(Aiden’s POV)Sasha and I were ahead, running on the long hallway of the hospital, going to the delivery suite, while Aaron walked at a fast pace, careful not to trip because he was carrying their daughter, Cara. I had been to this hospital once, but because I was nervous, it took me a few wrong turns in the hallways.“This is a small hospital, for Christ’s sake!” Sasha snarled, glaring at me.Aaron chuckled, grabbing her hand. “This way, Sweetheart. And please… calm down. Especially you, Adam.” He cleared his throat. “I mean, Aiden.”“My brain’s not functioning!” I hissed angrily, following them. If only Sasha could listen to my heartbeat, she would hear my heart thumping hard, making my chest ache and my ears deaf. The long ten hours of flight were not enough to calm me. The thoughts of Jessamine giving birth without me on her side distressed me.I did not ask Aaron how he managed to find another private jet. He must have known that the long wait at the airport to ride a commercia
(Aiden’s POV)It was the most beautiful sight I had today, seeing Jessamine with Kyle in her arms and breastfeeding him. My best friend glanced at me and smiled, and then she gazed lovingly at our little angel.“Look at your two daddies,” she murmured, her eyes sparkling with bliss as she looked briefly at Xavier and me.The smile curved on her lips, and the sparkle in her eyes told me she was very happy.Xavier and Aaron were seated beside me, sandwiching me between them on the couch. Xavier’s eyes were on Deborah as she arranged the flowers and balloons in the nearby dresser. Mine was on Sonia. Seeing her talking gently to Jessamine was alien to me.“I think… she’s possessed,” Xavier muttered under his breath jokingly.“A baby can change everything,” Aaron smiled, tilting his head and looking at me worriedly. “Two daddies?” He raised his eyebrows.“It’s a long story. You should have seen the shock on Sonia’s face when Mr. Douglas said he was the father. He was joking, of course, but
(Aiden’s POV)“As soon as possible,” I answered.“We don’t have plans yet,” Jessamine said at the same time I spoke.My tongue retreated to my throat, and I frowned at my best friend. Jessamine’s cheeks turned crimson when our eyes met, and despite her mother’s presence, she glowered at me. When I raised my eyebrows, she lowered her head, grazing Kyle’s mittens and pretending to check on them.“Hmp!” Sonia snorted.“Umm…” It was all I could say when I turned to her.Sonia arched her brows, looking at her daughter and then at me.“Which one, Aiden? You have my approval now, so what’s stopping my daughter?”I pressed my lips tightly, thinking carefully of the best answer. Kyle must be the reason for changing her mind, and it was an opportunity not to miss out. This miracle should have happened before Naomi gave birth, a favorable circumstance for my father, who pestered me every day into marrying her. I cleared my throat, glancing at Aaron and Xavier, hoping they had an answer to Soni
(Jessamine’s POV)“Good job, Kyle,” Sasha chuckled when he burped. “Good job, Mommy.”I smiled gently, proud of my small achievement and glad I could do it without my Mom’s help. I rose from my seat, put Kyle in the crib, and for a second, I hesitated to leave him, wanting to carry him again.“It’s hard, I know,” Sasha muttered, smiling as she gazed at little Kyle. “Aaron and I were like this for the first few days. We’re anxious to leave our little Cara.” She chuckled as if remembering something funny.“Where’s Aiden? I haven’t seen him around,” I asked, concerned about not seeing him. “Working?” I sat on the edge of the bed, where I could still see my baby.Sasha nodded, but her eyes were on the screen of her smartphone.“Yeah, but his meeting will be over by -” She stopped talking and raised her head slowly. “You’re… You’re asking about Aaron, right?”Her face was as white as chalk, and for a few seconds, she confused me. I didn’t know why she looked shocked. Sasha stretched her li
