by Donna Raider
“The babies,” Mika blushed, “you will be breastfeeding them. How can we leave on the boat?”
“I have spoken with the pediatrician, and she assures me I can store breast milk for eight days in the refrigerator and freeze it for up to six months.” Leah explained. “So, I think we can be gone a week or ten days.”
“We’d better go. Richie is meeting us at the diner,” the priest said, moving to kiss Leah before she applied her lipstick. Mika approached her lips with great reverence, holding her breath until Leah pulled her head down to press her lips against Mika’s. “I hope you know how much I adore you,” Mika murmured against her lips.
“And I, you, darling,” Leah whispered.
They met Richie at the diner for lunch. It was mid-June, and the twins were due at any time. Mika had to go over some things with the church staff. She was taking leave when the babies arrived, so Richie had Leah Watch. Leah had laughed at the two when they had informed her, two weeks ago, that she would not be left alone until the twins were born. Richie had named their constant surveillance of his mother, Operation Leah Watch.
“You take care of your Mom,” Mika winked at her son. “I should be home in about two hours. Gloria has a pretty good knowledge of how to run things, but I want to be sure she feels comfortable in my absence.”
Mika leaned down and kissed her wife goodbye. The bell above the door announced the arrival of the sheriff and her girlfriend. They sat at the table next to Leah and Richie.
“How’s it going, Kid?” Emily reached to ruffle Richie’s hair. He successfully evaded her hand and moved to sit next to his mother instead of across from Emily.
Mika hesitated to leave, knowing the sheriff wouldn’t miss an opportunity to harass her wife.
“Go on, Mika,” Richie smiled. “I’ve got this.”
Leah nodded to the priest, and Mika left the diner, hurrying to complete her task and return to her wife and son.
“So, you’re going to domino any day now, huh?” the sheriff scoffed.
Leah looked questioningly at her son. She had no idea what Emily had just insinuated.
“Crude way of saying the twins could come anytime,” Richie said softly, embarrassed that his birth mother could be so cruel to his mom. “Are you ready to go?”
Leah nodded and stood. She wore a pair of light-colored blue jeans and a slightly darker blue, V-neck pull over. Emily couldn’t suppress her gasp as her former lover turned to face her. Leah was beyond beautiful. She was earth shattering. Her long black hair curled softly around her neck, resting on her shoulders. She didn’t look pregnant, much less as if she were about to deliver twins any day.
The sheriff couldn’t tear her eyes away from the rise of Leah’s breasts. She licked her lips, to keep them from cracking. Cleavage had always been one of Leah’s weapons; now she possessed an overwhelming. Emily fought the urge to fall at Leah’s feet and worship her.
“Come on, Mom,” Richie cupped Leah’s elbow and guided her out of the diner.
“Richie, I’m sorry—” Leah began, but her son cut her off.
“Mom, you have nothing for which to be sorry,” he smiled. “Now, let’s get you and our babies’ home.”
##
Richie settled his mother in the family room and gave her the TV remote. He went to fix her a cup of tea.
The teapot had just started to whistle when his mother’s scream shook the house. He turned off the burner and sprinted to her. She was doubled over on the sofa.
“I think I need to go to the hospital,” she cried.
Following the drill, he and Mika had practiced many times, he grabbed Leah’s bag from the foyer closet and helped his mom to the car. Heading for the hospital, he called Mika.
“The babies are coming,” the boy fought to keep his voice calm when the priest answered the phone. “We are on our way to the hospital.”
“Meet you there.” Mika put her phone in her pocket and nodded to the church staff. “Leah’s on her way to the hospital.” She was out the door before anyone could reply.
##
“M-i-k-a,” Leah’s scream ripped through the hospital.
Mika didn’t even ask where Leah was; she just followed the cries of pain. Mika quickly scrubbed and slipped into the hospital attire required to be in the delivery room.
Mika gasped at the site of her wife’s face. She was perspiring profusely, her dark hair soaked, her lovely face twisted in pain.
