by Kendra Riley
She knew they had a connection that many people would kill for. She planned to enjoy every minute of it. When they finished they went to sleep and when they woke up, they took a shower together and they got ready for the day. Victor was taking the kids to a play date and Nichole was going back to the hospital.
Nichole grabbed some of her clothes for Melissa and she passed by a mirror. That’s when she noticed herself. She was back to her normal shape and had been so busy with life, she hadn’t even noticed. Victor walked in to see her admiring herself. Nichole touched her face and felt her stomach.
“I think you finally see what I see when I look at you,” Victor announced.
Nichole jumped and looked at him. “What do you mean?” Nichole asked.
“When I look at you, I see a queen with a gorgeous body. Your intelligence makes you shine. Your confidence was always so shiny but now, I see you’ve found new beauty in yourself. The beauty you see now is the beauty I’ve seen since before we met.
“You don’t know how bad I wanted to taste you that night we met. I didn’t expect you to be in a small robe when I came to your hotel room. You look exactly as you did that night that I first laid eyes on you,” Victor admitted. Nichole smiled.
“I love you. Thank you for helping me realize that I’m beautiful,” she said before she walked out the door. “I’ll see you later my love!” She stopped by the kids’ rooms and gave them kisses and hugged Tashka and Zap. “Bye my beautiful children!”
She headed on over to the hospital. Melissa was sleeping on the bed with Matthew and he had one arm wrapped around her. He was watching TV when Nichole walked in.
“Hey,” Nichole said as she walked in. She set down a duffel bag and asked Matt what he was watching.
“Ghost stories. Melissa turned it on and went back to sleep.” He chuckled.
“How are you?” Nichole asked.
“I’m feeling better than I was yesterday. I’m just really tired but I can’t sleep. I can’t wait to get out of this bed and back into my own,” he responded.
“I never knew you guys had those tattoos,” Nichole admitted.
“I know, nobody does.” He laughed. “We got them on a drunk night. We always live large. Go big or go home,” he replied.
“Why didn’t you two ever have kids?” Nichole asked.
“We will. Once I get a new job,” Matthew answered.
“What do you mean?” Nichole asked.
“I quit my job last year. We can’t afford a child right now,” he replied.
“Melissa makes eighty thousand a year, what do you mean you can’t afford one right now?” Nichole asked.
“I don’t think you understand, Nichole. You married big. You have nothing to worry about,” he replied.
“I do understand, I had money before he and I met but so does Melissa,” she continued. “You can’t compare that to me. I didn’t mean to get pregnant. I didn’t even know if I was really in love with Victor until we actually got to know each other. You two have been together for years on end.”
Matt sighed. “The truth is, Melissa can’t have kids.”
Nichole gasped. “I never knew.”
Matthew sighed again. “Neither did I until I caught her crying one night. I asked her what was wrong and then she told me. We would need a surrogate but we can’t afford one right now.”
“What if I bought you guys one?” Nichole asked.
Matthew sat there, shocked. “You would do that for us?”
Nichole chuckled. “Melissa is my best friend. She’s practically a sister to me. I would do anything for her and nothing on this Earth will change that.”
Melissa woke up and looked around the room. “It’s about time you showed up. What did you bring me to wear?” Nichole opened the bag and Melissa gasped at the clothes she saw in the bag.
“When did you start wearing the big brands Ms. Old Navy?” Melissa joked.
“Victor went out one day and brought it all back for me. You know I’m not attached to it.” Nichole giggled. “You know I’d do anything for you, right, Mel?” Nichole asked.
“Would you kill for me?” Melissa asked.
“Duh, I’ve already done it like six times already.” Nichole laughed.
“Ha, yeah, I know you’d do anything for me. Why? What’s up?” Melissa asked as she looked through the bag of clothes.
“What if I found you guys a surrogate?” Nichole asked. Melissa’s mouth dropped and she became teary-eyed.
“Really? You would do that?” Melissa asked.
