“You scared us, Ry,” Jamie mutters as we get ready to watch a movie with Kellan and Kylan. Her jewel-green eyes well with tears.
“Don’t cry, Jams. I’m here, and everything is going to be okay,” I say, trying to reassure her.
She shakes her head. “Nothing’s been okay since Dad was taken three years ago. We’ve been on an endless loop of heartache. Our family has been destroyed. Moving here was supposed to fix it, but it only got worse.”
Leaning over, I press a kiss on the top of my sister’s head. “It has been a very long three years. Before we lost Dad, we lost Mom.”
“No, we never had her. Mom never existed.”
I rub the crease on my forehead, happy the boys are still downstairs picking out their movie snacks. “Oh, Jams, she existed. Hold on to the moments that brought you joy, but never get lost in them. Let go of the moments that hurt you, but remember the lessons that came from that pain.”
She begins to sit up, so I follow suit. “What do you mean?”
Smiling, I reply, “Even though we discovered our mother was never who she pretended to be, we shouldn’t let her rob us of the happy memories. We’ve gained so much. More family and new friends to create new moments with.”
I brush the last of her tears from her face. She looks so much like our mom. “We did,” she exclaims. “It just sucks that we had to lose her in the process. I miss her.”
She hangs her head, and I tip her chin so she’ll meet my gaze. “And there’s nothing wrong with that. You’re allowed to mourn her. To feel a hole in the place she used to be.”
Jamie’s lips quirk seconds before she wraps her arms around my neck. “Thanks, Ry. I love you.”
“I love you, and any time you want to talk, I’m here. And if you ever want or need professional support to help you process what you’re feeling, let one of us know.”
Her grin grows as the twin terrors come piling onto the bed with what looks like the whole kitchen. “Time to watch
Venom,” Ky screams.
“No, I want to watch
Guardians of the Galaxy,” Kell shouts.
I snatch the remote off the bed. “Snooze, you lose. First up is
Iron Man. We’re watching these in order.”
“Aww, come on, Ry.”
“Booo, I want Sonic.”
“I’ve got you, boo,” Jamie declares before tackling them and tickling their sides until they give in. Their peals of laughter bounce off the walls. I rest my head on my hand, watching my siblings goof off.
This is what I’m fighting for.
EMMA
“Your blood pressure is still higher than I’d like, but it has come down. Have you been keeping your stress levels down?” Dr. Jaffri asks, notating my record as I sit on the exam table.
As she continues to input information, I peer around the room, taking in the medical equipment. Over my first few days home, they’ve converted an area of the estate into a home doctor’s office.
I can feel Dr. Jaffri waiting for me to answer. I thought I’d have more time before my next visit. I’ve only been home for four days, and between my argument with Shay, the visits from the guys, and Rowan’s journal, I’d say it’s a miracle I’m not back in the hospital.
“Isn’t my appointment next week at your office?” I counter, hoping she doesn’t realize I’m avoiding her question.
Placing her tablet on the counter, Dr. Jaffri levels me with a pointed glare. The type you get when you know you’ve been caught with your hand in the cookie jar before dinner. “Open,” she orders, holding the thermometer probe to my mouth.
My lips part, and I mentally prepare for the lecture I know is coming. “Emma, you’re an intelligent young woman. So, I know I don’t need to tell you the seriousness of your condition,” she begins, pulling the thermometer from my mouth before disposing of the probe cover.
“You’re carrying twins. Two developing fetuses. That means double the work on your body to ensure you give birth to two healthy babies,” Dr. Jaffri continues, her teal stethoscope in her hand, lifting the headpiece, placing the earpieces in her ears, and holding the chest piece to my back. “Deep breath,” she orders, and I immediately follow instructions again. “Which also means you need to. . .” She moves to another spot on my back, and I inhale. “Take care of yourself.”
Suitably chastised, I say, “I’ll do better. There are a lot of high-stress situations I’m juggling currently.”
“You can’t pour from an empty cup,” Dr. Jaffri cuts in, and I nod my agreement. Her message is received. Loud and clear.
We talk as she continues the exam, explaining what to expect as I prepare to enter my final trimester. We briefly discuss birthing plans.
“I would like to have my babies at the hospital and not the medical facility at the Calloway Estate,” I declare emphatically. Even though we’re working on our relationship, I refuse to be left in the lurch if they decide they’re done with me again. “I’ll discuss heightening security measures with my father and security team. They’ll coordinate with you and the hospital.”
Dr. Jaffri smiles. “I’ll get in touch with your head of security and get things moving.”
Fifteen minutes later, she makes her final notations before packing her doctor’s bag. As she readies herself to leave, I remember she never actually answered my question earlier.
Rising from the exam table, I straighten my shirt and say, “You never did tell me why you saw me today at home instead of next week in your office.”
With her bag in hand, Dr. Jaffri is at the door when she turns and replies, “Mr. Washington ordered an in-home visit immediately.”
My face scrunches in confusion. “Why would Liam’s father concern himself with my prenatal care?”
“Oh, no, dear, you misunderstood.
Liamon Washington demanded I see you today,” she clarifies before exiting the room and leaving me with my mouth hanging open.
I stand in shock, staring at the video gaming equipment that was installed in my room while I was at my prenatal appointment, immediately knowing this is also Liam’s doing.
Walking further into the room, I approach the sleek, brand-new jet-black desk, then sit in the midnight blue, purple, and black ergonomic chair with extra lumbar support and some sort of footstool beneath the desk. A lit-up wireless keyboard and mouse, matching the color of the chair, are set in front of the two monitors mounted to the wall. But none of that is why I shoot up from my seat as my eyes well with tears that threaten to spill over. Bookshelves filled with special editions of some of my favorite books stand on both sides of the desk.
I run my hand along the spines, pulling one book after another out to examine the signed copy of each beautifully sprayed-edged hardcover book with foil accents.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.