A Unique Kind of Love (36 page)

A smile formed itself on my lips and I squeezed her hand again.

Everything 
was
 going to be okay.

♥♥♥♥♥

“Hush little baby, don’t say a word, Papa’s gonna buy you a mocking bird…” I mumbled, reducing her cries into whimpers. Eventually, her whimpers settled into slow breaths. Her chest raised softly, her face as lovely as a primrose. I felt tears form in my eyes again, but blinked a few times to keep them in.

I held my 
daughter
 in my arms.

And she looked so pure and beautiful.

The angel I held in my arms had 
my
 eyes; blue, striking ones, looking at the world with a certain confusion.

“Liam,” whispered a weary voice I recognized. I turned to her and rushed from her side while carefully cradling the baby’s head.

“Hey, there sleepy head,” I said softly, sitting by her side. She blinked a couple of times, staring at the bundle of joy I held in my arms. She offered her arms to me and I placed the baby girl in her arms. A smile appeared on her face, and her pale face brightened.

“How is she?” she asked.

“She’s fine. It’s normal that she’s tiny, since she came two weeks earlier than expected.”

“Beautiful, isn’t she?” I mumbled, eyes glued on the newborn. Lena nodded, agreeing with me.

“Have you decided on a name?” she asked, never once taking her eyes off the baby.

“Yeah, the one on top of the ‘names’ list.”

She chuckled and looked up at me, her eyes shining with happiness.

“Meet Lucy Evelyn Black, our daughter,” I said, a grin appearing on my face.

“Her name means 
light,” 
said Lena, looking over Cloud nine.

At that particular moment, she woke up, her lids revealing her eyes. Lena gasped.

“She has your eyes.”

“She has your features, though,” I replied. It was true. Lucy had Lena’s light caramel-like skin. She had a small, button nose. Her mouth was heart shaped, and it opened and closed in wonder. I got an idea, remembering what made Jake laugh when he was as tiny as her. Putting my hands on my face, I said, “Peek.”

“A-boo!” I cried out, removing my hands from my face. A short giggle escaped her mouth, making my grin widen.  Lena chuckled, tears of joy freely streaming down her face now.

The door opened, revealing Tori and Jake. Tori held Jake’s hand, her five month bump showing in a gigantic sweater.

“Lena!” exclaimed Tori at the same time that Jake shouted, “Mommy, Daddy!”

He dropped his backpack, running towards me and hugging my leg. I ruffled his hair and lifted him up and set him on my lap. He giggled, although that stopped when he set eyes on Lucy. Hugging his stuffed turtle, his eyebrows scrunched up and he observed her very cautiously. Hesitantly, he poked her stomach, making her attention go from Lena and me to him. Lena cradled her softly, a motherly expression displaying how much she loved and appreciated this moment.

“Who’s dat Mommy?” he asked, eyes glued on her.

“That’s Lucy, your new sister,” announced Lena, watching him with a knowing smile. Tori walked by her side, placing a soft kiss on Lucy’s head. She didn’t say anything, knowing that this moment was very important. She put a hand on Lena’s shoulder, her face emitting joy.

“So she came out of your tummy?” he clarified, pointing to Lena’s now non-existent bump. Lena nodded, holding Lucy a little closer to Jake, so he could see her.

“No! I don’t want her to see me!” he covered his face, turning his body so he could face me. I supported his waist, aware that he could’ve fallen on the ground.

“Why, bud’?” I questioned, slightly confused myself. He took his hands away from his face, slightly pouting.

“I wanna be happy when she sees me! And I need to say hi!” He exclaimed, his eyes wide. He put a big smile on his face and shifted his body towards Lucy. He bent down a little, so he can get closer to her.

“Hullo, Lulu! I’m your bro-zer, Jake. I’m three.” He offered his hand to her, waiting for her to shake his too. Lena held up Lucy’s minuscule hand and put it in his. Jake closed his fist and let out his index finger, realizing that her hand was too small to fit in his “big” ones.

Lucy looked at him with wonder, and wrapped her hand around his finger. Jake’s face lit up, taking her gesture as her way of accepting him. He suddenly turned to me, a sparkle in his eyes.

“Daddy? Can she meet Rave?” he asked, holding Rave up to me.

“Of course!” I replied.

He held Rave in one hand and placed him above Lucy’s head.

