Chapter 2 - Part I
You are nothing less than an angel for the twins, Alyssa; not everyone is able to do what you are doing. I, for once, know that you have taken the right decision. You will surely be an amazing mother to them, and I'm sure whatever you will do will be more than what any orphanage can do for them.
These were the parting words - the much needed pep talk that Lucy gave me. I had no idea that I actually had apprehensions about my decision, but Lucy's words eased my mind to a certain extent. I might be good with kids, but it necessarily didn't mean that I could be a good mother without any prior experience.
Well, everyone had a first time.
I was sitting cross legged on the floor of my balcony with my two babies in my lap, breathing in the fresh air to clear my mind. It was past five-thirty and I was waiting for my dearest bestie to make an appearance because I so wanted to pour out all the curses that I had stopped myself from blurting out in front of Lucy and Mason.
I had no idea how she would react. She could call me stupid and reckless for taking the decision to raise them on my own if we didn't find their parents. She already knew about the stress I had to face due to the increased workload since Larissa was vacationing. Now, adding two newborn babies to the equation, she would definitely lecture me about not thinking twice before deciding on something important and life-changing like this.
No matter what, I was definitely not going to give up on them. I had already fallen in love with them, their deep blue eyes and their cute butts - so much that even the idea of giving them back to their parents left a bitter taste in my mouth.
I knew that was selfish of me.
I couldn't help but feel possessive about them. They say that a child gives birth to a mother within you - and that is what the blue eyed twins did to me. They had cast a spell on me, and had me wrapped around their little fingers before I could even properly see them.
I sighed, feeling the cool breeze surround me as my fingers traced circles on their heads, watching their blue eyes, that were open wide, surveying their surroundings carefully, although I knew that all they could see was me.
I had changed them into the clothes Lucy had given to me and decided to avoid diapers on their first three days. I had already fed them twice or thrice, and got their cute, little butts cleaned - I mean not just their butts, but their chubby cheeks, their tummies and did I mention their cute little butts?
Honestly, I barely remembered anything about today. I walked like a corpse the whole day. I know that corpses don't walk, but I literally felt like one, dead and unfeeling. I was ready to sacrifice my sleep for the two, but it didn't mean that my sleep wasn't dear to me. In the list of my hobbies, sleep and food were at the same position, that is, they got the topmost position.
I lived to sleep as much as I lived to eat.
I could sleep just anywhere, you could throw me in a swimming pool and I might sleep there too; not that I actually tried it, you know, there are chances that I would have slept for, like forever and I was too young to spend the rest of my life sleeping.
I was jolted out of my reverie when I heard the doorbell ring.
Finally, the woman's here.
I balanced the two munchkins in my arms, and then got up walking towards my bedroom and kept them there, placing the cushions on their sides.
I need to get a crib ASAP.
By the time I reached the door, my visitor was mercilessly pressing the buzzer. The sound had become so annoying, and I was afraid the munchkins would start crying, I ran to get the door and opened it - only to find an impatient Alexandria standing and scowling in front of me, her foot tapping on the floor. I gave her a sheepish smile and opened the door wider to let her in. She lazily moved her ass inside and threw her bag on the couch and plopped down. This house was hers as much as it was mine. And her house was mine as much as it was hers.
Man, that woman looked exhausted.
"One leave! You took one leave, woman, and the whole publishing house was turned upside down! Never! Never do this— wait? Did you just fart?" She had her face scrunched up in a funny expression.
"No, I didn't."
I knew who the culprit was. To be honest, I couldn't smell anything, or maybe I had gotten used to the wonderful fragrance of baby potty in just a day.
"Oh come on, don't lie. I remember once—"
Before she could continue on my farty anecdotes, she was interrupted by loud, screeching wails.
"Holy shit!" was all she said.
She narrowed her eyes at me and stood up, once again bursting with energy as she followed the direction of the wails.
As soon as she entered my room, all that came out of her mouth was,
"Oh. My. God."
"So you mean to say that.."Crunch, crunch, "...those motherfucking bastards..." crunch, crunch, crunch, "...left these little angels in a dumpster?"
"Yes, and mind your language in front of them. I don't want 'fuck' to be the first word that comes out of their mouth."
