The Path to Finding You

by S M Broad

  “What’s wrong?” She asks with tear-filled eyes as I rush to her side to clutch her hand tightly, letting her know I’m not going anywhere. “Is the baby okay?” She questions with trembling lips. Dr. Simmons looks closer to the screen and pulls back as the blurred picture becomes a whole lot clearer. I suck in a shocked breath when I realize what I’m seeing.

  Oh my damn.

  “Just tell me what’s wrong.” Aayla practically cries.

  “There’s nothing to worry about, your baby is perfectly fine. Well, babies, I should say.” Dr. Simmons’ face splits into a huge smile, mirroring my own.

  “B-babies?” Aayla blinks at Dr. Simmons. “Did you say, babies?”

  “Do you see this little circle?” She moves her index finger around the screen.

  “Yes.” Aayla nods tearfully, looking at the woman then back to the picture.

  “Well, do you also see the one right next to it?” Dr. Simmons makes a second circle with her pinky.

  “Yes.” Aayla’s face is still confused as I internally freak out in the best way.

  “Congratulations, Aayla,” Dr. Simmons smiles brightly. “You’re having twins. By the looks of the ultrasound, you’re right at the seven-week mark.” Her voice is bright and cheerful as she rubs Aayla’s arm.

  “So, here we have baby A.” She points at one little jellybean, and then the second. “And baby B. It appears that they’re dizygotic.”

  “Huh?” Aayla’s eyebrows raise in question, making Dr. Simmons laugh lightly.

  “They’re two separate eggs. That means your babies are fraternal. You could have two boys, two girls, or one of each.” She taps a few buttons, and one fast heartbeat fills the small room, followed by another.

  “There are your little ones’ heartbeats, nice and strong. I’m gonna set your due date for June 10th.” The loud, whooshing sound floating around the room causes goosebumps to race over my skin. I know they’re not my babies, but I still love them like a mother would. Dr. Simmons clicks some more buttons, and six black and gray pictures come spitting out of the machine.

  I let go of Aayla’s hand, clapping mine together over excitedly. “Twins, Ay! Two babies for me to spoil!” I kiss her cheek when she bursts into tears.

  “Oh, my goodness.” She covers her mouth, smiling so bright it would put the sun to shame. “Two babies.”

  “A boy and a girl.” I nudge her shoulder gently.

  “You think?” Aayla’s voice is full of wonder and love for her children.

  “Auntie’s Intuition, I can feel it.” I tap my temple, unable to contain the smile on my face.

  “I can’t wait to tell Latham.” Aayla stares at her ultrasound pictures.

  We finish with the checkup, and we’re climbing into Latham’s red F350 when he calls Aayla. She clicks the Bluetooth button on the steering wheel, and his voice fills the cab.

  “Hi, love.” He says sweetly. “I found a house for Leila.”

  Yes! I punch the air victoriously. Living with them has been great, but I want my own space, somewhere I can walk around in my skivvies and eat ice cream from the container.

  “Awesome!” We both say at the same time, laughing when our voices blend.

  “Yeah, it’s in our neighborhood. How would you feel about being six houses down from us, Lei?” He asks, chuckling because he already knows how I’m going to react.

  “Um, lemme think. Hells, yeah!” I shout happily, high-fiving Aayla.

  “It’s a rent to own, but we can talk more when you get back,” He pauses. “So, how did your appointment go?” His voice is excited and nervous at the same time. We look at each other and start giggling again.

  “What’s so funny?” Latham asks with a hint of laughter in his own voice. I try to hold in my outburst, but I can’t.

  “You have mutant sperm!” I yell into the line and burst out laughing at Aayla’s horrified face.

  “Uh, excuse me?” The confusion in his voice only makes me laugh harder. Aayla slaps at me while shaking her head.

  “Oh my god, Leila. Shut up.” She pushes my face out of hers as I continue to cackle loudly. “I’m definitely pregnant.” She grins.

  “Hell, yes!” He yells excitedly.

  “We’ll be home in a little bit. I’ll see you after work, okay?” Aayla says, backing out of the parking spot.

  “I love you so much.”

