A Twist of Fate (19 page)

I thought I was happy.  He could likely see that I was
happy.  But now, after resurfacing from his arms, I wasn’t sure that I knew what
happy was.

Could my life truly be happy without Pheobe and Cameron
in it?

WATCHING SAMANTHA TUG WESLEY and
Edwin out onto the dance floor was like a splash of cold water to the face.  The
seductive smile she flashed directly at Edwin was no secret.  She was taunting
me.  I flew over to them and tore Edwin's arm from her grimy little paws,
stealing away his body and his attention.

"Oh, there you are," Edwin said to me, brushing my
hair away from my face.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him passionately,
to remind him why he loved me so much.  He gladly reciprocated the love.  After
a few songs, I lightened my grip on Edwin.  The crisis seemed to have been
averted and the rest of our group, with the exception of Aliah drowning herself
in free shots with random strangers at the bar, had made their way to the dance
floor.

Catching me off guard, Samantha caught my arm and proceeded
to pull me away from Edwin.  "I'll only steal her for a minute," she
chimed, over her shoulder.

After we were completely separated from our party, I yanked
my arm from her grip.  She came to a full stop and spun around, wearing her
other face.

"You want to do this here?” she wailed.  “Fine!  Quit moving
in on my game.  You can't have them all."

"I don't know what you're talking about.  I have a
man.  You keep your hands off of him and do what you want with the
others."

She tilted her head to the high ceilings and laughed. 
"You couldn't keep your eyes away when Cameron had his hands on me."

"Puh-lease.  You were stuck on him like a pesky
mosquito."

"If you weren't sending him your secret signals, he'd
be mine already," Samantha snapped, clasping onto my wrist.

My faint view of Edwin was obstructed by the other dancers. 
"You're delusional."

"Oh, I think not.  Can’t settle on just one?  I’ll help
make that decision easier for you."

Done with her shit, I freed my wrist from her grip, dashed back
into the crowd and convinced Edwin to take me home.

As Edwin pulled me away, he raised a hand to Cameron, who
was lounging against the bar with Aliah.  I couldn’t escape the agony in Cameron’s
longing gaze.  The tightness in my chest only squeezed tighter when I noticed a
steady red glow reflecting in the mirror behind him. 
Reflections.  That’s
all they are.

Edwin's pace slowed as we got caught in a foot traffic jam
near the coat check.  An icy finger trickled up my spine, despite the
overheated room.  I turned back to check on Cameron and froze in terror as her
glowing eyes burned black holes right through my heart.  Jenny was here, and
she was standing only a few feet away from Cameron, in the flesh.

I blinked harshly, hoping it was only a figment of my
imagination. 
No.  It was definitely her and she was a spitting image of me.

Jenny turned away, releasing me from her horrifying glare, only
for me to realize that Cameron was still watching me, worry wrinkling his
adorable forehead.  I looked away, my only hope being that Cameron would forget
about it, and Jenny would go back to where she came from. 
Maybe she could
take Samantha with her too.

I promised myself, just one last glance.  Jenny was gone, making
me wonder if she were ever there at all.  Cameron insisted we make eye contact
and I gave it to him. 
Big mistake. 
His fingers were slanted, his
fingertips touching, and his brow was furrowed, toying with my very sanity.  When
a flicker of misconstrued understanding arched through him, it tugged at every
last one of my heart strings.

Why couldn't he just hate me?  It would be so much easier
if he did.

I finally managed to pry my eyes from his, as Edwin helped
me into my jacket.  Trying to act ignorant to the connection that had just
occurred, I clung to Edwin’s core and held on tight as he moved us closer to the
door.  Edwin lifted his arm around me and tucked me against his warm body as I cringed,
recalling that Cameron’s official goodbye was now over.

***

ON MONDAY MORNING I fretted over the
eerie quiet that had settled over the office now that Cameron was gone.  That’s
when I heard Aliah's screech.  I dizzily hurried past the curious onlookers,
who had their noses sticking out of their offices to hear what was going on.

"No!  Really?" Aliah squeaked, staring into
space.  She hung up the phone, clearly in shock.  When she turned to me, it was
evident that she had gotten as much sleep as I had this weekend.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Maddie was having cramps this morning and Hunter
rushed over to her place to be with her.  She's in labour, Abby.  Hunter's
taking her to the hospital as we speak."  Aliah’s eyes were wide with
fright and started to water.  "Should I go?"