“Hi Lucy! I’m Rave, Jake’s friend! You look like a cute, big po-ta-to!” said Jake in a deeper voice, impersonating Rave. My heart warmed at the smile Lucy had on her face. I laughed, mentally debating whether to scold him for calling her a “cute, big potato” or not.

“She’s gorgeous, a perfect mix of you two,” mumbled Tori.

“Yeah. Aunt Tori,” teased Lena, nudging her. Tori grimaced.

“I’m a double aunt now. You will be one too, soon enough.”

I immediately looked up at her, my eyes widening. Jake was completely oblivious, still bringing Rave and making Lucy laugh.

“You’re serious?” I blurted out, completely shocked.

“Wait a second, so that means…” trailed off Lena, looking utterly confused and lost.

“I’m having twins.” Tori finished for her, raising her eyebrows at the exhausted Lena.

“Twins?” exclaimed Lena, her mouth dropping. Tori nodded, patting her five-month-old bump.

“When did you find out? And why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“Yesterday. I was going to tell you today, but well, Lucy here came to life,” said Tori, pointing accusingly, yet jokingly at the baby girl.

Lena congratulated her and they shared a quick conversation about how Ian, Tori’s husband, would have to suffer from double the expenses, since two kids were on the way. Tori left for the coffee shop in the hospital, her craving being hot chocolate.

I averted my gaze to Jake, who had fallen asleep in my lap. Lena and I looked at each other, both of us grinning like Cheshire cats. We had two beautiful children, two human beings who belonged to us.

“I think I’m going to sleep too,” announced Lena. I stood up and put Lucy in the crib beside Lena’s bed.

Kissing her cheek, I said, “Don’t let the bed bugs bite, baby girl.”

Jake was beside his mom, soundly sleeping. Lena gave me a small smile, ushering for me to come by her side.

“Can you believe this?” she whispered, looking at our kids. I shook my head, feeling like the luckiest man in the world. She closed her eyes and drifted off as well. Every member of my family all looked so happy and peaceful.

My 
family.

“And my heart has been divided into three different hearts, without them, I wouldn’t be able to live,”
 I thought, looking at them.

The End

Chapter 1: Love Doesn’t Die

Did you ever even really love me, Ethan?

I think, my heart tightening at the sight of him laughing at something June had said. His eyes twinkle at her, just as they did once, to me. Why wouldn't he love her anyway? Everybody does. She is the epitome of a perfect girl. Beauty, brains, humor; what didn't she have? 

"Amy?" A hand pokes my cheek, breaking my concentration and envy. "Amaryllis?"

My head immediately turns to the owner of the voice, the sound of my full name immediately sparking an annoyance within me. Jenna sits there with a clear look of distaste. Her dark brown eyes pierce through me.

"
What?" 
I snap, watching as she twirls her perfect honey-colored hair around one finger.

She sighs wearily. "You were staring at him again. You're only hurting yourself by doing this, you know?"

I look down to my half-eaten sandwich, feeling ashamed. The muffin I bought suddenly seems ugly and mushy. I push my tray away, keeping my eyes on it.

"You can't keep doing this to yourself," mumbles Jenna, and I can feel her eyes on me. I want to tell her to shut up, to turn away and ignore me, but I can't. She knows how I feel, because a few months ago, I knocked on her door at 4 a.m. in tears. She knows because she stayed up with me that night, rubbing my hair and handing me tissues.

"I know."

 And the conversation ends there. Her boyfriend of five months comes beside her and kisses her cheek.

"Hey, babe," says Ryan, hugging her. She turns from me, a glow appearing on her face. They share a kiss that's movie-worthy. All of a sudden, I feel sick. The half of the hamburger I ate is coming up. I swallow my saliva and stand up, my legs feeling wobbly.

"Amy? Don't go," says Ryan, his arm around Jenna's waist. I give them a small smile and pick up my tray.

"I have to study for the science test," I answer, already walking away, ignoring Jenna's voice calling my name.

Jenna and I both knew that wasn't true, because there 
is
no science test.

I turn in a split second and find that Ethan is listening to June talk about something that captivates all of his attention. She flashes him a bright grin, and he gladly offers it. They share a high-five. And I cringe at the sound the collision their hands must've made.

I walk to my locker, and search it for my iPod. Thinking too much never helps me, which is why I always keep my mind busy, one way or another. Panic rises as I realize that the pockets of my old, teal-colored coat don't have the iPod.