“I just told you I would do anything for you.” Nichole laughed.
Melissa ran over to Nichole and gave her a big hug. “I would love that!” Matthew smiled and mouthed, “Thank you,” to Nichole.
Melissa continued to hug Nichole with tears streaming down her face. The doctor walked in and chuckled. “What did you win, the lottery?”
“Something like that,” Melissa replied.
Chapter11
Nichole spent her time looking for surrogates. She met many candidates and decided it would be best if she had Melissa there with her. Melissa was ready to meet all of the women she had to choose from. It had to be someone who looked almost exactly like her. Nichole brought the kids with her on the adventure and they sat in an area and played with their toys. Nichole began making calls from a surrogate website. She made a post on their page with a picture of Melissa and asked for someone who looked a lot like her. Women that favored Melissa were blowing up their emails. They set up interviews and began to meet the women. Some of the women were too tall and some of them were a little too short. They eventually met the right one.
Nichole paid her and they had everything set. She looked like she could have been Melissa’s twin. It was as if they had been separated at birth. Nichole decided to throw a party to celebrate after Matthew was released from the hospital.
She rented out a ballroom and invited everybody. She bought Melissa and Matthew crowns so they felt like royalty. She showered them in gifts for them and their baby. Victor enjoyed seeing Nichole go all out for her best friend. He felt like she realized life wasn’t all about work. He enjoyed seeing her humbly help someone else because before she was always so worried about getting back to work and life and such.
Now she had a large smile on her face and she was focused on making sure Melissa was happy.
“You know, I’ve never seen you so in love in my life,” Larry said. He interrupted Victor’s train of thought but his surprise was a good one.
“Hey Larry, how’s it going?” Victor asked.
“Going good. Nichole texted me and invited me to the party. I said I wouldn’t miss it.” Larry chuckled. “You’re really in love with her, huh?”
“I am. Just look at her,” Victor replied.
“You’ve never been this in tune with someone.” Larry smiled.
The two watched Nicolette and Miguel wobble over to Nichole. Nichole screamed and looked at Victor. “Did you see that? They did it together!”
“She’s the woman of my dreams. She’s perfect. She is still independent. Even after I’ve come into her life, she tries to do things on her own but I know she loves me because she claims she can’t do this without me. We both know she can.” Victor sighed. “This is the life I was meant for.”
Larry put his hand on Victor’s shoulder. “I’m glad you know that. Your kids are beautiful. Your wife is hot.”
Victor stopped Larry, “Keep your eyes off my wife.”
Larry chuckled. “I’m just saying man. You got it all. I mean you even have a lawyer that shows up to parties. I don’t even have one of those.”
Victor chuckled. “I know. I am a lucky man. I am reminded of that every time I look into their eyes. I won’t mess that up.”
“You better not because if she divorces you and I find out it’s your fault, all your stuff will be her stuff.” Larry laughed.
“Ha, all of my stuff is already her stuff.” Victor laughed. They sat at a table and
watched everyone associate with others and eat the food. Melissa sported her crown and Matthew held her hand. The DJ played music everybody liked and the kids ran around freely.
When the party was over, Nichole and Victor stayed and cleaned up. Melissa talked about the party for the rest of the night. It made Nichole feel relieved. She did a good deed for a person she was close to. She understood her family was much bigger than just her husband and her two kids. Her family stretched out to Melissa, Matthew, and Larry. She would do anything for any of them.
She felt like she had to be as helpful as she could since she never had resources like that when she was younger. She wanted to share her blessings. Melissa’s surrogate, Alex, was at the party also and she was happy as ever. “I have never met a couple that wanted to be parents this badly,” Alex admitted.
“Really?” Melissa asked.
“They’re always happy, don’t get me wrong, but they’re never this happy. It makes me happy you chose me. It reminds me why I do this,” Alex replied.
Melissa hugged Alex. “Thank you so much.” Alex was just as happy to help. She put her hand over her stomach and said, “Only eight more months and three weeks.”
