CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR | Beckett
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
Beckett
O NYX LAYS OUT ON THE bed as I watch Kenan talk to her belly while I’m sitting on the edge of the bed living in a dream land. She’s back, and plans on committing herself to us. Completely, the Mazitti way. The ceremony is planned for Sunday, here in the house down in the Great Room, just like the Axel’s was. Only, I wasn’t allowed in last time, ya know, since I'm not family.
Each commitment ritual is different, and unique to the people who are doing it.
To say I'm excited is an understatement. I'll be completely committed to both Kenan and Onyx. I'll be theirs and they'll be mine. If someone would have told me two years ago, hell even eight months ago that my life would become this, I'd call them a liar. I never imagined I'd be with him, or that we'd find someone to be ours.
Well, sort of. I know we have a lot of shit to unpack and some major healing to get through, but this is the start of our forever.
“Baby two is moving a lot.” Kenan says, sitting up. “Come feel.” I turn to look at them and take Kenan’s outstretched hand, letting him guide me. The soft thumps against Onyx's belly give me hope. The kind of hope that could turn to ash in my mouth on the flip of a pin. I recoil my arm, fidgeting with my fingers as I turn away from them. Uncertain of what the future holds. This could be the best life, them, the babies, everything I want right here for the taking. Yet, I'm hesitating. Why?
Is it because this has already turned to dust once and I fear what could happen to us.
“Come here.” Onyx says in a calming tone, easing the ache in my chest. The way she looks at me fills my heart with joy. But at what cost?
What must I sacrifice to keep this dream alive?
I crawl up the bed and lay against the most beautiful woman I've ever laid eyes on, wrap my arm around her and pull her against me, breathing in her scent. The coconut shampoo mixed with her vanilla perfume. My lip trembles so I bury my face in her hair, not wanting them to see the fear I'm hiding inside.
“You, too.” Onyx says, as the bed moves, alerting me that she was talking to Kenan. His arm lays over mine, caressing it as we lay there together. “Oh sweet boys, whatever am I going to do with you both?” Her words are soft and alluring, bringing us in from the storm, guiding us back to our light.
I'm not sure how long we laid there, but when I opened my eyes the sun was gone and the night enveloped us with the shine of a full moon.
A knock on the door startles me as Kenan rolls out of bed to answer it. “Hello Mother.” Oh, Kenan only says mother when he's upset with her. Rightfully so I suppose, she has a knack for playing her twisted games. Kenan's never been one for games though, he likes to have everything out in the open.
Candace walks into the room as I hold Onyx tighter. “Onyx dear. There's a doctor here to give you a check up. I know you missed your last appointment.” Candace states, folding her hands in front of her waist.
“Now?” Kenan asks. His head drops back as he lets out a small grunt.
“Behave.” Onyx chuckles, moving out of my arms. Kenan's quick to move, helping her out of the bed. “I'll be down in a moment.”
“We'll be down.” Kenan corrects.
“Very well.” Candace nods, turns on her heels and leaves.
“Come on boys, let's go see our babies.” Onyx pats Kenan on his chest, then follows Candace out of the room. Flicking the blanket off, I rush around the room changing my shirt and putting on shoes. Then Kenan takes my hand and leads me down after our girl.
When we get to Doc's office, I see both Candace and Onyx standing there. “Doc.” Kenan says, nodding his head.
“Okay, there are tests during pregnancy that should have already been run, more specifically, a paternity test. So, we're going to confirm everything is fine and the father of the babies before the ceremony on Sunday.” Candace says.
“Which means needles.” Onyx follows up with.
I scratch my cheek in confusion, “You're telling us why?” Kenan says at the same time I was thinking it.
“The babies are one of ours.” I reply, "We took her IUD out.” My cheeks heat at admitting that, but everyone's up to speed.
“We'd still like to know who the father is.” Candace raises a brow.
“Why does it matter?” Kenan grips my hand tighter and I feel his anger, so I use my other hand to run up and down on his forearm, soothing him, like the good boy I am.
Did I really just think that?
But when I feel him relax, I mentally pat myself on the back.
“We need to know for medical purposes. Different genetic issues, so on and so forth.”
“Fine.” Kenan grits out.
“I’ll need a cheek swab from both potential fathers and I'll take some blood from you Onyx. That way the lab will be able to test the fetal DNA and see which one of you is a match. Once that's done we'll take a look at the babies.“ The doc explains as he prepares the tests.
