AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Hey, big sis. Maybe tell your little brother how amazing momma’s boob juice is. Best drink on Armstrong.” Pulling him out of the bassinet, I take a tiny moment to nudge him with my face. His tiny eyes open for a brief moment before they roll back into his head.
“He’s out, Sophia.”
“Oh, well, let him sleep. Let them sleep together.” With some difficulty, she helps herself into a sitting position. I prop a pillow behind her back and feed her some water. “Where’s Isa?”
“I gave her some extra credits to get us all something nice from the canteen. The food here is awful, and you deserve a nice meal after all you did.”
“Oh, thank the heavens. Every time she latches, I feel like she’s sucking the life right out of me.” A look crosses her face as she worries about him.
“Just give it time,” I remind her, but I understand her worries. The blockades have turned many necessities into commodities these days, especially diapers and formula.
“Maybe we can figure out what to call them? We’ve got time,” I suggest to ease her tension. “Unless you want to keep on with Baby A and Baby B. It’s pretty generic, but, if that’s what you want.”
Her brows relax as she shakes her head at me. “Well, I think Bianca for Baby Girl, but I wanted to run it by you first.”
“Oh, I get a vote?” I tease her.
“Yes, you get a vote.” She beams. The glow that lights her face fills every corner of her smile. She’s the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.
“Bianca is a lovely name. I think your mother would be pleased.”
“I hate that she’ll never get to meet them.” She’s overcome, if only briefly, with emotion. “But I think she’d be proud of me.
“I know she would,” I tell her with a kiss on her forehead.
“What about Little Man?” she asks, reaching her hand inside the bassinet to grab his tiny fingers with hers. The twins sleep like little angels together, their breath in sync with each other’s. “Do you have anything in mind?”
“There is a name. A childhood friend passed away in the siege. I just found out the other day. His name was Azel.”
“I think that’s a fine name.” She smiles as I bend down to kiss her. “Bianca and Azel. Has a nice ring to it.”
Suddenly from within the bassinet, we hear a cry. His cry. He’s awake, rooting around his sister’s face looking for Sophia’s breast. I pull him out of the crib hearing his voice at last. It’s loud and warns of exhaustion in the times ahead.
“Well, listen to him!” Sophia sits up. “Bring him to me.” She opens her gown and takes him into her arms.
“Wow.” Her eyes are wide open. “He has a powerful latch, Drex.”
I am gleaming with pride. “That’s my boy.” Bending down, I plant a kiss on his tiny head, covered with hair as dark as his mother’s. “I guess he just needed his name.”
“I guess he did.”
“Knock, knock!” Isa arrives with bags of food from the canteen. “I brought a feast.” She looks delighted with herself, setting the bags inside the room, and coming straight to the babies after. “How are they doing? Did you sleep?”
“They're perfect.” Sophia’s smile fills the room with a shine more brilliant than the sun.
“Has he latched?” Isa rushes to her side. “Is that him?”
“Azel,” I tell her proudly. “And Bianca.”
“They have names!” she exclaims. “Oh, goody. I love it. Bianca and Azel.”
“I think it’s time we get Azel and Biance and Sophia and Isa off this planet. Unless you want to stay here.”
The two women share the same self-aware glance.
“We’re as ready as the word ‘go.’”
I get Sophia settled in and fed. She and the twins fall into a serene sleep not long after. I hate to leave them, but the future of Armstrong is just too uncertain for my family to stay here. With Isa in charge, I leave the hospital to find Kyltic and sort out arrangements for the five of us off-planet. It’s a tall order, especially for the military.
