Chapter 70
I swallow,my throat tightening as I do. I am gasping. My lungs burn when I inhale deeply, my eyes fluttering open when I see a male doctor standing over me. My hand is being held, a thumb rubbing back and forth. I slowly turn my throbbing face to see Keaton, eyes glassy and my heart somersaults in my chest.
“Arizona,” the male’s voice floats across the room and I lazily drag my eyes to him. “Can you hear me?”
I nod. The pain that shoots through my body makes me stiffen in the bed.
“I”m just going to do a few checks,” he says, leaning across me and my chest tightens as sheer panic strangles me. My eyes well and I shake my head from side to side.
“Don”t touch her,” Keaton growls from beside me and I see Kyra gently move the male doctor out of the way.
“Hello Arizona,” Kyra”s voice is soft and I feel the panic slowly seep out of me. “Can I just give you a check over?”
I”m struggling to find my voice.
I nod again.
She leans across me and lifts a torch over my face, shining in my eyes as the male doctor hovers over her shoulder and he gives her a curt nod.
He turns to face the young nurse that walked into the room and asks her to collect some water and some bland food.
My stomach tightens and a burn rips through me.
“The babies,” is all I manage to croak out, and I see as Kyra”s eyes drift towards Keaton. Slowly, I roll my head, turning to look towards him and he gives a soft nod. Kyra walks from the room and it”s not until I allow my eyes to follow her, I notice that my stomach only has a small swell. No rounded baby bump.
Tears prick my eyes as Keaton sits on the edge of the bed.
“Baby,” his voice is soft as his eyes settle on mine. He looks broken. His hands cocoon mine, and my stomach drops.
A single tear escapes, running down my cheek as I close my eyes and brace myself for the words that are about to leave his lips.
“Dr Kyra tried... she just... it was...” he stammers over his words and my heart breaks.
“Please,” I beg, still not having the strength to look at him.
“She couldn”t save them,” and my whole world comes crashing down on me. He took everything from me, my purity, my dignity, my pride, my soul and my babies. He ripped me to pieces, shredding me into nothing and destroyed me in the worst way.
“I tried so hard,” I whisper, allowing my eyes to open as I look at the man I so desperately love.
“I know baby, I know,” he leans gently across me, and places a soft kiss on my forehead, lingering for just a moment.
“How”s my dad?” my voice cracks as I brace myself for another blow.
“Recovering.”
Relief coats me like April showers.
I turn my face away and play his words on loop until my chest is hollow, my heart is disintegrated, and my eyes run dry.
I lost them.
Even I couldn”t save them.
I say goodbye to Dr Combes and walk out onto the sidewalk. I was reluctant to go to therapy when Dr Kyra suggested it, but once I was out of hospital and back home living the life I lost, the grief really took a hold of me and that’s when I booked my first appointment. The last six months have passed by in a blur and I honestly cannot remember most of it. I lost myself in the process. The days slipped into weeks, the weeks into months and here we are.
Six months to the day I was found, and it still isn”t any easier taking each breath. Grief works in funny ways, some days I feel like I am the best version of myself. A constant smile is worn on my face proudly, I feel a little stronger and I know I have my babies in my heart, and on other days, I can”t function. I can”t get out of bed, so I don”t. On top of grief, I have the PTSD of the assault that Wolfe carried out. My whole world stopped on the day Keaton told me the news, but for everyone else, it kept turning. Life has to move on. I can”t be stuck, frozen in the worst moment of my life. I would do anything to go back in time, try and change the outcome, but this was all mapped out. If it wasn”t then, it would have still happened.
My fingers pinch the pendant with my daughter’s fingerprints that I wear with pride around my neck. Primrose and Posie.
They were perfect in every way, far too perfect for this cruel, cruel world.
Today was a good day. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and the cherry blossom trees were in full bloom. Me and Keaton were hosting a dinner tonight for our friends and family. Keaton thinks it may be too soon, but I am ready to step back into the real world. I have been so far away from the day to day that it was time to come back down to earth.
My phone beeps in my purse and I slip it out and see a message from Keaton. A grin tugs at my lips when I read the message.
Keaton
Look up, beautiful.
I do, just as the cherry blossom petals fall, my eyes find his across the road, as he stands on the sidewalk. My heart skips a beat. I have never loved someone as fiercely as I loved Keaton Mills.
He holds his hand up to me and my heart sings in my chest. Walking to the edge of the curb, I get ready to cross when he shakes his head from side to side. He steps into the road and picks up a light jog before he is in front of me. His hands are at the side of my face, his eyes burn into mine just as his head tilts and his lips slant across mine.
“God, I missed you,” he whispers against my lips, edging me back and away from the road.
“I missed you too,” I admit as he kisses me again before he crouches down and places a kiss on my swollen tummy.
“And I missed both of you too,” he smiles against my bump and kisses it. A flutter of a giggle bubbles out of me as he stands and links his fingers through mine, and we walk hand in hand down the blossom lined sidewalk towards home.
