Chapter 32 Bliss #2
My first real love, my baby father, my fiancé, and my first to a lot of beautiful things…
I have a gift for you, and it isn’t anything out of the ordinary, but this gift is special to me.
Why? Because it’s something I know you wanted.
You mentioned it once, and I kept it in mind.
It crossed my mind to give it to you, but I didn’t know how.
Or if I could. Anyway… I know you probably don’t want to hear this, but I’ve been working a lot during my pregnancy.
Some say it’s good for the baby… but really, I did extra lessons, tutoring—everything—behind your back.
And guess what? I did it. I’m in tears writing this, because I finally bought the gift for you.
I couldn’t wait for your special day to surprise you. I love you.
—Your fiancée & Mami,
Zara.
He goes quiet, staring at the note like it took the air out of him. His face is unreadable for a moment, and then it softens. “Before mi even see the gift… yuh see outta all the expensive gifts mi ever get, yours mean everything to me.” He pulls me in and hugs me tight, pecking my jaw.
“Awww baby,” I whisper, cupping his face, smiling up at him. He’s already untying the ribbon, not even waiting.
“Wah inna the box?” Then he sees it. The Crown Royal Saloon car key. He stares, mouth slightly open.
“Yuh do this fi me?” His voice drops, almost like he doesn’t believe it.
“Yupp,” I pop the p. He smirks, sliding his hand under my blouse, fingers warm on my breast. I’m not even wearing a bra. He looks up at me. And I bite my lip. I don’t know what gave me the courage to do all this… maybe it’s the way he’s looking at me now.
“So yuh buy me a Royal Saloon…” he says slowly, still rubbing me, “and then to get creative, yuh buy the Crown Royal liquor?” He bites his lip too.
I giggle—“Yes.” But it comes out as a soft moan.
“Yow, mi a be honest wid yuh…” Nickoi starts, looking me in the eyes.
“Everybody buy mi something expensive, Gutta get mi a jeep, Junior get me a GLE Benz. All of them deh more pricey than a Crown, but your gift beat fi dem… and yuh know why?” I stare at him, heart already full.
“Because of the thought behind it.” He rubs his hand over his beard, smiling slightly.
“The fact yuh even get the liquor too? That a big flex fi me. Yuh nuh just buy mi sumn… yuh listened. Yuh know mi.”
I lean in and kiss him. “I love you.” He hugs me tight, burying his face in my neck for a second. That kind of hug that says everything words can’t. Then I pull back, grinning. “Also… mi do sumn else.”
He raises a brow. “Wah now?”
I stretch out my wrist, showing him. “I got this tattoo.” There, on the inside of my wrist, is the date we met, neatly inked in Roman numerals with a small heart and a forever symbol next to it. It cute bad. He stares at it, his smile spreading slowly like warmth.
“Every day, yuh make mi feel happy more and more seh a you a be mi wife.”
I blush immediately, folding my lips to hide the smile. This man… is a real problem.
***
You ever get that weird dream as a child where you’re sitting on the toilet…
but you’re really peeing yourself? Yeah, that.
Wait… that nuh sound good at all. I don’t know why, but I feel like I’m peeing myself.
My eyes fly open and I throw the sheets off, only to realize fluid is running down my legs.
Shit… my water broke! I glance at the time.
3:00 a.m. Why now though? I rush off the bed and the liquid just keeps pouring.
I waddle over to Nickoi’s side of the bed, holding my lower back and shaking him, twice.
He stirs, eyes blinking rapidly to adjust. Once he realizes what’s going on, he jumps up and grabs me, already moving fast. He dials his aunt, no answer.
He cusses under his breath while helping me into some clothes.
“Nuh next week the baby dem fi born?” Nickoi asks, trying to stay calm.
“Yes,” I reply, breath shaky. He gets dressed quicker than I’ve ever seen and helps me out to the Range Rover.
***
4:50 AM | Hospital
I feel like I’m going to die. The pain nuh normal.
