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“Did she just say twins?” Lev blurts out, knowing we can’t answer him.
I want to jump down from this vent and pull her in my arms. Ariah should be resting and pampered. She shouldn’t be warding off the likes of Samantha’s wrath with our forced assistance. With all that’s happening, I’m not sure how she’ll forgive us when the time comes.
“I won’t say I understand what you’re going through, Ariah, because your situation is so unique for someone so young, and it’s compounded by being pregnant with twins and figuring out single parenthood.”
My fist clenches at that statement. I want to shout that she’ll never be alone. Even when she feels that way, we’re always watching. I grind my molars, trying to calm my rage—half tempted to gut the Senator and Samantha, but I know that wouldn’t end this, and we need this to end.
Dr. Jaffri goes through more questions before she examines Ariah. I have to fight not to want to stab her for touching my Angel. Do I know this is necessary—yes. Do I care—no.
Turning on a machine by the exam table, Dr. Jaffri smiles and asks, “Okay, are you ready to see them?”
Then, for the first time during this entire visit, our girl beams—full-on grins, teeth and all, as she eagerly bobs her head in excitement.
“Now, this is the same warm gel we used last time. I’m going to squirt some on your abdomen, and then we’ll work our way up to see where the twins are hiding out.”
I watch, my eyes transfixed on the monitor. Two sets of thumping noises fill the room like they’re already arguing with each other. It takes a minute, but then the first one appears in 3-D. I can see the face. I listen intently as the doctor points out the head, stomach, and various other body parts before moving to find baby two.
My focus flits from the screen when I hear Ariah gasp. Tears fill her beautiful gray eyes, looking far less haunted than when she arrived.
“It looks like they’re both behaving. Do you want to know what you’re having?” Dr. Jaffri asks.
Ariah quickly wipes the tears from her eyes before responding, “Yes, please.”
“Baby A.” The doctor moves the probe over to the left part of her stomach. “Is a boy.”
“Holy fucking shit! We’re having a boy,” I hear Sebastian yip in the background. I almost forgot he was there. He’s been so quiet this entire time.
I wait, never moving my focus from where the doctor moves the probe, fearing I might miss something.
“And Baby B is a girl. Congratulations, Miss Bradford. You’re having a boy and a girl.”
I don’t realize I’m crying until something cold and wet lands on my hand. I can’t remember the last time my tears were for anything but sadness or anger.
We’re going to be fathers. Seeing them makes it that much more real.
We don’t say anything or move until Ariah and the doctor have left the room. Reign and Fernando sweep the room to ensure no one somehow snuck inside. We’re almost free and clear when they both head for the door. Reign instructs Fernando to accompany Elias to bring Ariah to the waiting room. Once they’re gone, Reign steps back inside and looks right at us in the vents.
“You need to hurry up and end this because you best believe we won’t hesitate to make her ours if we don’t think you can give her what she needs.” He whirls around, slamming the door closed, and I move his death up on my list.
19
ARIAH
“Shay, is it really necessary to start buying them all these clothes? I haven’t even hit the halfway point,” I argue, remembering how I had to stack yet another corner of my walk-in closet with boxes from SSENSE.
For the last week, I’ve walked into my room to see it filled with boxes upon boxes of baby clothes and stuffed fruits with a basket to put them all in. Today’s delivery included two giant stuffed pears.
“Um, it wasn’t me this time,” Shay exclaims. “I promised I would lay off buying for a week.”
Turning, I look back to where Reign stands with Eli and Nando in the foyer. “Which one of you did it?
Elias pretends to zip his lips while Nando shrugs his shoulders, and Reign smirks.
“Jerks,” I mutter loud enough for them to hear, making them snicker.
“Let us spoil you, girl,” Shay admonishes, handing me a giant bottle of water. “Everything I’ve heard and seen says women tend to feel ignored once babies are born, and I refuse to let you feel that way at any point during and after your pregnancy.”
I bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from crying. I’ve felt like a big ole baby recently. Any and everything elicits some emotion out of me that ends with me in freaking tears.
