Chapter 22

 

Blue Chocolate

 

 

Courtney looked out the window, waiting for Seth to arrive home from his Wednesday-night escapade with Rosita. The streets were quiet on the crisp winter night. The moon radiated against a backdrop of dark, resembling a black piece of paper where you scratch off a design. Through the tranquility of the night, Courtney watched Seth’s car surreptitiously pull into the driveway.

“Courtney, what are you doing up?” Seth asked with a guilty expression when she greeted him by the doorway.

“I was waiting for you to get home,” Courtney paused in cunning. “I called the office at nine, and Darlene said you had left hours ago.”

“I had to take a client out to dinner,” stammered Seth.

“Where did you go?” Courtney asked, noticing Seth’s expression become strained.

“Nothing fancy, just to one of the diners on Main Street to talk business.”

“You’re always talking business,” Courtney said in double entendre.

“It’s been a long day,” Seth said wearily, sinking into the couch. “I had lunch at Cornbread, and Natasha’s stomach is beginning to show. I don’t think she’ll be able to hide it for much longer. Natasha mentioned you and Aaron stopped in for lunch last week.”

“Yeah, Aaron took me out to make sure I ate lunch. You know how lazy I can be when I have to prepare meals for myself.”

“That’s nice. I think Aaron is just as excited about the twins as he is with his own baby. It’s probably because he was involved in making it happen.”

“Probably, but I’m disappointed your mother couldn’t keep me having twins a secret. She would have to slip and tell you.”

“Well, at least I don’t know what the sexes are, so now I’ll be doubly surprised.” Seth smiled.

“I made Aaron promise not to tell anyone, including me, because I’m too afraid it will leak out.”

“See, I told you how professional Aaron is, and how you’d feel comfortable.”

“He’s been fine to deal with,” Courtney replied, offhandedly.

“Come, let’s go upstairs.” Seth eyed her amorously, getting a second wind.

 

When they reached the top of the second stairway Courtney heard the television playing from the den.

Seth whispered, “Things aren’t going too good with Natasha and Aaron. He told me she’s been sleeping in the den every night and wants to be left alone since she’s pregnant.”

“Really,” Courtney said in secret joy as they continued up to their bedroom.

“Yeah, and Aaron told me he doesn’t think it’s going to change after she gives birth. Natasha already has plans of setting up the nursery in the den because she doesn’t want Aaron to be woken up in the middle of the night by the baby.”

“Well, that’s considerate of her,” Courtney said, crossing her arms.

“Considerate is not the right word, Courtney. Ever since Natasha’s second trimester started, she hasn’t let Aaron even touch her, and he’s not taking it too well. Aaron thinks Natasha was agreeable at first just to get pregnant. He suspects her Catholic school background might be to blame. She might dress seductive at Cornbread, but Aaron found out Natasha does it only for the tips and has been sending the money to her Aunt Olga in Russia.”

“That just goes to show,” Seth said smugly. “Youth and beauty aren’t always as attractive as they seem. Remember Aaron teasing me about marrying Mrs. Robinson? It looks like Aaron is the new Mr. Robinson and getting none. It even rhymes.” Seth laughed jubilantly. “Not that I’ve been getting much either, but maybe tonight I’ll get lucky, being you’re not passed out yet.”

Courtney flinched away as Seth moved in for a kiss. “Are you kidding? Look at the size of me. I’ll be giving birth any day now. I don’t think making love is a good idea.”

“Come on, Courtney, this might be the last chance we’ll get. After the twins are born, things will be crazy. I’ll be very careful, you have my word.”

Seth lured her over to the bed, but all Courtney could see was Aaron’s dark face smoldering before her mind. This phenomenon diverted the unspoken presence of Rosita from their boudoir. For once, Courtney believed the aphrodisiac of outsiders added a spark to their routine. She fell asleep in Seth’s arms, feeling grateful they were not as estranged as Aaron and Natasha.

 

Aaron reprimanded Natasha with a stern face. “Promise me this will be your last day at Cornbread. I’ve already told you, I don’t like you running around there in your condition. God forbid someone slams into you.”

“All right, Aaron, but a few months after the baby is born I have plans to continue working. Courtney and I have worked out an agreement to help each other watch the babies so we can both work part-time. I plan on working Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, and Courtney has plans to work Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday.”

