Chapter 25 #2
Remy and Jaxson scoffed and I tried to hide a smile.
It was no secret that they hated when he was able to soothe her at times when they couldn’t.
Somehow, our girl was completely enchanted by Gavin, and she chose to reveal her steel blue eyes and fixate on him the first time her mask was removed.
He in turn was completely smitten with her.
On the other hand, Sierra doted on Andy.
Some evenings, while I finished my schoolwork and the men did the things they needed to do she would sit in the rocker and rock our little man while we were occupied.
I couldn’t help antagonizing Remy and Jaxson. “Go wash your hands Uncle Gavin. She had a rough morning at her check-up.”
Gavin smirked at them before loping off.
I watched him for a few seconds before turning to see a gaggle of women approaching Lincoln.
His notoriety and popularity ramped up since he hosted another awards show last week.
It was as if it reminded them that he was “famous.” One of the women finally reached his side and went to reach for Andy.
“How cute is your baby! I love babies! Can I hold him?”
Lincoln immediately took a large step backward while Jace and Troy took a step in front of him to thwart the female’s progression.
I could tell it annoyed Lincoln at their brazenness, but he tried to remain diplomatic when he stated. “Sorry, ladies, but we don’t want anyone touching them or being near them without our consent. They’re premature and I don’t want to risk their health.”
I bit the inside of my cheek from snapping at them.
I didn’t know these women from Eve and this bunker was so contained that if someone farted on level four the person at level eight would know about it in less than five minutes.
All that to say that everyone knew our babies were born prematurely.
Most people that ever knew someone to give birth to “normal” babies were cautious with who they allowed around their children.
Why would they think we would have the same boundaries if not stricter ones?
“I work in Labor and Delivery. If I wash my hands, may I hold him.” One of the girls stepped forward and looked adoringly at Andy.
The woman was in her mid to late twenties and very attractive.
She had a natural beauty to her with long dirty blond hair, hazel eyes, and a sprinkling of freckles across the bridge of her nose.
She seemed to be the only person more fixated on Andy than Lincoln.
Any other time I would have chalked that up as a woman who adored babies, yet something within me felt off.
A feeling of unease crept down my spine. I immediately reached out with my gift of empath to attempt to read her but was met with—apathy. It didn’t match the eager and adoring look she had on her face. Something wasn’t right.
“Jace—” I silently reached out to him but was cut short when Jemmy approached.
“Please, back off. This is the first time they came out in public with the twins. They don’t know you and don’t know if you’re sick or have been near someone who has been sick. My nephew and niece don’t need to get sick because you can’t get a clue.”
Jemmy had been a fixture at our apartment lately.
For Drake, I was civil with her as was Gavin.
We noticed the work she was putting in to become mentally healthy, but the hurt was still there for us.
We weren’t willing to forgive so easily after the first time she had burned us.
We felt like we had forgiven her way too readily and the first sign of adversity was blindly attacking everyone that loved her.
I was a mother now and Gavin was going to be a father soon.
Our decisions no longer affected only us.
We had to protect our babies first and foremost. What was to say she wouldn’t take out her insecurities on them in the future?
After a long discussion I think we both came to same decision not to ice her out, but we weren’t going to be overly friendly either.
“Not that they deserved an explanation,” Sierra sniffed. “You don’t go in public and demand to hold, touch, and see other people’s babies, what makes them thank it’s okay here.”
Normally she was a peacekeeper, but the mama bear was starting to emerge closer to her due date.
She was very protective concerning children in our lives.
She was becoming more vocal when people stepped over our boundaries or completely ignored them.
It made me happy that she was feeling more and more comfortable with us and truly believed we saw her as family.
“You don’t have to be rude about it,” one of the women stated.
“Regardless, we would like it if you respected our desire to keep our children away from non-family members.” Remy crossed his arms over his chest.
They grumbled their responses and traipsed away.
I rolled my eyes so hard it was amazing they didn’t roll out of my head.
It took me a moment to recognize that the chick that made my warning bells go off still lingered.
Her eyes seemed to be transfixed on Andy.
She must have noticed my attention on her because she gave me a smile before walking away.
