Hearts Attached (13 page)

***

“K
enzie, why are you crying again? Please tell me nothing is wrong with you or the baby.” I brush the wet strands of hair from her face and wipe tears off her cheek.

“I don’t want to tell you. Things keep getting worse, but then there is a part of me that doesn’t think it’s bad, and that confuses me. I’m so stressed out—”

“Kenzie, please, take a deep breath and calm down.” She does as I ask, swiping her tears with her hands as I prop myself up on my elbow next to her.

“Luke, the doctor heard two heartbeats.”

“Two?”

“Two heartbeats, Luke, equals two babies.”

“Shit.” I rub my forehead, trying not to freak out.

“I thought I was going to die when I heard them.”

“You got to hear them, too?” I ask as I instinctually place my hand on her belly.

“Yeah.” Her hand covers mine, and she appears upset again.

“What’s wrong, Kenz?”

“What’s wrong? Seriously?”

“I have to carry two babies. There is an increased risk for complications, I’m going to be huge and miserable, and I ...”

She turns her head toward the window, so I take her chin and bring it back. “Say it.”

“I have to hand over two of our babies.”

“
We
have to give up the babies. Remember we’re in this together, sweetheart, and I know it’s not going to be easy.”

Her fingers reach up and travel through my hair.

“Our hearts have been attached for as long as I can remember, Luke. Many people die never having a bond like the one we share. It’s going to be difficult to give a part of that away.”

“Kenzie, I’m going to work,” Charlotte yells from outside the door. “Call me if you need anything.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

“Bye, Ms. Baker,” I shout.

“Bye, Luke.”

Kenzie’s fingers are still gliding through my hair, and it’s relaxing. I’m daydreaming again about the day we lain in the leaves. I remember being angry the entire time I was out with my friends that night.

All I could think about was Kenzie getting close to another guy and the likely chance he would kiss her. The next day, I nonchalantly asked Liv how the date went, and she informed me that Kenzie had cancelled with Jeffrey, telling him that she didn’t feel well.

Liv said all Kenz would tell her was that she changed her mind. She didn’t go out with us since there was a chance Jeffrey would find out. Kenzie didn’t want to hurt his feelings, so she stayed home alone on a Saturday night.

She’s sweet like that, and I felt like an asshole at the time. I made the decision then that I wouldn’t kiss her again, and I’d keep my mouth shut if she dated.

Aside from derailing my friends from dating her, I stayed true to what I declared until about six months later, when she chased me to my car in the rain to be there for me.

I felt like I was giving up my whole future by not making her mine that day, and I hurt her like I never had before. It took another year and half for me to wise up, but thank goodness I did.

“Luke.” I snap my head down to look at her.

“Yeah, honey.”

“Please make love to me. I want you to remember how my body is now.”

“Kenzie, I will always desire your body and want to make love to you.”

Her hand slides behind my neck, our mouths crashing together, and we forget, if only for a short amount of time, how our lives are going to change forever.

McKenzie

I
t’s my birthday on a Saturday in December. Mom and I are out shopping, and the stores are decorated beautifully for the holiday season. We’re strolling through the mall when I see a toddler run away from his parents.

His eyes are on the colorfully lit North Pole display in front of him. He’s grinning and giggling, but he’ll probably be crying once he’s on Santa’s lap. I never paid much attention to little kids before, but now, I notice every one of them.

***

A
ge 12:

“Hey, Kenz. What are you doing in here? It’s freezing outside,” Luke says after climbing into my treehouse. I’m in my winter coat, but he’s right; it is freezing. Liv comes in behind him.

“Dad hit me again. This time with the new belt Mom bought him for Christmas.”

“I hate that man,” Liv says.

I watch as Luke’s jaw tenses. His hands close, and I realize I shouldn’t have told him.

“Is he inside?” he asks angrily.

“No. Mom came home, and they went out to dinner. I refused to go. I’m sure I’ll pay for it when she isn’t around.”

“That’s it. I’m over this, Kenzie.” Luke charges out of the treehouse.

“Luke! Where are you going?” I’m on my feet swiftly, and when I get outside, he’s going into my back door. I can see my breath as I run toward the house.

“Kenz, wait for me.” Liv is following behind.

