A very strong contraction hit, and I called out David’s name. Caught up in the raw energy of it all, he jumped into rescue mode and encouraged me to push.
“I can see the top of a baby’s head!” he exclaimed excitedly. “Okay,” he directed. “I’ll tell you when to push, it can’t happen too quickly…”
“Don’t you dare tell me when I can push or not! I’m the one giving birth here!” I shouted.
He smiled lovingly. “I hear you.”
A few expletives later, he announced, “Okay I’m gonna give it a go.”
I listened but didn’t hear. “Breathe through this, breathe through this, your body knows what to do,” I heard him saying under his breath.
Josiah was born first. David immediately placed him in my arms. Adalia followed closely behind, screaming her lungs out. Our babies were beautiful. When I looked at them I saw Daniel, through David. The ambulance arrived not long after the babies were born. I shivered in shock while David, shirtless, kept me warm, his body pressed up against mine. A thermal blanket covered us all. He held one baby while I held the other and encouraged me to initiate breastfeeding.
“You are simply amazing,” he declared, tears in his eyes as he held me and the babies close.
“I’d shower you with passionate kisses right now if you were mine,” he stated, wiping tears out of his eyes. “But this’ll do,” he said, planting a kiss on my forehead and embracing me tightly, squeezing me, Adalia and Josiah in the process.
I parted from him only when I separated from the babies. He remained with them, feeding them some of the first milk I’d expressed.
My body ached, I felt tired but otherwise felt fine. The babies I’d longed for, the babies I’d carried were finally here. A manifestation of the love between Daniel and I. Pity Daniel was not there. I tried ringing him several times, but somehow he did not respond. He had not been in contact in days. In his absence, I was grateful for David’s presence, and his love. Steadfast, unconditional and ever present.
“You alright?” David asked, sitting in the nursing chair, rocking Josiah in his arms.
“I’ll be okay,” I told him, suddenly in tears.
He carefully got up, placed Josiah into the twin bassinet with Adalia and made his way over to me on the bed. “It’ll be okay,” he assured me. “Babies are healthy, you were amazing. For 35 weeks they’re doing extremely well. Daniel will get here soon I’m sure.”
Tears rolled down my face. I was happy, but suddenly felt overwhelmed with the blues.
“And if he isn’t here soon, I’ll be there.” He wrapped his arms around me, held me tight and said nothing further. It was what I needed at the time, and I was grateful for it. I was grateful for him.
I fell asleep and woke to him sitting on a stool at the head of my bed. He smiled widely at me but looked tired. “Have you gotten any sleep?” I asked.
“No, I was hoping I could get some shut eye now you’re awake,” he stated.
“Some sleep, then we look at an early discharge?” I was sure he and I could manage the babies at home. “I have a few stiches, is all. I think we can manage on our own.”
“A few stitches yes, but a world of hurt if you don’t take it easy while you can,” he told me.
“Please,” I begged. “I just want to be home.”
“Oh, so you consider my place home?” he asked.
Tears fell down my face. “Home is where you are David.”
Touched, he held me as he had before. “We’ll see what’s possible,” he stated. “Try to get some sleep. I’ll sort something out,” he promised.
I awoke to David sitting at the head of my bed staring into me. “Hi Temwani,” he said. “Bags all packed, we can hit the road when you’re ready. Managed to get an early discharge.”
I was overjoyed.
“We’ll manage,” he reassured me. “We just have to kangaroo care the babies, keep them warm and monitor any changes. Other than that, they’re good to go.” Glancing at his watch, he stated, “I’ll go home, do a bit of a clean up then come back and get you. How does that sound?”
“Sounds good,” I told him.
Back at the cottage, Adalia was unsettled. For reasons unknown, she kept crying, without abating. No matter what I did, she continued. Without words, David took her in his arms and rocked her. He hummed and she stopped complaining instantly. I sighed in relief, very grateful he was there with me, but sad it wouldn’t last. Daniel would be on his way soon, and who knew what terror would be unleashed on David for having been there for the birth of our babies.
Eventually both of the babies got back to sleep. David prepped me a meal before insisting I slept. He promised to wake up with me when the babies woke.
The next morning after breakfast, we sat on the patio enjoying the warm rays of the sun.
“I got something for you,” David said. “Close your eyes.”
I could feel the cold metal of a necklace against my skin. He adjusted the clasp at the back. I opened my eyes.
“Did I tell you it would be okay to open your eyes?” he asked. “Keep them closed please.”
I felt a pendant dangle on my skin. “Now open your eyes,” he said. A beautiful pink sapphire heart shaped pendant with a singular blue and baby pink gem within. “The blue is for your son, the pink your daughter,” he stated.
“It’s beautiful!” I exclaimed, but knew Daniel would take issue with it.
David sensed my hesitancy. “Daniel’s not going to like that I got you another gift, but hey, I’ll take my chances. He doesn’t like anything I do.”
“That is true. But he’s not here yet. I’ll keep it on for a while yet.”
“Alright,” he replied. “I’m glad you like it.”
“I love it. Is this another one of your creations? Did you make it yourself?” I asked.
