Hidden

by T K Barber

  Anna huffed breaths and crunched in the middle again, letting out another wail. “A’ight, a’ight one sec.” He propped the phone up on his shoulder and moved her head to the carpet. He crawled around her and sat back on his heels in front of her feet.

  “Anna, this operator lady says I gotta look. Don’t kick me.”

  She barked a laugh, then groaned and tilted to the side. “Whatever, just do it!”

  He shook out his hands and quickly lifted her flowy dress, the only things she’d been wearing these last couple of weeks. He froze and a smile split his face. He dropped the fabric and looked at her, then lifted it again. Then he remembered he had the phone and nearly fumbled it putting it back to his mouth.

  “There’s a head already there!

  “What!?” Annalise sucked in a huge breath and let out a massive scream.

  Thomas’s face paled. “You’d better be on the way, somethings wrong. Hell no! You tell her! I’m not . . . Doll, she says you gotta push.”

  Instead of an answer, she strained, and Thomas scrambled to get her dress out of the way.

  “Yeah she is. Hang on.” He tilted the phone back down. “Atta girl gorgeous. You got this. Just breathe.”

  “I am . . . breathing . . . it hurts!”

  “I know, gorgeous, I know.”

  She let out another scream and Thomas flinched, then smiled.

  “Yeah! Another one like that babe! He’s almost out!”

  “God!”

  Thomas jerked off his shirt and readied it. “Atta girl!” He rubbed her knee. “You’re kickin’ ass, just a bit more I bet.”

  A final wail and time slowed a bit. Thomas pulled the first baby the rest of the way out. A precious, shrill cry rang out and Thomas laughed as tears ran down his cheeks. He was perfect.

  Baby number one got wrapped up in his shirt and Thomas held him for just a second longer, before laying him on the carpet on the outside of Anna’s leg. He picked the phone back up. “Yeah it did. No, Not yet. They still need to come! Hang on.”

  He put the phone back down again and scrambled to get the bag open before the last little guy came out while Anna sobbed and strained.

  “Beautiful, you’re doin’ an amazin’ job. Listen to him holler though!”

  She breathed out a laugh as he dug furiously through the bag. Damnit, he knew he just put those blankets in here! He paused and looked in his hand and shot out a laugh. He had moved them to get a better look. Lordy.

  He knee-walked back to his position, laid the other blanket down, and rested his palm on the twin that would forever lay claim to being oldest. His little cries quieted, and another tear slid down Thomas’ cheek.

  How long ‘til they said ‘daddy’ the first time?

  Another weak groan from Anna snapped him to attention. Right. One more!

  “Okay, Anna, just like the last one. Just keep breathin’. Ya got this all day.”

  What the hell was that noise? Someone talking? He looked around and spotted the phone. Crap! He snatched it back up. “You still th—? Yeah, she’s doing great. Nah. Yeah, he cried! No, not a damn siren yet. Didja even call ‘em? Okay. Nah, I’ll call back if anythin’ changes.”

  He ended the call and jammed the phone back in his pocket.

  “Knock, knock!” The door swung open with gusto. At least she said knock if nothing else. Nataly called out to them as she practically skipped through the door. “TC? Plum?”

  Anna let another grunt be their answer. Nat halted and slapped her hands to her cheeks, right as Gavin came in behind her, holding two of those portable crock pots. He was quick to avert his eyes but grinned from ear to ear at Nat as he walked backward into the kitchen.

  “Good call on coming early, Kitten. Are you gonna just stand there? It’s all you’ve been talking about since they told us.”

  She looked like she was afraid to move until he said that, then she was nothing but squeals and flapping hands as she approached, all the while Anna huffing.

  She dropped to her knees beside Anna and gave her a kiss on the cheek, her whispered voice shaky. She might have been nearly as excited as he was. “Plum, you’re pretty as a peach.”

  “Hi—” Another huff. “Nataly.”

  Nat knee walked over to Thomas and froze when she saw the baby. Her hands shook as she hovered them a good six inches above him. “I-c-c-Tom-it’s. . .”

  “You can touch him, Natty.”