"Didn't you and Hunter talk about this before
now?"

"Not really.  Maddie’s pregnancy has been pretty taboo
for me.  It’s gotten increasingly worse.  Hunter didn't even come home last
night.  He just stopped in for a change of clothes and took off again when
Maddie called him."  Aliah’s words were laced with jealousy.

"You should probably go.  Hunter is going to have two babies
handed to him in a matter of hours.  He's going to need some emotional support."

"You know I don't do emotions," Aliah insisted.

"I suggest you fake it then."

Flustered, she shutdown her computer.  “Fine.  But only
because you’re making me.”  She reached for her purse and rushed toward the
front lobby.

I followed after her and stopped at the reception area to get
my daily dose of office gossip from Taylor.  There was a couple of clients
waiting in the lobby, so we had to keep quiet.

"Saturday night must have been pretty wild for Samantha
to not make it in this morning," I said.

Taylor rested her elbows on her desk and dropped her chin
onto her hands.  "I guess Cam turned Samantha away when we were all
leaving, so she moved onto Owen instead."

My mouth dropped to the floor and curled into a startled
smile. 
I did not see that coming
.  "She certainly didn't waste any
time."

"Tell me about it.  And with Owen?  That's not like him
at all."  She shrugged a heavy shoulder.  "I have yet to get Sam's side
of the story.  Have you talked to Sam today?"

I shook my head no.  "I thought maybe you had, since
she didn't show this morning.  I can't say I'm terribly surprised."

"True.  But she's not answering her phone.  I called
her yesterday to check on her.  I'm honestly getting a little worried."

One of the clients stood from their chair and approached the
desk, so I knew I had to keep it short.  "She probably just slept through
her alarm.  I'm sure she's fine."

***

I DIALED ALIAH’S CELL, eager to hear
some news.  Before I could even breathe, Aliah snapped at me.  "Why did
you make me do this?  This was the worst idea ever," she squawked, as a
woman’s muffled scream sounded from her end of the line.  "I was already
pretty sure, but now I definitely know, I will never have kids!"

"Is everything okay?"

"No.  Everything is so far from okay right now,” she
cried.  “I saw one of the babies heads coming out, Abby.  Hunter's all,
Oh,
it's such a beautiful, natural thing
.  Screw that.  It's the most
disgusting thing I have ever seen in my life.  There’s nothing natural about
it.  I will
never
get that image out of my mind.  I'm seriously scarred
and it's all your fault."

I smirked after hearing her horrified version of events.

"Then there's the blood.  It's everywhere.  And all the
nurses are all smiling at Maddie, cooing to her,
You're doing great, Maddie. 
Keep up the good work
,
" she mocked.  "Trust me when I say
that she does not look great.  After what I saw, I can guarantee you she will
never be great ever again."

I giggled with excitement, happy to hear the progress. 
"You left before the babies were delivered?  You have to find out what she
had!  I just have to know."

"Why don't you get your ass down here and see for
yourself?” she demanded.  “Hunter might be doing just fine, but I could use your
support."

"We're already short staffed, with you and Sam off. 
I'll swing by after work."

"Ugh.  I swear to you, I am not stepping foot into that
labour room again until they’re out.  No bloody babies for me, thank you very
much."

When she ended the call, I couldn't help but chuckle at her
lack of enthusiasm.  But she was missing out on one of the most amazing
experiences of Hunter's life; the birth of his first child.  I was sure it
marked the beginning of the end for them.

***

MADDIE BREATHED THROUGH GRITTED teeth,
staring at the white wall with sheer determination.  "Ahhh," she
screamed, as she gave another push.

Hunter stood hunched at her side.  He brushed a sweaty lock
of hair from her eyes, his other had fisted beneath her back to ease the pain.

"Just one more push, honey," the nurse
instructed.  "You're almost there."

"Come on, Maddie.  Just one more push.  You can do it,
baby," Hunter cheered.

Maddie pushed with all her might, screaming at the top of
her lungs.  "He wants out now.  Please take him out!"

