by Blue Saffire
I quickly shove the picture in my pocket. Turning back onto my stomach to look through my scope. I feel something tug at my pants leg, I look back to see it’s just a branch.
I give my attention back to my scope, ignoring the branch and my pants. I lock on my target almost instantaneously. The truck is about a hundred and fifty feet from our rendezvous point.
“Toby, Wyatt, we move on your signal,” Nate Briggs speaks again.
“Got it,” Wyatt replies. “Let’s get this over with and get back home. Bro, we go on three.”
Wyatt and I count in unison, me in my head, him in my ear. “One, two, three.”
I take the two shots. One to the front right tire, then one to the back. The delivery looking truck rolls to a rough stop, as Wyatt takes out the left tires in sync with my shots. Everything bursts into action from there.
“God, let me get home to my family,” I mutter and throw myself into the action.
~B~
Kamara
“This cannot be happening,” I murmur, as the pain shoots through my back once again.
I suck it up. I won’t cry. I will not shed a tear, because this is not happening. I am not going into labor.
“Oh, God,” I breathe out and grab the counter.
I inhale through my nose and squint my eyes. My eyes that are burning with the tears I’m holding onto. I stomp my foot, but regret it as the pain vibrates through me.
I bat my lashes, when the pain subsides. I look around for my phone. I have to laugh at myself, when I realize it’s on the countertop, right in front of me. I reach for it with a shaky hand.
I bite my lip, hating to bother my parents at this hour. I have no choice. Toby is away on a mission and Kwäzē has gone back home again. The phone only rings once, before my mother answers.
“Ogeima,” My mother calls excitedly into the phone. “I just woke from a dream. They are on their way!”
“I think so, Mommy. I’m not ready,” I whimper, as pain rocks my body again. “Argh.”
“But they are ready. Your father and I will be right there,” she replies.
“Okay,” I nod, as if she can see me.
My face is covered in sweat. I should have called her two hours ago. I’ve been in such denial. I’m always denying the inevitable.
“Stay on the phone. I will be there,” my mother says.
“Okay, shit,” I breathe, then gasp. “Sorry, Mommy.”
Her laughter roars through the phone. “You will be saying much worse, before this is over. Ut-uh, Elijah, call the mid-wife. Come on, man. Wake up, our daughter is about to give birth.”
If I wasn’t in so much pain, I would be hollering with laughter. My mother’s accent is thick, as she fusses at my father. I can hear him in the background, fussing back in his native tongue.
My mother sucks her teeth. “Here, talk to Ogeima, I will call the mid-wife,” my mother commands.
“Ahem, Ogeima, you there,” my father calls into the phone.
“Yes, Daddy,” I say through breathing.
I lean into the counter and rock my hips. I place the phone back on the counter, placing it on speaker. My hands go flat on the counter.
“You can do this, my daughter,” he says softly.
It is so endearing. My father is never so soft spoken. My heart swells and the tears I was so bravely trying to fight, start to spill over.
“Are you breathing?”
I inhale and nod my head, knowing he can’t see me. “Yes,” I say, as I exhale.
“You and your Brother were early. I was so proud the day I held you in my arms for the first time. Now, my little girl is having children of her own,” his voice becomes thick with emotion.
I can hear him and my mother moving around to make their way to me. I’m still rocking my hips back and forth, when I feel the burst of water gush between my legs. I grab my stomach and look down at the puddle now at my feet.
“Nooo,” I whimper.
“What, what is it?” My father asks anxiously.
“My water broke. Daddy, I’m not ready. Toby is not back yet. I can’t do this without him,” I whine.
“You can do anything. I know you can. He will be there as soon as he can, but you have to do this. We are getting into the cars now,” my father informs me.
“Ogeima,” my mother calls into the phone, after some rustling.
“Yes, Mommy,” I exhale.
“Text Toby. If he is within communication, he will know to hurry. If not, he will get the message, as soon as he is available,” my mother orders.
