by Ginger Sharp
She glances over at me. “My father told you to stay away from me while I am here.”
“Yes, I know. Then he sends me down here to bring you that frozen drink.”
She looks at the drink. “Daddy made this for me?”
“Yes.”
She tilts her head and sucks on the straw. “Um, it figures.”
I take a sip of my drink coughing on it. “Oh my God, he is trying to kill me with all this tequila.”
She laughs. “Just trying to lessen the pain for you.”
I kick off my boots and pull off my socks. I lean back on my elbows and take another sip.
She looks over at me then looks back to the water. “Making yourself comfortable, I see.”
“Yeah, your dad wants me to work on our friendship. You know with you moving on and all.”
She chortles. “Sure, our friendship. Right.”
I glance over at her and notice that she looks different. “So tell me about your boyfriend? I assume it is serious since you brought him to meet your parents.”
She glances over at me, giving me a nasty look. “You could say it is serious. Zeki went to school with me at Harvard.” She takes a long slurp of the frozen drink. She starts coughing as she touches her head. “Brain freeze. Fuck.”
I watch her cough as I lean forward to rub her back. I look down at her shirt to see that her stomach is round.
My jaw falls open in shock while I stare down at her stomach. “Katie, are you pregnant?”
She continues to stare at her drink. “Yip.”
I remove my hand from her back. “Wow. I guess you got what you wanted.”
She glances at me. “You could say that.”
I look out to the water. “I just thought you would have waited longer after the storm with your recovery.”
She nods her head. “I know, me too.”
“Katie, did you get married again?”
“Nope, I am not married. I was never married, remember, Pedro.”
I shift away from her upon hearing her callousness. “I assume he will marry you soon. When are you due?”
She laughs. “I am due whenever I want. I am going the caesarean section route. I get to pick the date.”
“Hopefully you will get married before the baby is born?”
She snickers. “That would be nice.”
I can see that I am bothering her. I guess this is why Ryan wanted me to see her. To see that she has really moved on. A little quick if you ask me. I am happy for her though. I wish it could have been me that was starting a life with her. I feel myself getting emotional. I am going to leave now.
I lean over and kiss her on the cheek. “I am happy, Katie, that you are happy. I will let you be alone now.”
I grab my boots and walk slowly back to the Cantina. I just keep thinking about what could have been for us. Once I got back to the bar, I changed my mood. I want to show that I am happy for her and that we can be all friends. Paolo and Ryan stare uncertainly at me as I come back to the bar.
I smile at Ryan. “I see why you gave me the stiff drink. You want to lessen the blow.”
Ryan scowls at me. “What did she tell you, Pedro?”
“Just basic stuff. How she gets to pick the date when she is having the baby and hopes that Zeki or whatever his name is marries her before the baby is born.”
Ryan slaps his forehead. “What? She didn’t say that. Did you ask her how far along she is, Pedro?”
“No, she did not want to talk to me. She was very evasive.”
Paolo puts his hand on my shoulder. “I think you need to go back down there.”
Ryan nods. “Did you see her stomach, Pedro? You need to think. Does that look like a woman who just got pregnant? Fuck, you are so smart sometimes and so dense other times. Get back down there. I need to know who that baby belongs to so I can tear them apart.”
I flash with anger. “Yeah, okay. You’re her father so make her tell you.”
He shakes his head. “Don’t you think I have not tried over these last few days? I can’t believe it took her this long to tell Livi and me. She talks to you. Find out.”
Paolo is smiling up at him as I leave, shaking my head.
I become irritated. I do not understand why Ryan is having me do his dirty work. Does he not understand that this hurt me? I wish it was me. I wanted different things for us. I am just going to be direct with her. I do not want to play Ryan’s games with her. I get to the side of the blanket as I glare down at her.
“Katie, I am going to be blunt with you. Your father sent me down here to get information about who the baby’s father is?”
She stands up and I can see that she is bigger than I thought. “I will deal with his meddling ass. He thought I was a bitch last night, wait until he sees how pissed I am now.”
I stare down at her stomach. “Katie, you are huge!” She gets up in my face, pointing at me. “Fuck you,
Pedro. I am having twins you asshole.”
“Okay, that makes sense.”
She runs up to the Cantina. I hang back, watching her.
I decide to walk slowly since I do not want to hear them fighting. I come back to the bar and notice that Ryan pulled Katie out back behind the Cantina for their screaming match.
Paolo glances at me. “Brother, you are the stupidest man that I know when it comes to women. I think you need to break up that fight that is happening out back. It is not good for Katie or those babies that she is carrying.”
I look over at the kitchen, knowing Paolo’s right. Both Katie and Ryan have tempers. I will go mediate. I go through the kitchen to the backdoor, as Rosalie stares up at me.
I step down the steps as I hear Ryan tell her, “He has a right to know. Give him a chance.”
She cries, “He does want them. I have been through this with him before. He believes in some stupid curse.”
I stop in my tracks at what I just heard. Katie is talking about me. Those are my babies that she is carrying. I am feeling dizzy as I sit down on the steps. My ears are ringing with Katie’s last sentence repeating over and over again in my head.
