ChapterTwenty-Three
Carla
I take the box from Lennox—I have to shake my hands out before I can open the box. Once I do I have to blink several times. This cannot be right, is he serious right now?
“Don’t leave us in suspense, you know we nosey. What did he give you?” Joyce asks.
“The…” I have to stop and clear my throat. “He gave me the Hedonism 2.”
“He gave you, his club?”
“Yep, along with the yearly membership fees. The card said, ‘all I need is you.’”
“Well damn!” True says
“And what did you give him?”
“I….” the door to the house flies open and Asher storms in looking for me, as soon as he sees me he barks “OUT!” Luckily no one tried to argue, they just filed out without giving me a backwards glance.
“Baby doll,” his voice cracks and I notice the box I sent to him crushed in his hand.
Asher
I take back all the shit I said to my brothers about the way they acted about their wives. I have worn a groove in the floor pacing back and forth, willing the time to hurry the hell up so I can make Carla my wife. I picked the perfect location, put in weeks of work to make the logistics work and keep it a secret from my little busy body. My brothers think it’s hilarious that I am this worked up and honestly if I was in their shoes I would too.
“If you want to get started early brother you can; it’s your wedding,” Anson tells me.
“I’m just super impatient, but I don’t not want to rush Carla. Besides, for the first time since we moved in with our phase 2 parents, I am leaving you alone, and I am not sure how I feel about that.”
“We aren’t kids anymore Ash, but if I have never told you before—thank you. I couldn’t have asked for a better big brother; you really were my lifeline after mom and dad died. But you don’t have to worry, I am not alone anymore, besides you are right upstairs, and I intend to still bug the hell out of you. You aren’t leaving me alone brother, you have blessed me with a sister to bug too.”
“You are such a pain in the ass.”
“Yeah, but you love me.”
“Did Bubba take her the gift yet?” I ask to no one in particular.
“Yes! Damn, relax.” Jag says laughing as the door swings open and Bubba walks in holding a box. I take the box from him and take a deep breath; I wonder what she could’ve gotten me. I hope it’s something I can open in front of everyone, after all Savvy’s Pastor father is in here along with Bubba, and the last thing I need is to open the box and have them to see a vibrating cock ring or something.
“Uh, why don’t you go over there and open your box in private.” Joseph says knowingly.
I sit in the corner at the table while everyone is preoccupied, pull the lid off the box and freeze. I can’t breathe, I feel like my heart is going to explode. I put the lid back, fall back in the seat and finally drag in a ragged breath. I reach out to look again, surely my eyes are playing tricks on me. My hands are shaking as I remove the lid, and I see the same thing as before. Next thing I know I am in motion.
“Woah! Where are you going?” Atlas asks as he blocks the door I was trying to go through.
“Gummy, I have to see her. Please move out of my way. It’s important gummy, please.” I beg almost in tears. Without a word he moves out of my way. I cross the narrow pathway to the other side and walk right in. My eyes seek her out as soon as I cross the threshold, once I lock in on her, I tell everyone else "OUT!" and thank all my lucky stars no one argues.
“Baby doll!” I say and drop to me knees. I place me ear to her belly and say,
“Hi little ones, daddy can’t wait to meet you. I love you both so much.” When I look up at her tears are falling down my face. “I told you we’d do it Mianach and now we are having two beautiful babies. I love you so much. Let’s go get married.” I stand up and kiss her breathless, I plunder her mouth like I plan to plunder her later on tonight. I might not have ever stopped kissing her if someone hadn’t knocked. I lead her to the door and notice everyone lined up outside waiting for us. I wanted to just walk down the aisle with her, but I wouldn’t dare deprive her father the honor. I head to the alter with Savvy’s dad and wait for my family to come to me.
Carla
Imagine my surprise when I went in for my weekly check up with Lennox and she asked if we could do a pregnancy test and it was positive. At one point in the journey, we were testing every time I went in for a check-up but after a succession of negative tests, I asked her if we could stop the weekly testing. We went to every other week, to once a month, once every other month, then just when I asked. Asher and I got to the point where even though we wanted a baby we were enjoying the ride and that changed our whole focus. We began enjoying the intimacy we were creating and the fun we were having. Thanks to Jaasiel we began loving the food we ate, and I absolutely adore Asher for changing his diet to eat what I was eating he made sure I wasn’t alone in all the changes I had to make. I began to enjoy the yoga, meditating and walking on my treadmill and I can’t even begin to tell you about the sex, whew! I began to see positive changes in my body and overall health and energy. But all in all, I finally started to believe what Asher had been saying from the very beginning, it’s okay and we’ll get there. Once that clicked, I no longer put myself through the pregnancy tests, I just enjoyed my time with Asher.
So, when Lennox asked to run a test since it had been a while since my last one, I said sure. The next thing I know I’m on an ultrasound table looking at not one but two babies using my uterus like their private spa. Not only was I pregnant, but I was also pregnant with twins, and far enough along to find out their sex! I told Lennox not to tell me. I wanted to find out with Asher. We had already decided to give each other pre wedding gifts and once Lennox printed off those ultrasound pictures, I knew just what I was giving Asher as a gift.
What I didn’t expect was for him to storm over here, kick everyone out and have a conversation with the babies growing in my womb. Ugh, stupid hormones. When we walked out the door and all our family was there, I was still overwhelmed with love and support but ready to get this show on the road. It didn’t matter to me that we were technically starting early, to me this wedding is months overdue.