  “I love you, too.” She presses the button on the wheel again, ending the call. Aayla drops me off at the grocery store while she runs an errand, and I wander around, looking for something for dinner. I decide to make beef and broccoli, gathering all the ingredients, and then head to check out.

  As I leave the store with my bags, I’m tucking my wallet back into my purse when I run into someone. Instinctively I throw my free hand out to steady myself, gripping the man's chest as he holds onto my wrist. The air is knocked out of my lungs when I look up into Kohen’s blue eyes.

  “Leila.” He stares at me, unblinking for several long minutes. “You’re...You’re here.” He releases me and teeters on his feet, holding onto the building to stay upright. It then dawns on me that he’s drunk or high.

  Or both.

  I want to be angry with him, but the look he gives me just makes me sad. Sad for him, that he’s struggling so bad, sad that I lost the man I loved. Sad that we lost what we had. I open my mouth to say something when my phone’s blaring ringtone scares me. I glance down and answer.

  “I’ll be right there,” I say to Aayla while still staring at Kohen. His eyes scrunch shut like he’s in pain, so I say the only thing that comes to me.

  “I have to go.”

  I don’t tell Aayla about my Kohen encounter. When we get back to their house, I sit at the kitchen table with Hensley on my lap after Latham gets home from work, watching as Aayla tells him the big news.

  “What’s this for? You didn’t have to get me anything.” He questions with a crooked smile as she hands him a small polka-dotted gift bag.

  “Just quit talking and open it.” She holds back a giggle as he tears the paper out, a look of confusion crossing his face when he pulls out the contents.

  “I don’t get it.” He looks at Aayla, then me, eyebrows lifted. “The baby needs two of the same outfit?” He holds up one of the white onesies that say Double Trouble.

  “There’s one for baby A and one for baby B.” She rolls her lips together, waiting for the words to click.

  “Oh, okay.” He nods, his eyes growing wider when he realizes what she said. “Wait, what? Aayla, what’s going on?” He stares at her, unblinking. She waits a couple beats before continuing.

  “We’re having twins.” She places a hand on her belly lovingly. His eyebrows fly to the ceiling, the sharp intake of air telling us he really understands now.

  “No way. T-twins?” His words stutter. “This is a joke, right? Are you fucking with me?” Cringing, he covers his mouth for cursing in front of a giggling Hensley, then turns to glare at me. “Leila, if this was your idea…”

  “Hey! I’m offended, sir!” I joke, smiling because, in any other situation, I’d totally be willing to prank him.

  “It’s not a joke. We’re having twins, Latham.” Aayla beams, her excitement growing every time she repeats the words.

  “No, we’re not.” He states, unconvinced and steadies himself on the counter, in complete and utter shock. “Seriously? Two? Twins?”

  Aayla nods, mouthing two while holding up her index and middle fingers, wiggling them back and forth. His face goes slack for a minute or two, and I’m worried he’s gone into a catatonic state until his chest starts heaving.

  “Twins.” Latham chokes back his overwhelming emotions, causing a ripple effect on his hormonal wife. He walks over to her, pulling her into his chest for a kiss and a loving hug.

  How freaking sweet!

  They break apart, and Latham turns towards us, wiping his tear-streaked cheeks with the back of his hand. “Hensley, mommy has two babies in her belly!”

>   “Two babies?” Hensley questions with confusion, not entirely understanding the news. Latham nods.

  “You’re gonna be a big sister!”

  “Are you excited?” I ask, pulling her hair back so I can see her face. She nods enthusiastically, giggling as Latham rushes over to scoop her off my lap, spinning her around in circles as they celebrate their growing family. I excuse myself, heading to my room, thoughts of my meeting with Kohen heavy on my mind.

  I push past my lingering feelings, and at dinner, Latham tells me all about the rental house, so I call the owners to set up a day to meet and potentially sign the lease. It hurts to not be making these life plans with Kohen by my side like I thought we’d be doing. It hurts my heart, right down to my soul, but with or without him, I must keep pushing forward.

