18. Koi Adora Morgan
The sun peeking through the curtains awakened me from my sleep with a stir. I paused, feeling weight pressing against me from both sides. Cracking my eyes open, they landed on Han’some sleeping soundly on my chest while cuddling my belly. Butterflies tickled my heart cavity, and I could only smile.
Peering to the right, I found Skye snuggled in on the other side, holding on to me like her life depended on it. She wore a matching pair of pajamas and bonnet to mine. The little Tiffany bracelet her father bought her rested on my stomach as she also cuddled with her unborn sibling.
Tears flooded my eyes, seeing them both be so at peace.
Even in their sleep, their excitement for the baby baking in my belly couldn’t be hidden.
I knew my baby was so blessed to be so loved already.
I could admit when I first found out about my pregnancy, I wasn’t that happy, but it was for my own personal reasons.
Being able to carry a healthy baby was a blessing, and once I got over my fears, I could admit life had been beautiful.
It didn’t take me long to realize I didn’t truly want to be the party girl always in the club. Being sandwiched between my husband and daughter was enough for me. They were what made me the happiest and made life worth living.
We’d landed in Sint Maarten earlier this morning for our babymoon because baby number two would be making his or her appearance very soon.
Han’some and I decided not to find out our baby’s gender, just to remind us that we would be happy no matter if we were having another daughter or welcoming a son.
We were all clearly jet lagged because we made it to our villa and immediately passed out.
As badly as I wanted to lie there soaking in this beautiful moment, my bladder was so full I was seconds away from leaking pee in the bed.
I shifted to gently place Skye on her side and not disturb her sleep.
When I knew she wouldn’t wake up, I shifted my attention to her father.
He was such a big baby, but I loved how happy he was to become a father again.
Not to mention, he was honestly a better husband than I ever expected him to be.
Shaking him gently, I whispered, “Baby, let me go. I have to use the bathroom.”
He stirred in his sleep before lifting off me so I could finally get free.
He stumbled to his feet and reached out to help me up.
Because I was thirty-eight weeks, I was all belly now.
While I was ready to drop this baby and get my body back, my husband was obsessed with the baby bump—so much so that I was already concerned with him trying to trap me again.
I walked quickly to the bathroom and handled my business.
By the time I came out, he was sitting out on the balcony.
Since Skye was still sleeping peacefully, I walked out there to join him.
He waved me over the second his eyes landed on me, so I made a home on his lap.
One of his hands went to my back while the other went to my belly.
“How are you feeling?” he asked with a hoarse voice. He cleared his throat then reached for the bottle of water he’d brought out with him.
“My muscles feel tight and achy, my feet hurt, and I have heartburn,” I told him honestly.
“I’ll make you some ginger tea and schedule a spa package for you. Go get ready.” He went to push me off him, but my arms tightening around his neck stopped him. “What?”
“Thank you.” I pecked his lips twice with a grin.
As I stared into his eyes, I found myself falling even more in love with him.
I couldn’t get enough of how well he took care of me.
While I came into this agreement for a job, I’d truly gained the love of my life.
If I knew a love this soft and fulfilling waited for me, I might’ve taken his many advances more seriously. “What are you and Skye going to do?”
He glanced toward the open balcony door, where we could still see her balled up on the bed, snoring like she was fresh off a twelve-hour shift at a factory.
“I’ll probably take her to the kiddie pool to play.
Don’t worry. We’ll be just fine. Just spend a little time to yourself since we’re always all up in your face. ”
I palmed his cheeks and tickled my nose against his. “That’s okay because I love it, and so does Baby.” I took his hand and placed it on my jumping belly.
We smiled at the same time, and I wished I could photograph the expression on his face.
He looked so innocent with childlike awe gleaming in his eyes as he felt what was happening on the inside of me.
He hugged me tightly, resting his chin on my chest. “Thank you, Koi. I know when we came up with our arrangement, this is not what you had in mind, but I can’t lie. I love the story God wrote for us.”
