by M. O. Kenyan
“All those tubes…what are they for?”
“Just to help them.”
“I mean, tell me what each one is for.” Her voice, the merest whisper, conveyed annoyance.
Pointing them out, the nurse explained, “This is a feeding tube…breathing tube…these are connected to the heart monitors and the IV is for the medication.”
Catalella nodded as she listened. She needed to be informed. Somehow knowing what was going on helped her feel a little better.
“Do you want to hold them?”
“No!” She shouted it out a little louder than she should have. “No one is taking them out of there until they are ready.”
* * * *
Catalella paced in the hallway, a bunch of twisted nerves. It was two months ago that she had been standing outside the NICU. She didn’t understand why Katherine had called them urgently to the hospital. A million scenarios had run through her mind, and going into the NICU nursery and not seeing her babies made it even worse.
“You’re making me dizzy, Catalella,” Rich moaned. “Sit down.”
“I just need to know what is going on.”
“If it was bad news, we would know already.”
“Peanut.”
Catalella turned to the sound of AJ’s voice. She watched as AJ and Katherine rolled two tiny beds toward them.
“I promise you we haven’t carried them yet.”
Catalella swallowed hard. She hadn’t held her babies yet. She was terrified that she would do more harm to them than good. Now the moment she had waited for ever since she found out she was pregnant was facing her, and she was terrified beyond belief.
“I don’t know if I can hold them. I don’t want to hurt them.”
“That’s why I’m here. I’m here to show you how to do it right.” Catalella noticed the nurse behind them for the first time.
“Should I sit down?” Catalella asked as she lowered herself onto the couch.
“Sure.” She watched as the nurse picked Ethan up first. His tiny mouth puckered like a little rose bud. His eyes opened wide and fixed on her. That was what changed her mind. “Cradle your arms.”
“No, I think Rich should hold his son first.”
“Catalella, relax. I’m right here with you. Besides, I’m going to be holding Camellia.” Rich spoke to her calmly.
“Okay, okay.” She exhaled, releasing all the tension in her body. She held out her arms just as the nurse instructed, felt his tiny weight in her arms and her heart melted. She watched a tear roll down Rich’s cheek as the nurse placed his daughter in his arms. This was her family now. She needed to be strong for them.
“And they said she couldn’t have a baby. Ha!” AJ snickered. “They didn’t bank on wonder-sperm Rich walking into my sister’s life.”
Finally the odds were in her favor.
Epilogue
Rich woke up with a start. His body was drenched in sweat, his eyes battling to see in the darkness. He flipped on his bedside lamp. Rich looked around and was comforted by the sight of his bedroom, of Catalella still fast asleep beside him. He didn’t understand what had made him have that dream.
He had never thought of his mother since she dumped him when he was six. She had another life to live, apparently, and that life was much more important than Ethan ever was or could be. Rich had dreamt that he was in his father’s coffin lying next to Ethan senior in the dark. Strangely enough, his mother was there. Mrs. McCrery was looking into the coffin, laughing at them.
Careful not to disturb Catalella, he got off the bed and walked across the hall to where the twins slept. Their little turtle lights were on. Ethan junior was fast asleep but Camellia was awake. She had her little blanket in her tiny fists as she stared at the lights dancing on the ceiling. She was so peaceful and reminded him so much of Catalella. Rich reached into the crib and picked up his little girl. She immediately released her blanket and substituted it with his shirt. Her grip was tight, holding on to him as if she was afraid he would let go. But Rich would never do that. He couldn’t imagine his life without his little family.
Rich sat in the rocking chair and sang the Spanish lullaby Rosalinda had taught him. He wanted to soothe Camellia and himself.
“What’s going on?”
Rich lifted his gaze to find Catalella standing at the door, wearing only his T-shirt. He loved seeing her in his clothes. “Remember what I told you the first time you wore my shirt?”
Catalella sauntered to where he was, and sat on his lap. With her finger she caressed the baby’s smooth cheek. She chuckled when Camellia grabbed her finger with both hands and tried to put it in her mouth. “I remember. It’s the reason why we have these two treasures.”
“Mmmm.” Rich watched as Catalella and Camellia cooed at each other.
“What’s going on with you?”
“I had a nightmare.”
“You want to tell me about it?”
Rich thought for a second. He decided he would much rather bask in the love before him instead of thinking of a woman he hadn’t seen in twenty years. “Nope.”
“Are you sure?”
Rich stared into space and that day came back to him. The memories flooded his mind with such intensity he was afraid he would break down. Catalella already knew the important part. His parents split up because Ethan senior was in love with Rosalinda. Even after Rosalinda married Adrian senior and had Catalella, Ethan senior didn’t give up on his obsession with Rosalinda. It was that obsession which drove Elizabeth away, but what Rich never understood was what he did to deserve to be abandoned.
“I had a nightmare about my parents.”
Catalella studied him in silence. She took the baby from him and placed her back in her crib. Then she took Ethan’s hand, pulled him to his feet and led him back to their room. Once they were sitting on the bed, she stared at him in silence.
