by Ancelli
“I have some more questions to ask you,” Marcus said to her.
“And she doesn’t have any answers for you.” John moved beside her and opened the door easing her over the threshold to enter the house. “If you’ll excuse us?” He put his arm around her and they walked into their home, and closed the door in his face.
“What was that about?” he asked her.
“I don’t know. He wanted to know where Cara was.” She moved into the living room.
“For what? Please tell me you didn’t tell him.” He locked the door.
“No.”
“Maybe he wants to reminisce about old times, and that was just an excuse.”
“I’m not sure. There was something odd.”
“Like what?”
“When I didn’t give him an answer, he had this look in his eye.” She thought for a moment. “He just threw me off guard.”
“You’ll be reunited with Cara as soon as we’re sure she’ll be safe.”
“I know.”
“Or he wants to continue where he left off with you.”
She chuckled. “I don’t think so. He’s married.”
“Good, because…” He thought about what he was going to say. He wanted to say “good, because you’re taken”, but decided against it. “Why are you so sweaty?”
She smiled. “I went jogging.”
“Jogging? You’re nine months pregnant.”
“And that’s why I didn’t tell you, because I knew you would give me a lecture. I’m not impaired, I’m pregnant.” She put her hand on her hip.
He chuckled. “I’m sorry. I’m just not used to women doing physical activities while pregnant.”
“I’m not most pregnant women.”
“I see that. I’ll be right back.” He left the room and entered the master bath. He turned on the water in the tub and added some strawberry gel. He touched the water to make sure the temperature was good, and lit candles.
He walked back out to the living room, but she was no longer there. “Sophia,” he called out.
“In my room,” she yelled.
He strolled down the hall toward her voice. “Can I come in?”
“Yes.”
He came through the door just as she stepped out of her bathroom, wrapped in a pink robe. She glowed. He was amazed at how pregnancy agreed with her. And it put him in a mood to play games.
He moved closer, took her hands in his, and gave her a mischievous smile. “Do you still trust me?”
She gazed up into his eyes. “Always.”
He released her hands, and grabbed the strap to her robe. “Hold it closed.” He took the strap and wrapped it around her eyes. “I won’t hurt you.” He kissed her neck. He smiled to see the goose bumps rise on her skin.
“John,” she whispered.
He smiled. “I won’t do anything you don’t want me to.”
He guided her to his room, toward his bathroom.
“Mmm, smells like strawberry.”
John took hold of her robe, and she seized it back.
“Sophia, I promise I won’t touch you if you don’t want me to.”
She released her hold and John opened her robe, gently slipping it off her shoulders. “Beautiful,” he said, staring at her chocolate, pregnant body. Her breasts and nipples were bigger, and her rounded belly was smaller, she looked like she was just six months along instead of nine.
Sophia tried to cover herself, but he wouldn’t let her. “Don’t. You’re beautiful. I just want to see you.” He held her hands up and away from her body. She just stood there.
He grabbed a feather from his counter and gently ran it over her nipples, making them harder. She gave a soft moan as he stroked it back and forth. He wanted to wrap his mouth around them, suck them, but he would wait until the time was right. He knew she wanted him to; he could see the way her body reacted to his touch.
He backed away and slipped off his pants, then took her hands in his. “Watch your step,” he said, guiding her into the bathtub.
She didn’t know what he was doing, or where they were going, but her libido was going crazy. His touches and whispers were making her horny. She could feel her essence on her thighs when he touched her with what she assumed was a feather. He told her to step over and she did, right into warm water.
John grabbed both her hands. “Sit.”
She did as he’d asked.
“Mmm…” He’d prepared a bath for her. She smelled strawberries and cherries, her favorites.
John removed the cover from around her eyes, and she looked around, smiling. He had lit candles, and she was covered in bubbles.
He sat on the edge of the tub. “Relax.” He kissed her lips. “I’ll be back.” He stood and turned on a smooth R&B station.
When he stepped out of the bathroom, she took a deep breath. Her body was on fire with desire. After nine months, her body still yearned for his touch. Was she in love with John? Was this how it felt to be taken care of, for a change? She closed her eyes.
John had to leave the bathroom because his dick was hard as a rock. He needed her with an urgency that pushed his limits, but he didn’t want to cross the line yet. He wanted to make sure she felt the same way as he did.
He controlled his arousal before he walked back in. “You ready to come out?”
She opened her eyes. He grabbed the towel and helped her stand, making sure not to look at her body. He wrapped the terrycloth around her body and helped her out.
“I needed that. Thank you.”
“It’s time for someone to take care of you, instead of you taking care of everyone else.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
She opened her eyes wide as they stood in the kitchen, washing dishes. “John…”
“What’s wrong?”
“I think the stress finally got to me.” She looked down at the floor. “I don’t think that’s dish water.”
He looked down, seeing a puddle. “Your water broke?”
She nodded, and started deep breathing. “Not that bad. I thought they would be stronger.”
“Funny, you won’t be saying that later.” He turned off the water, and checked his watch. “Let’s see how far apart the contractions are.”