I can’t stop crying. Can’t stop screaming.
“AHH!” I holler again as another wave of pain grips me.
Sweat drenches my face, soaking my edges and sticking strands of hair to my cheeks.
Nickoi wipes my face gently as I scream through another contraction.
“Ahh!” Doctors move around, talking in quick code, preparing everything.
“Ready again,” one of them says, walking toward me.
This pain? It’s like period cramps and diarrhea cramps married, had a toxic baby, then invited back pain and side pain to the christening.
It baddddddd. Ughhhhhhh! God a go protect you, my subconscious whispers.
But when another wave hits my faith slips.
“I c-can’t do this!” I sob, breaking down.
“Yes you can. You’re doing amazing,” one of the doctors says. She’s just saying that.
Nickoi holds my hand tighter. “Don’t say that, Mami,” he pleads, wiping my tears. “Please… nuh seh that.” He looks calm, but I can see it. The worry. The nerves. He’s trying to be strong for me.
“It’s… s-so hard,” I cry, my whole body trembling.
“Mi deh yah wid yuh enuh, Mami… so yuh can do anything,” he says, voice low and steady, but his eyes say otherwise. Another contraction hits hard.
“Nickoi!” I cry out, reaching for him. He leans in, pressing his forehead to my temple, whispering something I can’t even hear through the pain.
“Mi deh yer, baby,” I finally hear it.
“Hold mi hand please,” I cry as the doctor tells me to push.
I scream and push, grabbing the edge of the bed like it could save me.
This pain is relentless. You can’t ignore it.
You can’t breathe through it. It owns your body.
You a go be okay Zara. Ughhhhhhh! I hope.
Just when I think I’m tapped out, two more doctors rush in.
My anxiety spikes, until I hear a familiar voice. Doctor Jacobs.
She suits up in seconds, ready to work. “We’re gonna get these twins out now,” she says, eyes locked on mine. Another ten minutes in hell pass before the first baby finally comes out. I heave a breath so deep it feel like it come from mi soul. Wheww!
What a relief. “The last twin should be easier,” one of the doctors says, and I lie there trying to catch my breath.
“You’re doing great, Zara,” Doctor Jacobs encourages.
“That was the boy,” the nurse says, and even in the middle of all this pain, I find myself smiling. Nickoi’s still beside me, rubbing my hand gently.
“Mi G… you a do good enuh. Just one more to go,” he says, voice calm and steady. So sweet. So present. I pull him close and kiss him. A genuine, thank you for not leaving my side type kiss. The pain dips for a moment.
“Thank you, God,” I whisper.
“Ready again,” one of them says. Lawdddd.
No break? And mi have one more baby weh need fi come out?
Remind me fi nuh breed again! Yuh nuh have no reason to, my subconscious says.
I roll my neck, stretch my fingers, and follow the doctor’s commands.
I push again, through pain that feel like my body is ripping apart.
The screams return, tears blur my vision, and then—
It’s over. Our second baby is here. The room is now filled with their cries.
The sound feels like music to my ears. Soft and loud at the same time.
I did it. Nickoi is typing the time on his phone, my son is 10 minutes older.
He smirks then as soon as he hears both babies crying, he puts it down and leans in, pulling me into his arms. He kisses my lips.
Slow, deep, like he respects every breath I took just now.
“You do it enuh… Mami… proud a yuh, yuh strong bad,” he whispers, then he hugs me and whisper in my ear. “Thank you.” I smile faintly, heart full.
***
I open my eyes to the warm light peeking through the hospital blinds.
Morning finally light out. But what really catch me is the view beside my bed.
The twins are laying peacefully in their clear glass bassinets, each one wrapped in their blankets with little designer hats. Above them floats a bunch of helium balloons, a mix of silver, blush pink and royal blue, tied with silky ribbons and little cards that say “Welcome Royalty.” Boujie bad.
I smile.
The bassinets have some lil gold tags with their names handwritten on them.
Zahir and Zahira. Zahira’s earlobes catch the light, tiny gold studs glisten in her ears.
Waittt… Nickoi got their ear pierced already?
I smile at my cuties. A delicate bracelet rests on their wrist with a tiny charm: an infinity symbol, same like my tattoo.
I love the detailllllls. Nickoi a hot bwoy eno. Win dad!
I’m dragged from that soft moment when I hear Gavin’s voice. “Bwoy dem baby yah nice no blow wow!”
“Yuh extra yuh see,” I laugh, turning my head, and just like that, they start talking over each other. Some say congratulations, others sharing corny jokes, but it’s all love.
“Yuh have strength now?” Mommy asks with a chuckle, standing beside Mama, who’s already deep in admiration
“Yes,” I nod, a small tired smile on my face. Mama beams, her eyes soft as she stares at the babies swaddled beside me.
“They’re beautiful… and that boy is a mixture of both you and that red kin’ bwoy.” I laugh. Awww.
“Who the girl favor?” I ask, trying to sit up more so I can see her better.
My babies. My little creation. My eyes linger on my baby boy, he has this lil pout that’s already giving personality.
I don’t see myself, I see an uncanny resemblance of his dad.
Damnnn. I chuckle, lightly brushing his tiny hand.
“What’s your problem, Zahir?” I whisper, smiling. Awww.
“Watch nice baby name,” Sash says.
“The girl look like Nick and him high color family enuh,” Mama adds, smiling proudly. Doctor Jacobs chuckles at that, she has caramel skin too, and she’s his aunt, so it tracks. But one thing enuh, Zara lef Mama fi do these things. Old people know everything, especially ‘bout babies.
“Look pan the dolly baby dem,” Sash coos, leaning over the sleek glass bassinet. Zahira rest tiny and perfect, wrapped in a soft rose-pink blanket. The other bassinet, holding Zahir, has blue satin ribbons and a mini “Welcome Prince” balloon tied to it.
“My twinzies,” I whisper, a full smile tugging at my lips. Now that I’m looking at them—my babies—I accept the pain. Every scream. Every tear. It was worth it.
Look at them, too damn gorgeous. That night at Zanne’s house? Me and their dad had way too much fun… he almost felt too good in me. It’s unreal. I’mma always remember just how good it felt when we made them.
“Wah dem full name?” Gavin asks.
“Zahir Nickoli Jacobs and Zahira Niyah Jacobs,” I say proudly. Everyone in the room lets out a collective “awww.” My time dat fi say “awww” too.
“Mi love this fi the dolly,” Sash grins.
The door opens. And just like that, Nickoi walks in.
He’s still in his hospital gown, the sky-blue disposable kind, tied halfway so his tattoos peek out from the short sleeves.
His Rolex sits on his wrist, shining under the hospital light.
The mesh cap still on his head, long neat plaits peeking under it.
His mask hanging under his chin, exposing his jawline. Effortless. Mmmmm yum!
Den yuh say me fi remind yuh fi nuh breed again…
Sash sees him walk past and widens her eyes. She looks at Zahir, then back at him. “Zahir a go be problem,” she mutters. “Same way him fadda walk inna room and girl lose sense.” Oh boy…
Everybody laughs.
Nickoi don’t even smile yet. He goes straight to the bassinets, looking down at his seeds. He studies them with that unreadable expression—but you can tell he’s in love.
Then he speaks, low and serious. “Dem perfect.” He leans down and kisses both their foreheads. Nickoi finally walks over to me. Even beside me, he keeps glancing back at the twins. People, it look like mi naav no man again…
I grab his gown and pull him closer, wrapping my arms around him. He lowers his head to me and I kiss his lips. His beard brush my chin and it give me chills. I whisper, “So finally, a gift your money can’t size up to.”
He chuckles under his breath. That smooth, low laugh only I ever get to hear.
“Our babies are the perfect gifts…” I say softly, he looks me dead in the eye. “Happy birthday babe, I love you.”