Ryan looks over at me. “He is my friend and he will do what is right by me. Won’t you, Pedro?”
I lean over and put my face into my palms, nodding in to them. I hear Ryan’s footsteps come towards me.
“You’ll make a fine son-in-law.” He taps me on the shoulder as he squeezes behind me to get back into the kitchen.
I hear Katie’s footsteps walk towards me. “I am sorry, Pedro. I know this isn’t what you wanted. I will be fine on my own.”
I am still dazed as I look up at her. “It is what I wanted. I was too scared to have it. How could this be true?”
She laughs. “The doctor took the implant out. It is the reason why they do not want you having unprotected sex. Hormones are messed up. I was already pregnant when you left me.”
I still am stunned. “When did you find out?”
“By the doctor in the hospital when I was found in the bathtub.”
I breathe out hard. “So, you were reckless with my children as you ran back to that house?”
“I didn’t know or I would have never made that attempt. Something was driving me though. Odd now as I look back.”
“What about the guy, Zeki?”
She laughs. “He is very gay. Just my good friend. He came here as moral support for when I told my parents that I am pregnant. Look at me though, I do not think I would have been able to hide it from them.”
I laugh at her then look up. “So now what do we do, Katie?
“I am not sure, Pedro. I am going to stay in Los Angeles with Nick and Chris. I have a doctor’s appointment in a few days for an ultrasound. I will get to see the babies then.”
I look at her confused. “See the babies? How can you do that?”
She smiles at me. “You need to come with me, Pedro, for a few days. Leave Ramón with Paolo.”
I scowl at her for hurting my son. “Yes, I have to keep
Ramón from you.”
She nods. “Oh, you heard about that. I was an emotional mess. When I saw him it crushed me that I couldn’t tell you that I was pregnant.”
“I understand that now. What do we do going forward, Katie? I need to know our next step is.”
She touches my cheek as she stands in front of me with that belly of hers. “I do not have a plan. I have no job and nowhere to live. I will follow your lead, Pedro.”
I reach out, putting my both hands on her stomach and caressing it lovingly. I lean in placing two small kisses on her stomach. “Just guessing, but I assume that I will have to take you in. Back to my home where I can protect and care for you.”
She laughs. “I think you are going to need a bigger home if you take me in.”
“If your father has his way, he is already planning the addition.”
“Do I get to go home with you now? Because I am sure tired and need a nap before school ends.”
I smile up at her. “If you can steal your father’s Range Rover.”
She laughs. “Done. I know where he hides the keys.”
I take Katie to our home and rekindle our love for the rest of the day in my bed.
EPILOGUE
Rosalie turns to look at me. “Parker, please take Pedro out of here. You and Lasaro are going to have to keep him back.”
I look around at the saddened faces. I am confused. Parker is pulling me away from her out the door. Lasaro takes my other arm as both men drag me down to my fields. I hear her screaming again as I fight trying to get out of Parker and Lasaro’s grip off my arms. After a few minutes her screams stop with an eerie silence.
“Hey Pedro, get the fuck up!”
I jerk up and begin coughing. Ryan is standing over me.
“What is wrong with you? You are completely soaked.”
I am still rattled. “I had a nightmare that we are in Costa Rica in the house and Katie stops screaming.”
Ryan shakes his head at me yelling out loudly, “Livi, honey do you have more of those anxiety pills. Pedro is not going to make it and he is going to upset Katie with his nervousness.”
She walks into the room. She hands me a pill. “Take this. It will help you get through today. Oh, and happy birthday, Pedro.” She runs out of the room.
Ryan crosses his arms as he grins down at me. “Are you excited, Pedro, because I am so excited?”
“I am mortified. I do not understand why she chose to do this on my birthday. It is already a cursed day for me.”
He laughs. “She wanted to make this a happy day for you, not a sad day. You will be just fine. You got us this time around.”
I shrug, not too excited. I change the subject, “What time did you and Olivia come back last night with all the guys?”
He grins wickedly. “Right on time to hear you finishing your pre-birthday sex.”
I fall back on the bed. “Great! Just another thing you are going to mock me for the rest of my life.”
He laughs. “No way! Chris, Nick and I were dumbfounded how you pulled that off with Katie being the size that she is and all. I am surprised that you even wanted to touch her being that pregnant.”
I stretch up. “She begged me and you know how she gets when she doesn’t get her way. The baby names are done too. One name was easy the other not so much.”
He smiles. “Now get up and go in that shower. We have to leave.”
I run out to the Tahoe where everyone is waiting for me. I slide into the back seat next to Olivia who is looking at her phone. Chris is driving and Ryan is sitting upfront next to him.
Nick leans over smiling at me. “Sound like you had some fun last night, huh, Rock?”
Olivia does not look up at her phone. “They are getting ready for the six week dry spell.”
Nick looks over at her. “But she is not going natural.”
Olivia glares over at him. “All that yucky dead tissue needs to go somewhere.”
Ryan turns around to look at the back seat and yells, “Please, Livi, no more. I do not want to remember that.” He shudders and turns around.