“That I did,” he replied. “Temwani, I met you when you were just coming of age. I thought you were amazing then. I think you’re even more amazing now.”
We sat there on the balcony for what seemed like forever, talking about everything and nothing. I loved how with him there were no unreasonable expectations – he just allowed me to be.
“So, Daniel’s on his way over. Flight gets in tomorrow morning. I guess you and the babies’ll be heading back with him as soon as they get cleared to fly?”
“I guess so,” I replied. “The nurses said it wouldn’t be for another two months or so.”
“That’ll be about right,” he agreed. “Might have to take on some portable oxygen to help them cope with the drop in oxygen levels,” he said pensively. “Safest thing of course would be to stay here for as long as you need to,” he advised.
“Is this Doctor Davenport talking, or is this David Davenport, I want to keep you for myself, talking?”
He laughed heartily in response. “A bit of both darling.”
Darling. Sweet words just rolled off his tongue so effortlessly.
“You’re such a charmer, David.”
“I’m only after a way into your heart,” he said. “If I have to charm my way in, I will.”
I laughed again, but realized quickly that I needed to be careful with what I said with him. I wanted him in my life forever, in the only way that he could be. As a friend. That said, I didn’t want to lead him on. “You had me from the moment you professed your love for me,” I replied. “I just…”
“No need to explain,” he said. “I know how you feel.”
He wore his heart on his sleeve most times. It wasn’t hard to see that he preferred to live with the expectation that one day I’d be his, than the reality that I was married to Daniel and would never be his.
“I also know I need to get real,” he said. “But in my heart of hearts, I truly believe one day we will be,” he said. “After all, here you are, and here I am. Closer than ever. A far cry from what we were when we first met. At least we’re friends now.”
“True,” I replied.
“Anyhow, I’d rather be you
r friend, than your ex or your could have been,” he said.
“I feel the same way,” I told him. “I just don’t expect you to be waiting for me, forever.”
“Forever is such a loaded word,” he stated. “Forever can change in a moment,” he said, in a way that sent chills down my spine, as I remembered the last time the word forever was mentioned to me. I will love you forever Daniel had said, on our wedding day. “I prefer to say forever and a day. Or better yet, always.”
“I do like the sound of always,” I told him.
“Same,” David said. “Anyway, let’s not worry about the future, it isn’t in our hands.”
I nodded, agreeing with him.
“Just know I’ll always be in yours,” he declared.
I smiled, thinking of how he never missed an opportunity to profess his love for me.
With both babies still sound asleep, we continued to sit on the veranda, talking. Our afternoon was idyllic up until a dark blue Commodore sedan with tinted windows pulled up. Daniel wasn’t coming when he said he was coming; he was here now.
David stood up immediately, though not as shocked as I was. Daniel opened the gate for himself, and strode past David to me, with no more than a nod in his direction as acknowledgement.
“Baby, baby, baby,” he said, planting a kiss on my lips and cheeks. “I missed you like crazy sugarpie…”
“We were expecting you, just not this soon,” David stated, interrupting.
“Got here as soon as I could,” Daniel replied barely turning to face him. “The babies?”
“Fast asleep,” I replied. “Got an early discharge yesterday.”
“I see,” Daniel replied. Looking at David, he added, “Don’t you all hug me at once. I finally got here despite the floods and despite the fires.”
“Good you’re here,” David managed. “I’ll get your bags,” he said.
“Won’t be staying,” Daniel replied sharply.
David stopped in his tracks, and shook his head.
“Got their passports all sorted, it’s time my wife and kids came home,” Daniel added.
“Settle down, mate, will ya? This isn’t about what you want, it’s about what’s best for them,” David argued.
“Thanks, mate, but this is my family and my household and as head of this here household I will do what I think is best,” Daniel said.
David paused for a moment before responding. “Well, good luck getting clearance to fly. Babies haven’t even had oxy sat tests done.”
“Like it or not, I’m taking them home. Shouldn’t even be here in the first place,” Daniel fumed.
Turning to David, I stated, “Forgive him David, he really is grateful that you’ve been there for me. At least he should be grateful.”
“You’re alright,” David started. “Don’t need to apologize for him being an arse.”
Anger flashed in Daniel’s eyes. I could tell another punch up was likely.
“Did you come bearing gifts?” David asked.
“What’s it to ya,” Daniel replied.
“Simple question,” David insisted. “Did you come bearing gifts?”
“What I chose to do or not do is none of your business,” Daniel replied.
“So, no flowers, no push present, no nada?” David asked.
“As I said, what I choose to do or not do is none of your business.”
“You make it my business when you come out here acting the way you’re acting…” he stopped mid speech. His phone was buzzing vigorously in his pocket. He’d set it to vibrate earlier, so any ringing would not disturb the babies. “Hmm, yep. Hmm…” he muttered into the phone, eyeballing Daniel. “I didn’t hear the phone ring…right. Right. When was this?” he asked into the phone, now glaring at Daniel. “Right. I’ll call you back later.” Turning back to Daniel, he asked, “You mind telling me what possessed you to go over to my father’s place and act the way you did? What gives you the right to get up in his face and…”
“Are you kidding me?” Daniel asked, standing up face off with David. “Some kind of a father he was, too busy feeding his homosexual lifestyle to care about raising you the right way. Your stint in foster care happened because of him.”