  Chapter 10

  I set my suitcase down in my beautiful new house, looking around the spacious three-bedroom, two-bathroom, double story dwelling. I couldn’t have gotten any luckier to be moving in so fast. It only took a week to get the papers finalized, and I can’t believe how lucky I was to find another fully furnished place to live in. The only big-ticket item I had to buy was a new mattress for the guest bedroom.

  Albert and Bertie Potts are a sweet older couple, who insisted on leaving the practically new furnishings. They are moving into an active senior’s facility and won’t need it.

  I set a row of pictures down on the faux fireplace mantle. One of Aayla and I when we were eighteen at the beach. Another of me holding Hensley the day she was born. Hensley and I from her birthday party and one of me, Aayla and Latham, from their wedding day. I fix the position of one of the frames, and then spin around the open living room, squealing in excitement.

  I drop onto the plush brown cloth couch to relax, tapping my feet to the beat of “Sit Still, Look Pretty” by Daya as it blares through my cylinder-shaped Bluetooth speaker. I think back to a few days ago. Aayla asked me to take some family pictures for her and Latham. Some of her and Latham’s bare feet on either side of Hensley's sparkly pink jelly shoes with two pairs of neutral colored baby booties in the middle for their pregnancy announcement.

  She loved how they came out so much that she suggested I start my own photography business. I thought about it for all of about two hours then put an ad in the local newspaper the next day. I’ve always loved taking pictures, so this new business venture just seems like exactly the right fit. Making a mental note about my to-do list, I realize the next thing I need is a car. I can’t keep asking Latham and Aayla to drive me around, but that can wait another day. I spend the next few hours unpacking my suitcases, and the three knick-knacks filled boxes I had sent from California, phoning a local joint for some Chinese take-out when I get hungry.

  I busy myself with housework after I eat and am shutting off the vacuum when my phone rings. I snatch it up from its resting place on the table beside the couch.

  “Hello?” I answer with my phone held between my head and shoulder as I pick up a pair of yoga pants to fold, setting it into the basket of clean clothes.

  “Hi!” Aayla’s sweet voice filters over the line as I carry the basket up the stairs into my bedroom.

  “What’s up, sunshine?” I rearrange the socks in my drawer, stacking them next to my extensive Victoria’s Secret panty collection.

  “Hensley is staying with Boone tonight so we can take Davis out for his birthday. The big twenty-one, we’re going to Sweetwater.” Her excited voice makes me grin. Latham’s younger brother Davis is probably one of the sweetest guys I’ve ever met, and he’s freaking handsome too.

  Maybe if he was a few years older and I wasn't in love with someone else.

  I reel in my ridiculous thoughts. “That sounds fun.”

  “Do you want to come with us?” Her tone is hopeful, but I was sort of hoping to veg all day.

  “Eh, I don't know Aayla. I’m not really feeling it today.”

  “Pleaseeeee, Lei. It’ll be fun.” I can picture her with a playful pout on her face, hands clasped together as she begs. “Please. Please. Please!”

  “Okay, okay!” I laugh. Her squeal is so cute.

  “Yay! We’ll pick you up in a little bit, love you!” She disconnects the call before I can protest again, and I shake my head.

  God, I love her.

  I finish my last load of laundry and fold it, before washing the few dishes I had in the sink. I straighten a few more things around the house before hopping in the shower. I stand in front of the open closet door with my hand clasped around my towel to keep it closed, contemplating my outfit for several minutes before I decide on a black crop top with dark skinny jeans, a peach floral jacket, and nude t-strap heels. I leave my makeup simple with soft brown and peach colors blended. Curling the ends of my hair before pinning it up in a fancy ponytail. I apply one last generous swipe of my favorite shimmery lip gloss, Slice of Heaven from Victoria’s Secret, and I’m ready. I hit the last stair as the doorbell rings, so instead of going to the kitchen to pour a glass of wine, I swing the front door open and see Aayla and Latham locked in a passionate embrace. My eyes widen as I watch him grab a handful of her ass, pulling her closer to kiss her.

  “Ack!” I cover my eyes jokingly. “It burns! Make it stop!” I pretend to gag like I’m disgusted.

  Latham’s deep, unembarrassed chuckle makes me grin. “Sorry, Lei.”