  She stared at him wide eyed as tears dripped. She wiped her face, rubbed her palms on her knees, and dropped down to her elbows right beside him. She laid her face on the carpet in line with his and traced her trembling finger down his cheek. “Hi little baby . . . I’m Aunty Nat.”

  “Uuuhhhggggg!”

  Nataly sat bolt upright and scrabbled back up to Anna’s head, petting her hair as she positioned herself cross legged behind her. The shout also startled the baby, which had the double effect of apparently breaking Nataly’s heart. “Tomcat, he’s crying!”

  “Babies cry Nat, you know that.” Gavin called out from the kitchen. “It’s okay, bitty.” She nodded several times and smoothed her hands through Anna’s hair. She’d be bald inside of twenty minutes at that rate.

  Thomas rubbed Anna’s knees. “Come on, doll. Give us another push, a big one!”

  A series of car doors closed, and he thinned his lips. Oh great. Did everyone want to be early today?

  Scarlet, Nick, Marianna, and Rico came through the door one after the other.

  Scarlet sucked in a massive gasp and rushed over to crouch beside Thomas. “Ooohhhh my God!” She scooped baby one up, cooing. “He’s perfect!” Marianna came in and stood a bit back from their small group but had just as big a smile as Scarlet.

  Both Rico and Nick’s eyes bugged, and they turned on their heels, headed straight back out. “We’ll, uh, be out here. If you—”

  A hard wail interrupted everything. Thomas refocused on his amazing wife. “One more push, gorgeous. Just gimme one more.”

  “Tommy, there it is! Oh my God!” Scarlet clutched his arm.

  Another loud cry and Thomas reached in. “Holy shit, babe! Ya did it! He’s perfect, too!”

  The second baby was wrapped in the little blue blanket just as tightly as the first and Thomas looked down at his sons in awe. They made these dudes. He swallowed down a lump.

  Scarlet wiped at her eyes and Marianna moved to kneel beside Thomas on the other side.

  She rubbed his upper back. “How precious. Good job you guys.”

  Thomas beamed at her and she gestured to Anna with her head. Oh yeah, duh.

  “Anna, babe, look at the boys!” He held up his bundle, and Scarlet lifted hers. Anna’s face was pale and still scrunched up.

  Thomas grinned from ear to ear as he looked back and forth between the babies. Anna let out another wail and crunched in the middle again. They all stilled. Nataly’s nearly frantic fussing over Anna halted mid forehead swipe.

  “Doll.” Thomas looked around for a second, then caught Marianna’s gaze and handed her his other son. “What’s wrong?”

  “It HURTS!”

  “Whaddya mean? Like, just left over?”

  She shook her head and screamed.

  “Noo . . .” Thomas snatched out another blanket and all color drained from his face. One more strain from her, and Thomas leaned up, holding a third, tinier baby. Anna let out a long, relieved moan and flopped back on the carpet. Thomas rocked back on his heels in complete shock.

  “It’s . . .”

  Anna gasped breaths and finally picked her head up, meeting Thomas’s gaze.

  “Anna . . . it’s . . . it’s a girl!”

  Annalise’s eyes went wide. Nataly covered her mouth and screamed, then leaned down to press her cheek to Anna’s forehead. “Plum, you did so good!”

  Anna breathed a thank you as Thomas leaned over her body, careful not to touch her, and handed her the baby. He crawled off to the side and took
the spot Nataly scrabbled to vacate.

  “Did you guys know?” Scarlet spoke to the bundle in her arms.

  “That we’d be havin’ triplets? Hell no. We knew about the boys, but not about—”

  “Amber.” Annalise sighed and smiled as she looked at an upside-down Thomas. A one-sided grin spread on his face and he nodded as he looked down at the baby.

  “Yeah. Amber. That’s perfect.”

  “What are their names?” Marianna laid her bundle on Anna’s chest beside Amber. Scarlet laid hers between the other two.

  Three kids. They made three perfect little people. He put his hands on either side to keep them all in place, in case they wanted to start crawling too soon.

  “Go on, you can tell them, Tommy.”

  Thomas puffed up about four sizes and Anna chuckled as he cleared his throat.