David stood there for a moment, holding space, then in one swift move, he threw a hard punch which landed on Daniel’s jaw. The punch left him holding his hand in pain. Daniel gathered himself together before standing up and launching for David. David ducked and swung for Daniel again, clearly enraged. Sooner or later this was bound to happen, and at that moment, I had no time for it. I got up, went inside, locked the front door behind me. With all the commotion, the babies had woken.
I threw on a cardigan and decided to leave. Irene, the midwife, was bound to be home, and she was only five minutes away. I knew she wouldn’t mind a visit. I scooped both babies up, put them in the carrier and headed for the car.
As I drove up the driveway, Daniel was still throwing punches, while David was largely ducking them and avoiding him. I drove off without a second thought, and left them to it. With both the front and the back door locked, neither one could get into the house. As I turned the corner I saw them stop for a moment, likely in shock that I’d taken off suddenly, but I had no patience or concern anymore. The tension between them was tiring, and they had to have it out sometime. No time like the present.
I stayed at Irene’s long enough to make cornbread to accompany the stew dinner she’d prepared earlier. She helped nurse the babies, and I was very grateful for her help. After dinner had passed, I decided to look at my phone.
Eight missed calls. Six from Daniel, one from David, one from Michael.
I listened to the message from Michael first. “Congrats on the babies. I’m sorry I couldn’t get there but I hear Davey managed just fine. I’ll catch up with you in a few. Now I hope you get this message before he heads over… David’s brother is on his way over. He’s on the warpath.”
Knowing Daniel was on his way over would not have changed anything at all.
The six messages from Daniel were urging me to return home with the babies right away. He was hungry and tired apparently. David’s message encouraged me to come back soon.
When I returned they were both a sight for sore eyes, but seemed to be more at ease with each other than when I had left. David nodded in acknowledgement at my return, and helped with the babies. Tenderly, he lifted Adalia out and cradled her before handing her to Daniel, who was unsure of how to hold her. He cried tears of joy as he held her, before moving on to hold Josiah. “I hope you’re nothing like your old man,” he joked, breaking the ice. We all laughed.
I reheated last night’s dinner for Daniel. He devoured the pasta heartily as though he hadn’t eaten in days. Dabbing pasta sauce off his chin with a napkin, he turned to David and stated, “I’m gonna need to defer to you, mate, for a lot of things – you’re in the know as far as my babies are concerned.”
“No worries at all,” David responded.
“I’m sorry about earlier. I’m very grateful you were here, and that this beautiful wife of mine and babies are fine,” he acknowledged.
“I wouldn’t have had it any other way,” David replied.
“I bet you wouldn’t have,” Daniel replied sarcastically.
I rolled my eyes in response. “Here we go again.”
Daniel heeded my statement and said, “Look I know your feelings for Teme won’t just disappear overnight, but I respect the fact that you were able to respect me and honour us, even if this meant losing her to me.”
David sighed in response. “I hear you.”
“So, I feel it’s right we turn over a new leaf now, and start working with each other instead of against each other,” Daniel said, surprising me.
David nodded in reply.
“Speaking of which, Craig,” Daniel started. “He needs to be stopped.”
“I’d stay away from Craig if I were you,” David cautioned. “I wouldn’t advise messing with him.”
&nb
sp; “He’s messed with me, I’m messing with him,” Daniel vowed.
I got up to check the babies, and they were fast asleep. I thought it appropriate to broach the subject of the missing notebook with Daniel. He might be able to help.
“David, the notebook that went missing, anything Daniel can help with?” I asked.
David frowned slightly before stating, “Whoever’s got it went to great lengths to find it.”
Pushing his plate to the side and setting his hands in front of him, Daniel stated, “This notebook. You really need to hide things properly.”
A puzzled look on David’s face and Daniel added, “Yes, I have it.”
“Well, thank goodness for that,” I stated, relieved.
“Don’t be too relieved,” Daniel warned. “A few pages are missing. It’s clear someone else got to it first,” he suggested.
David got to his feet and paced, clearly distraught.
Daniel got up and put a hand on his shoulder. “Look, for what it’s worth, I’m truly sorry about the life you lived in comparison to the one I lived.”
“I don’t need your sympathy,” David replied curtly. I knew he didn’t mean that.
“Look, I’m here to help,” Daniel said.
“Firstly, how did you get the notebook, and why the suggestion that someone got to it first?”
“Craig had copies,” Daniel stated abruptly.
“That’s not news,” David stated. “He knew about it.”
“Okay,” Daniel replied. “How about this for news – one of our father’s henchmen had it as well.”
David shot him a look of disbelief. “What?”
“Our father? Birth father? One of his henchmen had it,” Daniel stated.
It took me a moment to register what he had said. The look on David’s face was one of shock.
“What are you on about?” he finally managed.
“As I said. Someone else had it, and I’m pretty sure they weren’t too pleased about the contents,” Daniel stated.
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