“I forgot, you’re a pro.” She went into her bedroom and began changing her clothes. He followed her.
“Where’s your suitcase?” he asked, looking in her closet.
She had a guilty look on her face, and half-smiled.
He picked up a small, empty suitcase and began packing. “I can’t believe you didn’t have everything ready to go.”
“I don’t know what I’m doing?” She sat.
“I told you to pack last week.” He showed her the items he was putting into the suitcase, and she either nodded or shook her head.
“I forgot,” she said after a contraction passed.
“They don’t seem too close,” he said, zipping her bag.
“The baby’s things are still in boxes.” She looked at all the seal boxes around her room.
“Don’t worry about that. Our baby will have everything it needs when he or she arrives.” He rubbed her stomach. “Daddy will take care of you and mommy.”
She sat in the dining room. “They’re getting stronger.”
“Do you want me to call Kay?” he asked, sitting next to her.
“No.” She took several deep breaths. “All I need is you right now. I don’t like to feel crowded when I’m in pain.”
He caressed her hands. “Remember what they said in Childbirth class? Breathe in through your nose, and out your mouth.”
“And concentrate on something peaceful.”
***
When they arrived at the hospital, Sophia was in so much pain. It had gone from zero to one hundred in less than thirty minutes. She leaned forward on the nurses’ station with her head down, and John rubbed her back. “Oh God, this hurts so much.” She grabbed hold of the laminated countertop.
“Ma’am, she’s in l
abor,” he said, making eye contact with the closest nurse.
The woman stood, barely looking at her, and handed him a clipboard with a pen and paper. “She’ll need to fill this out.”
He stared at the nurse. “I pre-registered her already.”
“What’s her name?”
“Sophia Delgado,” he said in a stern voice. He didn’t appreciate the attitude. All the while, Sophia kept breathing through her nose and exhaling through her mouth.
“Oh, I’m sorry, sir. I assumed wrong.” She rushed from behind the counter and grabbed a wheelchair.
“What did you assume?”
“Nothing, sir. I apologize.”
John decided he would deal with that later. He rubbed Sophia’s back, and she placed the wheelchair behind her and helped her sit. He glared at the nurse. “I want only the best for her.”
***
Six hours had passed since they’d arrived at the hospital and Sophia still wasn’t fully dilated. “Are you sure you don’t want drugs to help with the pain?” John asked her.
“No. I can do this…” She inhaled, chuckling between contractions. “I’m a G.”
“I see you got back your humor.”
Another contraction hit, and she punched the bed.
“You’re doing great.” He wiped away her sweat.
She took another deep breath. “Whatever!” She grabbed the railing. “Why is this taking so damn long?”
“She’s not ready.”
She rolled her eyes at him. “I know that… She/he needs… To hurry up.” She turned to the side. “I can’t take much more of this. It feels like my insides are ripping apart.”
He knew not to say much after his experience with his ex-wife, Sophia was a piece of cake compared to Amy. He smirked, and tried to hand her the plastic cup.
“I don’t…want…water.” She closed her eyes and pushed it away. “All I want is this to be over.”
He placed the cup back on the table and the nurse came in to check her. She examined her and smiled. “You’re finally ready. I’ll be right back; let me get your doctor.”
“The baby’s ready.” John smiled until he saw her reaction.
The doctor entered, with the nurse behind him. “Are you ready, Mom?” He put on some blue gloves, and situated himself between her legs.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Sophia was beside herself as she held their baby girl in her arms, all nine pounds, three ounces, and twenty-one inches long. She smiled, memorizing her from head to toe. Her hair was wavy and black. She had almond shaped, big caramel eyes, his nose, and full rosy lips like her own. She touched her long fingers, like his, counting each one. “My little miracle, you’re perfect.” She was gorgeous not because she was hers, but just because she was. This little being had stolen her heart the moment she’d known she was pregnant, but she wasn’t prepared for this feeling. “You were worth the pain.” She kissed her nose. “She has your chin,” she said to John, as she counted those little toes again. “I’ve waited all my life for you.”
Sophia handed the baby to him. He gently took her in his large arms. “My little doll.” His eyes shining with tears, he bent his head and kissed her chunky cheeks. “Johnny and Cara can’t wait to meet you.”
“She’s beautiful,” Sophia said proudly. “I think we did great.” She gazed at him.
“She’s perfect.”
Their little girl began to whine, chewing on her fist, and when she realized her fist wasn’t food, she let out a loud cry. “You got your mom’s lungs.” He turned her over his shoulder and stood, rocking her, but she got louder.
He handed her back to Sophia, and sat on chair next to her bed. She unhooked her bra, and the baby latched on after a few tries. “I hope I’m doing this right,” she said, looking at him.
“She’s not crying, so you’re doing great.” He watched his new baby girl. “She’s a big girl.”
“I told you.” She smiled, combing her wavy hair. “Caramel eyes?”
“She has my grandmother’s eyes,” he said. “I think the nurses are going to get tired of calling her Baby Morgan.”