“I remember my parents being in their bedroom. I was coming from school—I wanted to show them my report card. I think that’s the last time I was ever excited about a grade. I found them shouting at each other…"
“She won’t ever love you, Ethan.” Elizabeth shouted, her red, fiery hair matching her temper. “Why would she want a man as weak as you are when she has Adrian?”
“You speak about him as if he’s a god.” Ethan crossed the room with three large strides. He grabbed Elizabeth at the elbow and shook her. “Tell me lass, do you have a thing for him?”
“If I had met him first—” Elizabeth left the statement hanging as she tried to pull out of Ethan’s grasp.
“Is that why you were rubbing all over him like a cat in heat when Talia died? You have no shame, woman.” Ethan shoved Elizabeth away from him. She landed on the bed with a loud gasp.
“I would have had him if it wasn’t for that maid,” Elizabeth spat, the venom thickly lacing her words. “You know what I wanted the most when Talia died? I wanted you to die. That way Adrian and I would raise our children together.”
“Do you love him that much?”
“Love?” Elizabeth threw her head back, her evil cackle filling each and every corner of their master bedroom. “Love or lust? There is no such thing as love, Ethan. Do you know how I know that? Because I love you, but it has never been enough for you has it? I want your best friend. I want to hurt you as much as you’ve hurt me. Imagine if I take away your best friend and your son. I’ll show you just as much loyalty and love as you have shown me.”
“You’ll never leave this house, Elizabeth. Do you hear me?” Ethan's shout rattled the glass windows, and for a second it had Elizabeth backing away. But she was stubborn. She stuck out her chin and Ethan decided to take her up on the offer. The sound of his fist meeting Elizabeth’s jaw had Rich cringing and inching away from the room. He was a coward and he felt like one. He couldn’t help his mother. But when Elizabeth’s laugh rang out it was filled with hatred and anger, the sort that sent tiny invisible creatures crawling down his back.
Rich shivered, shaking t
he memory off him. “She left the next day. I’ve never seen her since.”
“You know it wasn’t your fault.” Catalella caressed his cheek. She guided his head to her chest as she lay back and held him.
“I know that, but I blamed my father. I never stopped hating him for it. But when I grew up I realized that if Elizabeth had wanted me, she would have come to visit, even if only once. So I blamed both of them. I was destructive, Catalella, and it took Ethan senior dying for me to realize I don’t want to be alone in this world.”
“You aren’t alone. You have a huge family now. You have me and our little babies. Who, by the way, will be wanting their breakfast soon.”
“What time is it?”
“Five in the morning.” Catalella kissed the top of his head, and caressed his back. “You know I’ll never leave you.”
“Yes.” Ethan pulled back and stared into her eyes. “I was thinking that maybe…that maybe when the twins turn one, we could try for another baby.”
“Ethan—”
He heard the tortured tone in her voice, but something inside him wanted more people around him. He had this cold, eerie feeling of fear in his heart. Something was about to happen and he needed all the love around him that he could get.
“I know, my little orchid, but we did it once—actually twice—who says we can’t do it a third time?”
“All right,” she conceded. “The odds seem to be in our favor after all.”
*The End*
The New Yorker 4
Deceiving Love
“What are you doing here, Eyvette? I thought I told you that I’d come to see you.”
She saw the beads of nervous sweat roll from his hair line, down his temple and cheek. The way he held the door half-closed, and how his eyes would duck back and forth, told her he was hiding something from her. “DJ, I have something to tell you.”
“Can’t it wait?” The nervous look in his eyes turned into one of hostility.
“No, it can’t.” Eyvette pushed him with all her might. DJ stumbled back and she was able to gain entry. But, as soon as she was in, she wished she had turned around and walked away. A siren with red hair and red lingerie draped her body seductively on the sofa. She raised the glass of wine to her lips and took a sip. Then she turned to face Eyvette and graced her with a smile.
“DJ?” Eyvette breathed the question out. She could hear her blood rush in her ears, felt her knees turn into jelly and her heart beat furiously in denial.
“Eyvette, I can explain.”
“Explain what?” The siren stood up with the grace of a peacock and walked towards Eyvette. “DJ, I told you to cut this little innocent girl out a long time ago. She doesn’t understand that sex is just for pleasure and relationships for the weak. Love is actually lust, my dear, but I don’t blame you for getting confused. DJ can be very convincing with his words and smile, and very pleasing with his hands…and mouth.”
Eyvette felt the bile rise up into her mouth. She needed to throw up. She ran for the nearest bathroom and emptied her stomach. In her hunched position Eyvette saw DJ’s bare feet walk up behind her. With all the rage she could master, she lurched for him, her fist drumming into his chest. She wanted to cause him pain. But when she realized her hands weren’t doing the job right, she decided to use her words.
