Chapter 33 #6
We were on the last verse of our song when Jemmy slipped up beside me. Her mouth opened, and I smiled as her words erupted from her throat.
“As two becomes one creating three, I know by my side you’ll always be,” She sung.
Gavin looked over in confusion, realizing it wasn’t me that sung the bridge. His jaw dropped when he saw the ultrasound Jemmy held. He dropped his guitar and had no embarrassment or shame when his tears began to cascade down his cheeks.
“Are you serious?” he croaked as he stumbled towards her.
She couldn’t talk as she nodded her head, tears pouring from her eyes. She held her mouth to prevent the sobs from ripping forth.
Ben and I winked at each other and continued to sing and play.
It took a few minutes for the rest of our family and friends to realize Jemmy just informed Gavin he was going to be a daddy again.
After a miscarriage and several years of trying, they never thought she could have a child.
Imagine my surprise when she came over a few weeks ago and told me she wasn’t feeling well.
I recognized all the symptoms, and I insisted she take a test. Seven tests later, it was confirmed.
She asked me to accompany her to my OB-GYN, and it was confirmed.
In true Jemmy fashion, she wanted to make a huge announcement, so with the help of Sierra, Mercedes, and Ben and a few other people, we hatched our plans.
Our family and friends erupted in tears and laughter, and Ben and I decided to take our exit from the stage so they could have their very public moments. Mercedes, Sierra, Lexus, and Rory soon joined them, and I fought off my tears.
“Was this what you were sneaking around the house for?” Remy inquired from the bottom of the steps.
“Yup!” I answered quickly as I hid another smile. Of course not. I let them believe that a pig and Jemmy’s announcement was my surprise.
“Milk, mama,” our eighteen-month-old popped up her little dark head off her dad's chest.
She signed milk to me and tried to launch herself at me.
Ava Hazel Bell was Liam’s twin. She had my hair, but Remy’s eyes, so we all surmised that she was Remy’s.
He was an amazing father to our boys but there was no doubt he was a girl dad through and through.
Which extended to all the little girls in our extended family as well.
“Okay, Ava,” I crooned to her. “You know you are getting cut off soon. You’re almost two.”
Our breastfeeding journey hadn’t been nearly as long or hard as it had been with Andy and Addy.
When the twins were born, we had a lot of struggles, but with the support from the guys, it made all the difference.
I had to pump a lot and learn how to keep and maintain a supply.
We lasted a year before I cut them off from the direct supply and continued to feed them our freezer stash.
A year was the goal for Liam and Ava as well, but they seemed more reluctant to give it up.
Especially around nap times and bed. After a little research, I determined they could still benefit from my milk until they were two.
Now, if only they could get the memo. Hopefully, they would understand soon.
I was going to be too exhausted soon, so she may not have a choice.
Remy guided us over to a padded lounge chair, and I sat down between his legs.
He pulled out my cover from his pocket, and I had to smile at his preparedness.
I had no problem whipping it out when my guys were around or if my girlfriends were the only ones around, but I wasn’t comfortable flashing the rest of my family.
I knew it was perfectly natural, and they wouldn’t care, but the idea of flashing a nip to a man that wasn’t one of my connections made me feel awkward.
Remy pulled me back into his chest, and I curled up against him and smiled at his warm smile.
As always, he couldn’t resist the urge to pull the cover open a little bit to watch our daughter nurse at my breast. All the guys seemed fascinated by this, but Troy, Noah, and Remy seemed slightly more enthralled.
In the beginning, when it seemed like all I did was nurse them, they spent hours with me.
They spent the most time with me. They behaved as if they couldn’t get enough of seeing me with our children that way.
They made sure my water bottle was always full, and my basket of snacks was always stocked with my favorites.
“I love you,” Remy whispered as his bluish-grey eyes filled with warmth. The same eyes his daughter inherited from him. “You have made me a very happy man.”
My heart melted at his proclamation. No matter how many times they expressed their love to me, it would never get old or make me melt any less.
“I’m going,” Tatum stomped passed us.
“He’s a senior, and your just a sophomore,” Micah bit out. “It’s not only a dance he’s inviting you too.”
