[Nine months later.]
I screamed, pain clutching every inch of my body and tearing me apart from the inside. I slammed my hand into the driver's seat once more
"Faster you incompetent sloth. Frig. Ahh" I screamed
"Mia Breathe" Aleecia lectured, demonstrating how I was supposed to. I eyed her bitterly, trying to imitate her but it was only making it worse.
"Luke drive faster" Carlos yelled at him for the millionth time. I groaned as he leisurely pulled over to the banking, glaring over at Carlos.
"You drive then" He scoffed "Road codes are meant to be followed"
"Oh. So now you want to be a law abiding citizen" Carlos scoffed in disbelief
'Breathe Mia, Breathe. Don't let them get to you, just breathe.' I began a series of useless self-talks.
"It's not my fault that you're a cranky old man with nothing to do but …"
"I am only two years older than you a…"
"Someone drive the frikin car" I screamed, running my hand over my huge bulging belly in distress. It felt as if the baby wanted to rip me open; to put a cherry on top, they were making unnecessary noise and this car wasn't moving at all. I just wanted to get this little cute, adorable demon out of me.
"Breathe" Aleecia urged and I unenthusiastically returned to her breathing exercise while Carlos exchanged spaces with Luke.
"Hold on to your seatbelts" He warned and just like that we were weaving through the line of cars, way above 180. A heart attack couldn't describe what he gave me but by the time I could tear him to pieces he was already at the emergency section of the hospital. Aleecia helped me out of the car and immediately a waiting nurse pulled up beside me with a wheel chair.
"Shanel Jackson?" Her fierce voice rang out and I nodded hesitantly. I think that was the first time I'd ever heard my new name out loud. It was weird. I was officially an imposter. I sat and the short, chubby nurse pushed me inside, my entourage following closely behind.
"I'm Doctor Dallam. Who's the lucky Dad?" a female doctor I'd never seen before asked and all three of them raised their hands. I would have laughed if I wasn't in so much pain.
"And who's staying?" She continued
"I read online that you allow up to three persons in the delivery room?" Aleecia stated and the doctor nodded.
"Let's get you prepped then" she led them out and I held unto the other nurse's hand as she assisted me into the hospital gown.
"Do people survive this?" I questioned nervously and she smiled
"I'll be over before you know it… Do you want medication?"
I shook my head, releasing her hand and slipping unto the bed. I wanted to do this naturally. I would have done it at home but according to my new family, I needed to get my name out there as quickly as possible. Shanel had been gone for quite some time. It would help my story.
"I think she's coming" I yelled. The nurse put the ultra sound equipment down so she could go have a look. She used her fingers to check how far along I was before getting the doctor. Dallam took a seat infront of me immediately.
"Take a deep breath and push when I tell you okay" She smoothed and I swallowed hard before nodding. Just then Aleecia and the others appeared. Aleecia rushed to my side holding unto my hand and the daring Luke and Carlos went to have a peak.
"Push" The doctor urged and I pushed so hard it felt as if my womb was coming out of me. I screamed, who would do this intentionally.
"I can't do this… I can't do this" I cried, wiping heated sweat from my forehead. I wanted to go home. I wanted this to be over. Ray was an asshole, an asshole that got me pregnant and died. If he was here I would kill him. I would definitely pulverize him. Couldn't he just say no for a little while longer? That idiot- he would have died either way. Atleast then, I wouldn't be pregnant with his child.
"You're almost there Mia. Just a few more pushes" Dallam counseled and I took deep uncalming breaths.
"Push"
I did as told.
"That's it. There's the head" She commended "Just a couple more to go. Again"
I inhaled sharply, giving my next push all I had. Literally.
"O My God" Carlos spoke "How is that even possible" he squealed and I watched as Luke's eyes rolled back and he fell to the ground in a lump. Carlos's amused laugh rang throughout the room and I drove the baby out of me with a final push.
"Oh look at that. A bouncing baby Boy" Doctor Dallam smiled and I stared at her in complete horror
"Baby boy?" We all asked in unison as the baby started crying and she placed him in my hands. I was certain I was having a baby girl. Atleast that was what I was told. I even had a reveal party. All his things were pink. I grimaced. Frig.
"He's beautiful" Aleecia swooned
"He has his father's face." I smiled "I hope he has my attitude and not his"
Suddenly, a rush of pain pulsed throughout me and I squealed in agony. The Doctor cut the umbilical card and the short chubby nurse took the baby from me. The Doctor resorted to doing an ultra sound.
