The Question

by Zena Wynn

  Greg studied her for a moment, obviously weighing the words he wanted to say.

  “Whatever it is you’re debating telling me,” she told him, “just say it.”

  Coming to a decision, he said, “I want you to listen and hear me out, and no interruptions, even though you don’t agree with what I’m saying.”

  “How do you know I’m going to disagree?” He arched an eyebrow at her until she flushed. “Sorry. I interrupted.”

  “I know you’ll disagree because Crystal is your friend and you’re very loyal to her. You’re also too close to the situation to see clearly and completely biased in her favor. I don’t know her so I can be more objective.” Greg paused for a minute, probably waiting for her to comment. She kept silent since so far she agreed with everything he’d said. “Crystal’s greatest desire is to have a baby, right?”

  Gail nodded.

  “How do you think she feels, seeing you grow larger every day with the babies she can’t have? Seeing the attention her husband is giving to you, the preferential treatment because the children in your womb belong to him?”

  “But that’s crazy,” Gail burst out, unable to help herself. “This whole thing was Crystal’s idea.”

  “Yes, it was. That’s part of the problem. She’s jealous and angry and has no one but herself to blame because she set this whole thing in motion. She can’t call it off because Rashid has already bonded with the babies. Didn’t you say she’d been missing doctor’s appointments lately?”

  “Yes. She hasn’t been to one since we discovered their sex,” Gail admitted.

  “Has she been to any of the childbirth classes?”

  “No, she’s been working long hours, trying to clear up her projects before they arrive.” Gail was glad to be able to give him a reasonable explanation for Crystal’s absence at the classes.

  “Has she really been working, or was it just an excuse to distance herself from the whole process?”

  Gail opened her mouth to answer, thought about it for a moment then closed her mouth, words unsaid.

  “Has she decorated the nursery? Bought any baby clothes? Has she spoken of any plans or preparations she’s making for when the babies come home other than the work she claims she’s doing?”

  Gail felt like a witness on the stand for the defense being cross-examined by the prosecution. “No,” she whispered, truly shaken by this unsettling view of the friend she thought she knew so well.

  “Crystal’s disassociated herself. She probably doesn’t even view them as hers, since they’re not coming from her body, but yours and Rashid’s. I see it all the time in couples that come to me for a divorce. A couple adopts a baby and only one of them is able to bond with the child. I’ve even run across a few surrogacy cases where the parent not genetically connected to the child feels left out and is unable to bond with the baby, even though both parties initiated the process. They thought they would both be able to love the child, but when it came right down to it, one of them just couldn’t connect.”

  Gail didn’t like what she was hearing but couldn’t argue. It was entirely too logical and his analysis of the situation seemed to fit. “So you don’t think she’s just gone off for awhile to get her head together? You believe this separation is permanent?”

  “It doesn’t matter what I think. What you need to be concerned about is what happens now? Rashid’s focus is going to be on his children, now more than ever. Don’t be surprised if he asks you to step in and help out with the babies now that Crystal is gone,” Greg warned grimly.

  Gail’s eyes slid uncomfortably away from his, her mind on Rashid’s words from last night.

  Greg jumped up off of the couch. “Son of a bitch, he’s already done it, hasn’t he? Ask you to help him with the infants when they are born?” He stood over her with his hands on his hips.

  “He mentioned it, yes. I am the babies’ Godmother. It’s one of the responsibilities of the position,” she said defensively.

  “Godparents step in and raise the children if both parents are dead. Crystal isn’t dead. She went AWOL. Rashid is perfectly capable of raising these children on his own. He has money and resources that a lot of men don’t. Let him hire a nanny. Hell, he can employ two, one for each child. He can afford it. He doesn’t need your help.”

  Gail leaned her head against the back of the couch and closed her eyes. “That’s what I told him. That he didn’t need me and that what he was asking was too much.”