Cheeks swabbed and blood taken, we're all crowded around the table squinting at the tiny screen trying to determine what is baby and what is white static. “Is that an arm?” Kenan asks, pointing at the screen, twisting he head to make it make sense.
“Let me just change the depth, are there we go.” Doc says as a face comes into focus and my heart does a little jolt. I feel like I've been electrocuted, is it hot in here? “This is baby A , a girl and this one over here is baby B, a boy, although it's quite crammed in there now so I doubt we'll be confirming the sex today.”
“Are they okay?” Onyx asks.
“So far so good. The blood flowing to babies from the placentas is good. I'll need to do a few more checks but they look healthy.” Doc says with a smile.
“Right, all of you out now, apart from Kenan and Beck.” Onyx states and without any arguments everyone walks out talking amongst themselves leaving us with Doc. He gets Onyx to move around a few times before declaring the babies okay.
Candace is waiting outside Doc’s office as we leave.
“These tests usually take two weeks.” Doc says.
“That's because people have to wait,get it to us before Friday, or consider this your last job.” Candace says. We all stiffen, Doc included.
“I- y-yes ma'am.” He bows and disappears.
“You know, before last week, that would have terrified me.” Onyx says with a shrug.
“What happened last week?” I ask.
“I realized that Candace is nothing more than a mother, unafraid to protect her family.” And with that Onyx leaves us speechless. Especially Candace, who looks almost offended. Without another word said, Kenan and I leave, chasing after our brave woman.
“Kenan,” I whisper as we make our way up the stairs and when he turns to look at me he’s grinning like a fool. “She just-”
“I’ve never seen someone say something like that to my mom and live.”
“You remember that time the one guy asked if she was PMS-ing and she shot him in his dick?” I say, leaning against the railing. “Onyx just, that was intense, and I didn’t know if Onyx was going to survive that.”
“While Onyx is pregnant she’s safe, but we can’t let her mouth of to Mom again, my little lamb will have to understand that Mom is the one person in the country you don’t fuck with.”
“Maybe Onyx is learning from the best, she said her and Candace talked, maybe this is what Candace wanted?” I shrug.
“I doubt it, whatever we’re all dealing with internally, we can’t let it escape into our everyday lives.”
“What the hell do you mean by that?”
“Onyx is angry. She can’t lash out in front of my mother, especially at her like that.”
“Onyx didn’t say that in anger Kenan. Did you not see the way she was completely nonchalant about it, it was like something clicked for her, and she wasn’t wrong, sort of. I’ve watched your family for a long time, and Candace would do literally anything for those she loves, including teaching the next generation how to be more, well, her.”
“She wouldn’t teach Onyx, that'd be more of a Maci thing, she’s the oldest daughter.”
“I don’t want to be in charge.” Maci says, popping out of her room, “I’ve made it very clear to Mom, so I think Beckett might be right.” She shrugs, her green eyes flicking back and forth between Kenan and I. The one thing that’s always cracked me up about Maci and Kenan, is they’re cousin siblings. Their dad’s are twin brothers, and they share the same mom.
“What?” Kenan pops off, “I thought.”
“You thought wrong. Now, stop talking about this shit in the hallway, dumbasses.” She shuts her door with a huff.
“Well, that’s news to me.” Kenan replies, walking towards his room.
“I thought one of the girls had to take over, something about men are the muscle and women are the brains.” I say as he opens his bedroom door.
“I guess it’ll go to Cara then.” He shrugs with a small laugh. “All I know is that I won’t inherit shit as far as the responsibilities go.”
“Kneel.” Onyx commands the second we walk into the room. Stopping me dead in my tracks as I drop to my knees instantly. “Now.” She snaps a finger and points to the floor as we wait for Kenan to do it, too.
“I’m so fucking confused.” Kenan says, kneeling on the floor as he pushes the bedroom door shut.
“Me too.” I whisper, keeping my eyes locked on Onyx.
“Your job isn’t to know things, it’s to do as you’re told. So, ass to heels, and listen up boys. Because we’re going to talk through everything, then we’re going to move on with our fucking lives.” Onyx says with a nod.
“I-” I start to talk, but I’m not sure what to say. There’s been so much information, and shit happening that I can’t seem to keep my head straight and on the right track.
But if my girl says we’re going to talk, then I suppose it’s time for me to listen, afterall, this is what I want more than anything. To move on with my life, both of them right there alongside me.