Page 14 of My Monster, My Choice

I pulled her onto my lap to calm her as the doctor unwrapped the baby, pulling his tiny arms and feet. The cooler air made him cry as the doctor performed his tests.

Tera’s little brows knit together and she jumped off my lap, pushing the doctor with all her might, making him look down at her in surprise.

“Tera,” I said weakly.

She’d already gotten to the bassinet, covering her brother with his blankets, holding his little hand in hers, and his tears quieted as he watched her with those large, round eyes.

Lyle escorted the sobbing Sheila from the room.

ChapterFour

ELEX

“Christina. Wake up, sweet.”

She’d been mumbling, calling out Tera’s name, and Kenny’s. I was afraid she’d wake the youngling between us, but he seemed intent to snore.

Her eyes snap open. “Elex.”

“Yes.” It fills my heart with pride to know she thought of me immediately upon waking. When she’d begun to thrash and moan, I’d stepped behind the sofa, coming around to her side, even moving my zippered sleeping nest close so I could cuddle her.

“You were dreaming. I didn’t want you to wake Kenny,” I whisper.

“Thank you,” she says, her sleepy eyes focused on my face like she’s not quite sure if she’s still dreaming.

“Want to talk about it?” I don’t want to push her to speak about uncomfortable subjects, but I want to learn everything about this female. I want to bask in what has made her so strong, so different from the rest. Not that the other humans aren’t strong. But they seem to have to realize their strength when pushed into a corner. Christina is already there.

Has she already been pushed into having no other choice?

I find I have to tamp down the growl that threatens to erupt.

“Kenny’s birth,” Christina says. “It was wonderful and yet horrible at the same time. His birth mother had died, but that was just one of the awful things that happened.”

“Go on,” I urge.

“She hated me. Both of the wives did. Loretta birthed Kenny, Sheila birthed Tera. When Loretta saw Kenny’s features, she screamed at me. Called me horrible things like witch.”

“What is that?”

“An evil person who can weave spells for harm. Do black magic. Not everyone believes it’s real. It’s mostly said to cast aspersions on that person. To make others fear or hate them.”

“And she called you this why?” I can feel myself bristle, but I mask it from her, because she is so gentle, so wise, she seems above petty anger. Jealousy, which these other two females felt for her.

“She wanted to blame me for the way Kenny was born. His condition is different from the majority of others, and our society looks down at anyone who is different. She didn’t want to take the blame for having what she considered a substandard son. It’s sad, really. She never got to know how perfect he is. How loving. How amazing and loyal. How much he’s learned, even with the standards of learning against him. Learning is structured for individuals whose minds work differently. But he still adapted and learned, even through all that. I’m so proud of him.”

“That’s what love does. The bond between you, your son, and your daughter can be felt.”

She nods, thinking a moment, before her eyes refocus on my face.

She reaches out and cups my jaw and I melt under her touch, turning my face to press a kiss to the center of her palm.

“Then she died. Turns out, she’d been hiding a secret, not uncommon with human women. She had a weak heart. The doctor had advised her against pregnancy. But she could feel herself losing the battle between herself and Tera’s mom, Sheila, for first wife. She thought having the shot at a child, with a fifty percent chance it could be a son, might tip the scales in her favor.”

…not uncommon with human women. Does Christina also hold a secret?

“After she died,” she continues, her voice even quieter so Kenny doesn’t hear. But the little male softly snores. “The doctor asked Lyle what the baby’s name should be. I’d like to think Lyle was grief-stricken. I’d like to think he was put on the spot. But that wasn’t the case.”

She pauses and we both listen for Kenny’s breath, making sure it’s even.

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