The table is set, Keaton is finishing up with dinner and nerves bubble deep inside of me. This isn”t just a dinner. This is where I tell my dad, his wife, my friends and my brother-in-law that I have been accepted into the hospital of my choice again. This is where we tell my dad, his wife, my friends and Keaton”s brother that we”re expecting twin boys. This is where we tell our families what the next few months hold. This is where we put the devastating six months behind us and look to the future with Primrose and Posie tucked inside our hearts, where they’re safe with me until my last dying breath.
Keaton”s arms wrap around me, and I smile as he nuzzles his face into my neck as he whispers against my skin.
“We have thirty minutes,” and I feel the smirk on my skin, my pulse racing.
“We can do a lot in thirty minutes...” I admit, turning and placing my hands on his chest.
“Want to prove to me just how much?” and I don”t get a chance to even catch my breath. He lifts me and my arms wrap around his neck, legs circling his waist as he carries me up the stairs and places me on the bed.
I smirk up at him, my fingers fumbling with the buttons of his shirt. He is between my legs, lips on mine as I push his shirt off his shoulders and let my fingertips roam over his skin. He pushes off me, his hungry eyes ablaze with fire as he looks down at me and my cheeks burn. He gently pulls me up and lifts my pretty lilac summer dress over my head and drops it to the floor.
“God, you”re beautiful,” he rasps, cupping my full breasts into his hand, his mouth lowering as he sucks my hard and sensitive nipples into his hot mouth. Dusting his lips across my chest, he gives the same attention to the other.
“We don”t have long,” I whisper, my head rolling back.
“I know baby,” he groans, dragging his lips across my skin as he sinks to his knees. “But I just need one taste,” his fingers swirl at my opening, his tongue flicking across my clit and a moan escapes me, my body smothers in goosebumps. This man tore me into a million pieces and spent the last six months piecing me back together, bit by bit. I was far from perfect, but to him, I was.
His lips are pressed into my groin, my hips, across my bump. His fingers digging into my hips as he stands, towering over me.
“I will never tire of you, baby,” he rasps, my hands clasping his face as I pull his lips to mine. A gasp leaves me when he spins me round and gently knocks my knees, so I fall forward, my hands breaking my fall.
I hear the sound of his belt unbuckling and I clench my pussy.
“Hold onto the headboard, this is going to be hard and fast baby.”
My breath shudders as I do as he asks, my fingers wrapping round the top of the headboard. Back arched, legs parted. He kneels up behind me, his soft kisses trailing across my shoulders, down my spine just as his fingers curl round my hips. I feel his cock nudging at my soaked opening, and with one roll of his hips, his cock sinks into me with ease, stretching and filling me.
“Fuck,” I whisper, eyes rolling in the back of my head, and I will never tire of how good it feels when he is deep inside of me.
He slips in and out of me, his pace slow and I am loving it. I turn my face to look over my shoulder at him, the man who holds my delicate heart in his hands, the one who fixed me back together again more times than I would care to admit, the man I love with every fibre of my being. I give a sultry smirk, eyes hazy as pleasure consumes me.
“You promised me hard and fast,” I taunt through a moan, and he growls, his fingers digging in a little harder as he does just that.
Fucks me hard and fast until we”re both coming, our moans filling the room as our orgasms collide.
We cleanup and head back downstairs just as the doorbell rings.
“Close call,” he whispers in my ear, kissing my cheek before he steps around me and opens the door to my dad, Amora and Twyla.
“Sunshine,” my dad beams at me, stepping into our house and embracing me.
“Hey dad,” I smile, Amora giving me a sweet smile as I break away. Walking towards her, I place a kiss on her cheek then turn my focus onto my baby sister, Twyla. Six months old and beautiful, red hair and ice blue eyes. I bend down, unbuckling her from her car chair and cradle her in my arms.
“Hey baby, I”ve missed you,” I place a kiss on the top of her head and walk towards the kitchen. I hear Keaton and Titus talking and my heart warms. They”re still not how they were, but they”re getting there and that”s all I can hope for.
Amora walks straight through and puts Twyla”s food into the fridge along with her bottle then pops the kettle on.
“Tea?” she asks, and I nod, all whilst watching my sister.
It”s not long before our house is filled with everyone, and I have never felt more content than I do right now. We all fall into easy conversation, Celeste is toddling around, Twyla is taking everything in and baby Dexter is sound asleep in his travel cot. He is Sage”s double. Jet black hair, pale skin and stunning green eyes. He is going to be a heartbreaker when he is older.
Xavier grumbles from the other side of the room and my dad rolls his eyes and that”s when I find Keaton staring at me, so adoring and like I am sitting on the pedestal he has put me on from the moment he came into my life. He gives a gentle nod and I know that”s our cue.
I stand, tapping my knife on my glass and draw everyone’s attention to me. Keaton is standing by my side, one arm tucked round my back, the other resting on my bump.
