The Surprise

by Alice Ward

  I’d give her time to adjust, but in the end, she would be mine.

  And I would be hers.

  ***

  After the surgery was completed and the patient sent to the recovery room, the next person I called turned out to be Josh. I needed to walk off some of the stress of the past twenty-four hours and had decided to start walking back to Scarlett’s hospital, knowing I could catch a taxi whenever I was ready.

  “Hey, man. How are you?”

  It was good to hear his voice. I hadn’t seen him since Dad’s funeral.

  “That’s actually why I’m calling.”

  He cursed, going automatically to concerned. “Shit. That doesn’t sound good.”

  Josh was going to laugh his ass off at this.

  “Well, it actually is good. A surprise, but a good one.”

  “Man, you hate surprises.”

  He was right. I did hate surprises.

  I just needed to say it.

  “I’m a father.”

  For several long beats, there was total silence on the other side of the line, then Josh began to laugh hysterically. I waited, letting him get it out of his system. It took a while, then, “You’re serious?”

  “Very much so.”

  The laughter went on a while longer as I navigated the busy street. “How?”

  I rolled my eyes. “Immaculate conception, Josh. How do you think?”

  The laughter faded abruptly. “You’re really serious, aren’t you?”

  “Yep.”

  I smiled, trying to imagine the stunned look on his face. “Seriously, man. How? Who? How’d you find out?”

  I gave him an abbreviated version of the chain of events. He interrupted with a few questions, but he mainly only muttered things like, “you’re fucking kidding me” or “no shit.”

  “You seriously delivered your own twins? How were you not passed out on the floor?”

  “I have no idea. Thing was, after the initial shock, I was… happy.”

  Josh blew out a breath. “Well, that’s telling.”

  “Agreed.”

  He blew out another breath. “When exactly will you be getting these test results back?”

  I checked my watch. “As early as now and as late as tomorrow.”

  Josh’s voice softened. “What if they aren’t yours?”

  “They are.”

  “Except if they’re not. What do you know about this girl, Lang? You met her in a bar. You fucked her within an hour of knowing her.”

  I bristled at the truth in his words. “She’s different.”

  “How do you know that?” he pressed, pissing me off.

  I understood why he was doing it. He was my best friend. It was his job to defend me, protect me. But he hadn’t been there. He hadn’t known.

  “I just know.”

  “Does one of the kids look like you? Is that how you know?”

  Their tiny, wrinkled, squishy faces flashed in front of my eyes. “They’re a day old. They look like Yoda. How the fuck am I supposed to tell?”

  Josh barked out a laugh. “Beware the dark side. It’s the number one rule, man.”

  I so wished I hadn’t called him.

  “Josh, she was special. What we had together was special.”

  “Then why didn’t she call you?”

  He might as well have kicked me in the nuts.

  “I don’t know.” I squeezed the back of my neck with my hand, trying to release some of the tension that was shooting darts of pain into my skull. “She mentioned something about me hating to be tied down. That night, I told her it was one of my worst fears.”

  “You talked?” Josh sounded incredulous. “The night you fucked her back in the fall, you two talked about fears and shit? Wow.”

  “Talked. Laughed. Like I told you, she was special.”

  His voice dipped low again. “Do you think she set you up?”

  I squeezed harder at my neck. “She didn’t even know who I was.”

  “Maybe she did.”

  “How? I picked a random bar after I left you. Her friends were already at a table when I arrived. She arrived a few minutes later. Any other theories?”

  “Needle in the condom? That has been tried before.”

  “No. She didn’t have access.”

  “Hmmm… you did use a rubber, right? She didn’t bewitch you that much? Swear she was on the pill or some shit, right?”

  I wanted to punch my phone. “The rubber failed.”

  “Mommy, what’s a rubber?”

  A woman with a young boy was standing next to me at a crosswalk, and she glared at me as she covered her son’s ears. I gave her an I’m sorry look, but she didn’t appear to be the forgiving type. I turned my back on her and walked several paces away.