Olivia nods. “Yup, poor you, Ryan. Anyway, apparently Katie is still ranting to Daddy and Rosalie about you not wanting Ramón here for the birth of his new brothers.”
I shrug. “She is relentless. I feel that when she leaves the hospital she is going to be in a lot of discomfort and with two babies for the first few days it is going to be tough for us all. Paolo is bringing him in a week and once we get the babies their passports we will be home back in Costa Rica together. Ramón will be fine.”
Chris glances at me through the review mirror. “Why does Nick call you Rock?”
Nick starts laughing. “His name is Spanish for rock and from what Katie’s says so is his body.”
I chuckle as Ryan glares over at me. “I see someone is feeling better, but I sure wish you were having girls so you can feel the torture that I have to withstand.”
I shake my head. “No, only boys, San Bart is cursed.”
Ryan raises his voice, “Pedro, there is no such thing as Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny or fucking curses.”
I shake my head. “Please do not ruin it for my kids. Anyway, so the names are chosen.”
Ryan snickers. “She will change them again. You know Katie.”
I tune out the conversation that is going on. I sit back in the seat looking out the window. I am getting anxious to see my twenty-five year old wife. Katie and I decided that is was best for her to go under for this procedure. We learned that they were fraternal twins and their placentas fused together during the course of pregnancy so they will appear as one at birth. When each baby was close to the upper scale of six pound, Katie chose to go under. I agreed with what she wanted. She understands more than I do. She needs to be comfortable and safe. That is all I want for her.
At the hospital, we walk into the waiting area. Olivia texts Henry to let him know that we are there. I sit down, looking through a magazine trying to conceal my fright.
A few minutes later Rosalie enters the room. “Pedro, I am going to take you now to see Katie.”
I follow her out to the hallway as Rosalie grabs my arm. “There has been a change of plans. Remember, Pedro, that you need to stay strong and breathe. Everything is going to be just fine.”
I nervously nod. “Olivia gave me medication this morning to keep me calm.”
Rosalie smiles. “Good.”
We get to the surgical suite and I am instructed by Rosalie to put on scrubs over my clothes. Once I am done a nurse leads me into a room where I see Katie prepped and ready to go. The nurse leaves as I walk closer to Katie. She sees me and reaches out for my hand.
She smiles. “There is a chair over here for you.”
I sit down behind her near her head. There is a sheet screen over her stomach.
She smiles over to me. “Pedro, I am drugged as hell and I do not feel a damn thing. I am not going under. You are going to stay for the show, okay?”
My eyes open really wide. “Katie, I am not sure I can get through this.”
She taps my hand. “My mother gave you the pill, right?”
“Yes, she did.”
She laughs. “Good, then all is going how I planned it. Do you really think I wanted you to miss the birth of your sons?”
I shake my head. “You planned this Katie?”
She laughs. “Yes, I needed to have you calm for these last few weeks. I wanted you to feel secure with this procedure.”
I lean over and kiss her cheek. “You are crazy, Katie.”
She is laughing as the doctor walk in with his team. He glances over at Katie. “Let’s get those babies out.”
Katie laughs. “Yes, please.”
I lean my head into the side of Katie’s head staying there, never moving throughout the entire procedure. With one hand I am gripping her hand tightly and my other hand was near her neck with my fingers on her throat. I need to make sure that she is still breathing. At some point I hear the babi
es cry, but they were taken away rapidly. The nurse taps my shoulder a few minutes later.
Katie speaks out to her, “No, he stays with me.”
About another twenty minutes later, the doctor stands up leaving.
The nurse comes back over, “Time to go to recovery.”
They wheel Katie out with me following her. I sit in the chair next to her, just rubbing her hand.
After a few minutes, she smiles over at me. “Pedro, you see that I am fine. That nurse over there will take you to see the boys. Please apply the names we have chosen before my father can stake claim.”
I laugh. “Which baby gets which name?”
She raises her eyebrows. “I do not know. I will let you figure that out since I have not seen them either.”
I kiss her several times before leaving to go see my sons.
The nurse leads me to a room with two wrapped up babies lying in their own bassinettes. I watch the one baby squirm and the other lay still. I instantly knew which is which. She handed me the name placement cards which were already made up. She points to where each one needs to be placed. I do so as I watch her place small bracelets on them.
She touches my shoulder. “You can hold them if you like. They are very healthy. Depending on how well your wife does with her pain. They will all be placed together in this same room.”
I smile up at her. “Katie is very strong. She has survived worse.”
“Do you want me to show you how to hold them?”
“Oh no, I completely know what I am doing. I was a single father instantly when my first wife died during child birth.”
The nurse’s eyes fill with sadness. “Oh, what happened in the OR makes complete sense to me now.” The nurse walks away leaving me with my sons.
I pick each one up separately. I keep holding them for what feels like for hours. Katie is rolled into the room in her hospital bed.
She looks over at me all wide-eyed. “Pedro, give me one of my sons now. Please share.”
I laugh at her and hand her the calm quiet baby that is in my arms. She stares down at him lovingly. I pick up the fussy baby trying to console him.
I look over at her. “Maybe we should trade. I think this one wants his mommy. He is very needy and demanding.”