“It should be Baby Delgado.” She chuckled.
“No offense, baby, but hell no. She’s a Morgan.”
Her chuckle got deeper as she fed Baby Morgan.
“Not funny at all.”
“What about Karishma?”
He arched his brow. “Karishma?”
“It means miracle. She’s my little miracle.”
“In what language?” he asked, laughing.
“I looked it up on the Internet. It’s Indian.”
“I don’t like it.” He touched the baby’s cheek.
Sophia sighed. “Okay, then what do you like?”
“I’ve always liked Amber.”
“Amber sounds white.” She smiled joking around.
The baby finished nursing. Sophia turned her over and began burping her.
There was a knock and John said, “Come in.”
Jason and Kay entered with balloons and a baby basket. “Congratulations!” Kay said, rushing over, excited to see the baby.
Sophia beamed with joy. “Hello, god-momma.”
“She looks like her daddy,” Kay said touching each little hand.
“Congratulations!” Jason patted John on the back. “She’s a big baby.”
“Nine pounds,” John said proudly.
“You pushed out nine pounds.” Kay chuckled. “Damn.”
“What’s her name?” Jason asked.
“Baby Morgan.” John’s chuckle was deep as he looked at Sophia.
Kay watched them both. “You haven’t named her?”
Sophia held the baby up. “Everybody meet Amber Karishma Morgan.”
“Amber what?” Kay blurted out, making John laugh.
Jason laughed too.
“Karishma means miracle.” Sophia pressed her lips together.
John stood. “She’s our little miracle, so we compromised.”
“Do Johnny and Cara know they have a baby sister?” Jason asked.
“We Skyped Cara and my mom. She can’t wait to meet her little sister,” Sophia answered.
“Amy has Johnny until tomorrow. I’ll bring him by then,” said John.
“I hope she’s okay with him coming to see his sister,” Sophia added, looking at John.
“She doesn’t have an option. We share custody.”
Sophia carefully handed the baby to Kay.
Kay sniffed the baby’s hair. “She smells so good.”
Jason stared at his wife. “Don’t get any ideas. Three is enough.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“Just in case.” Jason smiled.
***
“It’s been such a long day,” Sophia said her eyes getting heavy. “Please don’t let them take her.”
“I won’t.” John stood and gently took the baby. “Go to sleep. I’ve got her.” He kissed his baby’s cheeks. “I love you. And you, too.”
Chapter Thirty-Six
A few days later
John placed the baby in the playpen he’d put in the living room, and then he and Johnny guided Sophia to her and the baby’s room. When he opened the door, they both said, “Surprise!”
Sophia’s face lit up. The room had been painted in pink and white, and all the baby’s furniture was white, matching her own. She turned and jumped into his arms. “Thanks!”
“You don’t have to thank me. She’s my daughter,” he said, hugging her back.
She bent down and kissed his son, and then proceeded to stroll in and touch every single detail, from the baby’s clothes, to the shoes she couldn’t quite yet wear, and the dresser.
Amber started crying. “I got her.” John left the room with Johnny following him.
She couldn’t contain her smile. She never imagined she would have a child of her own, or even a place to call home. They’d made it all possible, John and her dad. Her dad had spent a few nights in jail, and was then rel
eased on bail. His lawyers had been able to convince the judge he hadn’t kidnapped his own granddaughter. Her dad had been sentenced to two years’ community service and he’d had to pay a fine as well.
Sophia took a fast shower, not wanting to burden John with the kids. By the time she stepped into the living room, they were all asleep on the couch. John held Amber in his right arm on his chest, and Johnny on his lap. She couldn’t resist; she got her phone and took a picture of her family.
***
John startled awake, then remembered he’d fallen asleep with both his newborn and his son in his arms. Somehow, they weren’t there. Looking around, he heard Sophia laughing.
“Amber is sleeping in her crib, and Johnny eating lunch,” she said, sitting with her legs under her butt.
“Why didn’t you wake me?” He stretched.
“It looked like you needed a nap. I picked Amber up because she started to whine and I didn’t want her to wake you.”
“You need rest, too,” he said, sitting up straight.
“I’m okay. I made you lunch,” she said, about to get up.
“Sophia.” He gazed at her. “You don’t have to cook and clean for me. That’s not why I asked you to live with me, and you just had a baby.”
She chuckled, and stood. “I know, but I like doing it.” She stepped into the kitchen, and rubbed Johnny’s head. “Is it good?”
“Yes, Ms. Sophie,” he said, eating his chicken sandwich.
John followed and watched her from the doorframe as she moved around, preparing his lunch.
“Are you just going stand there or are you going to join us?” she asked, placing their food on the table. “Sit.” She stared at him.
He strolled to the kitchen table and sat with them. “Thank you.” He gazed at her.
“You’re welcome.”
John dove in and took a bite from his sandwich.
“Daddy, you didn’t say your prayer.”
He placed the sandwich down, closed his eyes, and said a little prayer.