I looked at Jace. “She doesn’t feel right. Who is she and where did she come from?”
Sierra nodded in agreement. “She gives me the heebie jeebies too!”
I smiled, glad that she didn’t think I was being weird.
“Bonnie?” Noah asked with a frown. “She’s came in about two months ago from the West coast. She’s been amazing in the labor and delivery ward. A lot of new moms love her. She has a great bed side manner and eases a lot of the younger mom’s fears.”
Jace looked toward Bonnie before turning back to me. “She feel’s normal to me. A little disappointed but I think that’s because she wanted to hold the babies.”
Drake commented. “She’s not one of the women that was assisting us in the delivery room. I know a lot of the nurses wanted to have a peek at our little miracles. Maybe she’s one of them.”
“Hmm, okay,” I hummed before heading toward the line. “Let’s eat. I’m hungry.”
No one told me how hungry I would be while breastfeeding. I swear I was eating constantly. I had several baskets throughout the apartment filled with mostly healthy snacks and a fridge full of Gatorade. I felt like I was constantly eating but I knew I was burning it off just as quickly.
Out of my peripheral I could still see Bonnie watching us. Something still didn’t sit right with me. “Is she a healer?” I asked as Jaxson grabbed trays for both of us.
Andy was beginning to stir so I began to rock and gently pat his bottom. I peeled the sling back a little bit and noticed he was still sound asleep, just restless.
“Who?” Troy asked in confusion.
“Bonnie.” I answered.
Lincoln, Jace, and Troy shot me concerned looks but Remy seemed to realize it wasn’t just my crazy hormones acting up.
He wrapped an arm around my waist and kissed the top of my head.
Something was off and I didn’t want to ignore any red flags.
I should have been more irritated by the brazen bitches that approached us, yet Bonnie was where my apprehension lay.
Noah placed a piece of chicken on his tray before contemplating his answer.
“You know, I don’t think so. I know over half of our staff are healers, while the others have medical degrees in their field.
We’ve had such a large number of newer staff members that I don’t know who has what gifts, except for the obvious.
Some openly talk about their gifts and I have witnessed some of them, but I honestly don’t know everyone’s gifts. ”
I hummed before telling Jaxson. “May I have some mac and cheese with a grilled chicken salad.”
“Sure can, pretty mama,” Jaxson leaned in to kiss me sweetly. “Do you want ranch, honey mustard, or balsamic vinaigrette for your salad?”
“Honey mustard, please.”
“Why all the questions about Bonnie?” Drake asked.
I shrugged. “I don’t know it’s just a weird feeling I’m getting.”
“I can check into her employment records,” Noah said.
I smiled. “Thanks.”
I could see some of the others still doubted my sudden interest, but I was thankful that they were willing to let me voice my concerns. I could see in Drake, Remy, Noah, and Jaxson’s eyes that they were willing to trust my intuition.
Sierra reached around me to grab two bowls of rice pudding and a slice of chocolate cake. I smirked at her and she stuck her tongue out at me. “Don’t judge. It wasn’t too long ago that you were eating two baked potatoes with butter, sour cream, bacon, cheese, and hot sauce.”
I shuddered at the memory. I was more than thankful to no longer have any of those weird cravings any longer. I didn’t count my desire for a banana wrapped with American cheese as one of them, considering that my uncle had introduced me to that odd combination as a child.
I was unable to give her a rebuttal when I heard squealing and hollering from across the room. “Blake!” “Babies!”
I looked up to see Ella and Alex running toward us.
I smiled when I saw them. They were completely enthralled by the babies.
At first, I was leery about having them visit considering that they were around so many other children throughout the day, but eventually I lightened up a little.
Across the world parents had older children while introducing little ones into the family.
I didn’t want them to feel unincluded in the new stage of our lives.
So, we allowed them around the twins with a few stipulations.
I smiled at them and embraced each one before tugging on the braid Remy meticulously put in Ella’s hair. “How were your morning classes?”
“Boring!” Alex huffed like he was put out, while Ella chirped. “Good.”
Jace chuckled. “How did your math test go and your Social studies quiz?”