by Nikki Clarke
"Kwarq, you realize that we are about to walk into a family of Black people from the Southside of Chicago and convince them that we are in love and expecting not one, but two, children in a matter of minutes, and, oh yeah—you're and alien. Trust me, I'm not exaggerating."
"From what I have seen, your people are refreshingly rational. I do not think it is outside of the realm of comfort to understand this. Can you trust me? I will not let this harm you or your family."
He looks so sincere. I run my hands over my face and try to shake off my nerves. I can’t stay away for ever. It would be even more weird to leave and show up later with a bunch of kids and a damn alien, not to mention hurtful for my family who I already disappeared on for two whole months.
"Also, days."
"What?"
"You will give birth in days, not minutes. I would say maybe five days or so. That is why I wanted to come now. You may not be able to travel for some time once you give birth."
I blink and I blink again.
"How do you know it's five days?"
"I can hear them turning. Getting into position. Do you not feel the difference?”
I don't feel anything, but I also feel everything. This whole thing happened so fast that I've only been able to feel heavy and awkward. But now that I think of it, there has been the slight flutter of movement every so often. Holy cow. I'm going to give birth in five days. What the hell is that even going to be like?
"Come, let us go in before you begin to panic. I do not want you inducing early labor with your wild imagination."
Kwarq doesn't wait for my assent. He opens his door and gets out, coming around to open my door for me and help me rise from the car. Now that he's given me a due date, I feel rounder and more pregnant than ever. I have to pee, I'm hot, and there's an annoying pressure in my pelvis.
We make our way to the house and up the steps. My heart beats nearly out of chest, and I know Kwarq feels it because he keeps squeezing my hand in reassurance.
"Relax, lehti."
"You relax, my people are going to freak the hell out."
He chuckles and pulls open the metal security gate. When he reaches for the door handle, I move to stop him, but he twists and it opens with ease. What the hell?
"Amina Danae Bennet, if you don't get your narrow behind over here right now."
I cringe back out the door, but Kwarq drags me forward until I'm standing in my mother's living room. I step through and pause, too stunned to speak.
My mother stands a few feet away from me with her fisted hands perched in the curve right above her round hips. Her eyes narrow, but I can tell that she's relieved.
Directly behind her stand Kwarq's parents. They're towering, smiling figures at her back. Like sentinels guarding their queen in some twisted urban fantasy.
My eyes shift to the open living room behind them to see my sisters perched nervously on the couch. Bati leans against the wall between the small foyer and the living room. His arms are crossed over his chest. His teeth shine brightly in the blue-black of his face. I can't help but think again how fine he is. Whoever gets his leht will be a lucky woman. He looks like he's laughing at some private joke, but then I realize he's looking across the room at my sister, Tiani, who seems to be doing her best to ignore him.
My eyes search for Ah'dan and find him leaning against the fireplace looking very much like Ah'dan. His gaze is locked on me. He’s still not wearing a shirt. I can't help it, I roll my eyes causing him to smile wide.
"I know you heard me."
I snap my eyes back to my mother, who’s standing closer to me. She looks nervous, and then I realize she's scared. I probably look like something from a horror movie to her. Showing up only a little over a month since she's seen me as big as a house and with a family of aliens.
"It’s okay mom. I'm okay.”
I close up the space and wrap my arms around her. She stiffens, but immediately sags against me, holding me close. I hear her sniffle and it nearly breaks my heart. I pull away and see that her eyes are red.
"You know, I almost had a heart attack when this boy showed up at my house? What were you thinking?"
I look back at Kwarq, but my mother waves her hand back to Bati.
I frown. ”Bati came here?"
When I say his name, Bati turns his head to me, but his gaze lingers on Tiani until the last second.
"He sure did. I was so worried about you. I almost called the police, but he said you were fine, and explained the—situation. I nearly jumped out of my skin when he sped around this room. Dear god."
My mother covers her cheeks with her hands like she still can't believe it. I smile and rub her arm.
