I whistled the entire way to my bike.
That night, with my girl tucked in close to me, my hand over her growing belly, Max and Sammy sound asleep in Preppy’s old room; I was able to take a very long awaited deep breath.
The sounds of Eli and Tanner begging and screaming for their lives lulled me into a very deep and very happy sleep.
Doe
Five Months Later
I was sitting at the kitchen table working on a sketch of a tattoo for one of King’s clients, my swollen feet propped up on one of the other chairs, when King came bursting into the kitchen looking frustrated.
“Baby, have you seen my keys? They were on the table and now I can’t find them,” King said, searching through drawers and cabinets.
I looked up from my sketch. “No, did one of the kids take them?”
“I don’t see how they could of, I had them an hour ago before I dropped them off at Grace’s.” I rested my hands on my belly, the baby, another little girl, had the hiccups so fierce my stomach jumped every few seconds.
“Did you try—” My thought was interrupted when a burst of sound from the living room caught both our attention. We slowly turned to face the TV, which was changing from channel to channel.
“What the fuck?” King asked, walking into the living room he picked up the remote off the side table and started pushing buttons, but the TV kept changing channels at the same pace before finally coming to a stop.
Holy. Fucking. Shit.
American Ninja Warrior
“Check the freezer,” I said.
“Why the fuck—” King started.
“Your keys, they’re in the freezer,” I said, turning to face King who looked at me like I was as crazy as I felt. Reluctantly, he walked over to the kitchen and sure enough he produced his keys from the freezer and dangled them in the air.
“Who the fuck put them in there?” King asked.
Fuck yeah I am here. I’ll always be here…”
“A friend,” I said, wiping a tear from my eye. “My best friend.”
The End