"Okay, okay." Allie was now sitting cross-legged on my bed and was holding Raine after she had changed into my sweatpants after Ryan peed on her. That was right after I narrated the whole story, even the part where Larissa told me about her letting off steam in Paris.
The look on her face was Kodak worthy. The way her face paled when she found her favourite pair of jeans soaked up in baby piss, I instantly knew that she was never going to wear her own clothes in my house ever again.
Allie, for once, had acted like a mature and understanding adult. I nearly choked back a sob when she said that she was proud of me and would stay by my side and help me whenever needed, no matter what.
My love for my best friend intensified manifolds that moment.
She now looked like she desperately wanted to say something, but just like me, food was her priority and it seemed that she was going to munch those crackers first and squeal later.
So I waited till she was done with it and when she finally crushed the wrapper and threw it in the dustbin that I had kept for the baby wipes, she wiped her mouth with the black of her sleeve and looked at me.
How attractive.
She handed Raine to me and I kept her on one side of my lap with Ryan on another.
And there she squeals...
"Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh! My! God! You are going to meet Terrence Powers! Like, the Terrence Powers! God's gift to us ladies, the Greek God with that gorgeous face and that sexy body I would so like to —"
Ryan let out a loud cry, all of a sudden, and interrupted her from speaking further. I couldn't be more thankful at that time: there was no stopping her when she started describing her favourite men.
I slowly shook the leg on which he was lying, humming a random tune so that he could calm down and go back to sleep. Slowly, but surely, his eyes started drooping, his eyelids closing around those beautiful deep blue eyes. He curled his chubby hands into fists, and snuggled to my side once again, as if enjoying the warmth my body provided.
My heart fluttered as a subconscious smile graced both of their faces at the same time. It was creepy, watching Raine and Ryan wearing identical smiles on their faces at the same time, that too in their sleep.
A small part of me never wanted to find their parents, just wanted to keep them with me and protect them myself.
"Lisa?"
"Hm?" I had, for the moment, totally forgotten that Allie was still sitting there, watching the three of us with a soft smile on her face. I had still been humming the tune when she called me, so I looked up at her.
"You are amazing, you know. Did you ever babysit kids?" She asked me, as she watched Raine and Ryan, their rapid breathing filling the silence of the room.
"No. Never." I answered her, my voice still soft as I caressed Raine's cheeks.
"Then how is it that you are so good at it. I wouldn't be surprised if they already believe that you are their mother. The way you know what to do, and what they need, it's so heartwarming to keep watching you." She gushed as she held out her hand. I took Ryan in my arms and held out him to her, grinning cheekily as I saw her eyes widen for a moment. She took him anyway and held him close to her.
"Call it my maternal instinct, Allie. Even I had apprehensions in the beginning. I had a nice chat with Lucy in the morning where she explained me everything, but I think it is actually the love I feel for them that actually guides me and my decisions." I said, with my palm caressing on Raine's head.
She thought for a moment, and frowned.
"You do know that your life will completely change now, right? All your decisions and plans will have to go according to what the kids need. Are you sure you would be able to do it alone? Don't get me wrong, I'm just worried how you'll handle work and the babies together." She said and glanced down at a curled up Ryan.
I looked up at Allie and whispered,
"I know."
I continued, "This is why I have to go to meet Terrence Powers tomorrow. I absolutely have no idea how Larissa thinks he is going to help, but that is the only option I have right now. I mean, does he even know what an editor does in a publishing house?"
She rolled her eyes but asked, "At what time are you supposed to go?"
I shrugged and picked my mobile, scrolling to find Larissa's text.
U cn meet terrence tmrw at his office at noon. Ive alrdy tlkd to him 'bout it.-Larissa.
I immediately look at Allie, giving her my best puppy dog eyes, "The text says noon and, thankfully, tomorrow is a holiday. Can you please, please, please babysit them for a while? They will most probably stay asleep at that time, so—"
She cut me off, "Don't worry, I'll handle it." She said with a small smile as she uncurled Ryan's fists and wrapped his fingers around hers.
I sent her a grateful grin and resisted the urge to hug her.
Now all I had left to do was ensure that I could take care and protect my new little family with all I had.