We had discovered Tatum, Micah’s second connection a few years ago. He was a couple of years older than her and she had a hard childhood. She was currently being fostered with another family and in therapy to help her with her introduction to the gifted community.
“So what?” she turned and glared at him. “You and Shiloh have been going at it like rabbits for years. Do you really expect me to stay celibate while you have your fun?”
Admittedly Tatum was struggling with this the most. Again, I didn’t blame her.
Micah and Shiloh had years to grow their relationship.
Her arrival had been a shock to them. Surprisingly enough Shiloh hadn’t taken it too harshly.
Since her community had understood the importance of connections she was willing to give Tatum a chance.
“You’re only sixteen. Connection or not, I can’t very well seal it yet. I’m a man. It’s not as easy as it is for you, girls,” Micah snarled.
Tatum rolled her eyes as she laughed bitterly. “You can’t treat me like a little girl one moment than act like you have a cave man the next. You’re my connection. Not my dad. Ryker is on his way over, and maybe I won’t wait until homecoming night.”
“You better hope you see him before I do,” Micah smirked as he crossed his arm over his chest. “I would hate for him to end up in say… Tijuana with no passport.”
Her eyes narrowed on him, and she glared at him. “Micah Bell so help me, if another one of my dates disappear I’ll make sure you regret the day you met me.”
Micah flustered for a moment. He knew gift for gift Tatum could outsmart him and cause more damage.
“Stop being such a hypocrite, Mi,” Patrick casually strolled over, eating some crab dip. “She needs an outlet for her gifts just as much as we do. You really can’t expect her to stay celibate for the next two to three years, can you.”
Tatum was simpering until he said her age, then she was glaring once more.
I knew that look. Here came a bold statement.
“Two. I’ll be “legal” in two years. I’m sixteen,” she casually took off her coverup revealing her gorgeous figure encased in a white bikini.
“And your right, I more than nearly everyone,” she shot me a bemused expression.
“Have to find an outlet for two different gifts.”
Yup, my brother’s second connection had two gifts and of course, we had no clue her origin story. We had no records and when she was discovered she didn’t even have a birth certificate to determine her parentage or if they even knew she was gifted.
Her bathing suit was a lot more modest than what her friends wore, her body was hard to ignore, no matter what she wore. She had the body that most women would die to have. Not that she didn’t earn it, but God definitely blessed her with long legs, big boobs, and a nice butt.
What? I called it as I saw it, and right now, I witnessed the moment Micah recognized Tatum as more than just a little girl.
She turned and walked towards our indoor pool. All the windows were open, so anyone that wanted to swim can still enjoy the outdoors.
“You do not,” Micah stormed after her.
“So, when do you turn eighteen exactly,” Patrick followed after them.
I knew he was just riling Micah up. Patrick had a thing for older women, no matter how hot women around his age was. Other than one high school girl friend, I never saw him with anyone his age or younger. In fact, his current hookups were three and four years his senior.
Micah glared at Patrick, and he chuckled.
Remy squeezed me, and I looked over at him.
“And it begins,” he said silently.
“Nah,” I replied. “She’ll make Micah work for it.”
“I have a feeling it won’t be for much longer,” he said dryly. “Should we try to changer her living situation?”
I knew that was his code word for moving her closer to us.
We had struggled with it at first considering the proximity of Micah but it had worked out well with Shiloh.
Until the day she graduated she had spent the school year with her family and stayed the summers with us.
Fostering their friendship had made them better connections to each other once they came of age.
I grinned up at him and kissed his mouth. “We probably should and maybe we should think about moving her into our family compound. I don’t think her foster family keeps a close eye on her.”
Now when should I tell them my real surprise? Maybe after our discussion about Tatum.
η
“Another great party in the books,” Lincoln sighed in satisfaction as he took off his shirt and placed it in our hamper.
“I think I overate,” Jaxson groaned from his spot on our bed.
When we built our house we made sure that our Master was large enough to accommodate us all. Everyone had their own room that catered to their needs or interest, but more often than not, we migrated to this room.
“I told you three cupcakes was too much.” Noah snorted.
“He had to eat them because Jemmy couldn’t,” Jace said dryly as he slipped up behind me and unzipped the back of my dress.
I sighed and moaned when his lips connected to the back of my neck.