Page 53 of Beautiful Ascension

Shrugging, I say, “What else could it have been? They’ve made it abundantly clear that I’m not their choice. It’s been hard to accept, but that dream felt so real last night. I don’t know if I could survive something like that. It would break me if something they did were a catalyst for losing our babies.”

Shay looks pensive momentarily before she shouts, “I would kill them before I ever let some fuckery like that happen, Ry. Trust and believe their dicks would be stuffed and mounted to my walls before they’d ever get to do anything like that to you.”

I giggle at the image of Wyatt’s pierced cock stuffed and hanging on a wall like hunters mount their kills.

“Laugh if you want to, but they’d be gutted. They’re on thin ice as it is. Dem cyan touch a button if dem tink seh dem bahd. I wouldn’t recommend it, dough,” Shay’s icy tone brokers no arguments, and for the first time, I notice the darkness behind her eyes.

Pausing, I study my friend, really take her in. “We’re going to need to discuss this,” I say, waving my finger over the expanse of her body. “This whole silent killer vibe you’ve got going on here.”

It’s her turn to snort. “One day, but not tuhday.”

I watch as she looks lost in memory for a moment longer before she hops from the bed.

“Now, let’s get up and go eat, and then do some shopping—nothing like retail therapy to compartmentalize the shit we don’t want to deal with,” Shay orders, pulling the covers off me.

Groaning, I place the sonograms on the nightstand beside my bed before heading to the bathroom. I swear the further along I am, the more my bladder thinks it should empty every three seconds.

The weekend flew by. After shopping with Shay on Friday, I had Dr. Jaffri make a home visit to ease my mind that all was well. She instructed me to keep my stress levels down because stress isn’t good for the babies or their momma. So, I spent the rest of the weekend relaxing. Shay had a massage therapist specializing in pregnancy massages come to the house. We were pampered, had dinner, and then watched action movies.

Once showered and dressed for the day, I head downstairs to eat breakfast. Shay’s already sitting at the table with Reign, Elias, and Fernando. My smoothie and pancakes with bacon and eggs are already on the table where I sit. Steam still wafts from the plate of food, and my mouth waters.

Another part of pregnancy I’m taking up with management—cravings. I’ve had the same breakfast with no deviations for the last three weeks. I won’t even address the time I cried when sausage was on my plate instead of bacon.

“Morning Ry,” Shay greets from her spot at the table, prompting everyone to lift their head in my direction and say hello.

Smiling, I sit down and reply, “Morning, all.”

“Morning, Ry.” My heart nearly jumps out of my chest when I see Thomas round the corner.

“Thomas,” I shriek, jumping from my seat. All thoughts of breakfast are momentarily forgotten. “What are you doing here? I thought you were guarding her?”

A throat clears. “What, no love for dear old me?”

“Or me?”

My jaw nearly hits the floor. “Dad? Granddad? What are you all doing here?” I ask, rushing over and hugging them.

“Let’s have a seat so you can eat while we update you on some important developments,” my dad instructs.

Wasting no time, I sit and dig into my breakfast, excited to finally get some news.

They talk amongst themselves while I finish the last of my food. Reign is updating Thomas on security measures currently in place, and my granddad is talking to Shay, telling her stories about her mother before she was born.

“No way! Not Sandra Elaine Warren. There’s no freaking way,” Shay exclaims. “Not my overly serious mother.”

“She was in trouble at least twice a week. There wasn’t a limit she was scared to test—Sandra is far from timid,” Granddad added, making Shay burst into hysterical laughter to the point she was snorting.

Sipping the last of my smoothie, I place the now empty Mason jar on the table. “Okay, now spill it.”

“You never were one to mince words,” Dad huffs with a smile. “A few things have come to light, and with the discovery of this new information, your protection is of the utmost importance.”

The twins are also apparently impatient to hear the news. I can feel them rolling around in my stomach. It’s the weirdest feeling, almost like butterflies on steroids.

“Do you need me to go for this part?” Shay offered, but I could see the hope in her eyes that she’d be able to get the scoop as well.

My dad shakes his head, “No. You’re fine. But anything said here can never be discussed with anyone outside this room. Do you understand, girls?”

We both quickly agree, and Dad continues.

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