“May we have a moment,” I blink through the tears that are threatening, my smile so wide.
The chatter soon fades into nothing, and I take this opportunity to look around the room at my family.
My dad, Amora and Twyla. Kaleb and Connie. Nate. Killian, Reese and Celeste. Sage, Dex and Dexter. Xavier and Royal. This is not the family I was born into, it was the family that was made for me.
“We just wanted to say a few words and thank each and every one of you for everything you have done for us all over the last year.” I sniff, my eyes locking on my dad”s for a moment. “We couldn”t have gotten through the last six months without out any of you,” I swallow the lump down and I feel a kiss on my temple which makes me smile. “We wanted to let you know a few things before we dish up dessert,” nerves flutter inside my tummy, my chest tightening and my heart races. “We found out a few days ago, that our beautiful rainbow babies are boys,” I blink back the tears and the room cheers. “We”re going to have sons, and dad,” a lone tear escapes and I palm it away, “you”re going to have grandsons,” I sniff and Keaton pulls me closer to him. “Also,” I say a little louder over the chatter and cheers, “I am going back to medical school next year,” my dad”s eyes are glued to me and I can see the tears brimming in his eyes. “I passed my exams and will be starting my internship again,” I choke out a laugh and feel Keaton”s arm slip away from me. I turn to look at him and there he is, on one knee, holding onto my wedding band that has hung around his neck since the moment I threw it at him.
“Ready to marry me yet?” he smirks, and I burst into tears, laughing as I nod my head.
“Always stealing my thunder,” Kaleb shouts across the kitchen and the room falls deafly silent.
“What?” Keaton says as he stands up and takes my hands into his.
Kaleb pulls Connie to her feet then sinks to one knee and I hear the room cheer.
“What the fuck?” Killian grumbles and Reese swats him.
“Connie...” his voice cracks, “darling,” and she is crying. “Let me be your husband, please,” and she is nodding her head yes, and he lets out a sigh of relief.
“Is asking the father’s permission not the done thing anymore?” Killian seethes, but we all ignore him. We”re too focused as Kaleb slips a beautiful platinum band on her finger, a huge solitaire diamond. Plain and classy.
“Don”t worry old man,” Reese taunts him.
“I never got asked either,” Xavier rolls his eyes, his voice deep and serious. “He just stood at the end of the aisle, ambushed the planned wedding.”
“Oh, fuck off,” my dad lets out a loud laugh and the room laughs along with him.
The rest of the evening is filled with nothing but love and laughter, oh, and matching tees for the men. All picked out by me and Keaton and we think they”re pretty spot on.
Killian - Mr Stealyour daughter’s best friend.
Titus - Marries the job.
Kaleb – Pussywhipped.
Keaton - Mr Steal your best friend’s daughter.
Xavier - Mr Stockholm Syndrome.
Dex - Stalker.
Nate - Secretly Kinky.
And yes, Nate”s was a complete fluke, but there is something about that dark horse. He keeps his cards close to his chest for a reason and I”m sure in time, we will all find out. But until then, he is just Nate.
We”re all sitting in the living room, soft music playing, and I feel complete. I lose myself deep in my thoughts for a moment to when I came home from hospital. I was broken in every sense of the word. Keaton found a parcel and handed it to me, and I knew what it was as soon as my fingers touched the box.
“What is it?”Keaton asked and I swallowed down the tears.
“Some books...” I paused, the lump in my throat burning.
“Oh,” is all he responds with. My trembling fingers pull at the tab, and I slip the two books out.
I choke on my inhale of breath, hot tears rolling down my cheeks as I hold the two parenting books in my hands.
“I was terrified that I wouldn”t know how to be a mom,” I sniffled, palming my tears away, “I wanted to be the best I could be, but growing up without one made me think I would fail. How could I be a mom when I didn”t know what having a mom was like?” I looked up at Keaton and he stood in front of me, his hand cupping my cheek as he catches a tear with his thumb pad.
“You didn”t need a mom, because Ari, you would have been the best damn mom in the world. You fought so hard, you done everything in your power to keep those girls safe. And you did.” He crouches in front of me, “I have no doubt in my mind baby, you are a mom. You were a mom from the moment you saw the two lines on that pregnancy test so don”t ever fear you don”t know what it”s like. Your mom was a coward, and you, my love, are not.”
Yes,I may have not had my mom and I was raised by a single dad, but now, sitting here and looking at everyone, I”ve realized that they”re my family. Not blood, but family nonetheless.
They found me when I didn”t know I was lost.
Keaton sits beside me, hand on my bump and my head is on his shoulder and right now, everything is perfect.
“I love you blossom, thank you for guiding me out of the darkness.”
I lift my head as I look at him, unshed tears glassing my eyes.
“And I am so glad that your dad took the job in England.”
“Me too baby, me too,” his lips lower over mine and my heart leaps in my chest. “I love you Keaton Mills, until the end of time, forever and always.”
“Forever and always, Blossom, forever and always.”