“If that’s your decision, sweet girl. I’ll support you all the way. I just hope you’ll have all the right answers when your children ask about their father.” Kip replies with no tone of judgment in his voice.As I process his words, a frown forms on my face, and my brows furrow. For the sake of my children, I will do whatever it takes to keep them safe. I also hope that I will have the appropriate answers to the questions they will have the right to pose. Currently, I have no intention of deceiving them, nor do I intend to disclose everything to them. Some secrets are best kept hidden.“I hope so too.” I sigh.Kip gets up from his stool, opens the fridge door, and closes it again. “Hmm, there isn’t much food in there for me to cook you a ‘Congratulation’ dinner. So how about we order some Turkish food?” He says as he leans against the door, folding his arms over his wide chest.“That sounds really good. But we don’t have to order in because I’m pregnant, Kip.” I chuckle.“Well, it’s n
TOBIAS:As I exit the elevator car, I loosen the knot on my tie and gently tilt my head from side to side. My neck is incredibly stiff from the tension that has been building up in my body recently. It's causing a persistent migraine that I just can't seem to shake off, adding to my discomfort.“Mr. Landry?” An unfamiliar male voice calls out to me as I make my way through the lobby of my business building. “Mr. Landry, please stop. There is a crucial matter that I must discuss with you.”I stop dead in my tracks and turn to face this man, who seems to be filled with enthusiasm to catch a minute of my time. “You have one minute. Sixty seconds and not a second more.” I mutter as my gaze takes in his appearance.He's a gentleman of modest stature, in the prime of his life, with a distinguished hairline. He has a physique that resembles a bouncy castle made from doughnuts, and his suit has a charmingly worn-in look. The man's briefcase appears to have weathered the test of time, much lik
Kip sits next to me as I lie down on the bed in the ultrasound room. Today is the day that we will be given the gender results of my twins. I’m not going to lie. I’ve been eagerly waiting for the appointment all week. Just as Kip had mentioned weeks ago. Time has flown by. It’s like I blinked, and I’m now twenty-six weeks pregnant.My belly is huge. But I guess that is normal considering that two little humans are growing inside of me. The morning sickness finally stopped about four weeks ago, and my cravings for oranges started days after. Poor Kip has been restocking the fruit bowl on a daily basis. He brings home a few kilos of oranges, thinking that they will last me at least three days.They barely make it through the night.He cracked me up when he asked Doctor El Nazari if there was a possibility that I may turn slightly orange or if my babies will be born orange due to all the oranges I’ve been eating. Doctor El Nazari stared at him with a blank expression on her face at first
“I’m going to get going, sweet girl.” Kip says softly and kisses my forehead. “You did so well today. Thank you for including me. It's an experience I'll never forget," he says as he looks lovingly down at the babies in their hospital crib beside my bed.“Thank you so much for being here with me.” I kiss him on the cheek as he leans over me. “I’m so grateful for you, the two of you. You and El.”“I’ll be back after my shift tomorrow.” Kip smiles as he adjusts the baby’s little pink bonnet. “El will be in shortly to see you. Now, you tiny little rug rats behave for your mother tonight. She needs her rest.” He tells them, and with one last smile, he disappears down the corridor.It’s just after midnight, and the maternity ward has fallen silent. The private room El insisted on paying for me is dark, with only a strip of light from the bathroom illuminating the room. I’m left alone with my two babies, a little boy and a little girl. Wrapped tightly in their little blankets and snuggled i
It’s been nine weeks since I gave birth to Ryan and Sawyer, and the sleepless nights are slowly starting to get to me. I landed in New Zealand late last night. Checked into the swanky little motel a block away from Tobias’s office and had the longest soak in the tub until my skin turned wrinkly before I called it a night and hit the hay.Coming here alone has been a little rough, I’ve never traveled on my own, and leaving my children behind has been hard. I woke up a few times during the night as I could swear I heard their soft cries. I guess my new body clock and hyper-sensitive ears followed me here as well. I take one final look in the mirror, fixing the spaghetti straps of my summer dress before I comb my fingers through my hair. I’ve dressed as casual as I possibly can on a hot day that almost has me melting into a puddle before I’ve stepped out of my room that has air-con.I want to look nice when I see Tobias for the first time in a long time. I need him to see me and regret e
TOBIAS:If you could kindly refer to page eighteen of the proposal." I navigate my mouse cursor across the graph, tracing its path on the whiteboard. The twelve individuals gathered around the board table simultaneously turn to page eighteen. “As you can see, the site will be an ideal destination for our…"The intercom buzzes, disrupting the room. “Mr. Landry.” I exhale heavily. “Yes,” I snap, annoyed. Why is she interrupting me? “Good morning, Mr. Landry. This is Tracy from the front desk.”“Yes, Tracy, what is it?” “I have a Keri Appleton here; she says she has an appointment to see you today…”My pulse quickens upon hearing my wife’s name.“Ahhh…” I look around the room as multiple sets of eyes stare back at me. “I see…” I casually tap my fingers next to the mouse on the table. Shit. I can not interrupt this meeting halfway through, as individuals from around the world have traveled to attend. I have a busy schedule ahead, with visits to various locations and meetings with con
TOBIAS:I pull up next to the curb in front of the building, and I toss my keys to Benson to park it in the underground car park. I've had fuck all sleep, and I'm in the shittiest mood of all moods to be had. This is the last place I want to be, but there is a certain someone I need to speak with, and it requires a face-to-face conversation.“Have a great day, Mr. Landry.” Benson casually says as he makes himself comfortable behind the steering wheel. It's probably the highlight of his day parking my sedan. “You, too.” I walk in through the front doors of the building and stride to the bank of elevators. Tony, the attendant, gives me a polite nod as he pushes the button. “Good morning, Mr. Landry.” “Morning.” I stare at the doors as I straighten the knot on my tie. I can feel all eyes on me as I wait. Hurry up.“Beautiful day today,” Tony says, trying to make small talk so it's not awkward between us.But it feels very awkward to me. “It is.” I lean forward and press the button.
Laughter and shrieks echo through my home as I playfully chase after two little ones, their tiny bodies free and unburdened. They find it absolutely hilarious when they escape from the bath, and I playfully chase them with clothes in my hands. I must confess, I enjoy it just as much. My little ones have reached the age of four, bringing immense joy and filling my heart with love beyond measure. Our home is a place of joy and excitement, where love permeates every corner.Ryan, being the oldest, possesses a striking resemblance to his father with his dark, wavy hair. He possesses a fiery and easily provoked temperament, displaying dominance and intelligence while also being incredibly attached to me.And then there's Sawyer. We affectionately refer to her as Awez. Despite her resemblance to her father, with her dark hair and big, round eyes, she possesses a distinctiveness that sets her apart. Compared to Ryan, she is small and has a calm and peaceful demeanor, with a very gentle and