“Okay, yes, that makes sense,” I nod and follow her instructions.
“Ja, will be arriving with the mid-wife shortly. Can you let them in?” my mother says soothingly.
“Yes, yes,” I say swiping at the sweat on my forehead.
“Good, now tell me what are we naming the prince and princess,” my mother says proudly.
I smile at the phone. Toby and I have named the children. It was the last thing we did together, before he left on his assignment.
I close my eyes and say a prayer. Please, God, let my husband get here, before our children are born. I inhale and then I share with my parents the names of their grandchildren.
~B~
Toby
I knew it. I knew this was going to happen. The moment the plane took off from New York I was hesitant to turn on my phone because I knew. My wife is in labor. I was so relieved last night that our mission went so smoothly and we would be returning home.
I should’ve known it was all too good to be true. I stare at my phone and I know all the blood has drained from my face, as I read Kamara’s texts. She has been sending them back to back.
My hands begin to shake. I think the reality of my life is just hitting me in this moment. I’m a father. Fuck, I’m someone’s husband.
I spoke to Kwäzē before I left. King Elijah is scheduled to go into hiding, when I return. He and Catherine are going into deeper hiding. There is to be a major car accident staged in Africa.
All the night before, Kamara’s supposed engagement party. Kwäzē went back to Africa and throw a wrinkle in Afafa’s party plans. Kwäzē made a big deal about having the party at the Abioye palace and wanting to throw the occasion for his sister and brother-in-law.
I heard Afafa was pissed as fuck, but there was nothing he could do without looking suspicious. Kwäzē bought us more time. Everything is ready to be set in motion.
The fake death of the king will buy us even more time. Kwäzē will have more time to win the people over and build more of their trust. Afafa won’t have much of a hand to play for a while. No one will expect the princess to be on display, when mourning her parents. Although, Kamara’s look alike cousin will be close to Kwäzē’s side, at all times, to put up a front.
I hope like fuck all of this works out. I want to focus on our newborns and not a potential civil war. I kind of feel bad that Kwäzē has to deal with most of this, but I would have no idea what to do if we did try to follow him now. I think this is the best thing.
King Elijah still plans to give Kwäzē counsel, just from a location unknown to anyone else. Not even Kamara and I will have access to that information. As I read her text again, I’m grateful her parents are there with her. There’s no telling when they will get to see their grandchildren again, after they’re born.
Kamara: I am in labor. My water has broken.
Kamara: I hope you are your way, they are.
Kamara: Toby I’m so scared to do this without you.
Kamara: I love you.
I swallow hard and look up when I hear my brothers growling and hissing. I can’t even comprehend what’s going on, as they hover over a cellphone, watching something. My head is filled with the fact that my children are on their way.
I swear, this plane ride has to be one of the slowest in the history of flights. The tension on the plane has grown by the second. I know, I for one, need off this plane now.
As soon as we star
t to descend, I arrange for a car. I want to call Kamara right away, but I have too many eyes and ears around. As soon as we touch down, to my surprise, Noah and Wyatt are up out of their seats before me.
They rush the door, before the stewardess can give the all clear for us to disembark. I’m right behind them. Noah side eyes me, as I make my way to a waiting town car, instead of the SUV, everyone else is headed for.
“Where are you going?” John calls to me.
I don’t want to lie and I have no idea what to say with my thoughts all over the place. So I just keep moving, jumping into the back of the town car. I think my heart crumbles, as I watch my brothers head for their lives, without knowing something major is happening in mine.
I want to tell them all so bad that they are going to be uncles. I would love to pass out cigars and throw back a few celebratory drinks, with my brothers, but that’s just not going to happen. I throw my head back against the head rest.
I’m pretty sure, my son and daughter have arrived, without me being there. I open the facetime app and call Kamara anyway. When her face pops up on the screen my heart leaps in my chest.
“Toby, where are you?” she pants.
