Paxton's Peace

by Bailey West

  “Doctor Bluette, this is Ms. Octavia and Mr. Oliver Renou.”

  I nodded my head at June. I couldn’t speak. I didn’t know what to say. My sister and brother were in my office. June smiled and turned to leave the office closing the door behind her.

  My mind was racing with the possible reasons they could be in Houston, in my office. I looked between them waiting for one of them to speak.

  “Do you know who we are?” Octavia asked.

  I nodded my head.

  “You know that you are our sister?” Oliver questioned.

  I nodded my head again.

  “Can I hug you?” Octavia asked.

  I nodded my head again.

  She rushed towards me and threw her arms around me. We buried our faces into each other’s shoulders and cried. I felt Oliver come and put his arms around us.

  After several minutes, Octavia pulled away. I snatched several pieces of tissue out of the box on my desk, then passed it to Octavia. She pulled out some. We stood staring at each other while we wiped our faces.

  “Wow, you’re having a baby?” Octavia asked.

  “Yes,” I smiled. “Two actually.” I rubbed my stomach.

  “Twins? Oh, that’s wonderful. Congratulations,” Octavia smiled.

  “Thank you. Please have a seat.”

  I directed them to the chairs in front of my desk. I sat down in one of the chairs that lined my wall.

  “What are doing here? How did you find me?”

  “We are here to meet you. We found you because we saw the article in the paper about you,” Octavia said.

  “We’ve always heard whispers about our father having another family. We just didn’t know who you were or where we could find you. I saw the article in the paper, saw your name and the fact that you and Tavia are twins. I confronted our father about you. He finally told the truth for once in his life,” Oliver said.

  “He did?”

  “Yes, he confessed that you were born a few months before Tavia was born,” Oliver continued.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be sorry. You didn’t ask to be born to a liar and a cheater. You didn’t have any choice in the matter. Neither did we,” Oliver said.

  “My mother found out when we found out, but I think she always knew but didn’t want to know. She’d been a kept woman for so many years. She didn’t really question him about anything. At first, I thought she was weak but the older I get, the more I realize that she was raised that way. She was taught to be demure and not question her husband. She never worked or went to college, so she depended on our father for everything. I think knowing about you would have broken her when she was younger,” Octavia explained.

  “What about now? Is she okay?”

  “Yeah, she’s fine. She is learning to live her life and spend his money,” Octavia laughed.

  “We figure there may be more of us out there,” Oliver said.

  “You think our father may have more children?”

  “I wouldn’t put it past him,” Oliver rolled his eyes.

  “You knew about us?” Octavia asked.

  “Yes, my mother told me about you. I followed your life as much as I could from a distance. I wanted your life so bad! I wanted a father who acknowledged me in public and who came to my performances. A Dad who helped me pick out an escort for the Ball.”

  “So, you knew we were sisters when we were in the Ball together?”

  “Yes, but my mother and our father had trained me not to talk about it, so I couldn’t tell you even though I really wanted to. I remember crying so hard after that brunch was over because I wanted you to know who I was. I wanted to know you. Then life got busy, and I just gave up hope of ever having a relationship with you, but I’ve loved you both my whole life.”

  Octavia reached for my hand, “Don’t envy us. Oliver Renou Senior was never around. He was only around when it suited his business. He didn’t raise us either, our mother did.”

  I let Octavia’s words sink in. I wanted something that looked good on the outside, but it was all false. My father didn’t raise my siblings either, and they lived in the same house.

  “Did our father know you were coming here?”

  “We don’t talk to him like that. I avoid him as much as possible. So, no, he doesn’t know,” Oliver explained. “But oh, when we return to Willow Hill! He won’t hear the end of it.”

  “I really would love the opportunity to get to know you, Olivia,” Octavia said while reaching for my hand.

  “Yes, we both would,” Oliver added and held my other hand.

  “I would love that too.”

  “We are going to be in town for a few days. Can we have dinner together or something?” Octavia asked.

  “That would be great. Let’s do it.”

  Paxton

  “Good morning, church!” The congregation responded. “I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord!” Roman exclaimed.

  I was serving as Roman’s Armor Bearer today because Malcolm was on vacation with his family. I didn’t mind. I still helped out like I told Roman I would. Olivia decided to come to the early service with me because she is cooking family dinner today and she wanted to get back to the house to make sure everything was done before everyone arrived. My mother and Lady Elisa were in town because Nette was due in a few more weeks. They were helping her decorate and prepare for the baby.

  I looked into the audience and saw Olivia point to her cell phone. I usually turn my cell phone off when I am serving in the capacity of Armor Bearer, but I had it in my pocket. I powered it on and saw several text notifications pop up. I looked over at Zeke on the drums to see if he was aware of anything going on. He probably didn’t have his phone on him either. I navigated to the text from Olivia.

  Nette is on her way to the hospital. You need to get Roman there. – Ollie

  I looked up at Olivia and nodded. She started preparing herself to leave then went to the back of the church. I leaned over to the usher that was sitting next to me.

