Meeting His Twins

"I don't dispute that. But Alex, it's just for fundamental gratification. Not enough for me to want to wed him."

"Well, that's your issue, and I'd rather not be part of that. And never claim you wanted to be my fiancee because you love me. Then we have a different outlook on loving someone."

"Alex-"

"Sandy, no. Enough already. As you know, I am still married and would like to try it again with my wife."

"Even when she betrayed you many times?"

Hoarse laughing was heard coming from Alexus's mouth. "She didn't, in my opinion. And I chastised myself for assuming the worst. She might have, but I still want her back."

"You're nuts!"

"Spare me this name-calling, Sandy. Have a good time. Bye." And as if nothing had happened, he pocketed his mobile phone again when he saw Timothy enter the room.

Timothy patted his shoulder and grinned at him, saying, "I'm happy you look better than the last time I saw you. Guess what."

"You tell me, and stop seizing me with your eyes," he stated. He was watching his therapist.

 "The kids with me."

"Why?" He asked, suddenly feeling nervous about facing the kids he did not know existed. What can he say for not being with them since birth?

"Both kids started crying when they woke up and didn't see their mom. And we don't want to make a scene in case Mrs. Jones will check what's the commotion."

"Alright. Where are they?"

"Outside, waiting for my news."

Upon hearing it, Alexus walked outside right away. He was still at the door, though. The twins appeared to be waiting outside the ward and were paying him close attention, but he had no idea what to say to them.

He darted a glance at Timothy, who followed him.

"Do they know who I am in their lives?" He asked almost in a whisper, his eyes on the twins.

"No. Telling the kids is not my responsibility, nor is it Libby's. But Mrs. Wood brought it up."

"How?"

"If they're looking forward to meeting their dad."

No wonder they look like they are accusing me with their eyes, Alexus mused. Then he walked over to them.

"Hello, "saying as he slowly walked to the kids. "Your mom told me Josh is sweet and loves his mommy."

The little boy nodded, but his eyes were watching Alexus. He looked at his sister's hand and held it.

"Lucy loves Mommy, too." He spoke forcefully yet timidly

"Yes," the little girl said, and she started crying. "We want to see Mommy..."

"What's your name?" He asked, reaching her to wipe the tears from her eyes.

"I'm Lucy."

"I'm Josh." The boy chimed in. "Is it true that you are my daddy... our daddy?"

"What did your mom say about me?"

"She said you're always busy making money."

"I see. Well, that's true, so I can be ready when you start demanding stuff."

 When the children did not respond, he closely checked them. "Yes, I am your father..."

The twins looked at each other. Then the girl looked at Libby, who quietly nodded.

"Can I hug you both?"

"Can I see my mom then?" Joshua replied, with a dreamy voice but reserved.

"Me too," Lucy added. She was tugging at her brother's shirt. "I want to see Mommy."

"Yes, that's possible, but on one condition," Alexus said while controlling his emotions. "Because mommy is ill. I want you to promise me not to make noise, no sobbing, and no shouting."

The twins nodded almost simultaneously. And Alexus pulled them both in his arms.

He was unable to express his emotions at that precise moment. He could not believe he would become a father after one passionate exchange in his wife's arms.

Libby and Timothy shared a heartfelt smile in response.

When Alexus took the children inside the ward, his gaze silently followed the twins. When the kids saw their mother, he heard them gasp. The siblings then made a gradual, hand-in-hand approach to their mother.

The boy's voice cracked, and he appeared nervous as he said, "Mommy..."

With concern in his eyes, he cautiously turned to face his father. Large tears started to form in Joshua's gray eyes. He made a signal with his raised right hand. He said, "I cry... a bit," and tears started coming from his eyes.

Alexus' son's response broke his heart. He barely moved before giving him a firm embrace. Although he was on the verge of passing out from overwhelming emotion, he tried to contain it and closed his eyes to stop tears from welling up at the corners of his eyes.

Timothy looked away from the poignant scene playing out in space. When Lucy went closer to her father, Libby similarly went near the bed quietly.

Alexus was sitting in front of the patient holding the twins in his arms. His thighs were wholly taken up by the kids where they sat.

"Is mom getting better?" Lucy enquired in a whisper. She was staring wide eyes at her father.

Alexus nodded, smiling at the little girl, mirroring the color of his eyes and lips but her features mostly from her mother.

Lucy leaned against him while Joshua focused on his mother. His shoulder was trembling, and he could feel his son sobbing quietly. And he turned to look at him.

"Josh, kiss Mom?" His eyes were watering.

Alexus could not deny him, reached for Rafaella's hand, and let Joshua hold it. And he was surprised when the little boy dropped a kiss on his mother's hand.

"Mommy loves Joshua," he said in a small voice.

"Joshua does love his mother, right? He responded, gazing lovingly at his son's features.

He answered in a slightly high voice, "Yes, I love Mommy..."

Alexus wanted to laugh at his son's reaction. Instead, he softly ruffled his hair and stopped when the boy watched him quietly.

"What's that look?" He asked.

"What have you been doing?" He asked softly, but Alexus heard him. His young eyes continued to follow his father's.

"Well..." He had trouble responding to his son. He coughed as he searched his mind for the most appropriate explanation at what he perceived to be the critical moment.

"When your mom kicked him out, your dad felt afraid and stayed away," Libby interjected. "Because he ate the entire cake."

"And then they quarreled like kids..." Timothy added, winking at the nanny.

Alexus suppressed his laughter with that funny excuse on his behalf while he earned a frown from his son.

"Stop doing that," he said with his index finger pressed on Joshua's temple. "You grow old quickly, which is not good at your age."

"Why is that?"

"Girls don't like a wrinkled face like what you did. And mommy will call you grandpa."

The boy giggled, but tears dropped on his face, which his father gently wiped with his finger.

And he realized one thing necessary. When Rafaella started talking about her alleged boyfriend, he realized it was his son. The boy adored his mother. Undeniable bond. At the same time, his daughter appeared resilient in handling her mother's accident.

Alexus eventually fell asleep with the twins pillowing both of his shoulders.

Standing in front of the additional bed, Libby and Timothy exchanged looks.

"That's better. They all need it," Timothy nodded. "You go get some rest as well."

"No, I'm fine. I had a nap with the twins at his residence."

Timothy nodded. They then started conversing quietly while watching the Latimer family.

Alexus left the twins in the care of Libby and Timothy for his confrontation with Lance, his sister's husband, who was responsible for the divorce proceeding he filed.

He chose the coffee shop close to the hospital. He did not want to travel far in case of an emergency. His wife's unconscious state continued to worry him.

When he left, she was still unresponsive, but he could not wait to know what had happened with his petition.

Was God on his side? He kept pondering the same question. If the divorce materialized, it would be the biggest mistake of his life, especially learning about the existence of the twins, which Rafaella hid from him.

The more he got deeper to discover stuff about his wife, his remorse deepened as he believed the lies about his wife. He was blind to think the worst about her.

He spotted his brother-in-law sitting at the corner facing the entrance as soon as he arrived at the coffee shop's door.

Before settling down next to Lance, he gave him a chilly glance and shook his head. He had mixed feelings at the moment.

"Coffee?" Lance questioned.

"Feel free," he said icily. He was not mad at him because of what he did. Somehow, he betrayed the client's confidentiality and kept to himself, the essential part of his petition. Why? That question needed a valid explanation, and he expected to know.

While his brother-in-law ordered his coffee, Alexus had a look around. But he was surprised that Lance came back with coffee.