  “That one there, that’s Jax. And this guy, he’s Caleb.”

  Marianna and Scarlet cooed. Nataly threw her arms around Thomas from behind and planted a kiss on his cheek. “You’re gonna be the best daddy.”

  “Yeah, he is.” Anna looked up at Thomas who grinned back down at her. He dropped his head down and gave her an awkward upside-down kiss, and she laughed against his mouth.

  “Perfect names for perfect babies you guys.” Gavin came from the kitchen and wrapped Natty in a huge hug, whispering something in her ear.

  The three babies, nestled on Annalise’s chest were content, snuggled up to each other and their mommy. A siren could finally be heard coming down the road and the guys poked their heads back in, with their eyes covered.

  “Is it safe yet?”

  Scarlet laughed and rocked back to her feet, then stood up. “Yes, you big old baby. Come here and see your nephews and niece.”

  Nick’s hand slid down his face little by little, his eyes wide.

  “Three . . . babies?”

  FOURTEEN MONTHS LATER

  Peals of laughter echoed down the hall in every direction. Thomas crawled on all fours, chasing after Jax and Caleb, Amber on his back.

  “Ya better watch out! I’m gonna get ya!”

  Matching squeals came from each boy as they toddled toward the kitchen.

  Thomas sucked in a breath when his knee landed on some tiny land mine in the shape of a lego and he braced on giant cow drawing to dig it out.

  Almost every visible surface of the lower wall was covered in pen, crayon, paint, you name it. Up higher, there was hardly an inch between the photos and portraits that lined the walls. He grinned. Just like he wanted.

  Amber clutched at his shirt as she tried to slide off.

  Demon dagger removed from his flesh, he flicked it across the room and laughed as he reached a hand back. “Oh ho! Think you’re gettin’ away, do ya?”

  Anna popped out of the doorway ahead. “BOO!”

  All three of the babies screamed in laughter, and Thomas guffawed. Spooking these rugrats was one of their favorite things to do.

  The boys ran back toward him, crashing into his open arms. Amber wrapped her arms around his neck, babbling a drooly “Ma ma ma” behind his head.

  “Did mean ol’ mommy scare my babies?”

  Anna plopped her hands on her hips and rolled her eyes.

  “Yes. Mean ol’ me. Mean ol’ me that made you all breakfast.”

  Thomas sat up straight and raised his eyebrows. He dropped his jaw and slapped his hands to his cheeks as he looked at the boys.

  Caleb mirrored his expression. “Da!”

  Thomas winked at Anna and whispered excitedly. “She means cereal!”

  “Nope,” she laughed. “Not today.”

  Thomas’ shoulders fell and he scrunched his nose. “It ain’t fruit, is it? You know the boys, uh, don’t like that.”

  “Uh-huh. The boys. Right. And no, it’s not fruit. Just come on you big goof.”

  Thomas chuckled and looked at the boys. “Did you hear what mommy called me? Ya just gonna sit there and take that?”

  Jax blew spit bubbles and poked them with his fingers. Caleb continued to say “da” on whispered breaths as he clapped his chubby little hands.

  Anna snorted and shrugged. “I guess they are. Better come on before I give it to the cat.”

  Amber squealed and slid the rest of the way down Thomas’s back. “Yaya!”

  “Oh no ya don’t pipsqueak. Poor thing ain’t got any tail left after last night.” Amber tried to take off down the hall, but he caught her hand and grunted as he stood.

  Anna smiled and turned on her heel, leading the way.

  Thomas scooped all three children up. He carried Amber and Jax at his chest, braced by his arm. Caleb hung like a sack of potatoes under his other arm, which he thought was hilarious, his crackly baby laugh traveling through the whole house.

  When Thomas rounded the corner he sucked in a massive elated gasp.

  “You made WAFFLES!?”

  Good God, he loved this woman.

  He set all three kids down, who scattered in three different directions, squealing. Annalise’s squeal was the best though, when he snatched her up in a massive, spinning hug.

  She laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck, planting a firm kiss on his mouth. His body burned. How much longer until nap time?

  When she pulled back and nuzzled his nose, he shook his head. “My God Anna. You really are amazing, you know that?”

