Love Beyond Anxiety

Prologue

Cartia Raven stood in the kitchen and watched Adrieka, her five-year-old daughter, eating her snack and she turned when her seventeen-year-old quintuplets got home and soon entered the kitchen. “How was school?”

“Tiring.” Skye, the youngest of the four girls, said and she got a bottle of water from the fridge.

“You spent too much time sleeping in and going to bed late while you were on holiday.” Cartia said.

“I actually had a pretty early night at least four out of seven nights in the week.” Skye said.

“Well I am not a straight-A student so I have to go and study.” Micah, the third quint, said and she tickled Adrieka’s tummy before she left with her sisters and Eden, the youngest of the five.

“So why was school tiring?” Cartia asked.

“Who knows.” Skye said and she ran her hands through her hair. “I should go and clean up before Ty gets home.”

“Have fun.” Cartia said.

“Thanks mom.” Skye said and she left.

Cartia smiled and she finished with their snack and smiled when her second youngest daughter came into the kitchen again about an hour later with her waist length hair hanging in damp curls around her shoulders while she was wearing her canvas jogging pants, trainers and a gym crop top that exposed some belly. “Where is your other gym shirt?”

“In the wash.” Skye said and she kissed her mom’s cheek before she went into the laundry room.

Cartia smiled and she cleaned the counter and smiled when a young man came in. “Hi Ty.”

“Hi.” Ty Alden and Skye’s boyfriend said and he placed bags and the car keys on the counter. “The only thing I could not find, was the seed mix.”

“That is fine.” Cartia said. “Thanks.”

“You are welcome.” Ty said and he smiled when Skye came out of the laundry room.

“I cannot find my shirt.” Skye said and she went to Ty.

“What shirt?” Ty asked.

“My gym shirt.” Cartia said.

“It is in my laundry basket because you left it in the bathroom the other day.” Ty said.

“Oh.” Skye said and she smiled when he made a spider over her stomach before she went up the stairs.

“Finished mommy.” Adrieka said.

Cartia lifted her down and then cleaned the plate and before long she was busy making a big chicken salad with her daughter.

“Do we have any pineapples left, mom?” Skye asked while chopping up the chicken.

“I think we do.” Cartia said and she went into the pantry and then came out with a pineapple and placed it in front of her daughter before she laid her hand on her daughter’s stomach.

Skye tensed and then turned to her mom. “How…”

“…did I know?” Cartia asked.

Skye nodded and she bit her lip when her mom closed the kitchen door.

“Skye, your eyes said it.” Cartia said. “They hinted at it when I asked you why you were tired but they spoke it loud and clear when Ty touched your stomach; and from the affectionate way that he touched your stomach, I would say it is safe to say that you told him.”

Skye nodded and she pulled her hair over one shoulder. “I am…”

“…sorry you have a child growing inside of you?” Cartia asked.

Skye shook her head and she looked at her mom.

“Then why were you starting to apologize?” Cartia asked.

“I overstepped my boundaries.” Skye said softly.

“How about you finish cutting up that chicken and I will get your dad from his study.” Cartia said.

“I did not know dad was home.” Skye said softly.

“He is home but last I saw he had crashed with his arms on his desk.” Cartia said.

Skye nodded and she carried on cutting up the chicken and then looked at her parents when they came in and closed the door behind them. She looked at her dad and then crashed into his chest when he opened his arms and she began crying into his chest.

Arend hugged her and he kissed her head. “It is okay.”

“You are not mad?” Skye asked softly.

“Why would I be mad?” Arend asked and he wiped her cheeks when she looked up at him. “I was a little stupid sending you on holiday with a young man who could not keep his eyes off you even though he has only so far treated you with the outmost respect. I will be mad if you tell me he took advantage of you and forced it down on you.”

Skye shook her head and she smiled when her dad kissed her forehead.

“Do you know how many teenagers get pregnant because the parents messed up, like when I allowed you to go on holiday with Ty without anyone else joining you?” Arend asked.