  “Well, stick to your guns. Remember, you’re just the incubator. Once these babies are born, your job is done.” He sat back down and tugged her into his arms. With a sigh, she settled against him. “Honey, I know they’re your friends, but don’t you get caught up in their drama. Rashid may be angry now, but when Crystal returns, he’ll take her back and you’ll be left out in the cold. Don’t allow yourself to be used as a substitute mother for these little ones. Yes, he may need you now, but what about later? Don’t get involved. You do and you’ll have nothing but a lifetime of heartache to show for it later.”

  He lifted her face to his. “When these babies are born, our time officially begins. I want you. You know that. More than that, I care for you. I want to see what develops between us once Crystal, Rashid, and these babies are no longer in the way.” Greg lowered his mouth and kissed her deeply and hungrily, a physical reminder of what was in store for her once the twins were no longer an issue.

  His words stayed with her the rest of the day. She knew Greg was right and even agreed with him to a certain extent. She couldn’t let Rashid talk her into getting involved with the care of these children after they were born. That way laid madness.

  Deep in her heart, she truly believed that Crystal was indulging in a little temper tantrum—a bid for attention. When she calmed down and could reason again, she’d return. She didn’t know what was going on between Rashid and Crystal, but things had been tense for a while. She hadn’t asked, not wanting to intrude upon their personal business.

  Despite how bad things looked now, she knew Rashid really loved Crystal and would welcome her with open arms when she returned. Then where would that leave her? On the outside looking in, that’s where. There was no way that she could begin mothering these children then step aside when Crystal returned. She had to turn them over to Rashid and stick to the original plan, no matter what.

  Gail rubbed her stomach. The babies were active today. Maybe they could feel the tension in the air. For their sakes, she hoped Crystal returned home soon. The babies needed their mother, and Rashid needed his wife.

  Chapter Ten

  The next few weeks passed in a blur of activity. Greg, damn his hide, was right. Crystal had done absolutely nothing to prepare for the coming of the babies. Rashid didn’t know what needed to be done and there wasn’t time for him to learn. The twins could literally come at any moment. She was already dilating. Since she had been through this before, Gail stepped in to help out.

  Each morning she went to work for four hours. Afterwards, she headed straight to Rashid’s house to direct the work happening on the nursery. Furniture was ordered and delivered. Clothing, diapers, and baby paraphernalia purchased, seemingly by the truckload. Rashid spared no expense. Nothing but the best for his children.

  Gail loved the nursery. Rashid hired a mural artist to paint the room and the results were outstanding. She’d created a glade in an enchanted forest. The ceiling was the sky, painted blue with lots of fluffy clouds. The walls were covered with flowers, shrubs, and trees with large branches, reaching towards the sky. Scattered here and there were fairies, pixies, and other woodland creatures hiding, waiting for discovery by curious small eyes. The carpet was the exact shade of a freshly mowed lawn.

  Rashid insisted daily that she quit working and move into the house until the children were born. Both Greg and Rashid were acting like mother hens, monitoring her every move. That she was still going in to work every day worried and annoyed the both of them.

  That Tuesday, Gail
went to work feeling exceptionally tired and cranky. Sleep was elusive and had been for the last couple of nights. It was difficult to find a comfortable position to lie in and the lack of rest was beginning to show. There were dark circles under her eyes and she knew she looked wrung out.

  Her ankles and hands were puffy. Her fingers had swollen so much that she’d removed her rings for fear of them getting stuck. One baby was sitting on her bladder and the other one was kicking against her ribs. Dr. Hagan had her coming in every few days to check her progress and the position of the embryos, concerned one of them may turn breech.

  She managed to put in two hours worth of work but it was a struggle. She wanted to get up from her desk and move. Sitting there was driving her crazy. She managed a tired smile for Greg when stopped by her cubicle to check on her.

  “Hey, Beautiful. Not ready to have those babies yet?”

  “More than ready. I’ll pay you good money to take them out of me,” Gail told him, only halfway joking. She winced as a sharp pain shot through her back.

  Greg noticed and immediately snapped to attention. “What’s wrong?”

  “My back hurts. It started last night. I must have moved wrong and twisted it or something.” Gail reached awkwardly behind her and tried to rub the small of her back where the pain centered.

