Come Share My Love (61 page)

     “I still can’t believe t
his.  We are both having babies,” Essence said jovially.

     “Boys at that.  I bet Felton is happy.”

     “Happy isn’t even a strong enough word to describe that mans feelings.  Girl he is about to drive me crazy.  The man doesn’t let me out of his sight.”  She took a tissue and wiped her eyes, offering Shyla one as she went.  “This is a rare occasion and that’s only because he had an emergency this morning.  Don’t think that if he had been free he wouldn’t be here.

     “Felton
watches my food intake, so much so that he does the cooking now.  He makes sure I have breakfast before he goes to work, he makes lunch and dinner days in advance, he count how many times I go to the bathroom.  The man is a mess.”

     Shyla laughed.  “He’s been reading those articles in those pregnancy magazines?”  Essence nodded. “That will do it, but I’m glad.  I know you both wanted this for a long time.”

     “Yes we did and now we have it.”

     “Mrs. Childress.”  The nurse called.  “You’re up.”

     “Thanks, Patty.”  She turned back to Shyla.  “Can you hold off for a few minutes?  Maybe we can go get a bite afterwards.”

     “Essence?”  She looked around.

     “Hey Kemah,” they hug.  “Don’t go anyplace.  I’ll be right out, we’ll go to lunch.”  She kissed her cheek and then Shyla’s.  “Please?”

     Shyla smiled.  “Sure.  I have time.”

     “Good.”  Essence went into the exam room.  Her first instinct was to call Felton and have him get Zackary over there pronto but when she pulled out her phone to make the call she thought back to all that had happened and her instigation that kept her and her cousin apart.  She dropped the phone back into her purse.  She had to trust that Shyla would do the right thing and she also needed Shyla to trust her.  She said a little prayer, just between her and God, to heal her relationship with her cousin but to also heal her relationship with Shyla’s baby’s father.

     “You okay?”

     “Yes.  Just a bit shocked to see Essence here.  It’s been a long time.”

     “I know.  She looks good.  Are you sure there’s nothing else?”

     She couldn’t get much past Kemah.  She was a good friend and a very good observer.

     “You know me so well.”

     “So, what is it?  You don’t need to be upset.”

     “I’m not really.  Just thinking about what Essence said.”  One of the babies kicked and she had to sit back and rub her tummy.  “Hey little fellas, I need you to give mommy a break here.  I know you’re hungry and I will feed you momentarily.  I promise.”  The baby didn’t stir again so she felt confident that he was listening.

     She explained her conversation with Essence.  The more she talked about it the sadder she felt.

     “Maybe it’s time Shy.  I know that you’re a very independent woman, but it’s time that Zackary know that you are carrying his babies.  I don’t think he’ll be
upset.  If anything he’ll be overjoyed.  And his precious daughters will need to know that they are going to be big sisters.”

     They continued talking about what she and Essence talked about.  Kemah was happy that Zackary hadn’t been with this woman Connie, because the outcome of what she had just done would be disastrous.  She hoped Shyla would forgive her.

     “Okay ladies, I’m ready.  Let’s go get some food.  I’m starved.”

     “We can’t leave right this minute.”  Kemah looked sheepish.

     “Why not?” Shyla asked.  “I haven’t eating since that piece of dried toast and marmalade this morning.”

     “I have a confession to make.”  She kneeled down in front of Shyla.

     “What kind of confession?” Shyla asked.

Just then the bell over the door chimed and all the women looked to their right.  Felton and Zackary stood in the archway.

     “Shyla, I swear I didn’t call,” announced Essence.  “I was going to but this is for you to tell not me.”

     Shyla continued to look at the doorway.  Tears stung her eyes.

     “As I was saying, Shy,” Kemah patted her knee.

     “You called him.”  It was a statement.  Kemah admitted to it.

     “Why?”

     “As I mentioned only minutes ago it’s time, past time.  I couldn’t let another day go by and see the misery in
your eyes or hear it in your voice.  You miss him and the twins and you miss Essence.  And even though you won’t admit it you miss Felton, too.”  Shyla nodded.

     “And after Leah made her diagnosis today I decided it was time to get you into better health and better spirits.  I can’t do it alone.”

    “Did you tell him about the babies?”

     “I didn’t have to.  Apparently several women including his mother had been dreaming about fish.  And in a few of those dreams Zackary had been holding four of them. I only told him that you needed him.  He announced that you were pregnant and I didn’t agree or disagree.  I just told him to get to this address.”

     Essence walked into her husband’s waiting arms, while Zackary advanced towards Kemah and Shyla.

     “You love him right?” 

     By now Zackary was kneeling beside Kemah, in front of Shyla.

     “Absolutely,” she said expelling a deep
shaky breath

He took her hands in his.  “Then it’s time to come home,” he said.

     “Home?  That sounds really good.”  Zackary kissed her temple, allowing his lips to linger there for all eternity.

     She raised her hand to the back of his head so that he wouldn’t move away.  There was no chance of that.

     “You’re here, really here.”

     “And I’m not going anyplace.”

     “Do you promise?”

     “Baby I promise you that and so, so much more.”  They kissed.

     He rested his hands on her stomach.  “Tell me about this.  Introduce me.”  He sounded excited.

