Chapter 4

Daisy

The next few months flew by in a blur of anticipation and preparation. My belly grew to an almost comical size, a testament to the three little lives thriving within me. Aling Sonya and her family had become my family, embracing me and my growing brood with open arms and endless support.

“Easy there, Daisy,” Aling Sonya chuckled one sunny morning as I struggled to tie my shoes. 

“You’re wobbling like a duck these days!”

I laughed, a genuine, joyful sound. “I feel like a whole flock of ducks, Aling Sonya! A very heavy flock.”

Despite the growing discomfort and the sheer size of my belly, a profound happiness had settled in my heart. 

The fear of Augustus still lingered, a faint shadow at the edges of my mind, but it was largely overshadowed by the overwhelming joy and excitement of becoming a mother. Not just to one, but to three.

Dr. Reyes had given me a list of exercises safe for pregnant women. She called them “gentle movements for expectant mothers.” So, every morning, as the sun peeked over the mountains, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, I would start on my daily walk. It wasn't a brisk walk, more of a determined waddle, but I cherished every step.

“Morning, Manang Ester!” I greeted the elderly woman who always swept her porch at the same time.

“Morning, Daisy! My, you’re looking radiant today!” she replied, her smile crinkling the corners of her eyes. 

“Those babies must be keeping you busy, even before they arrive!”

I just beamed. They were. They truly were. My mornings often involved gentle arm circles, pelvic tilts, and deep breathing exercises that Dr. Reyes had shown me. 

Sometimes, Aling Sonya’s youngest daughter, Lila, a curious and energetic six-year-old, would join me.

“Daisy, why do you stand like a superhero?” Lila asked one morning, imitating my wide stance and hands on my hips during a pelvic tilt.

I giggled. “Because I am a superhero, Lila. We mothers are all superheroes, getting ready to bring new life into the world.”

Lila’s eyes widened. “Wow! Can I be a superhero too?”

“Of course!” I ruffled her hair. “You already are, helping your Mama and being such a sweet girl.”

The thought of being a mother, a superhero, filled me with a strength I never knew I possessed. I wasn’t just Daisy anymore. I was a vessel, a protector, a giver of life. And soon, I wouldn’t be alone. I would have my three little angels, and my heart swelled with love just thinking about them.

“Remember to hydrate, Daisy!” Aling Sonya called out as I headed out for my walk one afternoon. “And don’t overdo it!”

“I won’t!” I promised, carrying my water bottle diligently. My walks took me through the quiet streets, past the small market where vendors were setting up their stalls, and sometimes down to the river, where I would sit on a smooth rock and just feel the gentle kicks and flutters within me.

“Hello there, my little ones,” I’d whisper, stroking my belly. “Mama’s here. Mama’s always here.”

The babies were incredibly active. Sometimes it felt like a tiny soccer match was happening inside me, especially when I lay down to rest. Two boys and a girl. I imagined their faces, their tiny hands and feet. Would they have my eyes? Gus’s dark hair? The thought of him, however, brought a fleeting shadow, which I quickly pushed away. This was about us now. My children and me.

One afternoon, as I was helping Aling Sonya arrange the freshly baked pandesal, a sharp pain shot through my back. I gasped, clutching the counter.

“Daisy? What is it?” Aling Sonya rushed to my side, her eyes filled with concern.

The pain subsided as quickly as it came, leaving me breathless. “Just… a cramp, I think.”

Aling Sonya looked at me skeptically. “That looked like more than a cramp, hija. How are you feeling?”

“A little tired, but otherwise okay,” I said, trying to reassure her, and myself. My due date was still a few weeks away, according to Dr. Reyes.

But over the next few days, the cramps became more frequent, and a dull ache settled in my lower back. 

I tried to ignore it, telling myself it was just part of the late stages of pregnancy. I continued my walks, albeit at a slower pace, and kept up with my exercises, convinced that staying active would help.

One evening, as I was folding laundry in my room, a gush of warm liquid soaked through my clothes. My eyes widened. It couldn’t be. Not yet.

“Aling Sonya!” I cried out, my voice trembling.

She was there in an instant, taking one look at the wet floor and my pale face. “Oh, Daisy. It’s time.” Her voice was calm, but her eyes held a spark of urgency. “Lila, run and get Dr. Reyes! Now!”

Panic, cold and sharp, began to set in. “But… it’s too early! Dr. Reyes said… she said a few more weeks!”

Aling Sonya gently helped me to the bed. “Sometimes babies have their own schedule, hija. Don’t you worry. We’ll get you to the clinic.”

The contractions started then, wave after wave, growing in intensity. Each one felt like a tight vise squeezing my middle, taking my breath away. Aling Sonya stayed by my side, wiping my forehead with a cool cloth, murmuring words of encouragement.

Lila returned, breathless, with Dr. Reyes right behind her. The clinic was small, but clean and well-equipped. Dr. Reyes was efficient and reassuring, checking my progress, monitoring the babies.

“You’re doing great, Daisy,” she said, her voice calm amidst my ragged breathing. “We’re making good progress. But it’s going to be a long journey.”

The hours that followed were a haze of pain and determination. I focused on my breathing exercises, on the thought of my three little ones. Two boys. One girl. They were coming. They were almost here.

“Push, Daisy! Push with all your might!” Dr. Reyes instructed.

I pushed, my body screaming with effort. I felt a surge, a release, and then, a tiny cry.

“A boy!” Dr. Reyes announced, her voice filled with triumph. “Your first son, Daisy!”

Tears streamed down my face, a mix of pain and overwhelming relief. I glanced at the small, wailing bundle in the doctor’s arms, but there was no time to rest. Another contraction was building, demanding my attention.

“Another push, Daisy! You’re almost there!”

I pushed again, and again, another small cry filling the room.

“Another boy!” Dr. Reyes exclaimed. “Two sons! Amazing!”

My body was exhausted, but a fierce maternal instinct fueled me. One more. I had one more to go. My little girl.

“Come on, Daisy! For your daughter! One more big push!”

I closed my eyes, summoning every last ounce of strength. I pushed harder than I ever thought possible. A final, powerful surge, and then, a smaller, daintier cry.

“It’s a girl!” Dr. Reyes announced, her voice cracking with emotion. “You did it, Daisy! All three of them!”

My vision swam. My body felt like it had been ripped apart and put back together. But then, they were placed on my chest, three tiny bundles, warm and soft against my skin. Three perfect, squalling babies. Two boys, one girl. My children.

I gazed down at them, their tiny faces red and crumpled, their little fingers grasping for mine. My heart swelled, overflowing with a love so vast it almost hurt. They were here. They were real. And they were mine.

“Oh, my babies,” I whispered, tears of pure joy streaming down my face. “My precious, precious angels.”

The room was filled with the sounds of their soft cries, Dr. Reyes’s gentle murmurs, and Aling Sonya’s quiet sniffles. I was no longer alone. I would never be alone again.

But as I held them close, feeling their warmth, a different kind of chill spread through me. Three children. Three undeniable reasons for Augustus Caesar to come searching. The fear, for a moment, had been forgotten in the miracle of birth, but now it returned, colder and sharper than ever.

He would find out. He always found out. And when he did, he would come. For his heirs. My three beautiful children, a treasure he would undoubtedly claim.