She gasped and I began to cry as the agony became unbearable.
"What is happening?" Carlos questioned nervously, approaching the bed.
"It appears that you are having another baby" Doctor Dallam said finally and I fell back unto my pillow in distress.
"What? Is that possible?" Aleecia probed
"It's rare but sometimes twins hide"
"I'm going to kill him" I yelled through clenched teeth. He was a lucky piece of stupid because if he was here I would have ripped him to unrecognizable shreds. I groaned as the baby flew up into the pit of my stomach and eagerly came plunging out into the Doctor's hand.
"I didn't say push" she muttered in shock
"I didn't push" I argued, as the baby started crying. I had to admit, I was a bit relieved. I couldn't survive another pain ridden birth, like the first.
"It's a girl" the nurse spoke in astonishment and they placed the two babies into my hands after they'd finished cleaning them and wrapping them in soft, child friendly towels. I looked down at the floor, Luke seemed to be contemplating whether to stand and accept his shameful reaction with pride or to pretend he was in a comma. He had refused all the nurses help and was just lying there, looking up at the ceiling.
I returned my focus to the task at hand. My heart melted as they stared back up at me and in that instant, I knew it was worth it. The morning sickness, back pains, extra weight, stretch marks and current near death experience, were all insignificant to the breath taking miracles in my hands. My entire world would circle around these two from this day forward. I just knew it.
"What are you going to call them?" Carlos questioned, taking the boy from my hands. Aleecia took the girl and Luke decided it was time to get up.
"You could call him Luke" Luke mumbled and I chuckled
"After the stunt you just pulled" Aleecia scoffed "Call her…Aleecia" She poked the baby's nose teasingly.
"Don't destroy the child's life before it starts" Luke rebutted and I shook my head.
"Ray was Ray. Then, he wasn't- He was Row. Rowan Wellers. His name changed but the letter R and W never did" I smiled. "I think he wanted something to remain- to be his. Just like I want my life to be mine even though my name's changed" I exhaled, feeling a familiar rush of sadness. "Ray was an asshole but he was my world. I want him to live on in his children. I can't give them his last name, the least I can do is incorporate the first" I looked between them and they all nodded in agreement. "How about Rahmone for the boy and Rahmonique for the girl?" I enquired
"I love it" Aleecia mumbled "Rahmonique"
"Rahmone. My little Champion" Carlos muttered playfully
"That is so far off. What about Rowanna and Roman or Rowanne and Rowdy ooor Rowdine and…?"
"Shut up Luke" we all yelled distastefully
"What? They are good names?" he huffed disappointedly and I rolled my eyes. He'd completely spoil the moment.
"Although, Roman and Rowdine sounded like great…" Carlos began. Aleecia and I glared at him causing him to shut up.
"I know. That is why I love you old man. You have really good taste"
"I told you to stop calling me …" Carlos started, ready to rip Luke apart for referring to him as old again but then Rahmone made a soft life altering sound and everyone swooned, returning the focus to the two life changers in the room.
"It's time to get you cleaned up" the short, chubby nurse stated, making her presence known and Carlos and Aleecia gave the babies up involuntarily. I watched despairingly as everyone, except the nurses, left the room.
I smiled. Life was finally looking up. Even though Ray was dead, my father thinks he'd killed me and the Shadows were still looking for Aleecia and Luke, life was good. I wasn't free but I was happy and for now, that was all I needed. Caleb, The Shadows, My Dad and everyone else that wanted to hurt or kill me, could go suck it.
[Carlos]
"I'm sorry. I can't continue working for you. I quit" I whispered over the phone. I was done. I couldn't betray them anymore. I just couldn't.
"No, No! You can't quit. You belong to me. I will find you and destroy your life Darren. Don't do this?"
"You won't. You love her and you know that if you find her, then they will too. So you won't look for me. You won't risk having her find out what you've done" I gambled and he ended the call. I exhaled nervously, running a frustrated hand through my hair before crushing the burner phone under my heel and discarding it into a nearby bin at the front of the hospital building.
This wasn't only about Mia anymore. This was about her and her children. I could never let anything happen to them. No one could find out. Everyone was an enemy now. If she knew what was ahead of her, her name wasn't the only thing she'd change.
Her life was a lot more trouble than she could manage. She needed as much persons in her corner as possible. Atleast, I would be one of those persons until she found out the horrible thing I'd done.
Her story was only beginning.