  “Sure,” he said skeptically. “Have you called your doctor?”

  “For what? It’s just a backache.”

  “Humor me and call him.” He picked up the receiver on her desk and put it in her hand. She stared at the phone then at Greg, her mouth mulishly set.

  “I’m not calling Dr. Hagan. He’ll tell me to come in again. I was just there yesterday. I’m not going back again today.”

  “Call Dr. Hagan, or I’ll call Rashid, tell him you’re in labor and won’t admit it. I’ll also tell him you’re stubbornly refusing to call the doctor,” he threatened.

  “You wouldn’t dare. Besides, you don’t know his number.”

  He took the receiver from her and dialed a number. Watching his fingers closely, she recognized Rashid’s cell phone number. She reached out quickly and disconnected the call. “Alright, I’ll call Dr. Hagan. Jeesh, you’re worse than Rashid. Just have to have your way, don’t you?” she grumbled.

  She dialed the office and when the receptionist came on the line, told her who she was and why she was calling. The receptionist placed her on hold to go get the nurse. While she was waiting, Gail gave Greg an evil look. “You know he’s only going to tell me to come in so he can check me, then send me home and tell me to rest,” she complained.

  Gail held up her hand to forestall the comment he was going to make, her attention focusing on the phone as the nurse came on line. “Ms. Henderson? Becky said you were having some pains in your back?”

  “I’m sure it’s nothing. I…” Gail gasped and hunched over as a wave of pain started in the small of her back and traveled outward until it encompassed her whole stomach. Sweat broke out on her forehead, and her hand clenched the phone so tight she was surprised the thing didn’t break. The pain was so intense; it sucked the breath from her body. She could hear Greg and the nurse calling her name, but couldn’t respond.

  When it passed, she slumped against the desk, panting. Greg pried the phone from her hand. “This is Greg Richmont, a friend of Gail’s. She’s definitely in labor. I’m going to take her to the hospital now.” He listened a little bit then said, “Understood, we’re on our way.”

  Greg pushed the disconnect button and then dialed another number. “Mandy, I’m going to be out of the office for the rest of the day. Cancel all of my appointments. Tell them an emergency came up…yes…all right. You know how to reach me if you have to.”

  He hung up the phone, reached down and grabbed Gail’s purse before pulling her to her feet. “Up you go.” As he escorted her out of her cubicle, he called to one of her coworkers that he was taking Gail to the hospital, which fortunately wasn’t very far.

  Gail was inundated with well wishes and congratulations from the women in her section. One of them ran ahead to call and hold the elevator. Gail thanked her as they walked inside. The next pain hit her when they reached the parking garage and almost brought her to her knees. Greg caught her and held her steady as she tried to breathe through the pain. She’d forgotten how much having a baby hurt.

  What the hell had she been thinking, agreeing to do something like this?

  “We’ll take your car. There’s no way you’ll fit in mine.” He dug into her purse for her keys.

  “Sure, take mine. Wouldn’t want my water to break in yours. Might ruin that fine upholstery,” she said nastily and then sighed. “I’m sorry. That was uncalled for.”

  “It’s the pain talking. Let’s get you to the hospital.”

  They reached Baptist Medical in record time. Gail was pre-admitted, so after answering a few basic questions, she was taken directly to the birthing suite. Someone thought to call Rashid, something she realized only after he came rushing into the room. Immediately behind Rashid came the nurse.

  “Ms. Henderson, let’s get you out of those clothes and checked out.” She held out a gown to Gail for her to change into. “Which one of you gentlemen is the father?”

  “I am,” Rashid said, stepping forward.

  “Alright, you can stay. Sir, you’ll have to step out of the room for a while.” The rest of what she said cut off as Gail entered the bathroom and closed the door.

  It was difficult and slow going, but Gail managed to get changed before the next contraction hit. It came as she walked out of the bathroom. With a keening cry, she held onto the door and the frame with white knuckles as the pain swelled and then receded.

  When she came back to her surroundings, Rashid was by her side supporting her with an arm around her waist. He helped her get onto the bed and settled as the nurse returned to the room.