With that final push, out came a shoulder and a baby boy was
born.  Before long, Maddie felt the urge to push again.  Hunter's facial
expressions suggested he could feel her pain.

"Slow down little one.  Just one more minute," the
doctor cooed, as he flipped the second baby with the forceps.

After a little bit of coaxing, baby number two came out to
meet her new parents.  "It's a girl," the doctor announced, promptly
handing the baby to a nurse standing by.

"A girl?" Hunter asked, stunned.

"A boy and a girl," Maddie chimed, with
tear-filled eyes.

Baby number one had already been tested and was swaddled
warmly in a blanket.  The nurse handed the baby to his emotional father.

"Hey, buddy,” he said, staring at his healthy baby boy.
 “I’m your daddy.”

Words weren’t sufficient to describe the joy Maddie was
feeling in that moment, as Hunter approached her with her brand new baby.

“Come and meet your mommy," Hunter said, as he reached
the little bundle to Maddie and helped her position his hungry little mouth.  Moments
later, Hunter held his little girl, wrapped snugly in his arms, eagerly
awaiting her mother's milk.

Maddie watched on with a whole heart, as Darien fed from her
and their precious baby girl wiggled in Hunter's arms.  After the labour mess
was cleaned up, the hospital staff all filed out of the room.

"We'll give you some time alone,” a nurse said.  “I
think you two seem to have things under control.  Just make sure that both
little ones get some more of mommy's milk.  If you have any trouble or need
anything, just hit this button here.”  The nurse wrapped an emergency button
around the side of Maddie’s bed.  After scribbling her name on the marker board,
the nurse left the room.

Maddie started to hum, filling the silence with a sweet tune
to relax the squirmy, little guy while he continued to suckle at his mother’s
breast.

“So much for calling this little one Raymond.”  Hunter
gawked at his baby girl, choked up with emotion.  "You're just a bundle of
surprises aren't you?" he cooed.

"I wasn't crazy about that name anyway,” Maddie
admitted.  “What would you like to call her?"

"You're honestly asking me?"

"If you're going to play an equal role in our babies’ lives
then it's only fair that you have a say," Maddie answered, softly.

Darien started to fidget again and so Maddie resumed humming. 
It calmed him instantly.

Hunter watched her, not understanding the emotions running
through him.  This moment was so intimate.  "I've got it," he said. 
"It's perfect for our little angel."

"What is it?" Maddie asked, curiosity fueling her
excitement.

"Do you trust me?"

"Yes,” she answered, without a doubt.  “You know I
do."

"Melody,” Hunter said.  “Darien and Melody Wight."

Her face warmed and she smiled at him with all her teeth. 
"Oh, Hunter.  I love it!  I love you…"  Her eyes grew wide and she shuddered
with embarrassment.  "I mean…"

"It's okay.  You're emotional.  I know the
feeling," Hunter said, appreciating everything she had been through to
birth his children.

Maddie softened and smiled again.  "Why don’t we call
her Melody Rae?"

"It's perfect," Hunter replied, then looked into
his beautiful baby’s eyes.  "What do you think, Melody Rae?  Do you like
it?"

Maddie smiled, consumed with happiness and overwhelmed with
love for her new family.  "How did you come up with that name
anyway?" she asked Hunter.  "Just curious."

Hunter smiled.  "You were humming to Darien and I was
just thinking about how beautiful your singing voice is.  Then it came to
me," Hunter admitted, without realizing the implications of what he had
just said.  He brought Melody Rae to her mother and lifted Darien back into his
arms.

Maddie watched Hunter, as he took a seat in the padded chair
and leaned back in it, to rock Darien to sleep.

"I think I could use a nap myself," Hunter said to
Darien softly, closing his eyes for a rest.  Hunter slowly rocked the chair,
while Melody Rae re-acclimated herself with her mother's breast.

Maddie stared at her child with admiration, as a tear of joy
dropped down her cheek.  "Melody Rae," she whispered.  "A
perfect name for a perfect baby."

***

AFTER ARGUING WITH THE nurse for 15
minutes in the maternity ward, Edwin and I finally caught Aliah pacing at the
end of the hall.  She hustled down the long corridor the second she noticed us.

"It's about time!" she hollered.  Her voice echoed
through the quiet halls and a baby started crying in a nearby room.