"I know, it scared me, too, at first. I'm sorry I just disappeared. Everything happened so fast. I didn’t even realize I'd been gone so long."
"Mm hm, I see."
She nods down to my belly, and I feel myself get warm with embarrassment.
"Yeah, Lyqas gestate a little—uh—quicker than humans."
“I see. So you’re just shacking up with aliens now?”
Her eyebrow is raised, but her mouth twists slightly like she’s trying to fight a smile. I relax. Everything is going to be okay.
Kwarq
Amina laughs and cries a little bit when her mother hugs her again. My parents step forward next and embrace her, which only makes her cry more.
“I thought I was never going to see you all again,” she sobs out when my mother releases her.
“Dahnai, why would you think that?”
“She heard you playing my movie before we left. She misinterpreted the final scene.”
My mother’s dark black skin starts to pulse a bright blush tone and my eyes widen. I don't think I’ve ever seen her embarrassed before.
“Oh, dahnai, I have a soft spot for my children’s accomplishments. I should have been more careful. Ma’h qitah.”
She pulls Amina back to her, pressing their foreheads together briefly in the same ma’h qitah she uses for me.
“No, it’s not your fault. I have a habit of reading too much into things.”
“Yeah, or maybe not reading enough into them. Excuse me, Kwarq’s mama.” Amina’s sister, Tiani, the tall, skinny one with the short, coily hair, snorts this out as she steps forward to pull her sister into a hug. She leans her head close to Amina’s ear and whispers.
“So, we’re definitely gonna talk about how you thought it was a good idea to take some alien D,” she cuts her eyes to me briefly, “even if it is fine alien D. And you’re also gonna explain why the hell his brother thinks my name is Lettie and keeps fucking staring at me.”
“He called you lehti?”
Amina’s voice is slightly louder than her sister’s, although it doesn’t matter. I would have heard it anyway. Her eyes shoot over Tiani’s shoulder to Bati, just as mine do. His gaze is pinned to his lehti’s back. He doesn’t remove it as his head jerks quickly from side to side. Amina’s eyes shift back to her sister, and she smiles brightly.
“Uh, you know, it’s just a kind of term of endearment. They all use it. Bati’s a sweetheart, really.”
Tiani snorts. “Whatever. He’s creeping me out.”
Amina laughs awkwardly at her sister’s comment, but when Tiani steps away, her eyes shoot to mine in surprise. I shrug. I had no idea. I guess Amina isn’t the only one who will be having a sibling talk later.
Her other sister, LaShay, rushes over next. The scent of her excitement is sharp as she elbows her way to her sister. When she finally gets to us, she leaps forward, wrapping her arms around me in a tight, quick hug and releasing me before I can move to reciprocate. I laugh, impressed. That was nearly Lyqa speed.
“Uh, sorry, Kwarqy, I need to talk to my sister.”
Chapter 30
Amina
I’m dragged off to a corner by LaShay. She wedges us in the space where the two walls meet, and it’s awkward because my belly is so big. I look down. I’m pretty sure it’s grown again.
“Girl, you’ve been running around for the past two months with fucking aliens and you didn’t even think to take me with you? You ain’t shit!”
My eyes slide back into my head of their own accord. Why am I not surprised. If I thought I was a weirdo, LaShay is capital Wier-D.
“You know, I was totally thinking about how I was holding out on you when I fucked Kwarq and got told I was instantaneously pregnant. Yeah, I wasn’t.”
LaShay’s eyes widen. “Instantaneous?”
I nod. “Instantaneous.”
“Daaaaaamn. He must have that Mount Olympus dick.”
I cringe and pull her closer, but she only bumps into my belly.
“They can hear you, Shay.”
She flips her hand in the general direction of the living room and twists her mouth up.
“Girl, not they can’t. I’m whispering.”