The sound of Luke’s feet hitting the floor as he runs across the hardwood fill the house. I find him in my parents’ room. “What the freak? What are you going to do?”

“Where are your dad’s belts?” he asks as his eyes scan the room.

“In the closet on a hanger, but you can’t do anything to them. He’ll assume I did it.”

“She’s right, Luke.” Liv’s hands are on her hips, and her eyes are narrowed at him.

Luke groans, and I know it’s over the helplessness he feels. “We’re getting back at him, Kenz.” He snaps his fingers and smiles. “This won’t stop him from what he’s doing, but he needs to be punished. Your mom doesn’t drink coffee, right?”

“Right, but my dad does every day.”

“Exactly.” Luke is tearing off down the hallway again, so we follow him to the kitchen.” Where is the coffee?”

“He keeps it in the fridge, so it will stay fresh.”

“Get the pepper.” While he retrieves the coffee, I find the pepper and hand it to him, but he hands it right back.

“You’re doing this, Kenzie. You need to feel like you have some power. Pour a lot of it in there.”

I chew on my bottom lip. “I don’t know, Luke.”

“Do it, Kenzie.”

“Yeah, do it,” Liv adds.

Smiling, I open the container. I’m shaking my head in disbelief as I pour it in. Luke finds a spoon and stirs it up before he goes back and makes it appear untouched. He even washes the spoon and puts it back in the drawer after he puts up the coffee.

Looking around again, I see the gleam of satisfaction in his eyes. “What else can we do?”

“I think that’s enough, Luke.”

“No, Kenzie. There is nothing we could do that would be enough to take away what he’s done to you. You never do anything to deserve what he dishes out,” he says.

Luke’s next smile is more mischievous before he’s running to my parent’s room again.

“Doesn’t your mom leave before your dad gets up in the morning?”

“Yeah.”

Luke goes to my dad’s alarm clock and changes the time. He’ll wake up an hour late tomorrow. I can’t help but giggle. “That’s a good one.” Excitedly, I throw my hand in the air. “I know one.”

Liv and Luke chuckle.

“My dad only uses the big towels when he showers. Let’s put something sticky on one of them.”

Liv’s eyes light up. “Does your mom have any corn syrup for baking?”

“Probably.”

“It’s sticky but clear. He won’t figure that one out.”

“Let’s do it,” I say, grinning. “But that’s enough, or he’ll become suspicious.”

“I’m thinking of more, and we’ll do one about once a week,” Luke adds. He’s a sweetheart, but I’m not surprised he wants revenge on my dad.

“Oh, and I’m stealing at least one belt.” He’s off to my parents room again, and when he comes back holding it, my eyes fill with tears. I don’t know what I’d do without my best friends. Luke comes over and hugs me. “I’m sorry, Kenz. I’ll find a way to stop him.”

***

“M
cKenzie, what are you thinking about?” Mom asks.

“Oh, I was watching that little boy.”

“I’m sorry you’re getting maternity clothes for your eighteenth birthday,” she says as she puts an arm around my shoulder.

“It’s fine, Mom. It’s not your fault.” We walk into another department store and find the maternity section.

“If I had the extra money, I’d do more, but with the balance insurance isn’t paying on your doctor bills, I can’t afford it.”

“Mom, I’ll get a part-time job.”

“You’re carrying twins and trying to get through your senior year. You’re not working. But ...”

I glance up when my mother doesn’t finish her sentence. She’s staring at me and biting on her nail.

“What?”

“If you and Luke would go ahead and find a couple to adopt, they would likely cover your medical expenses.”

I blow out a deep breath. She’s right. The doctor said I could have the babies a little early, too. I mean, we’re almost halfway there.

“Luke and I will start looking.” My mood takes a nosedive, so I hang a shirt back on the rack. “I have enough clothes for now. Can we go?”

My mom pads over and hugs me.

“I’m truly sorry you have to go through this.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

After tucking hair behind my ears, she cups my cheeks, which are getting fuller.

“Come on. Let’s get ice cream,” she says.

It cheers me up a little, but I’m still sad as we ride home. We pull in the drive, and I see a ton of cars over at Luke’s.

“I guess David and Lisa are hosting their Christmas party tonight. They usually have it a little closer to the actual holiday, and I’m normally invited.