“Mika, you son-of-a—” Mika cut her off with a quick kiss.
“Is she okay?” Mika anxiously asked Strand.
“We may have a problem,” Strand had trouble remaining calm. “Her water broke, and everything is happening so quickly. It shouldn’t be. She is too far along to use an epidural block. She is going to have to do natural childbirth.”
“Shush,” Mika soothed taking Leah’s hand. “I’m here.”
“Mika,” she begged, “I have enjoyed as much of this as I can stand.”
Gripping Leah’s hand, the priest placed her other hand on her wife’s stomach. The pain left Leah immediately. She relaxed, her head falling back on the hospital bed. Her wife leaned down and kissed her gently. “Ready?” She asked.
Leah nodded.
“You need to deliver our twins,” Mika nodded for Strand to get into position to do his job.
“It’s a boy,” Strand grinned as he handed the first baby to the nurse, “and a girl.” The nurses took both babies aside to clean them up and present them to their parents.
“You did it, Leah! We have two healthy babies.” Mika beamed leaning down to kiss her, lingering longer this time. She could taste the salt from Leah’s tears and chastised herself for letting Leah experience any pain.
Mika walked to the nurses who placed a baby in each arm. She turned to take them to her wife.
As Mika entered the room Leah had to close her eyes. Her wife and their babies were bathed in the purest, golden light she had ever seen. Her golden lover and their golden children. Leah held out her arms for her babies. Mika gently placed one in each arm. Leah stared down at them in awe. They were the result of the love between her and her wife. They were beautiful. They nuzzled their tiny mouths against her. She looked up at Mika.
“I think they’re hungry,” Mika laughed. she moved Leah’s hospital gown so the twins could find what they were seeking.
Leah gasped as their tiny mouths found her nipples and began to nurse. A brilliant smile lit her face as she looked up at her wife.
Mika was certain her chest would explode with all the emotion she was feeling. Every time she thought Leah couldn’t look more beautiful, she had always proven her wrong. It was one of those times.
Mika pulled a chair close to Leah’s bed and laid a hand on each child and began to pray.
After the babies finished nursing and fell asleep, Mika stepped into the waiting room and motioned her son to come in.
“Mom,” Richie said reverently, “Look at what you did.” He stared at the babies as if they were the most wonderful things in the world.
“Sara is on my left and Adam is on my right,” Leah smiled proudly.
“Mom, they look like tiny angels,” Richie grinned. He pulled the blanket back to get a better view of Adam’s face. “Yeah, he’s going to make a great wingman,” Richie grinned.
“What,” his mother laughed, raising a pair of perfectly arched eyebrows.
Richie pulled back the blanket from Sara. He gently touched her pink cheek and gasped softly when her tiny hand curled around his finger. He looked up into his mother’s loving brown eyes. “She just stole my heart,” he smiled broadly.
“Just as you did mine the first time you caught my finger like that,” Leah smiled wistfully.
Mika heard a cane tapping in the hallway. She stepped into the hall to see Legion making his way toward them. Three long strides placed her in front of the menacing little man.
“What are you doing here, Legion?” Mika demanded.
“Just came to bas
k in everyone’s glory,” the man smirked.
“Stay away from my wife and my family,” the priest hissed.
“And, if I don’t?” Legion poked a finger into Mika’s chest.
“You will regret it.” The priest’s face was dark and menacing. For a brief second fear flitted through Legion.
“Be careful who you threaten, Priest,” Legion snarled. “I do believe my god is considerably stronger than yours. Mine doesn’t desert his believers.”
“Neither does mine,” the priest said with great conviction.
“Who are you, really,” the fiend’s eyes narrowed.
“The queen’s wife,” Mika said sinisterly. “For your sake, I hope you’re not fool enough to go up against her.”
Leah and Richie were so enthralled with the twins that they hadn’t noticed the priest’s absence from the room. Her wife looked up as she stepped back through the doorway. “Where did you go?” she smiled at Mika.
