The Prince’s Secret Twins (Al-Sintra Family #2)

Chapter 5

Tila’s lips still tingled as she held Laith over her shoulder and patted his back, trying to ease whatever was bothering him. She’d been pumping milk into that damn machine until she’d heard him cry for her. For several moments before he called, Tila had enjoyed watching the sun shimmer as it rose over the horizon. She’d been watching several police cruisers as they drove slowly through the neighborhood, obviously watching for someone. But Joran and his friends were long gone. He’d disappeared into the darkness. A part of her was proud of the fact that her former lover was so stealthy. Another part of her was confused about how he could move so quickly.

Now, the world was waking up. She saw several of her neighbors get into their cars and leave for work. A woman down the street watered her flowers. Tila looked around at her yard, noticed the mess, and sighed. She’d slept for maybe an hour over the past forty-eight and she felt like a walking zombie. So no, she wasn’t going to worry about her garden. Not today, at least.

Tila was still patting and swaying at the window as two police cars stopped at the curb in front of her home. The officers got out of their vehicles, looking around with one hand on their weapons. Two of them walked around the house while a third officer went to her front door.

That’s when Laith decided to throw up on her shoulder.

The doorbell rang and Tila sighed, wishing that she’d remembered to put a burp cloth over her shoulder. It would be really nice to answer the door without baby barf all over her tee shirt.

And this had been a clean one!

“Good morning, Officer,” she sighed as she pulled the door open, cradling a happy Laith in her arms. He cooed and looked adorable, waving his tiny hands and feet now that his belly felt better.

The officer took a step back, probably because of the baby barf smell. It really was bad, she thought, shaking her head to get the wisps of hair out of her eyes.

“Ma’am,” the officer said, touching the brim of his baseball-style cap. “Someone called in earlier this morning to say there were strange men lurking around your house.”

“Hm,” was all she could say, still swaying back and forth. By this point, she wasn’t sure if the swaying was more to sooth herself or Laith.

“Are you okay, ma’am?”

Tila laughed. It sounded a bit hysterical even to her own ears. “Sure!” She grinned because there was nothing more she could say. “You?”

The man looked startled. “Would you mind if we looked around inside? Just to be sure you are safe?”

A year ago, Tila would have told the officer to go away. Someone entering her home would have been a serious violation of her privacy. But she had twin babies now. Her body had literally been torn apart delivering them. The things she’d gone through meant that she had no more illusions of privacy.

Plus, the sooner she let them in to do their job, the sooner they could go away.

“Help yourself,” she said, flipping Laith over so that his belly was resting against her arm. He preferred this position and it gave her shoulders a break.

Tila stepped back to let him enter, still swaying. She heard Rafi’s indignant squawks from the den behind her and she went to check on him. He was lying in a bouncy baby chair that had toys dangling from an arch stretched over the top.

The officer walked through her tiny house, peering into each bedroom, the kitchen, and the small utility room. She might have smiled at the officer’s shock at the amount of laundry that was piled everywhere, but she didn’t have the energy for laughter.

She’d been surprised to discover the laundry had been folded though. That was a sweet gift. She couldn’t picture Joran folding tiny baby clothes, but who else would have done it?

Tila appreciated the effort, whoever had done it. Folding laundry seemed to come last on her priority list, lately.

The officer nodded, then touched the brim of his hat again. “Everything seems…” he looked around again and this time, Tila did laugh.

“I’m fine, officer,” she told him, still bouncing and patting. “Thank you for your concern.”

The man smiled faintly, but she could still see the wariness in his eyes. “Call if you have any problems.” And then he left as quickly as he could.

Tila was just about to close the door when someone else pulled up. This person had an unfamiliar logo on their delivery van and Tila lingered in the open doorway, curious.

The driver nodded to the officer, then yanked open the door to the van and removed a box.

When he stood in front of her, Tila wasn’t sure what she was seeing.

“I have a food delivery for Tila Ayad?” the man explained, hefting the box carefully.

“Food?” she repeated blankly.

“Yes, ma’am. The order was for three prepared meals, as well as cut up fruit and vegetables.” He lifted the box a few inches higher.

Tila shook her head. “I didn’t order any food delivery.”

The man hesitated, then looked at the delivery note taped to the top of the box. “The only delivery information I have is from someone with the initial ‘J’.” He stood there, still holding the box and looking confused.

Joran, Tila thought and tried to ignore the unexpected burst of happiness. “That’s my ex-boyfriend,” she said with a nod. “If you just–”

“I have orders to put the food into the fridge, ma’am.” He eyed the baby in her arms. “I’m happy to help.”

She nodded and stepped back to allow him into her home.