  “It didn’t work, okay. And how it happened isn’t as important as what I’m going to do about it now.”

  Josh grunted, and I took it as agreement. “What are you going to do?”

  Marry her. Raise our family together. Have more babies someday.

  “I’m going to help her with the babies. I’m going to get to know her better, give her time to know me. Then we’ll see where it goes.”

  If Josh was the gasping kind, I would have sworn he gasped. “You’re in fucking love with this girl.”

  If I was the gasping kind, I would have gasped. Instead, I let out some kind of strangled sound. “What? No way. I barely know her.”

  “Liar.”

  I blew out a breath. “I admit, she’s someone I could love, but it’s too early for all that.”

  “You did put the baby carriage before the horse, but you’re really serious about this, aren’t you? Just changing everything in your life like this?”

  “Well, yeah. Scarlett had to change her life too. She could have aborted the babies, given them up for adoption. She didn’t. She damned quit school so she could a have them.”

  “School?” His voice dipped low. “How old is she?”

  “College. Graduate school. She’s twenty-four.”

  Josh whistled. “You almost have three babies to take care of.”

  I growled into the phone. “Not funny.”

  “It is a little funny.”

  “She’s a woman. A smart, sexy, beautiful, strong woman who pushed out two babies like a badass right in front of my damn eyes.”

  “That must have been something.”

  I stopped at another crosswalk, waiting for the light to turn. “It was. Man, I’d delivered babies before, but there was so much going on in my head. I mean, it was her. The girl I couldn’t stop thinking about. Before she even told anyone I was the father, I knew. And then the kid’s head was practically out when I sat down.”

  Josh made a sound that I took as a shiver. “I would have puked.”

  “No. No, you wouldn’t have. It was something. I got one baby born, thought I’d done my job, then learned there was another.”

  Josh laughed. “I really wish I could have been there just to see your face.”

  “I’m sure it was priceless. Her friend probably caught it on camera.”

  “Is her friend cute?”

  It was my turn to laugh. “Her friend is gorgeous and probably one of the scariest people I’ve ever met.”

  “Hm. When can I meet her?”

  I rolled my eyes. “Zip it up. I’ve got babies to worry about.”

  Josh laughed again. “Do you have any idea how much child support you’re going to have to pay for two kids? What’s that dude’s name who’s paying a million a month per kid?”

  I didn’t even bother to answer. “Look, I’ve got to go. I need to get back to Scarlett and the babies.”

  “And… it begins. The best friend gets shoved out the door.”

  “You’re stupid. You’re welcome to change diapers anytime.”

  “Wow. Thanks. Sounds like so much fun I might just skip the erotica club.”

  I laughed. “I’ll just have to live life vicariously through you. Don’t let me dow
n.”

  There were a few beats of silence. “You’re serious about this, aren’t you? Settling down and being a family man.”

  “Yeah. Yeah, I am.”

  “Well, congratulations then. I’m happy for you. When can I see the kids?”

  “I’ll text you the hospital details, or if you’d rather wait until we’re home and settled, that’s good too.”

  “Where’s home?”

  Now that was a good question. “I’m not sure. I’m hoping the carriage house. We really haven’t had time to talk it all through.”

  “What are you going to do about your dad’s practice?”

  Another good question. “He’d slowed down a lot. More than I thought he did. It’s practically a part-time schedule right now.”

  “That’s good.”

  “Yeah. I had been thinking of ways to build it up, to stay busy. But—”

  “Sounds like you’ll be busy enough.”

  Careful what you wish for.

  “It does appear to be the case.”

  “Well, all the best to you, Lang. Seriously. If this is what you want, then I hope the paternity test comes back with the proof you need to never question it, and I hope Scarlett is who you think she is.”

  “Thanks, Josh.”

  “Anytime. And don’t forget to hook me up with her friend.”

