But Who's Counting?

Chapter Nine

After our grocery trip, we all rode back to Alexander house, where my car was. The whole ride Alexander complained how he had to find another nanny and Maya could only talk about how Christmas was in four days.

I was glad that I ordered everything for Christmas while I was hanging with Maya all day. I put it on expedited shipping so they should be here by tomorrow or at least before Christmas Eve. That gave me just enough time to wrap the present and bring them over here for them. I was pretty pleased with what I got them. I may have went overboard but I usually have nobody to buy presents for so this year I may have... splurged. I hope Alexander isn't mad since I did buy a few pretty expensive gifts. What if I got Maya something he got her?

I should have asked fi-

"Sophia, you want to put this stuff in your car now?"

"Yes, I'm good here. My car i—" I cut myself off when I realized we were parked right next to my car. I offered him a smile before stepping out and unlocking my car. Alexander also exited the car and grab some grocery's out of his car. He waited while I struggled to pop the trunk.

I nervously laughed before finally getting it to open. He dumped the grocery's in there while I went for the other four bags I had. I grabbed them and turned around, dumping them in the trunk. Alexander closed the trunk before leaning against it. He had a tired look on his face and I felt bad. I could have went grocery shopping myself.

"Thank you for watching Maya. You didn't have to do that but you did, so thanks."

"It's no problem, really."

"Sophia, she really likes you. I haven't ever seen her open up with someone so quickly. Even with me, she was closed off. It took her a minute. So thank you." Alexander cut his speech short and turned abruptly and walked back to his car. I stood frozen while he grabbed Maya and her doll before swinging her on his hip and walking away to his building.

Maya waved over his head and blew me a kiss while Alexander continued to walk. I smiled gently to myself before getting in my car, ready to go home.

-

My ride home was quiet and short, although it usually feels like a hour to get to my house from Alex's. When I got home, I put groceries away and showered. After getting dressed, I put on some random Christmas movie on the living room television and online shopped a little more. I was bored and had money to spend.

I got myself a few things but some time during this, I realized I wasn't the only one anymore.

I had to buy things for the two buns in the oven. It's crazy to think that in a couple of month there will be two additions to my family that I contributed to making.

We would need cribs, clothes, diapers... tons of diapers. I would definitely need a breast pump because there is no way that I will be able to feed two of them at the same. If baby A was crying while I'm feeding baby B, I don't know what I'll do.

I still haven't told Alex that I am pregnant with twins, I'm scared of how he'll react. Just seeing how he bugged out with the first child being announced, now imagine with two. He already had Maya, so maybe he won't be so supportive of having three kids.

Forget Alex, let's think about my mom. Everybody on her side of the family had kids young but they all eventually became drug addicts. My mother would skin me for the wolves to eat if she knew I was pregnant and not even in a relationship with the babies father. Now, Twins?

I'm in deep s**t.

With my thoughts consuming me, eventually I fall asleep on the couch.

—

Three days later, I find myself knocking at Alexander's door, tapping my foot patiently.

After a long, exhausting day, Crissy dropped me off over here at Alex's apartment building. I didn't want to be alone for Christmas and Maya had been begging for me to come over, so we decided I should come over now. I had presents that Crissy literally just helped me bring up and then ditched them at the door with me.

I had been shopping a lot over this past month and every time I saw something I thought Alexander or Maya might like, I bought it. They both probably only got 8 presents from me, but it's still something right?

I got Maya a golden name chain. It was a simple 'Amaya' engraved in the gold with a simple gold chain. I figured that if she didn't wear necklaces then she might wear the bracelet version so I got that as well. I got her a movie set that I remember she was begging Alexander for, but he had no clue what the poor girl was talking about. I also got her a iPad because it was on sale and I was in a spending mood. I got her a few pairs of pajamas. I got her a pair of Crocs in her favorite color, pink, with charms to spell her name out. The rest of her presents were toys and such. I hoped she liked everything I got her, I really didn't know how to shop for little kids.

Now, for Alexander, I kind of just got whatever. The only valuable thing I got him was a new watch. I noticed that he hadn't found his favorite one. I didn't know what to get him, really. I got him some grey sweatpants. Majority of the things I got him, it was just clothes and such. I didn't know how to shop for a guy. Especially one that I wasn't related to.

With Marcus, he was simple. His response was always 'nothing I just wanna spend time with you' which usually resulted in me making him a basket of his favorite things. Afterwards, we would cuddle over at his place and watch Christmas movies while eating chocolate chip cookies and drinking hot chocolate. Sometimes we'd have a gingerbread building competition, which usually he won since he was the more creative between us. Last Christmas, he tried to outdo me by making a whole hotel out of gingerbread but of course, his came crashing to the floor. At the last second, it was basically like the piece of hair that broke the camels back. He added a Hershey kiss and before he could even back up, his 'hotel' toppled over and made a mess all over him and the ground. We cleaned the mess, but not before making a even bigger mess.

So, yeah, Christmas was a lot different this year than the past years.

I glanced up just in time to see a shirtless Alexander opening the door. He had a pair of black Nike shorts that hang dangerously low on him. He wasn't even looking towards me, but back where Maya was standing with a package of slice and bake cookie dough and a cookie pan tucked under her arm.

"I'll open the package for you in a second, wait a second Maya." He said, before looking at me. Maya decided to notice me as well at the same moment. She dropped the items she held onto the couch before skipping to her fathers side. Her eyes looked at the gifts I held and the ones that sat next to me.

"Merry Christmas!" I sang, showing the presents I had in my hands.

"Are those ours? Wait, Daddy you didn't say she was coming over?"