Nichole woke up and saw Victor sleeping next to her. His eyes slowly opened and she smiled. “Good morning.”
He chuckled. “Good afternoon.”
Nichole frowned with a confused look on her face and looked at the clock. She had slept till three o’clock. “How did that happen?” Nichole asked.
“I was up this morning. You were up late last night helping clean up the party. The kids have already eaten and everything.” Nichole sat up in the bed and saw a bed made up of covers and pillows on the floor. Nicolette and Miguel were taking a nap. Tashka was being used as Miguel’s pillow and Zap was Nicolette’s teddy bear.
Nichole smiled. “What’s for dinner?”
“Want some pizza?” Victor asked. Miguel quickly woke up and crawled over to their bed.
“I guess we can have pizza. It’s Miguel’s favorite.” Nichole chuckled.
“What kind of pizza do you want, Miguel?” Victor smiled.
“Roni!” Miguel screamed.
“I’m still a little upset that that was his first word,” Nichole sniffed.
“What did you want his first word to be?” Victor chuckled.
“Mama, of course.” Nichole rolled her eyes.
“Then I would have been bummed,” Victor replied.
“You would have gotten over it. I’m never going to get over this.” Nichole grinned.
“I’m sure you’ll learn to cope.” Victor chuckled.
He looked at his phone for a moment and sent in their order for the pizza.
“It’ll be here momentarily,” Victor announced.
He looked over at Nicolette who was still sleeping. “Have you noticed she sleeps like you?” he asked.
“No,” Nichole answered.
“Exactly, because she’s always sleeping, like you.” Victor laughed.
“We could be as loud as we wanted and she still wouldn’t wake up. It’s almost as if every time the sandman comes, he just pours all of his dreams on her head.”
Nichole laughed. “Is that how I am?”
Victor smiled. “Yeah, but you sleep too beautifully and peacefully. I never want to disturb you.”
“Well thank you for being so considerate,” Nichole replied.
Minutes later a security guard brought them their pizza.
Victor had also bought the security guards pizza and they thanked him for it.
Nichole, Victor, Nicolette, Miguel, Tashka, and Zap, all sat in a room and watched movies while eating their dinner.
Nichole and Victor laughed at a few inappropriate jokes that were hidden in kid movies and the kids laughed at the child content in the movie.
Everyone was comfortable. The parents were on the bed and the kids and pets were on the pallet made for them on the floor. The pets stared at the kids eating messily on the floor and collected any remnants that fell. They happily cleaned up the mess the kids left behind.
When the twins fell asleep during the second movie they watched, Victor lifted them up and took them to bed. He returned and saw Nichole, already asleep. He climbed into bed and fell asleep. He woke up again the next morning to see Nichole missing from the bed.
He walked into the kids’ rooms and they were also absent. He went downstairs and found his family eating ice cream. “Look who’s the sleepy head now.” Nichole smiled.
Victor smiled. “I hope you saved me a bowl.” Nichole walked over to the freezer and pulled out a bowl with ice cream in it and plastic wrap over the bowl.
“No, but I got a second bowl for myself.” Nichole chuckled.
“Well, I guess I’m stealing your bowl then.” Victor laughed.
Nichole handed him the bowl and a spoon. They all had different ice cream. Nicolette had chocolate chip, Miguel had birthday bash, Nichole had rocky road, Victor had vanilla bean, Tashka had a popsicle made of chicken broth with roasted chicken and beef inside, and Zap had a popsicle made of water, bamboo, and bugs.
They all enjoyed their frozen treats and Victor asked, “What could make things better?”
Nichole thought for a moment. “Nothing.”
Victor smiled.
Nichole looked at her wedding band that she happily wore on her finger since the swelling in her hands when down after she gave birth to Nicolette and Miguel.
It looked good on her and Victor loved hearing her say she was a happily married woman. He looked at his wedding band and saw the engraved words, “Even after death does us part.”