  I grinned. “I’m serious. She will bite your balls off.”

  “Mmm… the best ones always do.”

  I hung up on him mid laugh and kept walking a few more blocks before hailing a cab. Walking was taking too long, and I had things to do.

  A woman to see.

  Babies to kiss.

  I was whistling when I got into the cab.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Scarlett

  I wish I was with you.

  I smiled at Langston’s text on my phone. Was this what it was like in the beginning stages of falling in love?

  If it was, it was aptly named. It was like falling, spiraling in a dizzy rush of madness that I didn’t want to control. Didn’t want to end. Or was it just lust? Or hormones? The relief of not being totally alone in this new phase of my life?

  The problem was… what happened when the fall ended. Did you land safely or shatter into a million pieces?

  I had to admit, the fall was addicting… wonderful, breathless. But was it worth the risk of not knowing if I would be able to survive the inevitable impact with the ground?

  I sighed, knowing I was overthinking it all.

  I was driving myself crazy.

  Before I could overthink it some more, Samuel began to whimper, which turned quickly into a full-on cry. Wincing as every cell between my legs protested, I stood and picked him up, bouncing him, patting his bottom while I got the diaper and wipes ready for a change.

  He was a pretty baby, handsome like his father. Of course I would think that, but it was true. He was going to have Langston’s strong nose and jawline. And he would be tall too. He’d have his long fingers and feet. Dark hair. I wondered if his eyes would change from the dark newborn blue to the honey color that drove me wild.

  I pulled the little boy’s diaper away, gave the cool air a second to stimulate him, then pressed the diaper back down, feeling it grow warm under my fingers. “Tried to hose me, didn’t you?” I crooned. “Just remember, I’ve had lots of experience with little boys. I know these tricks.”

  When he was finished, I made quick work of the diaper change before checking on Sofi, hoping to find her ready to nurse too. No such luck. She was sleeping deeply. I stroked her cheek, unwrapped her, ran my nail up her foot. She made all the correct reactions but didn’t wake.

  “And you, little girl, are like your mother.”

  It was my ability to sleep like a person in a coma that had saved me that terrible night. That and my brother. I hadn’t heard the window break. I hadn’t heard the footsteps in the hall. I hadn’t heard my father’s yells, my mother’s screams. It had been my brother who had shaken me awake and told me to hide under the bed.

  Samuel began to wail, pulling me back to the present. I wrapped Sofi back up, bundling her tightly as she continued to sleep peacefully. I watched her chest move up and down, making sure that it was indeed sleep. Being a mother was going to make me sick with worry.

  “Looks like it’s you and me,” I told Samuel, who was on the verge of a full-scale wail. With only one baby to juggle, I chose the rocking chair instead of the bed. I was getting tired and sore from lying around so much.

  As hungry as he was, he didn’t latch on immediately, struggling more with eating than his sister. He was furious, his face an angry red, his little fist pounding on my breast before he got it right and started sucking madly.

  My uterus contracted hard, forcing me to lean forward and gnash my teeth against the pain. It was like labor all over again, but only for a few moments. While I knew it was coming, it didn’t make the experience any less painful.

  By the time Samuel was finished, Sofi was awake and screaming for her turn, so I had my hands full while I juggled everything around. I felt like an Olympic gold medal winner once I’d gotten her changed and on the breast. I was just sitting back and relaxing with my daughter when Samuel made a noise, and I looked over to see that he’d spit up.

  Juggling some more, I got him relatively cleaned up, sweeping his mouth with my finger to make sure there was nothing left that might cause a problem. He was spitting up on a regular basis, unlike his smaller sister who was nursing like a champ.

  I couldn’t help but worry. I’d been a mother for less than twenty-four hours, and it seemed that was all I did. I couldn’t tell if being a registered nurse and knowing everything that could go wrong was better or worse.

  So I rocked and nursed, changed diapers and burped. I worried about the babies, and I worried about my relationship, or lack of it, with Langston.

