Chapter 16: The Twins Are Here
226 Words
3:17 AM.
Aiden was pacing. “The hospital said 20 minutes. It’s been 21.”
I was trying not to laugh through the contractions. “Babe. Breathe.”
Two months early. We weren’t ready. The nursery was half-painted.
By 4:42 AM, the doctor said, “It’s time.”
Aiden held my hand so tight I thought he’d break it.
“Look at me,” he whispered. “Just look at me, Zuri. You’re doing amazing.”
First cry. Then a second.
“Twins. A boy and a girl,” the nurse said. “They’re perfect.”
Aiden cut the cord with shaking hands. Then he was crying too.
CEO of Hale Industries, and he was a mess.
“Meet your parents,” I whispered to them.
He placed them on my chest. One on each side.
Baby girl had his eyes. Baby boy had my nose.
Aiden kissed my forehead. “Thank you,” he choked out. “For them. For staying. For choosing us.”
My mom came in with flowers. She held them both and sobbed. “Grandma duties start now.”
Later, when the room was quiet, Aiden sat next to me.
Two tiny babies sleeping between us.
“We did it,” he said.
“We did,” I replied.
No contract. No fake marriage.
Just a family.
And it was everything.
- Writer