  “Go and tell Ezekiel to make his way to me as quietly as possible. First Lady is in labor, and we need to get the Pastor out of here.” I leaned forward to speak to Minister Helen. “We are going to need you to finish this service and preach at the next service. First Lady is in labor, and we are about to get the Pastor out of here, okay?”

  “No problem,” she smiled.

  I watched the usher whisper to Zeke. Zeke’s head snapped up and looked at me. I motioned for him to come to me. Once he made it to me, we both walked to get Roman.

  Roman had already begun his sermon. I approached him from the side and whispered in his ear, “Everything is okay. Nette is on her way to the hospital. She’s in labor.”

  “What!” He spoke into his mic. He started pulling on his microphone. “Get this off me,” he said in a panic. “Get this off me before I break it off me.”

  “Roman, we got you,” Ezekiel said.

  I stood in front of him to block him from the congregation. Ezekiel helped him take off his suit jacket to get to the mic pack and disconnect it. As soon as he was disconnected from the mic pack, he turned and quickly walked off the stage. Ezekiel and I followed behind him. I could hear Minister Helen saying, “Our newest family member is making a surprise appearance today. Everyone point your hands towards our Pastor. We pray for a smooth delivery. We pray that the angels encamp around them…”

  “Is she okay? Who is with her? It’s too early, right? We still had three more weeks,” Roman asked as we followed him. Olivia met us at the back door.

  “She’s fine, Roman. All of the mothers are with her. Zora is on her way to meet them at the hospital. Her water broke as they were leaving the house on the way to the second service.”

  “Where is my phone? I need my keys,” Roman said looking around and patting his pockets.

  “I have your phone and your keys,” Ezekiel said after coming out of Roman’s office.

  “I will drive.”


  I grabbed Roman by the arm and led him to my truck.

  “Can you call Mom, Zeke? I need to know what’s going on,” Roman said.

  We loaded into my truck heading to the hospital. Zeke called our Mom and put his phone on speaker.

  “Hello,” my mother’s voice came through the phone.

  “Mom, we are headed to the hospital. How is Nette?” Roman asked.

  “She’s fine, baby. They are wheeling her to the back now.”

  “Mom, I need my wife. She’s the most important thing to me. If any decisions need to be made about who to save or…”

  “Baby,” mom soothed. “Don’t worry. They both will be fine, okay? She’s not even in a whole lot of pain. Her water broke as she was preparing for service. She’s more surprised than in pain right now.”

  “It’s too early, though,” Roman’s voice cracked.

  “No, he’s right on time. The angels are on their posts. Just get here, Dad, okay?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Roman said.

  I looked over at Olivia rubbing her stomach.

  “You okay?”

  She smiled which made me smile.

  “I’m good.”

  We welcomed our newest family member into the world. Isaiah Levi Bluette was born a few hours after we arrived at the hospital. There were three other Pastors that vacated the pulpit that Sunday to see Isaiah come into the world; Pastor DeLucas, Pastor Drummond; Michaela’s father and our father. I was told that each Pastor was either up or about to get up to minister when they got the word that the baby was on his way. Pastor and Lady Drummond still consider Roman their son. They have kept close to him and Zanetta.

  The hospital room was full of balloons, flowers, and gifts from the congregation, family and friends. We all waited in the room for our turn to hold Isaiah. Roman handed the baby to me. I pulled him close and held his little head in my hand. Olivia leaned over my shoulder and smiled.

  “Oh.”

  Olivia made a noise that startled me.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Yes,” she said cautiously.

  I looked into her eyes. She looked scared. I passed the baby back to Roman.

  “Olivia, what’s wrong?”

  “Pax,” she looked at me with tears in her eyes. “I just felt our babies move on the outside.”

  She grabbed my hand and placed it on her stomach. I felt the fluttering inside her stomach. I knew she’d felt the babies move on the inside but today was the first day she’d felt them move on the outside. I felt the movement again and looked into her tear-filled eyes.

  “Those are my babies?”

  “Yes,” she nodded.

  I wiped the tears that were running down her face.

  “This is going to be us soon. Are you ready?”

  “I’m more than ready,” she smiled.

  “I love you, Olivia.”

  “I love you too, Paxton.”

  The End

  Epilogue

  “Good morning church!”

  “Good morning,” the audience replied.

  “It is a good day to give thanks unto God for all of his blessings towards us. Amen?”

  “Amen,” the audience repeated.

  “Today is a special day for my entire family and I. Our babies are being dedicated.”

  The audience clapped.

  “Some of you may know and some of you may not, but in the last two years, our family has had five new additions.” Roman held up his five fingers to emphasize his statement. “My mother complained about not having grandchildren, so we all got to work.” The audience laughed. “All of these children that you see standing here before you are special. Can I tell you about these youngest two? They are our little miracles because Olivia’s tubes were tied when they were conceived.” The audience gasped. “It’s okay, I asked if I could share with you,” I laughed. “The chances of getting pregnant when your tubes are tied are so low, almost impossible, but she got pregnant with twins.” Paxton flexed his bicep making the audience laugh. “From what I understand another risk with getting pregnant with tied tubes is that the baby could try to grow in the fallopian tubes. Not these two. They found a home in their mother’s womb and stayed there until she was full term. She went into labor a day before she was scheduled to be induced. We are so grateful for them.”