“Probably at least half of them.” Skye said softly.

“Probably.” Arend said and he hugged her close. “Kendri was not conceived out of our official wedding night.”

“I know.” Skye said softly. “But she is still born from the marriage.”

“Barely.” Cartia said and she smiled when her daughter giggled. “You are seventeen, Skye, and maybe this is a little harsh but sooner or later you were going to move out and one night of having Ty over for supper and getting a little too close to him and it would have happened too. Dad and I were already engaged when we got placed in such a situation, so we had a bail out option.”

Skye nodded and she hugged her dad and then took a deep breath.

“He has seen it all, but you need to still respect your own body.” Arend said. “Does he know?”

Skye nodded and she played with her promise ring. “He went and bought me the pregnancy tester.”

“Have you been for a scan?” Arend asked.

Skye shook her head and she tucked her hair in behind her ear. “I was going to go tomorrow.”

“Have you at least been to the clinic to get the right vitamins?” Arend asked.

“Yes. Ty took me to the clinic out of town last week Saturday.” Skye said.

“Have you been drinking your medicine?” Arend asked.

Skye nodded and she turned when the door opened.

“What is it, Micah?” Arend asked.

“Mitchell just arrived.” Micah said. “Can I go with him and Michelle to the movies?”

“Ten.” Arend said.

“Yes sir. Thanks daddy.” Micah said. “Ty wants to know if he can come in.”

“Sure.” Arend said and he waited until the door was closed behind the young man before he showed him to join them. “I am a little disappointed but it was a recipe for disaster and I am proud of you for making sure my daughter gets what she needs thus far.”

“Yes sir.” Ty said and he looked at Skye before he wiped her cheek.

Skye leaned into his touch and she smiled when her dad let her go and she moved into her boyfriend’s embrace and buried her face in his chest when he hugged her close.

“We have to get this salad finished before Kendri arrives.” Arend said.

Skye nodded and she smiled when Ty kissed her head before she moved away and turned to go to the sink.

Ty placed his arm around her waist, and he pulled her long gym shirt over her head and then removed the very broad body shaping belt from around her middle before he rested his hand on her stomach. “Relax these muscles.”

“Why were you wearing that?” Arend asked.

“I got it when I thought my stomach melting was as a result of not seeing my physiotherapist or personal trainer for the entire two months of vacation.” Skye said. “And it did help to get my body toned again.”

“…but it was an easy way to hide that she was picking up weight after we found out that she was pregnant.” Ty said. “And I only allowed her to use it when she had to wear her gym stuff and around the house when she was not in her room, because she was so scared of her dad freaking out about the baby that she threatened to run away from home if I did not allow her to wear the belt.”

“If I see you wearing that again before this little one is born, you are going to get grounded at seventeen.” Arend said.

Skye nodded and she went to the sink and splashed water onto her face.

Arend smiled at his wife and then helped her to get the salad finished and he opened the door when someone knocked on it. “Hi Kendri.”

“Hi dad.” Kendri said and she hugged her dad and then hugged her mom, Skye, Ty and Adrieka.

“Micah is out for a movie with her boyfriend and his sister.” Arend said.

“Okay.” Kendri said and she smiled at her younger sister before she went to her. “How does it feel to have your boyfriend live with mom and dad?”

“Dad! Jordon wants to know if we want to go to the fair.” Eden said coming in. “Hi Kendri.”

“Hi noisy little brother.” Kendri said.

“Who is ‘we’?” Arend asked. “And your mom has supper ready.”

“Me, Kyra, Jade, Micah and Skye.” Eden said. “And Ty.”

“Micah is out for a movie with Mitch and Michelle.” Arend said. “And I think Ty should stay at home since I last heard that he had study leave for today because of a major test tomorrow.”

“That is true.” Ty said. “And I want to see you get your sister out of the house when I have to stay home to study or at least chill so I can go to bed early.”

“So can Jade, Kyra and I go?” Eden asked.