Aaron smiled complacently at the arrangement while Edith gathered the breakfast dishes.

“So, Courtney, Aaron told me it will be any day now,” Natasha said with anticipation.

“Yes, it’s getting down to the wire.” Courtney glanced down at her tremendous belly.

“I’ll be waiting right outside the delivery room for the good news. You know how squeamish I am. I don’t want to make it worse for Courtney,” Seth said apologetically.

“Well, with Aaron delivering the twins, you’ll be at a lack for no one,” Edith retorted.

 

“Push, Courtney, push,” Aaron encouraged.

Courtney’s face glistened in perspiration and her curls became mangled against the pillow. She breathed in deeply as the contractions came closer and closer until she bore down heavily and out peeked the moistened crown of the firstborn. Courtney contorted with strain and pushed down again, when the first of the twins emerged.

“It’s a girl!” Aaron happily announced, handing the newborn over to the nurse to clean and swathe in a blanket. “And what strong lungs on her.” Aaron marveled at the baby’s cry.

After another bout of pushing, the crown of the second twin became visible. “Good job, Courtney, keep pushing,” Aaron encouraged with elation.

Courtney continued her effort to follow his cues. Sweat poured out of every cell in her body. She had never felt so exhausted and exhilarated at once. Then with one final burst, Courtney bore down strongly when the second twin emerged.

“It’s a boy!” Aaron exclaimed in exhilaration, handing the newborn over to the nurse to be cleaned.

Courtney waited breathlessly as the nurse presented her with two beautiful twins, both in perfect health. The girl had platinum hair, translucent against her scalp, with small features, a rosy complexion, and a rosebud mouth. The boy had a full head of wavy black hair with striking features and olive skin.

“So there they are, Zoe Mira Stephens and Zachery Stein Stephens, Zack for short,” Aaron excitedly announced. “Zoe is five- pounds-seven-ounces and Zack is six-pounds-twelve-ounces. And they’re both doing well.”

“Would you like to nurse them?” The nurse asked Courtney. “The colostrum is very beneficial for them.”

Aaron watched intently as the nurse helped Courtney to position the twins, one at each breast. “Now that’s a beautiful picture, Courtney. I’ll go get Seth.”

 

Seth burst into the room with tears welling in his eyes at the sight of the twins suckling at Courtney’s breasts. He bent down and kissed Courtney on the forehead.

“They’re so beautiful, Courtney. We were so blessed to get a boy and a girl!”

Aaron handed Zoe to Seth after she unlatched from the breast. Seth smiled down at her in a moment of timelessness and then alarm. “Look at her eyes, one is blue and the other is brown! Will they stay like that, Aaron?” Seth asked in distress.

Aaron quickly examined the infant. “Now that her eyes are open I can see what you’re saying. I’ve never seen a baby with two different color eyes before, but I wouldn’t worry about it. Look at Jane Seymour, she has one brown eye and one green eye, and it hasn’t hurt her any,” Aaron said reassuringly.

“Let me see,” Courtney demanded. She immediately noticed one of Zoe’s eyes was as blue as the sky while the other eye was as dark as a piece of chocolate.

“Do you think they’ll stay like that?” Courtney also asked with worry.

“It’s hard to predict,” replied Aaron. “But both children are healthy and doing wonderfully, and that’s what’s most important.”

Courtney examined Zack’s eyes, seeing they were thankfully both dark brown. She tried to accept the fact her daughter might have two different color eyes. In spite of the oddity, Courtney found something fascinating about her dual eye color. If she looked at the side with the blue eye, Zoe looked ethereal, if she covered the blue eye, the brown eye made Zoe look worldly.

 

Aaron checked the paternity of the twins using his own genetic coding in a process of elimination. He planned to have the results by the time Courtney left the hospital.

Robert Long, a close associate of Aaron asked. “If you artificially inseminated Courtney, then why are you testing for paternity?”

“Just between you and me, you never know with women these days. I don’t want my brother to be duped. I plan on doing the same thing when my baby is born four months from now. You can never be too sure.”

“I think it’s good that you’re testing your baby, Robert enthusiastically agreed. “I’ve heard the owner of Cornbread and Caviar is the biggest lecher.”