     She rubbed her hands across his.  “Zackary Trellis, meet your sons, Zackary the third and Zavion.  Boys, this is daddy.”  As she finished the introductions one or both babies kicked.  It was felt on both sides.

      He was a very proud man at that moment.  “I guess I meet with their approval.”

     “There was never a doubt in my mind.”

     He kissed her again.  “Have you eaten?”

     “No we were going when we left here.”

     “Well let’s hit it then.  I don’t want my woman and my babies to have to wait any longer to be fed.”  He stood and pulled Shyla into his arms.  She walked out happier than when she walked in.  Now, she had her heart’s desire.

E
PILOGUE

     That evening before they went to bed, Shyla talked to Mama V and the twins.  They had missed out on so much, but not anymore.  They were in town so she would see them the following day.

     As they lay in bed Zackary poked and prodded her stomach hoping to get a rise out of the babies.

     “What are you doing?”

     “I’m trying to see if they are awake.”

     “They’re not.  It’s past their bedtime and mine too.  I already know that we are going to have a hard time getting these babies to sleep with you in the room.”

     “I’ll be good.  I won’t wake them up.”  She gave him a look of doubt.  “Not often.”  Shyla chuckled and then turned serious.

     “Zack are you okay with this?  The pregnancy I mean.  We never really discussed being parents.”

     “Oh I remember it coming up on one or more occasions.  In fact I know a man that taped one of those moments.  And even it if wasn’t that.  We knew it was possible when we made love without using any protection several times.

     “
And I also remember saying that I wanted five sons and you agreed.  You were in a semi-comatose state but you agreed.  So now you only have to give me three more after these two but I’d be more than happy with as many as you give me.”

     So you really are happy?”

     I am more than happy.  You are my life, the mother of my children and as soon as you agree you will be my wife.”

     “What?”

     “I know this isn’t the proposal that you would like.  Nor is it the proposal that I would like to have given you.  When I thought about it over the years after we met, I thought about getting my entire family involved.  I thought that taking you to Napa having mom cook us a nice meal, renting out Club B-Rax for the entire night.  Have it furnished with burning candles and white Christmas lights and a little romantic music by Najee.  Baby that was going to be the proposal to end all proposals.  This is a desperate plea for you to put me out of my misery and marry me. So what do you say?  Will you marry me, be my wife and the mother of our children?”

     Shyla got up and straddled his body.  “Mr. Trellis I think that was a very beautiful proposal.  Those other proposals are so overrated but anyone you give me would be appreciated and accepted.  I love you and yes I will be your wife.”  He yelped and flipped her over on the bed gently.

     “I promise you won’t be sorry.”  He kissed her deeply.  That’s when the babies started acting up.  He rubbed her stomach, but the babies wouldn’t quiet down.  “Hey in there, mommy and daddy are trying to get reacquainted.  Will you please give us this moment?”  The baby kicked once more and stopped.  The parents laughed.

     “Now where were we?”

     “Right here,” she pulled his lips back to hers.  She had missed this way too much and now she was making up for all the times she wished his lips were upon hers.

     The following week Kemah gave the couple an engagement party.  They weren’t going to wait a long time.  The wedding would take place in three weeks.  She wanted all of her friends to be there as well as his family.  It was easier for them to have it in L. A. and let the Trellis’s fly out.  Zackary practically demanded it.  He didn’t want Shyla to be at any unnecessary risk while in Napa.  When they returned there it would be for the wedding and the birth of the babies.  Everything else would be dealt with at a later date.

The party was in full swing.  Everyone was given a champagne flute full of cider, for obvious reasons.  Big Zackary and Mama V had just blessed the two with a toast.  Now it was Kemah’s turn.

     “First I’d like to thank you all for coming.  I have to say that this is one of the most exciting and happiest days of my life.  I have known Shyla for many, many years.  We’re sisters, more than just friends.

     “
When I met Zackary he was head over heels in love with Shyla and even though it took us forever and a day to get to where we are I am so happy that this day has finally come.  If anyone deserves it the two of you do.  I love you both.  Cheers.”  Everyone took a sip and applauded.  Both Shyla and Zackary hugged and kissed her. 

     “If I had a sister I would want her to be you,” he hugged her again.

     “Thank you brother-in-law.”

     The doorbell rang. 

     “Can someone get that please?  I have to check and see if the caterers are ready to serve.”  She went out into the kitchen as Zackary went and opened the door.

     “It’s about time the three of you got here,” Zackary said to Brennan, Braxton and Venice then hugged each one.  “We didn’t think you’d make it.”

     “Blame it on Brennan,” Braxton said.  “He acts as though he’s never been to Los Angeles before.”

     “Don’
t blame me, blame that damn online navigation.  It is such a bad investment.  We’ve been going around in circles for the last fif…teen…”  His voice trailed off because he was looking at the beauty that just entered the brightly lightened living room.  Was he dreaming?  He walked closer into the room.

     Kemah was excited.  Dinner was ready.  She hoped everyone liked her choice of caterers because they would use the same ones for the wedding.  She smiled looking at all the guest.  She turned looking for Shyla and gasped as her eyes fell upon a figure from her past.  What’s more, the same face followed behind him.  She had not seen him in seven years.

     “Brennan?” she choked.  “A twin,” she turned too fast, swayed from the lightheadedness, and in slow motion her senses left her body, and everything went black.