked down at the floor and glided his hands over his head. “Let’s just go.”
Mahari wanted answers, but checking on Aspen was priority. Forgetting about his phone, Mahari hopped in his car and prayed Aspen and the girls were okay.
“Oh, Mahari! You made it here just in time,” Lavender expressed as she ran up to him. “They’re about to take Aspen back now for surgery.”
“Surgery? What do you mean surgery?”
“They’re doing a C-section to deliver the babies.”
“Where is she?”
“Follow me.”
Mahari felt as if all the wind was being knocked from him. His vision became blurry as he trekked behind Lavender, trying his hardest to keep his emotions under control. The anger he’d felt with Lance minutes prior had switched to fear. He didn’t know what was going on. All he knew was that Aspen needed him, and he was grateful he’d made it in time to be there for her.
He and Lavender made it to the room just in time to catch the nurses rolling Aspen out. She was knocked out, but it didn’t stop Mahari from going over and kissing her forehead. When the nurse explained that Aspen would be asleep through it all, Mahari nodded in understanding.
“Is it fine if I go back with her?” he quizzed.
The nurses looked unsure, and Mahari worried. He opened his mouth to explain when nurse Janet appeared from behind the desk. It was as if God had sent her right on time. She vouched for Mahari, informing the nurses he’d been with Aspen for all her appointments, so they quickly rushed everyone back and got Mahari prepped as well.
Seeing Aspen out cold with a breathing tube, her arms outstretched, and a curtain covering most of her body botheredMahari. He hated she wouldn’t be conscious to experience the birth of the girls, but in the same breath, he was grateful he was there to be able to tell her about it all. Through the surgery, Mahari held Aspen’s hand and talked to her as if she could hear him.
Fifteen minutes later, the doctor announced the arrival of Baby A. Shortly after, small, sweet cries filled the room, penetrating Mahari’s heart. He couldn’t fight his tears. The sound was soothing and melodic to him. A produced beat by him could never compare to that sound. He wished he could’ve captured it to listen to forever.
Three minutes later, Baby B was born, and the nurses were consoling Mahari. While the doctor worked on stitching Aspen up, Mahari was able to see the girls briefly. Since they were premature, they had to be taken to the NICU.
“Look at them,” Mahari spoke barely above a whisper. “They’re so tiny but beautiful.”
“They are. Baby A weighed in at four pounds, one ounce, and Baby B at three pounds, one ounce. Exactly one pound apart. Do we have names for them yet?”
Mahari shook his head. “I’m waiting for their mother to decide, but I have a couple of names in mind.”