(Jessamine’s POV)“Are you sure you’re okay with it?” I asked Colleen, glancing over my shoulder before I continued placing Aiden’s clothes in the closet.It was past eight in the evening, and her visit surprised me. Although we had a good relationship, I still found it unusual to see her in the doorway as this was the first time she had come here in the many years I lived in the apartment.Aiden walked Charlie to the park while Aaron and his family were in the living room, watching Encanto for the nth time from his laptop. If Colleen had not come, I would have sat with them because I had not watched it yet. My sister was sitting with crossed legs on the bed, eyeing Kyle. Her eyebrows knitted, and she wrinkled her nose, a habit we both have when confused.“You know, my son passed the newborn screening test with flying colors,” I joked, turning around. “Why are you looking at Kyle like he’s some subject in your anatomy class?”“Hey!” Colleen rolled her eyes and chuckled. “Be careful
(Jessamine’s POV)They found Rick…Rick and me… That night.I gasped, covering my mouth with two hands because I could recall walking toward Rick and talking to him, but nothing more. Everything else turned murky in my memory.Slowly, I turned my head to Kyle, my heart pounding in fear… Suddenly, I was afraid that my love for him would change, knowing Rick could be his father. It would be unfair for my son when he had nothing to do with my stupidity.“No!” The tears welled in my eyes. “Aiden, we can’t let him know about my son. He shouldn’t -”Aiden creased his forehead, confused at me. He cupped my face and shook his head.“What are you saying?” He asked, meeting my eyes with worry.My shoulders shook as sobs escaped my mouth. I could feel my muscles shivering from fear, and I had to wrap my arms around his neck, hoping my best friend would catch me if I ever fainted.“I… I remember talking to Rick -”“Wait!” Aiden grabbed my arms and moved back. “Don’t tell me you remember going wit
(Jessamine’s POV)“Give Mommy your beautiful smile,” I said, planting tiny kisses on Kyle’s tummy and grinning to make him smile.Kyle twitched his lips, ignoring me as I tried to take a picture from my phone, and instead of smiling for me, he groaned, his eyes gazing at me as he pooped. I wrinkled my nose, pressing the camera, taking that moment when he opened his mouth.“You looked adorable when you poop,” I smiled and sighed, placing my cell phone on the side table to clean him up.Kyle’s tiny body jerked, startled when Charlie barked as he entered the bedroom.“Charlie,” I widened my eyes, pretending to be mad. “What did I tell you? I told you to be quiet when you enter the room. You startled your little brother again,” I muttered softly while I cleaned my baby and changed his diaper.“Any progress? Changes?” Deborah entered the room excitedly.Deborah sat on the edge of the bed and smiled sweetly at her godchild, squealing as she took her cell phone, taking a photo of my little o
(Jessamine’s POV)“Are you sure that’s what Terrence said?” Aiden asked worriedly, his eyes wide, watching me as I brushed my hair. “He’s Kyle’s father?”I raised my eyebrows, looking at his reflection in the mirror. Kyle was awake, staring intently at Aiden’s face as if my son was trying to memorize him while Aiden swayed him gently from side to side. I was sure, though, that our little angel would fall asleep soon, the way his eyelids closed slowly. “I didn’t say he’s Kyle’s father, Aiden,” I muttered, putting the hairbrush on the dresser. “I said… he said he had a lot of explaining to do why he left. He didn’t say he’s the father. He doesn’t even know about Kyle.”“But you think he’s Kyle’s father,” he pursed his lips, glancing worriedly at my son. “You look like you believe he’s the one. Isn’t he gay?”“Gays have a penis,” I gritted my teeth, unexpecting Aiden to act weird. “We’re too drunk. He might have forgotten his preference.”“Does it happen?” His forehead creased, not bel
(Aiden’s POV) Two years later… “Go!” Deborah chuckled and gestured her hand, telling me it was okay to leave. “We’ll bring Kyle to the hospital later,” she promised. I nodded, picking up the bag Jessamine and I prepared last night. I walked toward the couch, kissed my son, sleeping soundly on the seat, and patted Charlie’s head. He wagged his tail but didn’t bother to follow me. Kyle and Xyla had become his new best friends. Wherever they were, he would be there. Xavier brought Deborah and their daughter, Xyla, last night when Jessamine told them she was in labor. I didn’t know if it was because Jessamine was carrying our second child that everyone seemed relaxed. Only I was panicking, unsure what to bring or how to take my wife to the hospital. “We have a driver, Aiden. Why are you panicking?” Jessamine asked calmly last night as she climbed the bed. Benedict and Xavier raised the same question. Perhaps it was not the reason why my heartbeat was pounding fast. I would love to h