“They probably don’t want me around, and I’m sure Luke didn’t have the heart to tell me. It looks like our friends are there, too.”

Luke

I drop the blind I’m peeking through.

“Here she comes.” Our friends stay back away from the door. It’s Kenzie’s eighteenth birthday, and she deserves a special one after all she’s going through. After coming through the door, she turns toward us.

“Surprise!” Everyone yells simultaneously. Kenzie literally jumps and holds her hand to her chest. Oh, man. I hope scaring her isn’t hard on the babies.

She grins, and Charlotte is standing behind her with a smile on her face, too. About fifteen of our closest friends are here, and they smother Kenz with hugs.

She takes a glimpse at me while her arms wrap around Liv, and I know what she’s saying from across the room. Similar to the connection I have with my sister, I’m usually aware of what Kenzie is thinking.

I’ve always gotten an uncomfortable feeling when something was wrong with her, finding my way to the treehouse at the times we needed each other the most.

She’s always been the same, heading over to our house when she had a feeling something wasn’t right with either Liv or me.

***

A
ge 10:

“Stop, Samuel!” Liv yells as I’m falling to the ground. The bully down the street has pushed me, knocking me off my feet. He’s twelve, and for some reason, he likes to pick on me. I lift my palms from the pavement, which are stinging from the pebbles imbedded in them.

“Get up you big chicken. Your sister is here taking up for you like usual, but where’s that little girlfriend of yours? It’s sad you need girls to take up for you.”

His buddies start laughing, and I’d give anything for him to be smaller than me for even one day. I no sooner stand up before he’s pushing me down again.

“You get off of him, you big bully!” Kenzie yells. Crap. Now, they’ll really make fun of me. I turn and see her sprinting across the yard toward us.

Along with Samuel, the guys start laughing. She reaches us and grabs my arm to help me up.

“Get off of me, Kenzie,” I snap. She snatches her hand away, looking startled and hurt.

“Go home, Samuel,” Liv says as she glares at him.

“What are you going to do if I don’t?”

“I’ll get my dad, that’s what.”

“Ooohh, I’m so scared,” he says mockingly before he glances to his friends. “Come on guys. Luke has his little girls to protect him. I wouldn’t want them to hurt us.” He and his friends burst into laughter again, before they walk away. After getting up, I dust off my hands.

“Kenzie, where are you going?” Liv asks, yelling. I look up and see Kenz running into her backyard.

“Way to go, Luke. You hurt her feelings. She was only trying to help.”

“Yeah, and I don’t need girls protecting me. Next time, stay out of it.”

“You’re a brat,” Liv says before she bolts away.

“It takes one to know one,” I call out. I’m not as mad about them helping me as I am over hurting Kenzie’s feelings.

After cleaning the little bit of blood off my hands, I watch out my bedroom window until I see Liv coming home. When I hear her shut her bedroom door, I head over to Kenzie’s.

Climbing into the treehouse, I find her getting out her drawing paper and colored pencils from the plastic container she keeps them in. She often draws me pictures of my favorite cars, and they’re really neat.

“Go home, Luke.” She doesn’t look up at me as she digs through the different colors.

“No.”

“Whatever.”

I sit down in front of her with my legs crossed.

“I’m sorry I yelled at you. I didn’t want them making fun of me because you came to help.”

Kenzie finally looks up at me for a few seconds before she goes back to drawing.

“Samuel is a fat turd,” she says before smiling. I chuckle. Kenzie has hardly come around since we shared our first kiss last week, when Liv wanted to kiss Jared in the treehouse, so I like that she’s smiling at me.

I’ve wanted to kiss her again ever since, and I wonder if she thinks about it. I scoot across and sit next to her. Kenzie smells like flowers.

“What are you drawing?”

“I’ve been working on a treehouse. People live in them, and I plan to when I grow up. Here is what I have so far,” she says before she holds it in front of me.

“That’s cool. I like the roof.” She pulls the sketch pad back, smiling. “So, are you not mad at me?” Kenzie looks at me, and our faces are really close.

“No, I’m not mad.”

“Um,” I rub my hands on my shorts, “do you want to kiss again?”

Her face is red in an instant before she turns her head away. “I don’t know. Liv said it was weird kissing Jared. You know ... with her tongue. She said it was kinda gross.”