I nodded, feeling tears well in my eyes. “I do too,” I said with a hoarse voice. Shifting my eyes to waves in the distance, I allowed my soul to seep into the moment. God’s beauty was all over the place, and I had to agree with my husband; any and everything God had His hand on was beautiful.
After spending the day at the spa, getting out all the kinks from sleeping sandwiched between Skye and her daddy, I felt rejuvenated. I’d dressed in a bikini to take pictures with the beautiful mountain in the background. After I finished, I met up with my man and baby down on the beach.
We were currently on a walk, heading to the private dinner reservation Han’some made for us.
He carried Skye on his neck while holding my hand.
Her little laughter was so full of life that I was willing to do everything in my power to keep her happy.
She didn’t come from my womb, but she was very much my daughter too.
The sun setting in the distance painted the sky in the most beautiful variation of colors, and its beauty truly made me want to cry.
That coupled with how happy I felt to be here, unwinding with the love of my life and our daughter.
I placed a hand on my belly and sent up a prayer of gratitude.
I hadn’t coveted this life, but it found me, and it was everything I could’ve ever wanted.
Feeling pressure in my abdomen, I stopped walking to catch my breath. “What’s wrong?” Han’some asked, taking notice immediately. He set Skye on her feet so he could support my back.
I groaned through the discomfort. “I don’t know. I just feel a little pressure. I’m sure it’ll pass.” He remained by my side while I simply took deep breaths until the sensation subsided. “Okay, I’m good,” I told him once I felt like myself again.
Skye walked between us as we continued our casual stroll along the beach.
The sky was an even deeper shade of orange, pink, and purple now as the sun inched closer to the horizon.
“Ahh,” I groaned, feeling the discomfort return.
I was going to say more, but I felt water gush down my leg.
Since we weren’t close to the water, that couldn’t be the ocean soaking the sand.
“Babe, my water just broke,” I told Han’some in complete shock.
“Dead ass?” he questioned in a panic.
I nodded because the pressure had returned.
“Yes, and I don’t think this baby is waiting.
I think it’s coming right now.” He glanced back and forth along the beach, but we were on the private side, and not another soul was nearby to assist us.
“Ahhh!” I hollered out, feeling a ripple of pain from my toes to the top of my head.
“Okay, okay, just breathe, baby.” His voice was panicked, and I knew he was thinking of all the things that could go wrong. Traveling so close to my due date hadn’t seemed like something to worry about, but now, I wished we’d taken more precautions. “Come sit right here.”
He placed a hand on my back and guided me over to a lounge chair. “Skye, sit right here, and be a good girl for Daddy, okay?” He ushered her to the other lounge chair and pulled out her iPad. He unlocked it and went to her coloring book app to distract her.
I continued to focus on controlling my breathing because this was not the time to panic. I watched him dig into Skye’s bag for the beach blankets that were in there. Next, he drenched his hands in hand sanitizer, and I realized this was really happening.
“Baby,” I shakily called out.
I didn’t know what expression he saw on my face, because he sat in front of me quickly. “Everything is going to be okay, baby. Just breathe. Okay? If Skye is being a good girl, then you have to be one too.” He leaned closer to kiss the top of my stomach. “I got y’all. God got us.”
I held onto his words as I felt the need to push overwhelm me.
I squeezed the arm rests of the lounge chair and strained so hard my jaw locked.
As the pain kept coming, I kept screaming, and Han’some continued to try calming me down.
I didn’t know how he kept such a steady head, but his strength was the reason a cry pierced the air minutes later.
When I opened my eyes, I found him bawling his eyes out. My heart dropped as panic set in. Was something wrong with our baby? “What is it? What’s wrong?” I questioned back-to-back with a racing heart.
He slowly lifted his head to look at me and smiled. “It’s a girl,” he shared with me. He sniffled, glanced down at her and said, “It’s my double portion for my patience.”