"Because it was a surprise. Surprise! Now, grab some presents and place them under the tree for Sophia please." He instructed, opening the door wider, allowing Maya to squeeze out and I to squeeze in. Alexander went out and grabbed the rest of the presents while Maya and I placed the ones we held under the tree. Maya pushed a few presents back, making more space. There was already dozens of presents under the tree and the ones I added, only made it look like we were at Santa's Workshop.

"Sophia! I am about to make cookies for Santa after Daddy opens the package for me. Then, we can all eat some!"

"But aren't they for Santa?"

"He's going to put me on the naughty list if I don't share." She said, in a obvious tone before scrambling up the stairs. Alexander sat on the couch while looking at me.

"How are you today? Any pain?"

"I'm fine. I had morning sickness this morning, that's about it. I've been fine most of the day. I haven't eaten since I can't keep anything down." I explained before going to sit on the opposite side of the couch he sat on. I brought my leg up while watching Alexander nod. "How are you?" I added.

"I'm fine. Maya is so excited for tomorrow, she hasn't went to sleep for three days. I'm going to make her go straight to bed after the cookies. What do you mean you haven't eaten? I'm going to order some Chinese.." Alexander replied, reaching for his phone while speaking. I began to disagree, but instantly shut up when he gave me a look — one that told me I would not win this one.

Maya found her way back down stairs and was now shoving the package of cookie dough and a pair of scissors towards her father while he attempted to talk on the phone. They silently argued, Alex pushing her away while Maya pushing towards him.

"I'll open it." I spoke, reaching for the items already. Maya gladly shoved them into my hands and was climbing onto the couch with  the cookie sheet. She sat in between Alexander and I and waited for me to open the packet while sitting the the cookie sheet in her lap. I easily snapped the small knot off the top, allowing the packet to breathe and open. I passed it back to the eager four year old while she instantly began making dough balls and aligning them onto the sheet.

"Ginger ale or fruit punch?"

"Ginger ale." Maya and I both said..

"Broccoli?"

"With the brown sauce, Daddy." Maya said as she finished aligning cookie dough balls on the tray. She then decide to take a ball before eating it. When she caught me looking at her, she smiled sheepishly.

"Do you want some? It's good." She said, putting another in her mouth. I laughed before relying that I didn't want one. She offered one to her Dad, who didn't have a choice since she immediately attempted to throw it in his mouth after he hung up on the phone.

"Food be here in 35 minutes." He said before grabbing the tray of uncooked cookies and walking into the kitchen. Maya followed him closely while I watched he retreating bodies.

"Daddy, what did you ask Santa for?" Maya's voice curiously rang.

"Money. What did you ask for?"

"But don't you already have money? My teacher said that you make a lot of money so that's why I can go to her class. Why do you need more?"

"Because you can never have too much money." Alexander said as they found their way back into the living room.

"Yes you can because then nobody else is going to have any, only you."

"I give money to people too."

"Oh that's different. Anyways, I want a new iPad since you broke mine. Plus the movies. But I really want a play crib and new babies and strollers." She squealed.

I'm glad I got the iPad then.

"I also wished for a Mommy but I always wish for that so it doesn't count." She added quietly.

"Are we watching the grinch?"

"Yes! This is Daddy's favorite movie." Maya said, climbing onto the couch. Alexander lifted her before sliding underneath her, shaking his head vigorously. 'It's not' he mouthed to me before allowing Maya to cuddle into him.

Thirty minutes passed and Alexander was upstairs doing something, Maya was writing down a last minute Christmas wish list, while I was finishing the last cookie off. We were still waiting for dinner to come and I think, I think, Alexander was upstairs wrapping last minute Christmas presents. He excused himself in a hurry and had locked his room door. Maya attempted to get in and he told her he was working.

Maya thought that if Santa read her list when he got here, he would know what she really wanted today instead of the last list she sent so now he would get her more presents because it was 'just easier that way'.

I asked her why she thought this and she said 'because I do'. So she must be right.

A buzz at the side of the wall went off and immediately Maya sprung up, pressing the record button. "Who is it?"

"Chinese delivery for The Par-" The guys voice went off as Maya rung them in.

"Sophia, can you go get Daddy? He has more presents upstairs, so I can't go up there."

"What?"

"When I looked under the door, I saw presents on the floor and the present paper." She said, smiling brightly before looking down at the piece of paper she was writing on.

"Um, okay. I'll just get the door." I said, moving to get my wallet. I opened the door just in time to see a man walking down the hall with two brown bags.

"33.41." was all he said as he passed over the bags. I pulled out two twenty dollar bills, telling him to keep the change as I struggled to keep the bags from slipping. The guy walked away as soon as I handed him the money and I turned around, walk-in back into Alexander's house.

Alexander was pulling out plates and as soon as I placed the bags down, the Parkers began to dig in. After everybody was done eating, we had cookies and Maya left out a plate with three cookies and a glass of white and chocolate milk. She said she wasn't sure which one Santa would prefer so she'd leave both in hopes of getting more presents.

Maya shortly fell asleep, so Alex carried her to her room while I tidied up the living room. There was left over food that I decided to store in the fridge since I doubted Alex was going to go back in it tonight.

Just as I began to grab my stuff to go home, Alexander stopped me.

"I think you should stay the night here. It's late and you're pregnant. I have a guest bedroom upstairs that you can occupy." He said, turning the tv off before staring intensely at me.

"I'm fine Alex."

"It wasn't a question." He said, crossing his arms. Excuse me? Who did he think he was?

"Alexander." I said, trying my best to match his expression. I put my hand in my hip as he began to speak.

"Sophia, it's Christmas Eve. People are going nuts out there, especially people who do not have s lot of money and need gifts. Just stay the night so I know you're safe." His tone left no room for discussion so I gave in, promising to spend the night.

"Great." He smirked triumphantly.