“I’m pregnant. And guess what, you’ll never see us again.” Eyvette pushed past him and stomped into the living room. The siren sat drinking her wine, acting like she hadn’t aided and abetted the love of her life in ripping her heart out of her chest.
Eyvette walked up to the woman and, before she knew it, her hand lifted from her side with speed and force. The crack that sounded from the contact of her backhand and the woman’s cheek surprised her. The shocked looks on both DJ and the siren’s faces told her that she had surprised them too.
“Thank you for teaching me a very valuable lesson. I’m all grown up now. I promise you no one is going to use me the way you did,” Eyvette said as she left.
* * * *
I’m pregnant.
DJ knew the pain of abandonment. His brother and sister had been abandoned. Reno’s scars always kept him wary of their father and their sister was yet to be found. It took him a split second to decide his next move. DJ wasn’t going to become his father. He wouldn’t subject his child to the same hatred, betrayal and loneliness that Reno went through. He ran out of his apartment without his shirt and shoes. He chased Eyvette’s car down the road, and reached it in time to see her skip the red light and a truck take out her Porsche.
“No…no!” he muttered to himself. “No.” DJ dropped to his knees and buried his face in his hands.
About the Author
Love is supernatural. I live my romance through my words. I believe in love and love believes in us.
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BETRAYED; THE NEW YORKER I; Reno Kanaloa Kent, had been abandoned by both his mother and father. His father, Dennis Kent, a prestigious business man in New York, left his family behind when his inheritance was threatened. He had been given a choice the love of money or that of his family and he had picked the former. His mother Kono Kanaloa, a simple island girl, had stopped taking care of his little sister, him and herself when the love of her life walked out the door. Reno’s misfortune didn’t end there. In the dead of the night his sister had been abducted from his bed and he wasn’t able to save her. The guilt of letting down his little sister, Rhyne has followed him through his entire life. Revenge for the betrayal of his father is the only thing that drives him, especially after his mother’s death. He goes to New York to seek his revenge. His luck improves when he meets Dennis Kent’s godchildren at a university end of summer bash.
Lisette had always wanted freedom to be a woman. But her adoptive father and brother are overprotective of her. Her potential boyfriend betrays her and runs off with her underage sister to get married in Vegas. Reno seems to be the only one to help keep her sanity. But she learns that he isn’t who he says he is. She angry with him, but she can’t deny the love in her heart.
Reno and Lisette have to work through the betrayal they feel to be together. Their relationship runs a course filled with obstacles and they finally reunite they love.
ON CALL THE NEWYORKER II; AJ Ross has always focused his attention on two things, women and medicine. He was the best at both. He was the “love ‘em and leave ‘em type. But when he moves in with a girl he had a fling with, a girl he cannot remember, his life slowly begins to unravel.
Katherine had always done what was expected of her. She was daddy’s little obedient girl. But when her father arranges a marriage between her and her friend she begins to rebel. Katherine bumps into a man who gave her a night she could never forget. The problem is, he can’t seem to remember her. So when they end up living together all Katherine wants to do is make sure AJ remembers her—and the night he took her virginity. Will she succees? Will AJ remember her and want more, or will Katherine’s arranged marriage stand in the way?
DENOUEMENT; Marietta Parks believes that the only way to stop surprises from happening in life is to control your own fate. Paying attention to every detail she scripts out her own life. Leaving love, romance and children out of it. But then she meets a man who just has to be added into her story, Tobias Harden was the man of everyone’s dreams but t her he was a lovely addition to her already scripted life.
Tobias Harden was the modern day Casanova. Love was not in his vocabulary, and he was allergic to the word commitment, like poison Ivy to the bare skin. A chance kiss with Marietta Parks makes him question his single life. He was to be the best for her, and oddly enough she happens to be the only woman he wants to kiss. Tobias convinces Marietta that she needs him in her life. But after three years of marriage and life’s obstacles, he finds himself in bed with ano
ther woman. He has to convince her that he is still the man for her, especially now that she’s pregnant.
RED TEARS BLUE BLOOD; Alma had said no to love. The pain of a lost love was too much. But when Christoffer walks into her life, Alma decides to give love a second chance, hoping that fate would be kinder to her this time. However, loving Christoffer seems to take everything out of her. They are so different. He’s white, and she black, he’s rich and she’s poor. But Alma is determined to fight for her love.
Christoffer was running away from his past and future and ran into Alma’s arms. Al he wants is to see a smile on her face, but his secret is threatening their happiness. Christoffer is living a double life. He was brought up to honor his duties to his family. But now he has to honor duty to his love, Alma. Christoffer has to hope that Alma will keep standing by his side.
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Table of Contents
ABOUT THE E-BOOK YOU HAVE PURCHASED: Your non-refundable purchase of this e-book allows you to only O...
A Secret Cravings Publishing BookErotic RomanceOne Night StandCopyright © 2014
DedicationDon’t
The Cravings Ebook ClubThe Cravings Paranormal Ebook
ONE NIGHT STANDM.O. KenyanCopyright © 2014Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven