Chapter 45
17 Weeks
Size of Babies: a Pear
I had been home justunder two weeks. I was on constant watch. Making sure I was taking it easy, and Sage made me get a doctor’s note signing me off for a month. Hated that. I was bored. But do you know what I started to do? Study. No one knows, and that’s the way I wanted to keep it. My conversation with Kyra struck a match deep inside of me, relighting my passion for doctoring. It may lead to nowhere, but it may lead to me getting my dream once more.
“Hello,” I hear Keaton”s voice float through the room and excitement singes my nerves.
“In the kitchen,” I call back as I load the dishwasher. He rounds the corner with two covered plates, and they smell so good.
“Pumpkin pie and the scalloped corn,” he places it on the oven top then tucks his hands in his pockets.
“Thank you, where is Dad with the turkey?” and he shrugs his shoulders up. They”re still not on speaking terms. I am tempted to hire a boxing ring and throw them in it together until they”ve knocked all the shit out of each other.
“Can you maybe call him?”
“Sunshine,” my dad calls out and I can smell the turkey before I even see it.
“That smells soooo good,” and I know I am drooling.
He places it on the countertop, and I peek a look under the foil. Looks delicious.
“And I have pecan pie,” Amora says, “I hope it”s okay, my first thanksgiving and I am so excited,” she places the pie dish down.
“It was agreed I sorted the pie,” Keaton swoops in, lifting her pie dish up.
She furrows her brows, her growing bump pushing into him as she snatches her pie back.
“I put it in the group Keaton,” she snaps.
“Well, I didn”t see it.”
Dad is already scrolling up the chat.
“Please, it”s fine. There are fourteen of us,” I huff, placing my hands on my hips.
“Fourteen!?” Keaton groans.
“Did you not read any of the group?”
“I did, but I thought it was just our little crowd,” he rolls his eyes.
“Well, Reese wanted to spend it with her mom and dad as well, so Mateo and Liz were invited,” I reminded him softly.
“Plus, my mum and dad,” Amora says sweetly, placing her pie back down.
“It”s going to be hell,” he groans, kicking his toe into the floor.
“Stop being a grouch,” I give him a gentle nudge in the ribs, and he chuckles, wrapping his arm around my shoulders and pulling me in for a kiss on the side of the head which gets a growl from my dad.
“Leave off man,” Keaton moans, dropping his arm from me instantly and I miss it.
“Don”t do it right in front of me, I know you two are... well...” he sighs, “just don”t do it in my direct eyesight, I mean, have a little respect.”
“Wow, it feels weird being here,” Reese chimes, Celeste clinging to her mom, fingers wrapped round the gold chain that hangs from her neck.
Killian whistles as he walks through the door with piled up plates.
“We have the candied yams, green bean casserole...” Killian”s voice is playful and I smile.
“And we have roast beef, cauliflower cheese and Yorkshire puddings,” Liz informs in her British accent.
“You have what?” Keaton barks.
“Again man, the group,” Titus places his head in his hands and Amora laughs.
“No, I”m not on about the group. What is a Yorkshire pudding?”
“Only the best side with a roast dinner; trust me young man, you are going to be changed.”
“I hate to admit,” Killian pipes up, taking Celeste off Reese, “they are so good, especially with thick beef gravy.”
And I think we all look towards him, heads tilted, eyes narrowed, brows dug in deep as we try and decipher what he has said.
“Gravy, it”s not like your gravy. You have it sweet with chicken and biscuits, right?” Amora says as she leans against my dad, his hands resting on her bump and my heart warms. I am glad he has found someone to love him as much as he deserves, and I am glad he has found someone to love too.
“Right,” Keaton nods, fingers curled round the countertop, mine too, and we don”t miss the chance to let them brush occasionally.
“Well, back home in England, we make gravy with the meat juice or granules, and we serve it with roast dinners, or sausage and mash. Anything sort of like a comfort food, we add gravy.”
“Like sausage in a hole.”
“Toad dad, Toad in the hole.” Connie barrels through the door with Kaleb, both with naughty grins on their faces.
“Yes, that, toad. Toad in the hole.”
“Sausage in a hole,” Reese giggles, cheeks pinching.
“This is bringing back horrid thanksgiving memories.” Connie shakes her head, lip curled in disgust.
“Why?” I ask as I take the plates from Connie.
“I have made stuffing and homemade cranberry sauce.” She announces.
“Ahem,” Kaleb coughs, clearing his throat. “Who made the cranberry sauce?”
“Alright Chandler Bing,” she rolls her eyes at him, and we all laugh.
“Okay so just Nate with his stuffed pumpkin.”
“What?” Keaton scrubs his face.
“He decided to go vegetarian for November, no idea why but,” I shrug my shoulders up. Why did I decide to host thanksgiving in the penthouse. Already regretting it.
“Anyway, who wants a drink?” Connie calls out as she pops the champagne.
Reese charges forward, grabbing two champagne flutes and Connie fills them up. They both cheers each other.
“No one else want one Con?” Kaleb raises his brows.
“I”m not your maiden. Go make your own damn glass.”
“Scotch?” Killian walks over with a crystal decanter.
“Where did that come from?” my frown pinches.
“My secret stash,” he winks and the guys all follow him out into the living area.
“How are you doing?” Liz asks me as she pops the electric kettle on and raids through the cupboards for her Yorkshire teabags.
“Yeah okay, feel like I am getting a bit more energy now,” I admit as I grab a bottle of water from the fridge and take a mouthful, then I offer one to Amora, but she shakes her head.
“I”ll have a tea,” she smiles at Liz, her cheeks pinching pink.
“Me too,” I hear another light well-spoken brit and Amora”s face lights up.
“Mum!” she chimes, running into her mother’s embrace.
“Oh Amora, I have missed you so much,” her mom holds her tightly and I feel a tightness in my chest. A tightness I have never felt before. I rub it out, ignoring it.
“Amora,” A deep, gruff voice follows, and I can”t help but stare, Amora is such a blend of the two. Her dad”s eyes, her mom”s skin and hair color.
“Dad,” she sighs, and he kisses her on the cheek, his eyes find me and he gives a sort of smile that tugs at the corners of his mouth. A scar runs from his ear, down his cheek and ends at his nostril. I try not to stare, but it’s a little hard not to.
“Hey darling.”
“How rude of me,” Amora”s mom walks over to me, “I”m Royal, Amora”s mother, and this is my husband, Xavier.”
“Pleasure to meet you,” I smile.
“Likewise,” her eyes focus on me a moment before they fall to my bump.
“Your father has told me so much about you, he is very proud,” her head tilts slightly and her cheeks must hurt from the constant smile she wears.
“I bet he is,” and I know my tone is dripping with sarcasm.
I take the dish from her that’s filled with roast potatoes and Xavier places an apple pie down before opening the refrigerator and placing a tub in there. What is that?
“Custard.” he says, answering my unspoken words but my wondering mind.
“Oh.”
“Tea?” Liz asks Royal.
“Oh yes, that would be lovely.”
“I”m Reese”s mum,” she continues, and they both fall into easy conversation. I take that as my cue to walk out the kitchen and make sure the table is ready.
“Where is Nate?” I ask when I look at the time. We agreed to meet at three, it”s quarter to four.
“I”ll call him,” Keaton says as he pulls out his phone.
“At least we have candied yams this year,” Reese says happy as a kid who has been handed candy.
“No one cares for the candied yams,” Connie rolls her eyes.
“Don”t start this again. You purposely sabotaged them before.”
“I did not!” She places her hand across her chest.
“You did,” Reese nods and Killian lets his head tip back making some weird groaning noise, Mateo occupying Celeste with her toys on the middle of the rug that sits in the center of the living area.
“Not this again,” Kaleb sighs, tapping his finger on the side of his crystal tumbler.
“Then I dropped them anyway, so you ruining them didn”t matter anymore cos we didn”t even get to taste them.”
“And I can assure you if you did taste them, you wouldn”t want to eat them again. I just don”t like them.”
“Well, I would have liked to have gotten the chance,” Reese shakes her head from side to side.
“Why did you drop them?” I ask, perching myself on the arm of the sofa when Killian stands up, offering me his seat but I shake my head, refusing.
“Oh my god, have you not heard the story?” Reese sits up in her seat, eyes wide.
“No?” I look round the room and see how defeated Killian and Kaleb look. They both exchange a ”here we go” look.
“Dearest Connie invited me to thanksgiving with her dad, and because I couldn”t get back home because of a freak snow storm they had in the UK, I jumped at the chance otherwise it would have been a microwave meal for one.”
“Nate is going to be ten minutes,” Keaton interrupts and Connie throws him a death stare. “Sorry,” he murmurs, standing beside me, hand on my thigh.
Titus coughs.
“Give over man for fuck’s sake,”
“Anyway!” Reese calls out, clapping loudly to bring everyone’s attention back to her.
“Jesus Christ,” Killian groans.
“I decided to cook some traditional thanksgiving sides, green bean casserole and candied yams.”
“Vomit,” Connie wretches.
Reese ignores her and I stifle my laugh behind my bottle of water.
“So, we”re walking towards this penthouse, no idea that Connie”s dad lived in the building. I mean, she never once mentioned it and neither did he.” She throws a dagger glare over towards Killian but he just chuckles, shrugging his shoulder up. “We go through this weird Hogwarts, platform 9/34 shit and then there”s a private elevator to this penthouse.”
“Rambling,” Connie looks at her manicured nails, twisting her hand to face her.
“Connie lets herself in, calling out ‘Dad’ as she does, and I am just standing with my candied yams. Proud as punch I was.”
“What about the green bean casserole?” Keaton asks, clearly fully invested in this story.
“Think we binned it,” Connie shrugs up.
“And then I hear this voice say ‘Hey Princess’ and I swear my soul left my body. I was frozen and it wasn”t until he walked round the corner and our eyes met, that my candied yams were falling in slow motion and I was frozen to the spot.”
“Why?” Nate asks, scrunching his nose as he holds his pumpkin.
“Hi Nate,” I smile, my eyes on him but he just waits for Reese.
“Because she was having relations with my dad. She didn”t know he was my dad to be fair, I wasn”t very forthcoming with that information.”
“Forthcoming? Connie, you told me your moms used a sperm donor!”
“Yeah, well that”s what they told me until....”
“Anyway! Who”s hungry, let”s dish up.” We did not need Adele-gate bringing Thanksgiving down. If there’s one story that I’ve heard numerous times, it”s that one and I can”t hear it one more time. But for those of you that don”t know the story, here we go. Adele is Connie”s birth mom. Adele and Killian used to have some form of a relationship I think, she fell pregnant and Adele didn”t want the baby but Killian knew Lara and Katie did. So, Killian introduced them and it was a closed adoption until Adele started blackmailing Killian and well, yeah, Connie found out, shit went south, there was a sneaker thrown at someone’s head but honestly, I can”t remember who it hit. Now you”re all caught up, you”re welcome.
I walk into the kitchen, and I get shooed out.
“You go and sit down, we will get this served up,” Liz and Royal usher me out and to the table. Killian and Keaton are on drinks, Titus and Nate help bring the food in and Connie and Reese place the plates down and me and Amora sit opposite each other smiling that we just get to sit and relax.
The food is served, our glasses are full and we”re all holding hands as Killian stands at the head of the table to give thanks.
“I am thankful for my found family, friends I never knew I needed or wanted, but they found me anyway. My daughters, my wife, I love you very much. More than life itself. I am thankful for our health and thankful for every good day that comes here after, and of course, I am thankful to Elijah,” and I open one eye and focus on Reese. “Because without him, I would have never made it to today, I would have never met the love of my life and I would have never been blessed with my baby girl, Celeste, and I would have definitely not have met you, all of you, so Elijah,” Killian pauses, reaches for his scotch and lifts it towards the sky. “Thank you.”
We all raise a glass and Reese wipes a stray tear along with Mateo and Liz and my heart constricts in my chest.
In this moment, all I feel is the overwhelming love from this new family I have fallen into. And for that, I am thankful. Truly thankful.
Keaton catches my gaze from across the table and my heart thumps in my chest.
And of course, I am thankful for him. Always.
Tall Dark Handsome
Tick tock, Arizona, I am coming for you.
I’ll take them all out one by one,
But I’ll start with the one that he calls the sun.
You hurt me,
I’ll hurt you,
Tick tock, Arizona, I am coming for you.
30 Weeks
Size of Babies: a Cabbage
Me
Where are you?
I text Keaton. He promised he would be here at ten a.m. It”s just past and he isn”t here. I pace. Not sure why I am so agitated? Hormones? Probably. The intercom buzzes and I grab my purse from the side table and open the door.
“Finally,” I roll my eyes in an exaggerated manner.
“Kid, I was two minutes past ten.”
“Still late, kid.” I jibe as I lock the penthouse behind me.
“You look as beautiful as ever,” He leans in and places a kiss on my cheek, my skin tingling. I’ve missed that.
“Who paid you to say that?” I smirk, dropping my keys into my purse as we begin to walk towards the elevator. It”s a Saturday. Keaton is dressed in jeans, crew neck cream tee and a navy jacket tucked under a bomber and finishes his casual look with fresh white sneakers. Me? I”m wearing maternity jeans, a black vest top tucked into my jeans and a white flowing shirt that covers my arms and is buttoned to the top of my bump as the sides fall either side. My feet are hidden in black soft pumps and it was a struggle. They”re swelling at rapid speed. I debated sandals but it”s still cold. I have my large coat hung over my arm because I feel like I am cooking from the inside out.
“No one,” he stops, long fingers pushing the button of the elevator, my eyes falling and I see his tacky gold ring still firmly wrapped round his finger. We”re not together. We never had the conversation. I threw my ring, he didn”t follow, and I suppose we kind of fell into this weird, in between.
“You”re a terrible liar, Mr Mills.”
He scoffs a laugh and steps inside the elevator as I follow.
“So,” he begins, “what is on your to get list?”
I mull over his question, my eyes greedily sweeping over him, and I feel a deep burn twist in my stomach and radiating down my thighs. He really is handsome. Sexy. Rugged. His hair styled and fluffy and I want to lock my fingers round the root. His full lips parted and his stubble working for him. It would be so easy to hit the emergency stop button and just let him have his way with me.
“Ari?” he cocks his head to the side and my cheeks flame when I snap out of it.
“Yup?” I try and conceal my embarrassment at being caught.
“Did you hear what I said?” his lips twitch into a smirk.
He knows.
He so knows.
I could have lied. I didn”t. I just stared at him.
“No?” why am I answering in a question.
“Would you like me to repeat it?” he chuckles as the lift halts.
“Please,” I dip my head as I walk out of the elevator and turn right towards the exit of the building.
“What is on your list?”
You.
“Everything?” and this time I do answer with a question for a reason. He stops dead in his tracks, head tilting ever so slightly as he looks at me, eyes narrowing. “I am freaking out,” I admit, fingers locked in front of me.
“Why?” he licks his lips. I want to be his lips. Why am I so horny?
“Because I have nothing, these babies could come at any day.”
“That”s why we”re going shopping aren”t we, baby.”
Baby.
“But we do need to decide where we”re going to stay when the babies are born,”
I stiffen. “I would really like for you to come back home, Ari.”
“But...”
“Look,” he pauses for a moment and closes the gap between us with two steps. Not hard, one step of Keaton”s is three of mine. “I know we”re sort of...”
“On a break?” Damn it.
“Yeah?”
Oh, now he is asking me the questions.
“Yeah.”
“But we have both agreed that I am going to be in the babies lives, just to help out.” He nods as if trying to convince himself. I”m annoyed with myself. I have no idea why I haven”t said I want to be back with him. I knew I wanted it. I”m sure he wants it. But?
“So come home Ari, give Killian his penthouse back and move home.” His hand cups my face, my eyes glassy. “Move back home with me, please,” and I don”t miss the desperation in his voice.
Truth was, I wanted to go back home. I loved him with everything I had.
“Okay,” I whisper, and I see the glee in his eyes, his lips spreading into a slow smirk.
“Roommates, of course?” he wiggles his brows.
“Of course.” Small steps. This is what we need. We will fall back into each other, but for the minute, our focus is the babies. “But can I move back home tomorrow? I have a date with the girls tonight,” I grimace.
“There is no rush, we can order everything to home, then we can sort you moving back whenever you’re ready,” and his hand slowly slips from my face making me miss his touch instantly.
“Okay,” I smile as I turn, Keaton beside me.
“Where first?” He asks, a car waiting for us.
“Cribs,” and I take his hand as he leads me away.
“Cribs,” he gives a heavy nod and slips in beside me.
Sitting in Sarabeth’s, Keaton has a goofy smile on his face and my heart warms inside my chest.
“What you smiling for?”
“I just...” he takes a mouthful of his soda and places it down softly, “I had the best day.”
“Me too,” my cheeks turn pink as I take my own mouthful and our burgers come just as Keaton opens his mouth to say something.
“Can I get you anything else?” the server asks and I shake my head, Keaton dismissing the waitress kindly.
“Are you happy with everything that we got?” he asks as he grabs a fry from his plate and dips it in the ketchup and I have never wanted to be a pot of ketchup more than I do now.
“I think so,” I distract myself by pulling my phone out and opening my list.
“How much can you check off?” he brings his burger to his lips.
“Most of it. We have the stroller, the cribs, the swing chairs, the bottles, pacifiers, baby slings, diapers, diaper bag, clothes, muslins...” I pause.
“We just need to get their coming home outfits and hats, right?”
“Right,” I smile as I lock my phone and swipe my own fry.
“Do you need anything Arizona?” he wipes his mouth with his napkin, his burger back on his plate.
“A few bits, I need to sort my hospital bag out too, but I will sort that.”
“I don”t mind...”
“No, honestly, you have done so much for me, for us,” my hands round my lower bump, “I will never be able to thank you enough,” and I swallow the lump down that”s presented itself in my throat.
His hand glides across the table, palm up, fingers pointing towards me, and I tuck mine inside his.
“I will always do everything I can for you and our babies.”
Our.
Sitting in the penthouse,Connie and Reese are drinking wine, while I drink soda water. Not as exciting but still.
“So, a little birdie told me you’re moving out.”
“That little birdie can”t help but gossip can he,” I pop a brow and Reese giggles beside me.
“We tell each other everything,” Connie turns her nose up to the air and I roll my eyes.
“But yes, I am. For the babies.”
“Yes, of course, for the...” and Reese places her wine down on the coffee table then air quotes, “babies.”
“It is for the babies!” I say a little louder than I wanted. First mistake. Defensive.
“Just admit you still love him,” Connie sighs, softly shaking her head from side to side.
“I do,” I shrug my shoulder up, “I won”t lie about that. I do love him; it just got a little... I dunno. It was a lot.”
“I get that, but do you want to sacrifice your happiness for whatever the issues were,” Connie looks at Reese and turns her hands up, nose crinkling at the bridge.
“Not really, but I just think we need to find ourselves again. Take our time,”
I sip my soda.
“We”ve all been there, none of our relationships were easy, we all had bumps in the road,” Connie nods, and Reese scoffs a laugh.
“Pretty sure mine was the biggest bump,” Reese smirks at me knowing it will cause a rise from Connie.
“It”s not a competition Reese,” Connie rolls her eyes and I laugh, letting my head toss from side to side softly.
“Anyway,” I chime, trying to diffuse the ticking time bomb that has presented itself in front of me.
“Yes, anyway,” Reese beams at me.
“Is he a good fuck?” Connie asks out the blue and I choke on my inhale breath. Eyes wide as my cheeks burn.
“Connie!” Reese leans across and swats her.
“What?! I”m sure we”re all thinking it.”
“Definitely was not thinking it.” Reese defends.
“Stop lying.”
“Ugh,” I let my head fall back and I contemplate answering. I mean, why shouldn”t I? Is that not what girlfriends do? Fair, it”s a little weird ‘cause it”s Connie”s brother-in-law but... “He is such a good fuck,” I blurt out and the room falls silent.
“Not that I have much to compare it to...”
Why are they so quiet?
“Wait, what?” Connie sits forward. We all know Connie is—was—the more promiscuous out of the three of us. Reese had only been with Elijah, her one-night stand and Killian. Connie, well, she liked sex and was always up for casual sex before Kaleb. Loved that for her. Then there was me. Shameful really. Cam girl getting herself off with toys and I was always waiting for the one request of me using a dildo and taking my virginity that way... but my private client took care of that in the end.
“Yeah,” I breathe out, ignoring the tremble deep within my chest.
“So was Keaton your first?” Reese shuffles to the edge of the sofa, Connie hanging off her words.
I shake my head.
“Someone at work...” and I stiffen momentarily. I don”t want to slip up.
“Oh,” Connie smirks, “minx.”
“Hardly,” crimson paints my cheeks.
“Was he good?”
“It was over before it started to be honest.” okay, it was a lie, but I wanted off this conversation as quickly as possible.
“But Keaton?” Reese”s lips grow into a wide grin, eyes dancing with mine as she waits for my response.
“Oh my god,” I fan myself, and the girls giggle.
“Life is too short for shit sex, it”s got to be hot AF.” Connie reaches for her wine and takes a mouthful.
“Amen,” we all chime and lean in to clink our glasses.
“How”s the horniness?” Reese asks as we all settle back into our seats.
“Awful, I was so turned on earlier watching Keaton lick his lips. What the fuck is that all about?”
“Third trimester horniness,” she smirks.
“I”m always horny,” Connie shrugs a shoulder up.
“Shock,” Reese rolls her eyes and laughs.
“So, you going to act on it?” Reese purses her lips at the edge of her glass.
“No,” I shrink. “It”s already complicated, I don”t want to make it worse.”
“How can you make it worse? You married your dad”s best friend and are pregnant with his twins... please, unless I am missing something, how can you make it worse?”
And I say nothing. Just shrug my shoulders up.
“Top up?” Reese asks, sensing my mood and Connie nods, handing her an empty wine glass.
“Sorry, I don”t mean to overstep,” Connie leans over towards me and I can see the sincerity in her eyes.
“I know, it”s just things are a little in the air at the moment and I don”t want to add to that.”
“When are you moving home?”
“Next week, I”ve got a few things to sort out with work then I should be good to go.”
“You going to miss this place?” she asks, sitting back in the chair and I look round the penthouse and let out a happy sigh.
“Yeah...” I pause for a moment, “I am.”
Once the girls had gone, I double checked the lock on the door for the last time and climbed into bed. I hovered my finger over my cam app, and for some reason curiosity gets the better of me. Signing in, I confirm the re-activation of my account before I am greeted with my dashboard, and I see notifications and messages. I also see TallDarkandHandsome is online. Always thought it was Keaton. Still think it could be. He was always online when I was, Keaton was always locked in his room. Coincidence? Maybe. But then that one night made me doubt my inkling. Keaton wouldn”t have treated me like that. Would he?
A message pops up and my heart races.
Hello little Vixen.
It”s been a while, I was starting to worry where you were.
I ignore it.
Don”t play hard to get, I”m closer to you than you think. I”m always watching you Arizona.
My blood runs cold. I panic, shutting off my phone and wishing it to be morning already so I could go to Keaton”s.
Now I would lay wide eyed and worrying.
But sleep came eventually.