  “I can close the door if you want, let you two finish...all that.” I wave my hand in a circle around them, making them both laugh more.

  “You’re so dramatic.” Aayla rolls her eyes at me. This from the woman who just assaulted my corneas with her R-rated kissing. My mouth goes slack, surprised at her sassy tone.

  “I’m dramatic? I half expected you to let out a nice, loud porno moan, Aayla. That kiss was fucking hot, though. Not gonna lie.” I shrug, giving them a wiggle of my brows, which only makes Aayla’s cheeks redder.

  “Latham, you’re a lucky dog.” I shoot my soul brother a smirk.

  “I know it.” He grins proudly, making my smile wider.

  “You guys are terrible! Let’s go!” Aayla grabs my arm, pulling me along as I grab my clutch and shut the door behind me. I see Davis and his buddy Ryan next to Latham’s red Ford, checking out the chrome detailing. I wave quickly before we all pile in the truck.

  We make our way into Sweetwater Bar and Grill, home of many karaoke nights when Aayla first came here to Grayson, find two tables and push them together while Latham heads to the bar to order a round of drinks. “Man, I Feel Like A Woman!” by Shania Twain pulses from the speakers, making Aayla and I burst out in song, shaking our shoulders as we sing into our fists along with the country superstar. Giggling when the song ends, I wrap my arm around Aayla and hug her tightly.

  “Love you, Ay.” I peck her cheek.

  “Love you more, Lei.” She smiles warmly at me just as Latham appears again, weaving through the crowd with a cup and a waitress on his heels, carrying a full tray of shots. We each take a shot glass, except Aayla, who holds the tall glass of water Latham brought her. Raising the drinks to the middle of the group, Latham toasts his younger brother.

  “Davis, now that you're 21, you can legally do the things we've secretly done since we were barely in our teens — drink to your health and happiness. Here’s to you. Happy birthday!” The group erupts with hollers, cheering to celebrate the man of the hour.

  “To Davis!” The rest of us say in unison, clink our glasses and down the shots. I grimace, fighting the burn of tequila with a lime wedge. Country music flows loudly into the spacious bar, the upbeat tempo of “No Such Thing as a Broken Heart” by Old Dominion, creating a fun atmosphere to relax to. Davis points to the dance floor, silently asking if I want to dance, and I smile, giving him a thumb up, following him out into the sea of bodies. He breaks out his robot moves, swinging his arm back and forth, making me laugh loudly. I get my Vogue on, framing my face tightly while we let loose. We dance for a couple faster songs before they end, and a slow song starts to p
lay. Billy Currington crooning “Must Be Doin’ Somethin’ Right” slows down the lively crowd to a sway. People couple up, and I look over just in time to see Latham pull Aayla close, wrapping her in his arms. He trails a hand over her itty-bitty baby bump before cupping her chin gently for a kiss. My face flushes, and I avert my eyes from watching the deeply intimate moment between them, feeling like a stage-five creep. Davis’ voice startles me out of my daze.

  “Do you want to dance to this song?” he asks, smiling shyly.

  “Sure.” I smile back, taking his hand to step in close as he puts his warm palm on my lower back. We move with the crowd, swaying like junior high kids at a dance. The song changes to “You Make It Easy” by Jason Aldean. The sweet lyrics make my heartache and pulse race as I remember dancing with Kohen to them. When I notice that we’ve stopped moving, I try to push away the memory.

  “Are you having a good time?” Davis leans forward, speaking into my ear as I inch closer to hear him better.

  “I am. Are you? It’s your birthday night, turning twenty-one is a big deal.” I lean back so I can look at him.

  “Yeah, absolutely, I am. I mean, being able to legally drink and dance with a beautiful woman is definitely something to smile about.”

  “You’re sweet,” I say, tensing slightly when his hand touches my hip gently. The gesture is purely innocent, but I can’t stop the blush that flares in my cheeks at the compliment. He must read it as an invitation because his head tips closer to my face, lips hovering over mine. I jerk back quickly, raising my hands to stop him.

  “Shit, I’m sorry, Leila. I shouldn’t have done that.” He shakes his head, embarrassed.

  “It’s fine,” I assure, blowing out a breath.