“Ladies room,” Mika blushed appropriately, hoping it concealed the concern in her eyes.
##
The tiny mewls from the nursery jerked Mika awake. “I’ll get them,” Leah yawned sleepily.
“No,” Mika murmured, “You get ready for them. I’ll bring them to you.”
Leah was sitting against the headboard of their bed when Mika returned with a baby in each arm. She let her silk pajama top fall open exposing a breast for each infant. They quickly found a nipple and began to nurse contentedly. She exhaled thankfully, as they relieved the pressure of her swollen breasts. She blushed as she realized Mika was staring at her. Her eyes were moving back and forth between Leah’s lips and their nursing babies.
“What?” She smiled as she asked the question to which she already knew the answer. She just liked to hear Mika verbalize it.
“I love you, so much.” Mika shook her head side to side as if even she couldn’t believe how much she loved her wife. Mika leaned down and placed her lips gently against Leah’s. “You have given me the greatest gifts of all.”
Sara and Adam were the images of their blonde mother. Golden skin with silky blonde hair. Leah could tell it was going to be thick and wavy like Mika’s hair. They had Mika’s dimples and piercing blue eyes. Richie was right. They did look like tiny angels.
Leah jerked up her head to meet her wife’s gaze. “Angels,” she whispered, “are they?”
“I don’t think so,” Mika shrugged. “I believe they are just normal humans, with unusual parents. It is our job to raise them to be exceptional.”
“I believe their tummies are full. They have gone to sleep,” Leah smiled up at her. Mika gently lifted the sleeping infants from her arms and carried them back to the nursery.
Mika returned to their bedroom. Still propped up against the headboard, Leah had completely removed her pajama top.
Mika tried not to stare at her but found she couldn’t pull her gaze away from Leah’s magnificent breasts. Even though the babies had just nursed, her breasts still looked full and tight.
“Mika, darling,” Leah’s voice was low and sensuous, “are you going to help me with these, or do I have to resort to a breast pump.” She lightly trailed her hand over her breast, as she lifted the covers for Mika to slide into bed beside her.
Mika moaned as Leah guided her lips to her breast. Mika was careful not to touch Leah’s nipples with her tongue, not wanting to make them raw. Leah hummed her approval as Mika relieved the uncomfortable fullness from each breast. She too fell asleep nursing.
Early the next morning Leah’s movement woke her instantly. “What?” Mika’s voice was heavy with sleep.
“The babies are awake,” Leah moved to get up.
Mika was already on her feet. “I will get them,” she smiled a groggy, lopsided smile as she staggered toward the door. “I’m pretty sure they need fresh diapers, too.”
Leah knew she had time to go to the bathroom and brush her teeth before Mika came back. Diaper changes always seemed to take her much longer. She checked the time. The twins were finally sleeping longer between feedings. When they first came home from the hospital, they had nursed every hour. Now they were nursing every three hours.
Leah was refreshed and back in bed before Mika returned, a baby in each arm. She gently nestled them in her arms. They had quickly developed a routine. Mika would place a baby in Leah’s arms and wait while she helped it find her nipple, then Mika would place the other baby in her arms, and she would guide its tiny mouth to its mother’s breast. They both loved to watch their babies nurse. Both agreed it was the sweetest sight they had ever seen.
Leah had bounced back immediately from giving birth to the twins. Everyone was amazed at how easy her pregnancy and delivery had been. No one was as amazed as she was.
Although she vigorously discouraged it, every woman she met shared their personal childbirth pain epic. Her only complaint about pregnancy was the abstinence from her wife. It had been almost unbearable.
She had loved carrying their babies. She loved being a mother. She loved Richie and the way he loved his brother and sister. With the help of her wife and son, her pregnancy had been a walk in the park. In her heart, she knew Adam and Sara were just the first of their many children.
##
The twins would be one-month-old the week of Richie’s birthday. Leah and Mika once again turned their attention to the problem of a vehicle for their son. Richie pointed out that he had several million dollars in his trust fund from record sales and personal appearances made by the band.
