by Carrie Macon
“Key, what took you so long?” Shyla was in a panic. She didn’t want to see her doctor on her own.
“Girl, traffic was a grizzly out there this morning. If it hadn’t been for Mr. Anderson’s cancellation, I would still be at the office.” She hugged Shyla and noticed her trembling. “What’s wrong? Why are you shaking?” She rubbed her stomach. “How are the babies doing in there?”
“These two are doing fine it’s me that’s a nervous wreck.”
“What are you nervous about? Last week when you went to the doctor she gave you a clean bill of health, said the babies are developing wonderfully and you even gained your weight back. You just need to continue taking you pre-natal vitamins and keep the stress level down.”
“I’ve been trying. It’s just that I’ve been thinking of Zaria and Zhaniya. Wondering how they and Essence are doing. I know that we had that big fall out, but I miss my cousin so much. I want her back in my life. I just don’t know if she wants me back in hers.” Shyla hunched up her shoulders. “That was the problem. She didn’t want Felton and Zackary to have any problem if we didn’t have a good relationship.”
“I’m sure that she misses you too. While Essence shouldn’t have said what she did-”
The rest of Kemah’s speech was cut off when the nurse called for Shyla.
“Miss Wilkes? Doctor Leone will see you now.”
Kemah helped Shyla up. They both laughed then followed the nurse in the back where she was weighed, vital signs taken and blood drawn. Then they waited for the doctor.
“How have you been this week, Shyla?”
“I’ve been doing pretty well.”
The doctor looked at Kemah for confirmation. She nodded her agreement.
“I’ve tried not to stress myself but I can feel myself leaning towards that way some days because I’m missing some of my family.” Kemah glided her hand up and down her back in a circular motion.
“I know it’s hard when you lose someone but you have to be strong and concentrate on bringing not one but two healthy babies into the world. No more crying, understood.” It wasn’t a question but an order.
“Understood?” She wanted to tell her that no one had passed away they were just away from her, separated.
“Now before we do this ultrasound, do we want to know the sex of the babies?”
“Yes!” Both Kemah and Shyla said in unison and then began to laugh.
“Okay here we go.” She placed the cold gel on her belly then took the wand and rubbed it across the lower part of her abdomen. “What do you and the father want?” Shyla didn’t answer. She didn’t see how she could. She just stared at the monitor. When the doctor looked to her for an answer she saw her reluctance and said nothing more about the children’s father.
“I think I would like two little boys. They would have each other to play with and share a room. They can do everything together.”
The doctor continued to move the wand around hoping that the babies would cooperate. She was able to see one but it was hard to see the other. Then that one started moving. They continued to watch the monitor closely.
“Is that what I think it is? Kemah asked, pointing to the monitor. “Both of them?”
“Yes. Shyla, looks like you’ll have your heart’s desire. You’re going to be the proud parent of two beautiful baby boys.”
She and Kemah both screamed.
“You got your wish sweetie.” Kemah kissed her cheek, and then turned back to the monitor. “Will you look at that?”
“Now, Shyla, you will have to take it easy for the next few months. There’s no danger but there is a lot to be cautious about. Most women, more than half that have multiple births don’t go the full term. If you do I’d be very surprised.
“The babies have developed very nicely and they are a little bigger than I would have anticipated, but their organs have to develop as well. If they come at thirty-six weeks that would be good because you will be just starting your ninth month but I want them to stay until at least thirty-eight weeks. Right now you’re at twenty two weeks.
“I don’t want to have to put you back on bed rest, but you know that I will,” she smiled. “So, just take it easy. If you insist on going back to work, four hours a day, 3 days a week is all I’m allowing you. If it gets too strenuous then you stop all together. Kemah, you make sure Shyla stick to my orders.”
“I will definitely make sure she follows orders.”
“Do either of you have any questions?”
They both shook their heads, no.
“Okay! Get dressed and I’ll give you a break this time. I want to see you back her in three weeks instead of one. If you have any problems before hand you make sure to page me and I’ll expect you over to the emergency room when I tell you. Don’t wait.”
“Yes ma’am.” Shyla saluted. When the doctor left and Kemah went to go make a phone call she got dressed. She thought back to what the doctor had said. ‘Looks like you’ll have your heart’s desire.’ Almost she thought. Her heart would never be complete unless she had her girls and Zackary back in her life.
When she reached the lobby she stood at the nurses’ station waiting on her next appointment. When she turned she jumped because she almost walked into someone.
“Excuse me.” She never even looked at the person. She went and sat in a seat waiting for Kemah.
“Shyla?”
She looked up. It was her cousin.
“Essence?”
“What are you doing here?” She sat down next to her and reached out to hug her. She wasn’t sure if that was a good idea, but she didn’t care. She hadn’t seen her in months and she needed the contact. Shyla wrapped her arms around her cousin as the tears rolled down her face.
“I had an appointment with Dr. Leone.”
“She’s my doctor too. I’ve missed you. We all have. And you’re having a baby.” She rubbed her stomach.
Shyla raised two fingers. “Two actually, both are boys.”