  The audience clapped.

  “Then we have the oldest Braeden who came into all of our lives and changed them for the better. He owns a company and will be starting Kindergarten soon. Ms. Zahria is already a little superstar. She grandly came into the world. Her mother was finishing up an exam then had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance. There were like twenty doctors waiting outside her birthing room to see her little face. They all felt like they played a part in it since they were there taking the same exam.”

  “I passed too,” Zora added.

  The crowd laughed.

  “Last but not least my little one. My legacy. My first born, Isaiah Levi Bluette. I had given up on ever being a natural father. I am a spiritual father to my church, but I didn’t think it would happen naturally. Then I was sitting in a living room in Saint Louis, and this woman walked in and changed my life. I don’t know if most of you know the story, but I actually had my first encounter with my wife years before we were introduced. She spoke a word over my life the very night that I was contemplating ending it. We fell in love before we realized that we’d had that encounter. I am so happy that I found her, again. So, I have asked Pastor Israel to handle this portion of the service. Pastor Iz.”

  Israel came up, and I took my place next to my family.

  Zanetta and I had chosen Michaela’s parents to be Isaiah’s godparents. They are still my family, but we both wanted them to have an official title in Isaiah’s life. Braeden was being christened too as Braeden Bluette. Zanetta was already his Godmother but in addition to her, Lyrica and Obasi were chosen to be the Godparents for Zahria. Paxton and Olivia went back and forth about choosing separate sets of godparents for O’shea Levi who was born three minutes before his sister Paisley Renee. They decided to let them share the same godparents. They chose Countee and Laila, who they like to call Angus.

  We were surrounded by the rest of our entire family to include Nigel and Giselle who were living together and planning a small vow renewal on their property. They seemed happier than I can ever remember them being. They are rebuilding their relationship with Paxton. Things are going well for them.

  Olivia’s mother, brother, and sister were in attendance. Ms. Mabel has moved to Houston and loved doting on her grand babies. Octavia and Oliver Junior visit often. They are working on their relationship with Olivia. When I am around them, it feels like they have known each other their whole lives. They have the same sense of humor, and they genuinely love each other.

  Zora’s brothers are in attendance. We found out that her step mother’s brother, the one who violated Zora, has been missing for some time now. No one has heard from him since Zora told her full story. He had a girlfriend that tried to file a missing person’s report on him, but the police wouldn’t file it because he is grown and there is no sign of foul play. His credit card was used in France, so they believe he left town.

  “I am honored to be here today to facilitate the sacred duty of giving these children back to the Lord. I’ve been around since Pastor Roman first met Lady Zanetta. I recall asking her if she had a sister and she told me no. Then I was introduced to Brother Ezekiel’s lady, Zora, who calls Lady Zanetta, Sissy.” The crowd laughed. “I was like ah, I see you are trying to keep the good ones in the family. Then I was introduced to Doctor Callahan-Bluette, and I asked where you are finding these amazing women!

  I like the way Bishop put it at Brother Paxton’s wedding when he said all of my sons married up.”

  The audience laughed again.

  “In all seriousness, this family is one to be admired. I have an immense level of love and respect for each of them. As I was preparing myself for
today, I asked the Lord what he wanted me to say to this family. There is a protocol, but outside of the program, I needed God to speak to me concerning this family. He didn’t speak at first, but as I watched the family come up on the stage, God started to speak. He said that Braeden will be the one for this generation of Bluette’s to lay the foundation of success, influence, power, and wealth. Just like it has gone in your family for generations. Bishop Roland Bluette Senior laid the groundwork for Bishop Roland junior. He built on that groundwork with Pastor Roman, and now this generation will see that success plus greater and Braeden will carry that anointing.

  Why did he fit into the family so perfectly? Why was your heart so open to receive him? Because before he was formed in his mother’s womb, his destiny was predetermined. He was born a Bluette, we just didn’t know it. Nurture him like you already do and watch him soar, but he won’t soar alone. Every child in this family and the ones yet to be born will exceed you and your success by leap and bounds. Thus, says the Lord.”

  The church went berserk.

  After the christening service, we had a reception for our family and friends. My brothers and I had been working on something special.

  “Excuse me everyone,” Israel said. The room quieted down. “I would like to present to you for the first time anywhere, The Bluette Men band.”

  The curtain on the stage opened to reveal me on keyboard, my father on the piano, Uncle Nigel on the trumpet, Paxton on lead guitar, BJ on percussion and Ezekiel on drums.

  I am so grateful to God for second chances. Everyone on this stage has experienced one. We win together. We lose together.

  We are the Bluette Men.

  Acknowledgments

  Thank you for taking this Bluette Men journey with me! I can’t believe it’s over! I’m happy and sad all at the same time.

  Thank you to my friends and family who have encouraged me when I wanted to just pull the covers over my head and sleep.