“I know money isn’t the issue,” the youth frowned. “It is feelings. I don’t want to hurt Emily’s feelings, but with your approval, I could buy my car.”
“Have you discussed this with Emily?” Leah asked.
“Not yet,” Richie admitted. “I wanted to get your input first. Make sure you were okay with it.”
His mother smiled. She was pleased he sought her counsel on matters that were important to him.
Mika and Leah agreed Richie could purchase his car if he could work it out with Emily. The sheriff was less than happy with her son’s suggestion but couldn’t argue with his decision. She knew the old green Cuda wasn’t safe. Hell, it didn’t even have seatbelts.
The morning of Richie’s birthday, all three parents, Samson and Delilah went with the boy to the Toyota dealership. Amber had ordered a fully loaded, black pickup with white pinstripes.
“Black and white, just like you ordered,” Amber smiled, as she dropped the key fob into Richie’s hand.
“Come on,” the teen laughed, catching Amber’s hand, “I want you to be the first to ride in my new truck,”
Mika and Leah exchanged a questioning look.
##
The Sunday following Richie’s birthday was the christening for Sara and Adam. Most of the town had not seen the twins. Leah and Mika had been very protective of their babies. They preferred to keep them safely at home, away from airborne sicknesses. Visitors had not been encouraged for the same reason. They wanted to give the infants’ immune system a chance to build before exposing them to others.
The Bishop had volunteered to officiate the christening of Adam and Sara, so there was much ado about the clergy in their small town. Mika had made the rectory available for the Bishop and his entourage. The christening was scheduled to follow the Sunday morning services. The entire town attended. Some to see the Bishop, but most to see the twins. Samson and Delilah had been asked to be the godparents for the babies and were honored. Although Leah still considered Delilah, an idiot, she knew how much she loved children and was very comfortable with her as their godmother.
Leah arranged for everyone to dine in the Town Hall Public Meeting Room. Just as they had done for the couple’s wedding reception, caterers had decorated the hall in elegant shades of whites and gold. Leah, Mika, Richie, Samson, Delilah and the babies sat at one large table along with Naomi, Amber, and Ruth. Emily didn’t bring a date and was very subdued.
Richie spent the better part o
f the luncheon standing over the babies, beaming as he thanked people for turning out to see his siblings. The Cross family posed for photos, with Mika and Richie holding a baby and Leah seated regally in front of them. Of course, Richie had to have his picture made with him holding both babies in his arms.
Mika and Samson watched as the boy smiled for the camera, holding both babies, so their faces showed clearly.
“Wow, they look just like you,” Samson slapped Mika on the back.
A sudden silence fell over the celebration as Legion entered the room. Leah instantly placed herself in front of the twins as Mika stepped forward to greet the man.
“Legion, we’re so glad you could make our celebration,” the priest smiled cautiously at the somber man.
“Really,” Legion snarled, “I don’t believe I was invited.”
“Of course, you were,” Mika held the small man’s gaze. “We issued an open invitation to everyone during the worship services.”
“The twins have been christened?” Legion questioned.
“Yes,” the priest smiled. “They are under God’s protection now.”
“So, you think they are safe from all evil,” the swarthy man glared at Leah, ignoring the priest.
“Thank you for coming, Legion,” the mayor’s voice rang through the hall. “Now, I am certain you have somewhere else you need to be.”
The pernicious little man moved his hand, but he wasn’t fast enough. At his slightest hand movement, Leah had frozen him where he stood. A nod of her head and Legion found himself sitting in the middle of the toll bridge outside of town.
##
“It is about time you got here,” Legion looked up as the harbinger of evil entered his shop. “We may have a problem.”
“Nothing we can’t handle,” his visitor’s smile turned into a snarl. “Is the witch refusing to honor her contract?”
“Yes, and she has grown quite powerful,” Legion said softly.
“She did destroy the demons I sent to devour this pathetic town. Surely, she’s not stronger than you,” the visitor glared in disbelief.