“I’m in a car on my way,” I reply.
This car will only take me to the garage, where another car awaits me. I will drive that car to our home. I have even more reason not to get messy now.
Kamara looks relieved. “Thank, God,” she sags a bit, bringing my attention to the fact that she’s sitting in a pool of water.
I sit up, realization breaking into my mind. She’s still in labor. I think my heart races faster than it ever has before.
“They haven’t come yet?” I ask with so much excitement, I feel like it’s Christmas and I’m ten all over again.
“No, they were in a rush before, now they are being stubborn,” she says tiredly.
“Is everything okay? Will we need to go to the hospital instead,” I’m starting to become concerned.
“At-ahn,” I hear Kamara’s mother reply in the background. “We just need to give them time. We will be fine here. I think they are waiting on their father.”
Kamara smiles tiredly into the screen. “I think so too,” she says weakly.
“Tell them, Daddy is on the way. I love you so much, Baby. I’ll be there as soon as I can. I promise,” I reply.
“You hear that,” she groans to her belly. “Your father is on his way.”
I chuckle nervously. I feel the car stop and see we are at my destination. I jump out of the car and sprint around the building to the entrance of the garage.
“Toby,” Kamara calls for my attention, as I jog for my car.
I look down at my phone. “Yeah, Baby?”
“I love you too. Oh, and, I think I need to push,” Kamara says, with wide eyes.
“Fuck, I’m coming. I’ll be there in five minutes,” I promise.
It’s the middle of the night. I’ll be breaking every traffic law there is, but I’m getting to my wife and kids. This I know for a fact.
chapter Twenty-Three
Tiny Joy
Kamara
I can’t believe he made it. I was so sure I would deliver the babies before he arrived. I almost did. Lulu was eager to get here after all.
Toby stormed through the door just as our daughter’s head popped free. Toby looked about ready to faint. Mommy shoved him to get cleaned up, as I grit my teeth and pushed Lulu the rest of the way out.
Toby wasted no time changing and coming to my side. He held my hand as TJ made his way into the world. Taking his time, unlike his sister.
“They’re gorgeous,” I sing, as I hold them against my bare chest.
“They’re incredible,” Toby whispers, stroking TJ’s little ear. “I can’t believe how tiny they are.”
“I know,” I smile.
“I want to go to Africa,” Toby says out of nowhere.
I wrinkle my brows and look up at him. “Why?”
“We’ve let everyone else handle this. I have too much to lose. I want to make sure there’s not something more I can be doing,” Toby searches my eyes.
“I thought there was a plan in motion. Why deviate?” I ask in confusion.
“I just feel like this isn’t going to be over, until I get involved. Or maybe, I just need to get involved because this is my family were talking about,” he responds.
“No,” I shake my head, causing Lulu to stir a bit. “It is too dangerous.”
“What’s danger is sitting like ducks, waiting for that lunatic to strike. Come on, Kamara,” Toby huffs. “Kwäzē has put his life on the line returning to that madness. Truth is, he could get himself killed.”
“Don’t you think I know this,” I sigh. “I just don’t think it’s time to show our hand. Going there now, with our children and our new marriage, it isn’t going to do any good.”
“I never said you were going,” he says tightly.
“Excuse me,” I hiss.
“I was planning to go. I said nothing about you and definitely nothing about my children,” he retorts.
“Our children,” I snap back.
“Say it how ever you like. The three of you are staying here,” he says firmly.
“As are you,” I give a curt reply.
Toby sighs. “I don’t want to argue. At some point, you all are going to have to trust me, with the job you’ve given me.”
“Being king doesn’t mean you have to run into the fire,” I lift a brow, as I look into his eyes.
“I wasn’t talking about being king. I was talking about being your protector. I’m a smart man. I can read between the lines. My being friends with your brother was no accident. Nor was the favor your brother asked of me your first day of school or the talk your father had with me,” Toby wrinkles his brows.
