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She answered me with a long, feral growl, leaning over and gripping the sides of the hospital bed. I pried one of her hands off, and she transferred her grip to me. She’d signed up for taekwondo at the rec center. She had been pretty badass at it until her center of gravity shifted, and she had to take a hiatus. She was as strong as hell, and once again, I felt like I might burst with pride.
“Where’s the doctor?” she grunted.
“I’m here,” she called, hurrying in and snapping some gloves on. “Let’s take a look.”
“The nurse already checked,” Sam said. “I need to push.”
The doctor calmly ignored her and checked anyway, returning with a look of shock on her face. “Okay, yes, you need to push.”
I couldn’t breathe, could hardly see, and didn’t know how I remained upright as I watched my perfect Sunshine get down to business. A ferocity I’d never seen before came over her, and one after the other, thankfully with no complications, our daughters entered the world.
I realized tears were streaming down my face as I leaned over to kiss Sam. She had collapsed and closed her eyes, but as soon as our girls were placed on her chest, she snapped to attention, cradling each slimy little body while the doctor handed me a pair of scissors.
This was my time to shine, a moment I wasn’t sure I was going to get back when I demanded anonymity and didn’t think I was worthy of a real relationship. I kissed Sam again and cut both the cords. They were here now, ours.
I hovered as the nurse cleaned them up, did the tests they needed, and then swaddled them in matching blankets. It was always easy to tell Evelina and me apart, and for the first time, I had the horror that I’d mix up my children.
“Maybe we better get a different color blanket for one of them,” I said, making everyone laugh even though I wasn’t joking.
They placed one on either side of Sam, and she looked each of them over. “You can tell the difference,” she said. “Come and look.”
As she pointed out imaginary differences in our identical twins, I couldn’t help but crawl in beside them, careful not to squish anyone but not wanting to be left out. So much love and fear flooded me. I was glad I wasn’t standing anymore because it might have knocked me off my feet.
The family business was calm right now. The Gianni organization had folded fast enough without its leader, and we’d scooped up most of the territory, negotiating with the few willing to change their allegiance. I was extra busy with all the added businesses, but there was peace for now, so that made up for it. Of course, that could change at any time. All I could do was enjoy it while it lasted and keep my family safe when it eventually ended.
“I love you,” I told Sam.
She nodded, never taking her eyes off the babies. “We did it. They’re really here.”
“And they’re perfect, just like you.”
She looked up at me then, and we shared a knowing smile. Would we ever tell them their origin story of how their mother and father met? Maybe when they were older. Much older. It was an odd road, paved with doubts, but none of it mattered in the long run because their mother and I would always be there for them. Together.
Of that, I had no doubts at all.
*****
THE END