“Trust me, they can hear you.” I raise my eyebrows to push the point, and her own eyes widen until they look like they are going to bulge out of her face. Her head rotates slowly until she’s facing the living room. I follow her and see that Kwarq is doing a terrible job of hiding the proud smile playing about his mouth. His parents are both pulsing a dull pink. Ah’dan is being Ah’dan. I have the uncontrollable urge to smack the knowing smirk off his face. The only one not paying attention is Bati because he’s too busy scoping out Tiani.
LaShay twists her head back to me. She could catch flies with her mouth as wide as it is.
“Spidey hearing?”
“Girl, fucking spidey hearing.”
“Daaaaaamn.”
After LaShay walks off in an amazed daze, I go back over to Kwarq, who’s sitting casually on my mother’s blue and white striped couch. The way he drapes his tall, muscular body across the furniture like he’s been here before makes me wonder if this man is ever out of place.
“What is Mount Olympu—“
“Don't—“ I cut him off, “even ask.”
He smiles and shrugs his shoulders before pulling me onto his lap. He places his hand over my stomach and rubs. As if on cue, I feel four little knocks against my belly. It’s the first time I’ve consciously felt our children. When my wide eyes meet Kwarq’s, his smile is even wider.
“I have a surprise for you?”
“You mean better than making sure my family knew I was safe? Better than sending your brother to head up our arrival so they wouldn’t freak out on all of us?” I lean down and press my forehead to his, holding it there. “You’re the best. Thank you.”
“You do not have to thank me, lehti. And yes, it is better than all of those things, I hope.”
My heart starts to beat a little faster, and I realize it’s Kwarq. He’s nervous. He eases me back to my feet and rises with me, taking my hand in his and squeezing.
“Alright. Let’s move to the backyard. I have some food set out for us,” my mother announces and we all begin to file to the back of the house, through the kitchen, and out the back door. Kwarq and I exit last, and as soon as my feet hit the deck, I stop. My hand tightens on Kwarq’s as my eyes float over the beautiful scene in front of me.
“Oh, wow.” My free hand comes up to cover my mouth, smothering the gasp.
There are two, white linen covered tables on the deck. In the center of each, is a small bucket of baby’s breath. At the corners of the deck and on each side of the steps leading to the backyard are large metal lanterns. A ring of vibrant mosses and berries have been arranged around each one. A wide path of flower petals lead from the the steps all the way to the end of the yard where a half dozen seats are arranged in two even rows just before a tall, wooden arch, draped in billowing white panels and laden in calla lilies and other flowers, some I’ve never even seen.
It’s beautiful. It’s more than beautiful. It’s magical. I turn to Kwarq and am surprised to see his bright yellow eyes level with mine.
Kwarq
This is the only part of human courtship traditions that I like. The getting down on one knee. It means I can look into Amina’s face and see the rims of her eyelids begin to redden and constrict. It means I can see her round little nostrils flare as her breath quickens with anticipation. It shows her I am willing to bend for her. That I will always hold her above me even as she stands as my equal.
“Kwarq?” Her eyelashes are beginning to gather little beads of moisture as she looks down at me.
“Yes, my lehti.”
“Are you about to propose to me?”
“I am.”
She smiles and a little wobbly laugh escapes her. I reach into the loose pocket of my pants and pull out the tiny box that I’ve kept on my person every moment since I learned of this strange human custom. I had the ring made on Lyqa by a renowned jeweler I met during my brief time as an actor. He crafted it from the most precious metal from the Lyqa mountains and set it with a custom jewel given to me by my mother that had been in our family for generations. It is the perfect blend of our cultures. It is the perfect symbol of our love.
I pull back the lid of the box and all of the humans gasp. Amina’s eyes go wide, and she looks almost horrified. Panic rushes through me. Did I do something wrong? Have I misinterpreted the custom. I glance around and see that her mother and sisters are all wearing similar looks of shock.
“Lehti, I apologize—“
The words are knock back down my throat by Amina throwing herself at me, almost causing me to fall back. I brace us with a hand around her back as her wracking sobs fill the quiet of the night.