“No, that’s not possible,” he shakes his head.
“What,” I ask.
“Nothing, just a thought, but it’s nothing,” he leans to kiss my forehead. “You did amazing. Thank you, I love you.”
“I love you too. No more talk of you going anywhere, okay?”
“I’ll be right where I’m needed,” he smiles at me.
“Ahem,” I narrow my eyes at him.
chapter Twenty-Four
Our Family
Kamara
“Sleep would be so wonderful,” I groan into the pillow.
I haven’t had my head against it for more than five seconds. Toby groans, beside me. I know he is exhausted, as well. The extra hours he takes to make sure he’s not followed to our home is starting to weigh on him.
We need help, but our support system is gone. My mother and father are in hiding. Kwäzē is still in Africa. We both feel it unwise to drag the Blacks into this and it could be dangerous to have so many people knowing where to find us.
The less people to know, the better. Or at least, that’s what we’ve been saying. It’s nights like this that I’m not sure if we’ve made the right decisions. I don’t know what I’m doing.
TJ cries so much, all the time. I believe he is colicky. I want to burst into tears, when my son’s cries fill the room from the monitor. My heart sinks. I just put him down. I thought I would get at least two hours of sleep.
“Rest,” Toby orders through a yawn.
He gets up from the bed and pads to the nursery. My lids are so heavy I can’t keep them from falling. I’m too tired to move an inch.
I feel the bed dip, and that’s when it dawns on me that the crying has enter the bedroom. It is no longer coming through the speaker. I crack one lid to find Toby has TJ in his arms.
I want to smile at my man and my little monster, but my lips won’t move. My sleepy eyes roll in my head. It’s been almost four weeks, but this hasn’t gotten any easier. I’m at the point I want to tear my hair out.
I wish I could be more like my daughter. She sleeps right through her brother’s cries. I’ve heard of one twin triggering the other, which happened some in the beginning. Now, Lulu
could care less if TJ is screaming the house down.
She will sleep through it and look at me in the morning, as if I should have gotten more sleep. Some mornings, I want to cry. TJ will sleep fine, while Lulu is up seeking my attention.
“My mother would know how to get them on the same schedule,” I mumble into my pillow.
“I doubt that,” Toby yawns. “You’re a great mother. Stop being so hard on yourself. Get some sleep, I’ve got him.”
I snort and roll onto my side. I wish I could sleep. I’m too exhausted to sleep.
“I’ll take him in another room,” Toby yawns again.
“No, I’ll take him. You have to be in the office in the morning,” I reply.
“It’s fine, you’re here all day by yourself. I was thinking about call in or working from home tomorrow. I don’t have any field cases. I can work the files I have remotely,” Toby replies.
“Are you sure? Aren’t Nellie and Wyatt still on vacation?”
“Yes, Baby, it’ll be fine. You looked like you were ready to fall over, when I got in. I’ll try my best to work from home for the next few days,” he reassures me.
I manage to look at my husband. I love him so much. He has to be as exhausted as I am. I watch him kiss our son’s head and whisper something to him. It is the sweetest moment.
I force my sleepy brain to reach for my phone. With phone in hand, I take a picture of the moment. Toby looks up into the camera, right as I snap the picture.
It takes the picture from sweet to smoking hot. My lips part, causing me to lick them. I snap another picture just to check my sanity level, it doesn’t matter. Toby is just sexy, holding our son makes him ten times hotter.
~B~
Toby
I chuckle to myself, as I watch my sleepy wife drop her phone on her chest. She was trying to take pics of me and TJ. I think she got a few shots before she couldn’t hold up the phone any longer and her lids closed on her.
I shake my head and get up to let her sleep in peace. TJ has yet to stop crying. I feel bad for the little guy. This has been going on for days.
“You know, your uncle Ry used to cry a lot when he first came home,” I smile down at TJ. “I remember that. I wish I could ask your grandma what she did to shut him up.”