  “Well now, let’s take a look and see what we’ve got,” she said in that nauseatingly cheerful voice most in the medical profession seem to use with patients. Gail wanted to smack her. She pulled out the stirrups and had Gail place her legs in them. Then she checked her cervix to see how far she’d dilated.

  “Seven centimeters. You’re definitely in labor. You hang tight while I go inform your doctor.”

  Once it was determined this was the real thing, the room became a hive of activity. Rashid left the room to change and quickly returned wearing scrubs. While he was gone, Gail was hooked up to various machines—one to monitor the babies, another to monitor her heartbeat, and one to track the contractions.

  “Tell me again why we’re doing this?” Gail questioned through gritted teeth as she rode the wave of another contraction.

  “So that we can bring two beautiful new people into the world?” Rashid responded in a strained voice as he tried to pry his hand loose of the death grip she had upon it.

  “There’s got to be an easier way to do this,” Gail complained as she slumped back against the bed.

  Rashid shook his hand and flexed it a few times before taking her hand again in his own, the other one this time. “I am sorry that your pain is necessary to bring me such joy.”

  “Not your fault. You’re not the one who knocked me up. Well…you are, but…you know what I mean. You keep holding my hand and I won’t be the only one feeling pain. I wish Crystal was here so that I could wring her neck for talking me into this.”

  “As do I,” Rashid agreed grimly. Something in his tone made her wonder which part of her statement he was agreeing with—wishing Crystal were here or the wringing her neck.

  The nurse returned and informed them that Dr. Hagan was on the way.

  “Is there nothing you can give her for the pain?” Rashid demanded to know.

  “She’s so close there really wouldn’t be any point. The only reason she hasn’t delivered yet is because her water hasn’t broke. We can try to give her an epidural, if she insists, but at this stage of labor, it’s risky.” The nurse’s tone and expressi
on conveyed her disapproval of that course of action.

  “No,” Gail said firmly. “No epidurals. Nobody’s getting near my spine with a needle.”

  “Another option would be to attach an IV to her arm and give her something for the pain intravenously, but it might slow down the contractions.” The nurse spoke to Rashid, but kept her attention on Gail.

  “I’m fine, Rashid” Gail assured him, knowing he was the one who had to be convinced. “The medicine won’t do anything but make me lightheaded in between contractions. I’d rather be aware and know what’s going on. Oh God, another one’s coming. I can feel it.”

  Gail squeezed Rashid’s hand until the tips of his fingers turned white. He immediately went into coach mode. “Breathe, Gail. Breathe through the pain, just like we practiced.”

  “You…breathe…through…the…pain,” she panted. If she’d had enough breath in her lungs, she would have cursed him.

  Dr. Hagan breezed into the room and checked the monitors. “Well, young lady, are you ready to bring these little ones into the world?”

  “Past ready,” she growled, still in the grip of the contraction.

  “Okay, folks. Let’s get these babies born. Rashid, get up there and support Gail like they showed you in class.”

  The nurse helped Gail to sit up while Rashid climbed on the bed. He knelt behind her, supporting her back with his body. When he reached for her hands, she didn’t hesitate, but quickly linked hands with him.

  At the other end, Dr. Hagan grabbed a stool and rolled it to the end of the bed, a tray of instruments at his side. Through the facemask he said, “I need to break your water. You’re fully dilated, so as soon as I do I’m done, your contractions will increase and you should feel the need to push.”

  There was a feeling of pressure, a popping sound then Gail felt a gush of fluid leave her body. “There, that’s better. With the next contraction, I want you to bear down and push. Stop when I tell you to. Ready whenever you are.”

  Dr. Hagan’s actions caused wave after wave of labor pains to crash over her body, coming back to back. Gail’s world narrowed down to the overwhelming need to push, and the quiet murmur of Rashid’s deep voice speaking encouragements directly into her ear. She closed her eyes, braced herself against Rashid’s chest, and bore down hard until she heard Dr. Hagan commanding her to stop. She slumped weakly against Rashid, panting and gathering her strength for the next round.