“It’s just—so sweet!” She stutters out as she continues to cry, and I smooth my hand over her back. Her mother wipes tears from her eyes. Tiani holds a hand over her heart, and LaShay’s mouth is open so wide her chin is nearly touching her chest. I ease Amina away from me to see that she’s smiling and trying to gather herself.
“I did well?” I’m still not sure if there is something wrong.
She nods, her head jerking up and down as she swipes her fingers across her cheeks.
“Oh, my god, dude, I have no idea where you got this rock from, but you did so well.”
I smile because I can see now that she’s happy. Her joy radiates out to me, warm and sweet.
“May I finish?”
She laughs and steps out of my arms, going back to her feet and making a show of fixing her clothes and drying her face. She takes a deep breath and blows it out, wiggling her hands at her sides before straightening her shoulders.
“Okay, I’m good. I’m good. Go.”
I love her. She’s so adorable and honest. I know I will never have to guess what she is thinking or feeling. Just like when I first observed her at the movies, she laughs when she wants to laugh, cries when she wants to cry, screams when she wants to scream. It’s a freedom that many do not give themselves, and I’m glad that my lehti feels safe enough to do so. I take her hand again, and this time it’s still and sure. All the nervousness is gone, and I can only sense anticipation.
“Amina, my lehti, my heart, my love,” her eyes shine into mine. She’s holding her bottom lip between her teeth. It makes me want to kiss her, so I continue quickly since that is what traditionally comes at the end of this custom, “will you…
“…go with me?”
Epilogue
Five days later…
“Amina, love, you have to stop laughing and push.”
I pull my lips in tight and bear down hard until the contraction passes, then I collapse back against the cushioned side of the birthing pool.
Let me just say, Lyqa epidurals are the shit. The bomb dot com. Awesome-sausome. I feel nothing, except the uncontrollable urge to crack up. Apparently, that’s a human side effect to the amazing cup of tea they gave me to help “ease and calm” the birthing process. But instead of making me all zen, it’s given me the giggles.
I look up at Kwarq, who’s positioned like an umpire between my legs, and chuckle.
“Babe, you said, ‘Will you go with me?’” I lower my voice wh
en I do his part, which triggers another round of snickers. “Your Ebonics is bad.”
Kwarq rolls his eyes. His face is intense and focused on what’s going on in my va-jay-jay. “I know, my lehti, you have been telling me this for the past two hours. Aside from being very amused by my misspoken proposal, are you feeling well? It will not be long now.”
I wave my hand. “Eh, I feel fine. A little pressure. Anyway, I loved your proposal. I said yes, didn’t I?”
“You did.”
“See?”
“I do. I also see a head.”
“Really? Is it curly? I bet our kids are going to be cute. Do you think our kids are going to be cute?”
I pull up to my elbows and look down at Kwarq who’s fumbling and moving frantically in the water.
“Lehti, I am sure they will be beautiful since you are their mother, but you are crowning. It is time to push again.”
I sigh and bear down.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m pushing.”
The giddiness I’ve been feeling evaporates in an instant the second Kwarq places our first child into my arms. She’s a beautiful squirming thing, and I hold tight as she slips around in my hands. It’s all I can do to contain the joy that courses through my heart.
Lyqa definitely do not speak in metaphor. The lehti’an is real. I feel it. It’s a clear emotion like I have never experienced and it blends perfectly with my subconscious. Right now, it’s laced with confusion but also with trust. I feel my daughter seeking my comfort. It’s such a pure thing that my eyes fill with tears that annoy me but only because they blur her beautiful little face.
Our daughter’s nose scrunches much like mine does when I’m upset. I hold her to my breast, and her little mouth roots around until she latches onto my nipple, soothing herself with the comfort of my milk.
As she settles, her little eyes flutter open and immediately find my face. My breath catches. She blinks slowly, the bright yellow of her eyes disappearing for a only second before shining back up at me.