Rylee

“Hey, are you good?” I set my hand on Klaus’ bouncing leg. He has been extremely anxious since yesterday.

We are on our way to Ivy’s clinic, Claudia’s OB-Gyn friend who’s been taking care of me since we moved here to Huntersville. Once he gathered himself from the news of my pregnancy, he called Ivy and demanded a schedule for an ultrasound. We barely got a wink of sleep. Both of us were eager to know more about our baby.

I am nervous too, but Klaus’ nerves were a tad shakier than mine, I guess.

He laced our fingers together, kissing my knuckles. “I’m excited,” he said. The sparkle in his eyes seconds his statement. He pawed the back of my neck, kissing me passionately. “We are having a baby, mia rosa. Our baby,” he hushed. The partition on the limo was up, giving us the privacy we need. We planned to keep the news to ourselves, relish in the bliss before we break the good news to our family and friends.

“I know.” I cupped his face, tears of happiness clouding my sight once again. “I love you.”

“I love you more. The two of you,” he pressed his palm flat on my belly. 

~~

“Two,” Ivy murmured. The petite woman’s eyes darted between me and Klaus, a smile stretching her full lips. “Here,” her manicured fingernail pointed at the monitor, presenting a black and white view of what’s inside my womb. “And here’s the other one.”

True to her words, we could hear more than one thump, thump, thump, each time she repositions the stick over my cold jelly-covered belly.

Klaus’ hold on my hand tightened. I don’t dare look on the other side of the bed where he sits. But from the corner of my eye, I could see his chest rising and falling heavier. I don’t think I can hold back bursting into tears once I witness how this beautiful news brings joy to his face.

Ivy continued to narrate her findings about how far I was in my pregnancy. Six to seven weeks, she says. My ears and comprehensive abilities shut off everything she said after announcing that there were two growing little beans in my womb, turning Ivy’s melodic voice to a muddled tune.

Ivy must’ve sensed the shock of this news, since she ceased talking altogether. I glanced up at her, realizing that my eyes had been leaking with happy tears. She gave me an assuring smile, looking in Klaus’ direction.

“There’s a lot to go over.” She wiped the sticky substance from my belly, punching buttons on the machine to which the monitor was attached. “We want to ensure that you and the little ones get the best care so we can deliver healthy full-term babies. I’ll leave you alone for a while before giving you more details.”

Once Ivy left the room, Klaus gripped my jaw and guided my face so he could press our lips together. His kiss was gentle, our tears fuse just like last night.

“We’re going to be parents, Rose,” he cooed, raining kisses on my face. “Twins! I feel like I’m dreaming.”

I sobbed and giggled, feeling the same thing.

The ride back to the plantation was still filled with nerves, but the joyous kind. Klaus can’t stop touching me where he could. Once Ivy finished narrating things I must and mustn’t do, what to eat and not in the first trimester, and when’s our next visit to her clinic, Klaus asked her if sex was off the table. I nearly sank into my seat from embarrassment.

“I can’t wait to make love to you, mia rosa.” He lifted me onto his lap, nuzzling his face in the crook of my neck.

Guess it wasn’t so bad that he had such a craving for me. To be honest, I was feeling the same. Pregnancy had my libido shooting up five knots higher. No wonder I’ve been so horny these last couple of weeks, always needing Klaus’ attention in the bedroom.

Once the car halted in front of the mansion, he slipped out first and scooped me in his arms. I squealed, peppering kisses on his neck which had him groaning.

“What?” I asked when he stopped his journey through the threshold. He sets me on my feet. And there I met eye to eye with Kara.

She looked better than the last time I saw her. Her hair was back in its natural dark color. Her skin was paler, but there was a light in her eyes that I hadn’t seen before.

~~

“I’m sorry for coming here unannounced,” Kara explained, as I set a cup of chamomile tea on the table. Klaus left for the barn to give us a little privacy. “I was in the area and I wanted to say hi.”

I plonked on the single couch, eyeing her warily. No one can blame me if I find every syllable that comes from her mouth suspicious. She put me through enough trouble and I don’t need that kind of bad news in my life, especially now.

“You could’ve sent a postcard,” I said dryly.

She tucked her hair behind her ears, lowering her eyes onto her lap. “That was a lame lie. I came here to see you, Rylee.”

“Why? I told you not to come to see me. I don’t want you in my life, Kara. I’m done.”

She bit down on her trembling lip. “I… I’ve been seeing a therapist.”

Held speechless, I could only mumble a breathy, “oh.”

“Yeah.” She reached for her tea with shaky hands. “And this is my last stop.” She took a sip of her drink. Breathing deeply, she met my eyes with a brewing determination. “I’m sorry for everything, Rylee. I… I don’t know how to make up for all the pain I’ve put you through.”

I want to be firm in my decision of not letting her into my life again, but the way she looks at me, the tears rolling down her cheeks, and her trembling lips... I don’t need to see what’s inside her heart to know how remorseful she is. This is the kid I loved as my little sister. But I stayed where I was, even if all I wanted to do was go to her side and wrap her in my embrace, tell her it’s all going to be okay.

“Live a better life,” I said instead.

Understanding what I mean, she wiped her cheeks and forced a smile through her tears. “I will…”