The man stacked several containers in her fridge, then set two plastic platters on the counter. He didn’t look around after that. He simply grabbed his delivery box and, after nodding politely to her, returned to his delivery van and drove away.

Tila stood in the doorway, still patting and swaying. Joran. That was a very sweet offering, but she was still mad at him. No, furious. He’d walked out of her life so many months ago, then showed up at her door last night without warning.

Tila smiled faintly at the memory of slapping him. She shouldn’t have done that, but boy had it felt good! Violence was never the answer, but…!

That’s when she remembered the way she’d burst into tears. And his strong arms around her, holding her. She didn’t remember much after that, but she vividly remembered how good it had felt to be held.

And then that kiss. The hard kiss of promise.

Right before he’d walked out. Again.

Tila sighed and was just about to close the door when a third vehicle pulled up to the curb, this one with a logo she recognized. A cleaning crew? Tila nearly sobbed with excitement and relief. She hadn’t had the time to properly clean since the boys were born, although the piles of dirty dishes that had been in the sink had been mysteriously cleaned and put away.

“Good morning, Ma’am,” one of the cleaning crew said in greeting. “We were sent by a man named ‘J’ to clean your house. The order was for an emergency cleaning?”

The last part was a question and Tila nearly cried. “Yes, thank you.”

The team of five smiled and nodded as they moved into the house, each person carried a mop and a tote filled with cleaning supplies.

The ladies cooed in delight when they caught sight of Rafi in his chair and Tila’s heart warmed with pride.

“I’ll just pop them into their stroller and take them out for a walk, so we’re out of your way,” she told the ladies.

They all nodded, already busy with various tasks. While Tila struggled to get the double stroller out of the closet, someone had already stripped her bed and was heading for the washing machine with her sheets. Tila’s eyes filled because she couldn’t remember the last time she’d had time to wash her sheets. It definitely hadn’t been in the past two months! And she’d been so heavy and off-balance during the last few months of her pregnancy…!

More tears flowed when one of the ladies helped her with the stroller. Within moments, the annoying contraption was open and locked in position. Tila sighed with relief as she settled Laith into one of the seats and belted him in. Rafi was next and Tila was just about to push them out through the front door when one of the ladies rushed out of her bedroom, waving a clean shirt.

“Ma’am, if you give me your shirt, I will wash it too. This one is clean.”

Tila suddenly remembered Laith throwing up on her just before the police officer arrived. She glanced down at the yellowish stain on her shoulder. At this point, she was eager to be free of the stained shirt, so she pulled the dirty one over her head and accepted the clean one. The maternity bra covered more of her than a bathing suit. Besides, this woman seemed to…know. She understood.

She shoved her bare feet into her sneakers and stepped out of the house, strolling towards the park. Thankfully, the weather was mild today. The summer heat often got into the triple digits, but right now, the sunshine offered a gentle warmth on her shoulders as she happily pushed her babies down the sidewalk. Laith was asleep, but Rafi was wide-awake and, probably getting hungry. Still, she lifted her face to the sunshine, feeling an unaccustomed sense of freedom now that she was out of the house for the first time in…far too long.

“Goodness, dear! What are you doing out and about?” Fatima Bindi said by way of a greeting.

Tila smiled at the older woman in her long skirt and head covering.

“Good morning, Fatima. How are you?”

Fatima smiled, but the expression was more like a grimace. “I’m doing quite well, thank you.” Her grin turned genuine as she looked down at the boys. “And how are you two doing today? Are you helping your momma?” she asked, using a baby voice and pouting her lips. “Are you being good?”

She straightened up after tickling each boys’ foot. “They look wonderful, Tila,” she announced with an approving nod. “But are you sure they should be out in this sunshine? Babies are so sensitive..”

Tila frowned, looking around. “I just…I thought we could use some fresh air while the cleaning crew is at my house.”

Fatima looked behind Tila, her features turning disapproving when she noticed the cleaning van in her driveway. “Goodness, Tila. You shouldn’t have strangers in your home! What are you thinking? They could be stealing you blind!”

Tila laughed, shaking her head. “If they find something of value in my house, then they are free to take it, as long as the house gets cleaned.” But her insecurities went into high gear. Was she doing something wrong by leaving the cleaning ladies in her house, alone?

“Dear, I know that you felt it was fine to run out and do whatever you wanted when you were single. But you’re a mother now!” Fatima scolded. “You have to think of your babies now.”

Tila sighed. The older woman’s disapproving tone nearly broke her. But then she remembered the last visit to the pediatrician’s office. Her boys were happy and healthy. Both had surpassed the average on the growth charts. That might be due more to their father’s genetics than her mothering skills, but she’d take anything she could get as affirmation for her efforts.