  My phone pinged, and I smiled to find a text message from the man my thoughts were unable to stray from for very long. Last surgery was successful. In a taxi. Be there soon.

  The poor man. I wondered what his normal schedule was going to be like. Was he a workaholic I’d never see? How did he act when he’d gotten little sleep? There was so much I didn’t know, but I wanted to.

  A soft knock came on the door. “Come in.”

  Amy appeared, a teddy bear under each arm. “How’s my bestie and my godbesties?”

  I was instantly grinning. It was so good to see my friend. She didn’t even look tired after a long day of dealing with teenagers.

  “We’re doing good. Haven’t dropped a baby yet, so that’s a plus.”

  She snorted and tossed the bears on the bed before washing her hands, much to my relief. “You’re a better woman than me. How’s the baby daddy?”

  I scowled. “Don’t call him that. Langston is doing amazingly well under the circumstances.”

  She snorted again. “That’s such a preppy name.”

  I sighed.

  She fluttered her lips. “Am I being bitchy?” When I gave her a blank look, she sank onto the bed. “All right. I can feel the bitch trying to dig itself out of me.”

  “Does somebody need a nap?” I asked, trying for teasing, but it didn’t erase the worry from her face.

  She grabbed a baby blanket, wrinkled her nose when she ended up with Samuel’s spit up on her hand. “What do you know about this man, Scarlett?”

  The question was a surprise, especially with the venom behind it. It startled me, adding another worry to my list of worries. “Not a lot yet. Why?”

  “Did you know he has more money than God?”

  “Well, he’s a doctor. I haven’t asked him to show me his savings account, but I kind of figured he was doing okay.”

  “He’s a billionaire,” she said flatly.

  It was my time to snort. “No way. Billionaires drive fancy cars and spent half their time on luxury jets.”

  Her face was blank. “What kind of car does he drive?”

  Hm
m… she’d got me there. “I don’t know.”

  “Does he own a luxury jet?”

  Tension was tightening my chest. “I don’t know.”

  “Scarlett, where does he live?”

  “I. Don’t. Know,” I yelled this time, causing Sofi to throw her arms out in a startle reflex. I patted her bottom, settling her down. “He has a three-story carriage house, at least that’s what he called it. He wants to convert the top floor into a nursery for the babies. He wants me to live with him so he can help with the children. His favorite color is gray. He’s a humanitarian because he worked with Doctors Beyond Borders. He’s kind. He’s hot. He looks at me like I’m the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen. That’s what I know, Amy. That’s all I know.”

  Her eyes softened. “He wants you to come live with him?”

  I nodded. “Yes.”

  “What did you tell him?”

  “That I needed to think about it.”

  She leaned forward and stroked Sofi’s hand with her finger. “Did he pressure you about saying yes?”

  “Not at all.”

  Amy sighed, pressed her fingers to her temple, and grumbled, “He better not. I might not be able to take him down, but I could put in a few good shots.”

  I smiled. “I bloodied his nose today?”

  She gaped. “What? Why? Tell me everything.”

  So I did. Every detail.

  I told her about him finding me in the shower and washing me clean. I told her about the kiss. Our talk. The nightmare. The way I felt about it all. I told her everything and watched her eyes take on the same dreamy quality I was sure mine contained.

  “Does it feel too good to be true, Scar?”

  I nodded. It felt exactly that way.

  “Well, I can’t think of anyone more deserving of a prince charming and happily ever after.”

  “We all deserve it,” I countered.

  My phone pinged. It was Langston: Be there in an hour. Need anything?

  Me: No, I’m good. Thanks.

  Langston: Up for visitors? My mom and grandparents want to see the babies.

  That shook me.

  Me: Today? When?

  My phone rang in my hands, making me jump. It was Langston. “Hello.”

  “Calling was easier.”

  It was the first time I’d heard his voice on the phone, I realized. We had as many firsts to experience together as the babies did.