“Sure.” Arend said. “Your mom made chicken salad.”

“I will take mine to school tomorrow. Thanks mom.” Eden said and he ran out.

“So much for making a huge bowl of your favorite salad.” Cartia said.

“It will not waste, mom.” Kendri said. “And besides, I am home until Sunday night.”

“That is true.” Cartia said and she got plates out and smiled when her three other kids came in, packed themselves some lunch and then placed it in the fridge before she got kisses and they ran out. She enjoyed supper with her two youngest daughters and her eldest and then cleaned the kitchen with them.

“What are you girls going to do now?” Arend asked.

“I need to go and shower.” Kendri said.

“I do not know. I will probably watch the cricket match while Ty gets some studying done.” Skye said.

“Well, have fun.” Arend said. “I might just make some waffles later.”

“Now that sounds amazing, dad.” Kendri said.

“Good.” Arend said and he kissed her head.

Skye smiled at her sister and then took a bottle of water before she went up to her room and climbed on the bed. She turned the TV on and then changed her gym shirt for a loose-fitting long shirt before she began filing her nails. She looked up when someone came in and she smiled at Ty who had his school books under his arm. “You want a study buddy?”

“More like just some plain company.” Ty said and he climbed on the bed and then kissed her forehead before he opened his books. He rested his hand on her stomach while reading and made a spider over it completely lost in thought.

Skye smiled and she watched the cricket game and then muted it when movement at the door caught her attention and she looked at Kendri when she came in. “Hi.”

“Hi.” Kendri said. “I think I will leave you guys alone.”

“Kendri.” Skye said and she took a deep breath when her sister seemed to be ignoring her. “I need to go and talk to my sister. Remember if something serious happens on the game.”

Ty nodded and he smiled at her when she turned the sound back on before leaving.

Skye went to Kendri’s room and then went downstairs and to the kitchen. “Hey.”

“You should go back to your boyfriend.” Kendri said. “And hope dad does not freak out when he finds out.”

“Mom and dad already know.” Skye said. “And they are okay with it, they feel like it was partially their fault as well because they agreed that I could still go on vacation with Ty even when Micah got sick and was not allowed to go with, so it was just the two of us for two weeks before we joined up with some of Ty’s old school friends for a tour of France.”

“I just do not get how you could drop your boundaries as soon as you were away from home.” Kendri said.

“I did not decide to drop them just because I was not home.” Skye said. “Dad agreed that we could go wine tasting the morning because France’s legal drinking age is sixteen and I felt that it went to my head so I went and had a nap before lunch, because I made the mistake of having wine on an empty stomach so I was not feeling well, and by six I was still not feeling well so I cuddled up with Ty because I was not keen on being alone while I was feeling awful. Ty left to get me some medicine and rice crackers once I fell asleep again and it made me even sleepier so I crashed out with Ty and woke up the next morning feeling a whole lot better when he kissed me and lying in bed with this extremely handsome hot guy at my fingertips kissing me softly while his eyes spoke of a deeper concern than his mouth, had some funny effect on me and we overstepped boundaries, and I do not regret giving myself to the man I love, although if I could change the past, I would wait until I get married.”

“It does sound like a recipe for disaster.” Kendri said.

“Believe me, it was.” Skye said and she laid her hands on her stomach. “But I will never have my child think that she was a disaster.”

“We cannot allow that to happen.” Kendri said and she laid her hand on her sister’s stomach. “You have a cricket game to watch.”

Skye smiled and she hugged her sister and then went up the stairs and she made herself comfortable on her bed again.

“What did Kendri say?” Ty asked.

“She thought we chose to overstep boundaries as soon as we were out of the house, but I just explained to her that we did not.” Skye said and she smiled when he pulled her shirt right and then laid his hand on her stomach again. She moved his school books when she saw he was watching the game rather than studying and then climbed on his lap and lay back against him before she took his hands and laid them on her stomach and then watched the game until she fell asleep.