Page 21 of Twisted Fate

“Really, Logan? I have worried about it I have to admit.” She could already feel sleepiness taking over but had to ask.

“I am, for real. Maybe next week we can pick which room will be their nursery here, actually. We need to get this place ready for them, not just yours.” A shadow passed over his face, but he wiped it away.

“Yeah, that might be a good idea.” She whispered.

He meant he wanted to have them with him and there’d be times when they’d be at his house. Without her?

That hurt, but what could she say to him? She couldn’t deny him his children and if he wanted to spend time with them that was good. So why did it hurt, thinking about him with their babies without her there? And worse, why did it feel right thinking about being here with them all as a proper family?

10

Keily

“I know he means well, but seriously, Violet, he paid my bills. In advance. There are credits on my power bill, water bill, and that’s on top of paying for the car and a year of insurance on it.” Keily blew air out of her mouth to move her hair out of her eyes and looked over at her sister.

They were at Keily’s, sitting on the floor with baby Alice. Keily couldn’t make herself stop thinking of Alice that way, even if she was growing up. She’d always be baby Alice. At least until she got old enough to insist her aunt didn’t call her that, Keily thought with a sentimental smile. The day would come, she knew that, but hoped it was years away.

“He’s just doing what real fathers should, Keily. Don’t complain.” Violet said without a hint of malice and softened the words even more by clasping at Keily’s bicep with a gentle hand. “Don’t get your heart broken but do let him be a dad if that’s what he wants. Alice doesn’t have anyone as a father figure.”

“What about your doctor?” Keily inquired with a gleam in her eyes.

“Maybe, but I’ve learned my lesson.” Violet rolled her eyes and looked over at Alice. “I put my trust in someone before and all I have to show for it is Alice.”

“That’s not such a bad thing,” Keily replied, rubbing at her own belly. She’d learned her lesson too, she hoped.

“I’m just glad he finally talked you into quitting that job, it wasn’t good for you, being on your feet all the time like that.” Violet’s attention turned to Alice as the little girl toddled over to the coffee table to pick up the sippy cup Keily kept on hand for her.

“I didn’t want to but even the doctor said it was putting my health and the babies at risk, so I had to give in. I just didn’t want Logan taking it upon himself to pay my bills for me. I’m not his woman anymore.”

“You might not be my woman anymore, Keily, but I do want what’s best for you,” Logan said as he came back in from turning the steaks he’d put on the grill outside. She’d decided to have everyone over when the sun came out that morning, warm and full of the promise of spring. It was New Year’s Day and what better way to spend it than with the people that mattered the most to her?

Besides, warm days in winter didn’t happen often, but every now and then the sun came out and they could have nice times like this. Keily had invited Rosa, but it was Saturday, and she was with the couple that took up so much of her time now.

“Rosa’s with her couple,” Keily said, to change the subject. Neither Violet nor Logan had asked, but it was a good way to take the focus off of what she hadn’t meant for Logan to hear.

“She might be, but that’s not the topic at hand.” Logan waltzed over to the sink to wash his hands before he came back to the living room and sat down on the couch. “You’re not a kept woman, you never were, and you never will be. You are however mine, I mean, my children’s mother. I will take care of you.”

Keily’s heart wanted to pound in her chest with pleasure over the way he’d played off that slip of the tongue, revealing his thoughts that she was his, but she told her heart to shut the hell up. She could not afford to let him into that sacred place ever again.

This was going to be difficult, she thought as she absently rubbed at her stomach, lost in her own world, even though he was clearly waiting on an answer. She was his, he’d said. If only that were true.

“You can’t fault the man for accepting his responsibilities, Keily,” Violet said with a wink in Keily’s direction. “Even if that’s making sure you have water, power, and a way to get around.”

“Stop bullying me, both of you.” Keily looked over at Logan and glared at him, her tongue out for a second.

He just winked at her too, and smirked with pleased self-satisfaction.

Bastard, she thought and looked away.

“We aren’t bullying you, Keily, we’re telling you what’s best for you. Even if you don’t want to hear it.” Violet answered unapologetically. “I’ve been through this with one baby, I couldn’t imagine doing it with three. I don’t even know how you’re breathing with all those babies in you.”

“I know.” Keily was glad to let the subject change and leaned back on her palms, her legs out in front of her. “I feel like a beached whale, and they’re constantly kicking each other in there.”

“Have you thought of names yet?” Violet turned her eyes to her sister for a moment, before she looked back at her daughter, now playing with a child’s puzzle on the floor. Alice hadn’t quite figured out the object of the game, but she was enjoying banging each large puzzle piece onto the board they fit into.

“Zara, Zoey, and Zinnia, if they’re all girls,” Keily revealed and was pleased when she saw Logan nod in approval. “I know they’re all Z names, and the poor kids will be last in everything that goes in alphabetical order, but I like them.”

“What if the bottom baby is a boy?” Logan asked but didn’t offer any suggestions.