So, instead of giving in to the guilt and insecurities, she straightened her shoulders, and met the older woman’s eyes. “I appreciate your depths of experience, since you have a son, Fatima. But I think that my twins could use a bit of fresh air and sunshine. So, you have a lovely day and I’ll see you later.” With that, she pushed the stroller faster, continuing towards the park. There were a few trees that she could park the stroller under so she and her babies would be in the shade. However, Tila was convinced that something that felt this good couldn’t be bad. Besides, both of her sons were awake now, and neither was crying, demanding food, needed a diaper change, or throwing up.

In her mind, this outing was a monumental success. She should get outside with her babies more often.

“Good morning, Tila!” one of the other mothers at the park with her kids called out, waving to her.

Tila beamed in return. “Good morning!” she replied, eager to be around other mothers who were doing the same thing as herself.

Four mothers rushed over, cooing about Laith and Rafi. “Oh, they’re adorable!” one gushed. “I barely survived one baby. I have no idea how you’re managing with two!” another teased. “How much laundry are you doing every day?” another asked teasingly. And so it went. All four mothers gave her advice, which was reassuring. However, there was one mother who looked sad as she stared down at the twins. Silently, the woman walked away, perching on a bench off to the side of the playground.

“That’s Ophelia Drazir,” one of the other mothers whispered. “She had a miscarriage recently,” another added in an undertone. “She has a daughter, but they were hoping for a boy this time.”

Tila nodded in understanding. When she’d first discovered that she was pregnant, Tila had been devastated. Motherhood hadn’t been on her radar. She’d been having too much fun with her career and Joran as an intense lover, plus all of the fun activities she and her friends would get up to.

But as soon as she’d accepted her pregnancy, the need to protect her baby – she hadn’t known she was carrying twins at the time – had been intense. The bond between mother and fetus, for her, had been instantaneous. So, Tila could understand the heartache of losing a pregnancy.

Shifting the stroller back and forth to keep her boys settled, she smiled gently at the woman. Thankfully, the conversation with the other mothers continued and the awkward moment ended. After only thirty minutes, her boys started to get cranky.

Tila sighed and stood up. “I’d better head home. I suspect that one, or both, of these little guys is hungry.”

The mothers all urged Tila to come out to the playground more often. As she returned to her house, Tila made a mental note to get out of the house every day. She was still exhausted and every part of her body ached, but she felt better now that she’d gotten a bit of sunshine as well as connecting with other mothers.

“Tila, what’s going on at your house?” Hamza, Fatima’s thirty year old son asked, rushing up to her. The man was about forty pounds overweight and bent at the waist, bracing his hands on his thighs as he fought to catch his breath. “There are…people…,” gasp, “ at your house!”

Tila didn’t like him. He was nosy and more than a little creepy. He worked in his mother’s basement, doing some sort of tech work, but Tila suspected that he spent most of his time playing video games. Plus, he seemed to know far too much about what was going on at her house.

She tried to smile politely, but she had to back up a step since Hamza absolutely reeked of body odor. Had she smelled that bad before her shower? Goodness, she hoped not!

“It’s okay, Hamza,” she told the man, trying to sound soothing and in control. Tila didn’t need Hamza telling Fatima about how frazzled the new mom was. “The ladies are cleaning. Nothing to be afraid of,” she soothed.

He straightened, his face scrunched up in confusion. “But…you’re a woman!”

Tila blinked, not sure where he was going with that comment. “Yes,” she agreed, maintaining her soothing tone. “I’m aware.”

Hamza flushed and fisted his hands on his hips. “My mother says that the sign of a good woman is when she can keep a house clean, have dinner on the table, and raise children with good manners.” He gestured behind him towards her house. “You are a woman. You should be in there, cleaning things up yourself.”

Tila couldn’t stop herself from rolling her eyes. “Thank you for your unasked-for opinion, Hamza. If you’ll excuse me, I need to be on my way.” Tila gritted her teeth and pushed her stroller around him and continued towards her home, thinking darkly that a visit from Joran would straighten Hamza out.

Unfortunately, tears formed in her eyes before she could stop them. Joran was gone. Again. He’d said he’d be back, but could she trust him?

No, she couldn’t put her faith in a man who had abandoned her so brutally when she’d needed him most. Tila noticed the men and women were coming out of her house, mops and buckets in tow. Joran had done this. Plus, he’d sent her food, actual, real food instead of whatever convenient junk food was in her cabinets.

That was something, she told herself. Still, she didn’t understand his late night meetings. Before she’d gotten pregnant, Tila had enjoyed the excitement of never knowing when Joran would show up. It had kept her on her toes and added spice to her days.

Now, not knowing if Joran would show up or not left her…angry. And resentful.