Epilogue
Six Months Later
“I can’t have the babies without him.” I cried.
“I know, baby. Kilo, Nyeem, Robby, and Knox are on their way. The plane just landed, and they have a police escort from the airport straight to the hospital,” my mother said.
My water broke an hour ago, just as Nyeem caught a winning touchdown in the Eagles’ first bowl game in ten years.
By car, they were a few hours away and would surely not get here before I had the babies.
Dr. Stackhouse was gracious enough to have the school’s jet waiting for them, to get them to me as soon as possible.
“Ahh!” I screamed through another contraction. “Oh my God, Mommy, it hurts. Please God, it hurts so bad.”
“I know, baby, but you got this.”
My contractions had been three minutes apart for over an hour, but Dr. Jordan said there was nothing to worry about.
“I need my husband.” I cried.
“Just breathe, bestie. In through your nose, out through your mouth. Kilo is on his way to you.”
I could only have two people in the delivery room with me, so my mother and Skye were by my side, while my father and the St. Patricks were in the waiting room.
They purchased a home months ago and had been in Black Elm for a week, waiting for me to go into labor.
Skye would have to leave when Kilo arrived.
“What if he doesn’t make it?”
“He will, Sweet Pea. Stop worrying,” my mother said.
Skye’s phone rang with a FaceTime call. She looked at the screen, smiled, and held the phone in front of my face.
“It’s Kilo.”
“Baby, please hurry.” I cried when his face appeared on the screen.
“Shh. Stay calm, baby. Remember what we practiced.”
“I can’t do it without you.”
“You can, baby, but I’m on my way.”
Once I got through my bout with morning sickness, the rest of my pregnancy was smooth sailing. My sons were so good to me, just like their big brother. I continued working out, adjusting my workouts when and where needed, I ate well, and Kilo made sure my life was stress-free.
After that beautiful, mind-blowing proposal, I fell deeper in love with him.
I couldn’t believe he went through so much trouble to make that night one of the most memorable of my life.
I wanted nothing more than to make him happy, because every day he went out of his way to do the same for me and showed me how much he loved me.
The football season was busy, but all the long days and late nights he and his staff put into preparing for the season and each game paid off. Their regular-season record was ten and two, they won the conference championship and won the bowl game just a few hours ago.
Ambrose hadn’t been seen or heard from for several months.
He was found guilty of assault for the incident involving me, but he only had to pay a fine.
After my interview, he used his social media pages to counter what I’d said.
It didn’t seem like many believed him, and he eventually let it go.
As long as he stayed away from my family and kept our names out of his mouth, I didn’t care what he did.
“Ahh!” I screamed again as another contraction took over my body.
“That was only two minutes apart. I’ll go get the doctor,” Ma said.
Before she could leave, two nurses entered.
“It looks like your contractions are getting closer. Is Dad almost here?”
“No! I can’t have the babies without him. Please don’t make me!”
“Baby, I’m right here. Listen to me. If the babies have to come, they have to come. You can do it.”
“Kilo, you promised,” I whined.
“I know, and I’m doing my best. We’re almost there, but don’t fight it, baby.”
I couldn’t focus on Kilo anymore. These babies were coming whether I was ready or not. My contractions became closer and stronger, and the nurses began to prepare the room. I could still hear Kilo’s voice, and it helped keep me calm.
Mentally, I’d given up on him making it in time and focused on what was most important, which was getting my babies here alive and healthy. As soon as Dr. Jordan told me to push for the first time, the door slammed open, and my husband rushed to my side.
“You made it!”
“I’m here, baby. I’m here.”
He placed kisses all over my face, and the relief that washed over me caused my body to relax. My second born son, Kilan Dominick St. Patrick, made his entrance into the world five minutes after his father arrived, and his twin brother, Nymeer Dominick St. Patrick, arrived two minutes later.
We decided to give them both Kilo’s middle name and have each of their first names start with our first initials. My babies were perfect, and my life had never been so full of love.
“I love you so much, baby. You did it, and I will never stop thanking you for how much you’ve blessed my life,” Kilo said.
“We did it, baby. Congratulations on your win.”
“Thank you, but nothing I do will ever top making you my wife. I love you, Nyomi.”
“I love you more, baby.”
Kilo came into my life and made me want to love again. He let me be soft and made me feel safe, which let my love for him flow freely.
THE END