(Aiden’s POV) “I don’t know, Aiden,” Jessamine murmured sadly. “You love lying to me.”I shook my head and lifted my hand, gently wiping the tears on her cheeks. “I was honest when I told you I broke up with every girlfriend I had in the past, including my engagement to Naomi. Our dads set our marriage up, not me.”If I had to choose freely whom I wanted to be with for the rest of my life, Naomi would never be on my list. She was part of my rebellion, which I regretted when she got pregnant.“Eliza,” The tears streamed down my face as I struggled to speak through the lump in my throat.My heart ached for the little one when I heard her call Jessamine ‘momma’. Eliza didn’t deserve a mother like Naomi. I opened my mouth to explain but closed it again. “You named her after your grandma’s name,” she said.I shook my head. “She named her after my grandma’s name. Not me,” I corrected.If only Jessamine knew how we fought that day but gave in because Naomi was still weak in the hospital.“
(Jessamine’s POV) “Ha! Ha!” I raised my eyebrows and glared at Aiden. “You know what? It’s too late for that. Whatever you want to say, I don’t care.”I could walk away, but I didn’t move.“Jess, please,” Aiden begged.“Fine! Go ahead with your confession. Let’s get this over with. I just want to go home.”Yet, it would be my biggest lie. For almost a month of staying here in Adilene’s, I knew I was home. Leaving here would scar my heart. Forgetting Aiden would be hell. However, he is getting married, and I don’t want to be the best friend in his love story who hinders his happiness. My sarcasm didn't appear to bother Aiden. He inhaled deeply and fixed his gaze on me. It was for a while, then he turned around, pointing at the lake.“On the other side of the lake is St. Rose Property. I bought it and opened a new business there, a law firm, and I invited Xavier to head the company,” he said, ignoring what I said. He turned to me, blinking once while waiting for my answer.I opened my
(Jessamine’s POV) Awkward? Yes. Angry? No. Maybe.I stood on the porch, staring at Aiden as he kissed our son. He took him from my arms, and my trusting son didn’t even cry. My baby continued to babble ‘Ba-ba’ba’, and guess what? Everyone found it adorable. “Yes, he’s Dada!” Mom muttered excitedly, not considering the feeling of her hurt daughter.I was invincible to Sasha and Aaron. I wanted to scream that it wasn’t their house, but they greeted Deborah and my mom, said something nice to Kyle, and eagerly went inside when my friend invited them for a coffee. They should have at least waited for me, and then I pouted, remembering it wasn’t mine either.Aiden turned to my mother. “Is it okay if I talk to Jessamine alone?”“Of course,” she muttered. “You have all day,” she chuckled with her joke.I opened my mouth, wanting to protest, but I closed it again because it was also the same thing I wanted. Deborah was right. Every time he returned, something happened. He would sweep me of
(Jessamine’s POV) I inhaled to smell the sweet scent of fresh air in Adilene’s from the porch, but instead, I caught the whiff of the aroma of the coffee bean Mom was grinding from her hand-cranked grinder. I glanced at the crib, checking on Kyle. A while ago, he played with his toes, putting them in his mouth. Perhaps he thought of them as built-in toys. This time, he rolled over, reaching the tail of the giraffe stuffed toy.Kyle just turned four months, but he could do many things—normal baby stuff. He could bear weight on his legs when sitting upright, rolling over, grabbing toys or Charlie’s fur, and babbling a combo of vowel and consonant letters. When I asked him something, and he didn’t cry, it was up to me to decide what it meant. Deborah and my mom thought differently. My friend bet that when Kyle reached the age of six months, he could count numbers and recite the alphabet. Mom proudly told her he was probably like me, a history of my life she now loved to retell.‘Jess