“Oh my God, Shy. This is great.” Essence began to cry too. We are both having boys. Felton is going to be…Shyla, Zackary doesn’t know, does he?”
She put her head down and shook it before answering. “No.”
“I’m not trying to get into your business, Shy, but are you going to tell him?”
“That was my intentions when I first found out. I tried a few times but Halle Berry was always around,” she softly chuckled.
Essence looked confused for a minute but then remembered that that’s what Shyla called Connie when she first laid eyes on her. “What happened?”
“I went to his house a couple of months ago and saw him and the girls playing, and realized how much I wanted that and them in my life. When I went to get out the car she came into view. The hugged and kissed and played with the girls.” Essence frowned. “Then I decided not to make assumptions. I’d try again.” Essence nodded that she agreed with her. “I called on a Thursday evening and a woman, a sleeping woman, answered, said he was showering and would not be available for several weeks because they were going to his parents. I didn’t leave a message. I didn’t see the point.”
“Sweetie, Zackary isn’t with anyone. And if Connie insinuated that then she was lying. You know his kids don’t like her all that much. She was there because she was helping him around the house. He was putting his home up for sell. He had been staying with me and Felton for a couple of weeks.”
“Selling his home? Staying with you and Felton? But why?”
“You don’t know. Well, after he found out that you sold your house he realized that you didn’t want to have anything else to do with him, so he decided that he would take his family up on their suggestion of being the city’s veterinarian in Napa.
“He’s still partners with Felton here, but he took over his practice almost two months ago there. When we’re there, Felton helps out.”
“But I saw them together. She answered the phone in the middle of the night.”
“Sweetie they a
re not together. In fact she got married two weeks after you saw them together. She married one of the partners at her law firm on Napa Acres. Zachary gave her away.” Shyla felt relieved and stupid all at the same time. “Sweetie he had been trying to find you since a couple of weeks after we got back.”
“I didn’t know.”
“It’s okay. We’ll figure it all out. Will you come to lunch later or sometime this week? I would really like to spend some time with you. I won’t invite Zackary. This will be just between the two of us.” She nodded. She had missed her cousin.
“I still can’t believe this. We are both having babies,” Essence said jovially.
“Boys at that. I bet Felton is happy.”
“Happy isn’t even a strong enough word to describe that mans feelings. Girl he is about to drive me crazy. The man doesn’t let me out of his sight.” She took a tissue and wiped her eyes, offering Shyla one as she went. “This is a rare occasion and that’s only because he had an emergency this morning. Don’t think that if he had been free he wouldn’t be here.
“Felton watches my food intake, so much so that he does the cooking now. He makes sure I have breakfast before he goes to work, he makes lunch and dinner days in advance, he count how many times I go to the bathroom. The man is a mess.”
Shyla laughed. “He’s been reading those articles in those pregnancy magazines?” Essence nodded. “That will do it, but I’m glad. I know you both wanted this for a long time.”
“Yes we did and now we have it.”
“Mrs. Childress.” The nurse called. “You’re up.”
“Thanks, Patty.” She turned back to Shyla. “Can you hold off for a few minutes? Maybe we can go get a bite afterwards.”
“Essence?” She looked around.
“Hey Kemah,” they hug. “Don’t go anyplace. I’ll be right out, we’ll go to lunch.” She kissed her cheek and then Shyla’s. “Please?”
Shyla smiled. “Sure. I have time.”
“Good.” Essence went into the exam room. Her first instinct was to call Felton and have him get Zackary over there pronto but when she pulled out her phone to make the call she thought back to all that had happened and her instigation that kept her and her cousin apart. She dropped the phone back into her purse. She had to trust that Shyla would do the right thing and she also needed Shyla to trust her. She said a little prayer, just between her and God, to heal her relationship with her cousin but to also heal her relationship with Shyla’s baby’s father.
“You okay?”
“Yes. Just a bit shocked to see Essence here. It’s been a long time.”
“I know. She looks good. Are you sure there’s nothing else?”
She couldn’t get much past Kemah. She was a good friend and a very good observer.
“You know me so well.”
“So, what is it? You don’t need to be upset.”
“I’m not really. Just thinking about what Essence said.” One of the babies kicked and she had to sit back and rub her tummy. “Hey little fellas, I need you to give mommy a break here. I know you’re hungry and I will feed you momentarily. I promise.” The baby didn’t stir again so she felt confident that he was listening.
She explained her conversation with Essence. The more she talked about it the sadder she felt.
“Maybe it’s time Shy. I know that you’re a very independent woman, but it’s time that Zackary know that you are carrying his babies. I don’t think he’ll be upset. If anything he’ll be overjoyed. And his precious daughters will need to know that they are going to be big sisters.”
They continued talking about what she and Essence talked about. Kemah was happy that Zackary hadn’t been with this woman Connie, because the outcome of what she had just done would be disastrous. She hoped Shyla would forgive her.
“Okay ladies, I’m ready. Let’s go get some food. I’m starved.”
“We can’t leave right this minute.” Kemah looked sheepish.
“Why not?” Shyla asked. “I haven’t eating since that piece of dried toast and marmalade this morning.”