Victor couldn’t help but think about how different his life was two years prior to being in the kitchen with his family and he didn’t miss his old life one bit.
Nichole felt the same way. She loved working but she loved being with her kids more. She owned an animal hospital and she knew it was in good hands. She would make sure things were in order but she felt the need to retire so her kids wouldn’t have to get used to nannies or baby sitters.
She didn’t want to be that kind of rich household. She wanted her kids to grow up emotionally attached and humble. She wanted to teach them responsibility herself and thought about homeschooling.
She got a text, which interrupted her thinking. “Hey, I’m coming over,” Melissa texted her. She knew Melissa would still arrive whether or not she replied so she didn’t. Moments later Melissa walked into the house. “I missed you,” Melissa said as she hugged Nichole.
“What’s wrong?” Nichole asked.
“I don’t know. I just felt the need to come over here and spend time with you,” Melissa replied. “I feel like I really need to show my appreciation to you. You’ve done so much for me over the years. Like when you let me borrow your car because I wrecked mine. Or when you helped me get ready for my first date with Matthew.”
“It was nothing, really,” Nichole replied.
“It was everything, really,” Melissa demanded.
“You’ve done a lot for me over the years too, Mel. Like when you helped me pack my bags for when I went to Brazil. You were the first one I told I was pregnant. You’re the best,” Nichole replied.
“I’m pregnant.” Melissa sighed. “I know Alex is having the baby in eight more months.”
Nichole laughed.
“No, Nicki. I’M pregnant. Me, there is a baby inside of me!” Melissa exclaimed.
Nichole gasped and cheered. “Congratulations!”
Melissa didn’t seem as happy.
“Well, what’s the problem?” Nichole asked.
“I have two kids on the way. I am horrified. One of my kids is by Alex and one is by me. I don’t know how that makes me feel,” Melissa replied.
“I had twins. At least only one of them is coming out of you.” Nichole chuckled. “I know you’re scared. I was too, but you have Matthew and he loves you more than life itself.”
“I haven’t even told him yet,” Melissa admit
ted.
“Well, it’s time to tell him,” Nichole replied.
“How are we going to take care of two kids?” Melissa gasped. “Matthew is already upset about not having a job.”
“I can give you the money,” Nichole offered.
“His pride is a little too large when it comes to getting money directly. He feels like he should earn it,” Melissa replied.
“Okay, so what if we gave him a job?” Nichole asked.
“What kind of job?” Melissa asked.
“I was thinking about starting a new hospital and Victor has been working on some building plans for hotels. We need people to work there,” Nichole answered.
“That’s a great idea!” Melissa exclaimed.
“I’m going to get right on it. You’re going to be happy. You’re going to have help and you’re going to tell Matthew to apply for these jobs. I’ll print out a job application and you tell him to fill it out, then bring it back to me,” Nichole finished.
“You got it, boss,” Melissa said as she left.
Melissa did as she was told and she brought back the application. Victor called Matthew and let him know he was hired and that he would be paid starting then because the hotel wasn’t ready yet.
Matthew was ecstatic and gave Melissa the news. Then she told him about the second baby. He was even more excited. Melissa called and told Nichole the news and Nichole gave her an, “I told you,” speech.
Nichole learned new things about her friend she never knew before, but she tried to help as well as she could. It made her feel better and made her feel like her strong connection with Melissa grew even stronger. They usually told each other everything but now she was learning things about her best friend at all new heights. It seemed like she re-met Melissa all over again. Nichole was spending time with her children but never knew Melissa thought she couldn’t create and spend time with her own.
Now Nichole and Melissa would both have children and they would both have money and be happy. Things were beginning to fall into place. Victor was going to begin working on new buildings and provide new jobs in the economy. Nichole was planning on starting a new hospital in another state across the country so people wouldn’t have to fly their pets all the way out to see her. This was the growth Nichole had always wished for and now that her wishes were coming true, everything just felt right.