(Jessamine’s POV) I caught Aiden wincing when I hissed, cringing as Colleen pressed her finger on my scalp. My sister must be waiting for us to be alone. I knew that my crying didn’t help, but she would understand why I wailed like a baby on the staircase. I would explain everything to her later.Colleen sighed and turned to Aiden.“Don’t worry, Aiden. She’ll live. Long enough that the two of you will probably see your ten to fifteen great-grandchildren, in case you get back together,” she muttered jokingly instead of giving him her prognosis of my condition.“When did you become a fortune teller?” I arched my head to see her face.Colleen shrugged and grinned. “It’s one of my many talents, you know,” she said, turning around and walking toward the crib. “Want to see the garden, Kyle? Let’s give mommy and daddy some privacy. What do you think?” she asked gently, scooping my son from the crib.As if it was Aiden’s cue, he held the door open and closed it gently as soon as my sister an
(Aiden’s POV) My heart was still racing, and my breaths came in ragged gasps after sprinting all the way from the driveway to reach Jessamine. My body was still buzzing with adrenaline, but when I saw her crying, I was like sucked into a vortex, returning me to the first time I saw my best friend.I was nine years old again for a split second, seeing a cute little girl in a braided pigtail, curled up in the swing, holding the same math book I had in her arms. At first, I thought she was hurt, but when I approached her, she was perfectly okay and told me, between hiccupping and crying, that she didn’t know how to answer her homework.Of course, she couldn’t. I doubted if she could even read the sentences in the book. She must be five or six years old. She should be in the preschool building, enjoying learning the alphabet or numbers instead of worrying about the word problems in the book.What was a little girl doing in front of the classroom of the third-grade class? She must have mi
(Jessamine’s POV) I reached for the doorknob, but before I could grasp the exquisitely crafted knob, I clenched my hand and immediately concealed it behind me as if opening the door was a sin. I was reluctant to leave the bedroom for a few reasons, but Anne informed me that Susan was waiting for me in the family room and wanted to speak with me.If only there were another way to the staircase without passing Naomi’s bedroom.“She went out to see her doctor,” Anne muttered.“Huh?” I turned around, lifting a brow, pretending not to understand what she said.Anne’s lips curved into a shy smile. “If you were worried about seeing Ms. Naomi outside, she left to see her doctor,” she said, repeating the message, perhaps thinking I didn’t hear her the first time.“Ah,” I chuckled and sighed in relief. “Thank you for telling me, Anne. I don’t want to have part two of our encounter in the garden,” I joked. Partly.She laughed briefly. “Don’t worry about Kyle. I’ll ask someone to get you if he c
(Jessamine’s POV) “Ouch!” I winced when Aiden pressed his finger on my scalp.It was a light touch, but the tingling on my scalp worried me that I would go home bald or I might be wearing a wig on my wedding day. Maybe my hair would have grown an inch or two at that time. Still, I would feel bad. I imagined having my hair loosely braided vertically and horizontally on that big day, but after what happened, I should think of another hairstyle.Aiden clucked his tongue, sighed, and sat on the edge of the bed, turning the chair I was sitting on to face him. I was still mad at him, but sometimes I tend to forget whenever I get stunned by his gorgeous face. I hissed, cursing inwardly and lowering my head to avoid his gaze.“Does it hurt?” He asked worriedly, lifting my chin to meet his eyes. “Tell me, Jess.” When I didn’t answer, he continued, “I’m bringing you to the hospital now.”I squinted, shaking my head. “I’m okay. This is nothing serious. Why don’t you check on Naomi?”He scoffed,