“I have a confession to make.” She kneeled down in front of Shyla.
“What kind of confession?” Shyla asked.
Just then the bell over the door chimed and all the women looked to their right. Felton and Zackary stood in the archway.
“Shyla, I swear I didn’t call,” announced Essence. “I was going to but this is for you to tell not me.”
Shyla continued to look at the doorway. Tears stung her eyes.
“As I was saying, Shy,” Kemah patted her knee.
“You called him.” It was a statement. Kemah admitted to it.
“Why?”
“As I mentioned only minutes ago it’s time, past time. I couldn’t let another day go by and see the misery in your eyes or hear it in your voice. You miss him and the twins and you miss Essence. And even though you won’t admit it you miss Felton, too.” Shyla nodded.
“And after Leah made her diagnosis today I decided it was time to get you into better health and better spirits. I can’t do it alone.”
“Did you tell him about the babies?”
“I didn’t have to. Apparently several women including his mother had been dreaming about fish. And in a few of those dreams Zackary had been holding four of them. I only told him that you needed him. He announced that you were pregnant and I didn’t agree or disagree. I just told him to get to this address.”
Essence walked into her husband’s waiting arms, while Zackary advanced towards Kemah and Shyla.
“You love him right?”
By now Zackary was kneeling beside Kemah, in front of Shyla.
“Absolutely,” she said expelling a deep shaky breath
He took her hands in his. “Then it’s time to come home,” he said.
“Home? That sounds really good.” Zackary kissed her temple, allowing his lips to linger there for all eternity.
She raised her hand to the back of his head so that he wouldn’t move away. There was no chance of that.
“You’re here, really here.”
“And I’m not going anyplace.”
“Do you promise?”
“Baby I promise you that and so, so much more.” They kissed.
He rested his hands on her stomach. “Tell me about this. Introduce me.” He sounded excited.
She rubbed her hands across his. “Zackary Trellis, meet your sons, Zackary the third and Zavion. Boys, this is daddy.” As she finished the introductions one or both babies kicked. It was felt on both sides.
He was a very proud man at that moment. “I guess I meet with their approval.”
“There was never a doubt in my mind.”
He kissed her again. “Have you eaten?”
“No we were going when we left here.”
“Well let’s hit it then. I don’t want my woman and my babies to have to wait any longer to be fed.” He stood and pulled Shyla into his arms. She walked out happier than when she walked in. Now, she had her heart’s desire.
EPILOGUE
That evening before they went to bed, Shyla talked to Mama V and the twins. They had missed out on so much, but not anymore. They were in town so she would see them the following day.
As they lay in bed Zackary poked and prodded her stomach hoping to get a rise out of the babies.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m trying to see if they are awake.”
“They’re not. It’s past their bedtime and mine too. I already know that we are going to have a hard time getting these babies to sleep with you in the room.”
“I’ll be good. I won’t wake them up.” She gave him a look of doubt. “Not often.” Shyla chuckled and then turned serious.
“Zack are you okay with this? The pregnancy I mean. We never really discussed being parents.”
“Oh I remember it coming up on one or more occasions. In fact I know a man that taped one of those moments. And even it if wasn’t that. We knew it was possible
when we made love without using any protection several times.
“And I also remember saying that I wanted five sons and you agreed. You were in a semi-comatose state but you agreed. So now you only have to give me three more after these two but I’d be more than happy with as many as you give me.”
So you really are happy?”
I am more than happy. You are my life, the mother of my children and as soon as you agree you will be my wife.”
“What?”
“I know this isn’t the proposal that you would like. Nor is it the proposal that I would like to have given you. When I thought about it over the years after we met, I thought about getting my entire family involved. I thought that taking you to Napa having mom cook us a nice meal, renting out Club B-Rax for the entire night. Have it furnished with burning candles and white Christmas lights and a little romantic music by Najee. Baby that was going to be the proposal to end all proposals. This is a desperate plea for you to put me out of my misery and marry me. So what do you say? Will you marry me, be my wife and the mother of our children?”
Shyla got up and straddled his body. “Mr. Trellis I think that was a very beautiful proposal. Those other proposals are so overrated but anyone you give me would be appreciated and accepted. I love you and yes I will be your wife.” He yelped and flipped her over on the bed gently.
“I promise you won’t be sorry.” He kissed her deeply. That’s when the babies started acting up. He rubbed her stomach, but the babies wouldn’t quiet down. “Hey in there, mommy and daddy are trying to get reacquainted. Will you please give us this moment?” The baby kicked once more and stopped. The parents laughed.
“Now where were we?”
“Right here,” she pulled his lips back to hers. She had missed this way too much and now she was making up for all the times she wished his lips were upon hers.
The following week Kemah gave the couple an engagement party. They weren’t going to wait a long time. The wedding would take place in three weeks. She wanted all of her friends to be there as well as his family. It was easier for them to have it in L. A. and let the Trellis’s fly out. Zackary practically demanded it. He didn’t want Shyla to be at any unnecessary risk while in Napa. When they returned there it would be for the wedding and the birth of the babies. Everything else would be dealt with at a later date.