  She bit her lip and nodded, but furrowed her brow when he sucked in a hiss through his teeth. “I mean, not as awesome as me, but ya know.”

  He winked and she shot out a single laugh, making a show of poking his ribs as she shoved away from him. He jumped just out of reach and waggled his eyebrows. “To be continued.”

  Something clattered to the ground in the nursery, followed by giggles.

  Thomas sighed and called out. “Come on, pipsqueaks, time to eat!”

  The End

  DELETED SCENE ONE

  The vote in my fan group on Facebook was in favor of including these little snippets. (If you’d like insider info and the chance to vote on random things, join up! I’d love to have you!) This first one is lightly edited (thank you Janet!) But it’s still a bit raw. And it’s from a way earlier version of the book where Nataly wasn’t as neuro-diverse as her final form. This was the original opening of the story, before I fine-tuned the timeline. Once that fleshed out, there really wasn’t a good way to include this, and, in my mind at least, it didn’t add any info to the story that you couldn’t get from other sections. ALL THAT SAID: Hope you enjoy ;)

  ***

  The nightmares always started the same way.

  Happy.

  In love, on the run, and almost there.

  The middles were the worst. That’s where the hope was crushed. Sometimes she held the gun, other times she was the bullet. Sometimes they made it out, but the car crashed. One time there was even a bomb. They had to sedate her after that one. That sucked.

  But they always ended the same way: A noise. Blood. Devastating heartbreak.

  This morning, though, the blood wasn’t his. It was hers. She’d finally taken his place.

  For the first time since that horrible day, Annalise woke up happy.

  And that was terrifying.

  *****

  "So, you had another one last night?"

  Dr. David waited with a pen hovering above his little notepad. Annalise shifted on the couch and nodded.

  "Did you take your pill? You know they don’t work unless they’re in your system."

  His large ham hands fiddled with the pen. Annalise chuckled to herself and cleared her throat. She nodded again. Dr. David sighed.

  "Well, I don’t think we should increase the dosage. If they get so bad that you can’t deal with them, we’ll address it then. Annalise, look at me."

  She flicked her eyes up from the faded green carpet to his round face. He pulled off his coke bottle glasses and smiled.

  "You�
�re making phenomenal progress. It’s very important for you to realize that. So much so, that I’ve made the recommendation for you to come off the anti-psychotics."

  Her eyes went wide, both with fear and hope. That meant she might be able to open the shop soon! Was she ready?

  "I’ll coordinate with Ryker, but I’m sure he’ll agree. As long as you keep up your therapy appointments—all of them— and continue taking your other medication, I see no reason why you couldn’t start to get on with your life." He leaned up over his knee. "As long as you feel you’re ready, we will go ahead and release you."

  She sucked in a sharp breath. She had no idea this was coming . . . or how she felt about it. It was easy to stay detached in the facility. It wasn’t really a reality for her here. She wasn’t having to deal with anything from her own bed. She swallowed and took a slow breath. She could do this. If anyone could . . . she could.

  She nodded and smiled. "I’m so ready. Does Ryker have an office in town though? I thought he was only here in the facility."

  Dr. David smiled.

  "He’s setting up a little office down on main street. Until it’s ready, you’ll just come back here.”

  He stood and she followed suit, pulling her sleeves down over her hands nervously. She hated the scarring on her wrists; everyone always assumed she was a cutter.

  "Your brother is already on the way. You go on to your room and get your things together. One of the orderlies will swing by and carry it for you." He gently placed his hand on her shoulder. "Annalise, you really are extraordinarily strong. But try to remember: it’s okay to be weak too, right?"

  She smiled and nodded again. Nope. Weakness wasn’t an option. But that’s not what they wanted to hear.

  She scooted out of the door and speed walked to her room. Her roommate Nataly was splayed out on her stomach on her bed, propped up on her elbows with her feet swinging in the air. She sat up when Annalise entered. She immediately hopped up when she saw Annalise’s expression and bounced in place.

  "Did ya get sprung?!"

  Annalise nodded and grinned. Nataly gave her a big hug, rocking her from side to side.