Page 56 of Kai
"You love being a wife and very soon, you're going to be a mother."
"You're right." She laughed softly. "His mother and mine are over the moon. The uncles will be coming back for the birth."She patted her stomach again. "Kai annoys me with his constant inquiries of what my diet is like when I'm at the store. He has even gotten Marge involved. The woman dogs me every day to make sure I am eating healthy. Speaking of dogs, mom says that Brutus is pining. She wants to know if we could take turns having him over. I'm not sure I can."
"I have no problem having the ugly mutt over." She reached over to squeeze her friend's hand. "Honey, you're carrying twins. How exciting is that?"
"More than I ever dreamed of. I'm looking forward to being a mom."
She had to force herself not to squirm as he looked up from massaging her swollen ankles.
"The doctors said that apart from the ankles, we're all doing very well. And shocker, we're having twin boys. I wanted a daughter in the mix."
Ignoring the charming pout, he continued to stare at her steadily as he rubbed her ankles.
"Here's what's going to happen--"
"Look--"
"Quiet." He pressed a finger against her instep and had her purring. "You're down to two days at the store and when you're there, you do not go on the floor. Sitting at your desk and doing paperwork is okay for now, but nothing else. It's not only your ankles, but your blood pressure is elevated. Two days Maxie and that's final."
"What am I supposed to do with the rest of the time?"
"Supervising the decorations of the nursery. Make phone calls and entertain friends. Anything that keeps you from being all over the place."
"Three days."
His eyes narrowed. "We're not negotiating."
"Kai--"
"The discussion is over and done with." He propped her feet on the pillows and rose. "How about some soup?"
"Am I allowed to decide what to eat?" She had her arms folded on top her belly and was glaring at him.
"Of course. I am not a monster."
"Just go away."
"Soup it is."
Grinding her teeth, she watched as he simply walked from the room and closed the door. Ignoring the guilt, she rubbed her palm over her bump and felt the shimmer of movements beneath her hand.
"Okay dudes, it seems like you're trying to tell mama something." She sighed. "And I hate to say that daddy is right. I have been doing too much. We're not going to tell him that though; it will only make his head even bigger."
She traced lazy circles over her belly, her thoughts drifting to the nursery. Maybe supervising the decorations wasn't such a bad idea after all. The twins deserved a room that felt welcoming and serene—a space that whispered love and hope into their tiny hearts. She smiled faintly, imagining Kai assembling a crib, his brow furrowed with concentration, while she sat back with a cup of tea, coaching him with playful remarks. She laughed softly at that concept.
Her gaze fell on the stack of design magazines on the table. Perhaps it was time to start planning, and make her mind up about colors and themes, jungle, forest? Even if only to keep her mind off the limitations Kai had imposed. She wasn't used to slowing down, but maybe this was life's way of preparing her for the whirlwind of motherhood. A small kick startled her out of her reverie, and she chuckled softly.
"That's right, little ones. I'll decorate your room with all the love in the world… while keeping it a secret from Daddy how much I agree with him."
"Kenji Liam and Kaito Noah Tanaka." He was overcome. There were so many emotions tumbling around inside him, that he could barely stand it. The labor had been long and exhausting, and he had cursed himself several times for letting her talk him into her having a home delivery. It did not matter that there had been two midwives, a local nurse and a very qualified doctor on the scene. It had been too long, and he had never been so scared in his entire life.
Steadying himself against the doorframe, Kai watched the two tiny bundles swaddled in soft fabric, their small faces peaceful, their existence nothing short of a miracle. He could feel his heartbeat in his throat, thick with gratitude and awe. The home delivery had tested every ounce of his fortitude, but seeing his wife cradle their sons with a weary yet triumphant smile made every moment worth it.
The room was quiet, save for the occasional stir of the twins. The nursery, lovingly prepared under her watchful eye, now blossomed into its intended purpose—a sanctuary for their new family. The ceiling painted with delicate clouds seemed to nodapprovingly, the soft hues of the walls promising calm and safety.
Kai moved silently toward her, afraid to disturb the fragile perfection of the scene. Kneeling beside the bed, he brushed a strand of hair from her damp forehead. "You did it," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "They're perfect."
She looked at him, exhausted yet radiant. "We did it," she corrected softly, her fingers tracing the tiny fists of their sons. "Our little miracles, Kai. Our family."
