The gang sat in the hospital waiting room, anticipating news from Nurse Staples who’d come out every now and again to give an update on Samiyah’s labor. Selena paced while the others spoke quietly.

“We didn’t even get a chance to have the gender reveal party,” Phoebe said. She’d come out of the wedding dress, paid for it, and trashed it all at the same time. Now she sat in a pair of dark denim jeans and a thick black wool sweater with a huge loose collar that covered her neck in a toasty blanket.

“Well, we’ll know for sure now, won’t we?” Eden said.

“Yeah,” Phoebe responded. She glanced over at Selena.

“Are you nervous?” Phoebe asked her.

Selena cut her eyes to Phoebe as she nibbled on her fingernail.

“Does it usually take this long to have a baby?” Selena asked.

It was eight p.m., and Samiyah had been in labor all day.

“Some women go two or three days in labor before giving birth,” Claudia added.

Claudia had been at the hospital in a continuous pace since the girls were taken off to jail. There had been a few times when Claudia wanted to storm the labor and delivery room, but she knew it wasn’t her place, and she understood.

Imagining being in labor for seventy-two hours made Selena nauseated. “Jesus, that’s a long time to be in pain,” she said.

“The doctors give you medicine to rid your pain,” Claudia said. “It’s not so bad.”

“How would you know? Have you been pregnant before?” Selena asked.

All eyes turned to Claudia, including her husband Jaden. Claudia stammered. “No—um, of course not, I’m just saying, they give you the good drugs to keep you sane.”

“Hmm,” Selena murmured.

“I’m sure you would make a great mother.”

The dark voice came from Jordan as he strolled up behind Selena. Closing in, Jordan took the palm of his hand down her shoulder in a grazing stroke, causing a stinging flare of heat to wash over her. She opened her mouth to respond but no words came out. Jordan tipped her chin with an innate tap of his hand. Selena blushed and leaned into him, giving Jordan the opportunity to place a warm kiss against her forehead, on the bridge of her nose, then finally her lips.

A languorous sigh released from Selena as she was taken once again by Jordan’s masterful kiss. Since they’d been dating, Jordan had done a lot of holding and kissing her, but they had yet to seal the deal with sexual foreplay although Selena dreamed of it more times than not. She was enjoying their time together, and their friendship grew daily, so she wouldn’t force it. The last thing she wanted was to seem too attached. For once in her life, she’d love to be loved wholeheartedly by someone she could spend the rest of her life with. But just as the thought trekked through her mind, the pending divorce of her parents captured Selena’s thoughts.

It made her grimace, and Jordan felt her grow cold as her lips stilled. Slowly, he pulled their mouths apart but continued to hover just over her sienna skin.

With a penetrating stare, he questioned, “What are you thinking?”

His voice was so soothing that Selena wished she could curl in it. She gulped thickly.

“Um… nothing, I’m fine.”

Jordan’s gaze grew more intense. She was lying to him, and he couldn’t imagine why. Knowing their relationship was fairly new, Jordan didn’t push the subject, but he couldn’t help but wish Selena would open up to him.

Give her time…

He would. After all he didn’t have much of a choice, and even though Jordan knew that, he still wanted to tug it out of her.

“You don’t trust me enough to tell me when you’re hurting, but I can see it on your face and feel it in your touch.”

Selena wanted to deny his claims. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust him per se, but she didn’t want to sound like a crybaby. She was grown after all. How many adults acted or felt like children when their parents were threatening to divorce? Maybe if she was sixteen but thirty-four?

Selena’s hesitance gave Jordan the impression that he was right, which he usually was. In his profession, Jordan could almost tell anytime someone was being untruthful or even gauge their reaction to certain happenings, like he did with Selena just then.

Sadness slipped over him but disappeared just as quickly. The doors to the labor ward opened, and Nurse Staples strolled out with a huge smile.

“Family of Samiyah Rose,” she said. They collectively surrounded the nurse with heightened anticipation. “You’ll be happy to know Samiyah’s no longer in labor, and she’s just given birth to a set of healthy newborns.”

Everyone in the room gasped, some covering their mouths while others beamed brightly.

“Twins!?” Selena shouted.

Nurse Staples nodded. “A boy and a girl.”

“When can we see them?” Phoebe questioned.

“We’re currently moving Samiyah to a room where we’ll let four of you in at a time.” The nurse glanced at the wall clock. “About fifteen more minutes, and we’ll be out to get the first four, so you can decide amongst yourselves who will go first.”

Claudia squealed, and they all laughed. She looked around. “Oh, please let me go first, you guys,” she begged. “I promise not to take too long.”

The family laughed at her again. Claudia had been Samiyah’s best friend since grade school. They’d grown up and shared tons of memories before finally deciding to open a business together: S & M Financial Advisory.

“You and Martha Jean can go with Pops and Norma if no one else minds,” Jordan said. “We’ll take the second round if that’s okay with you, sweetheart.” Jordan glanced at Selena.

“I’m cool with that.”

Everyone else agreed.

“But don’t take all day, I’ve gotta see my babies,” their aunt Matilda called out. They all snickered, and Claudia squealed again.

Two and half hours later, Claudia, Martha Jean, the Rose patriarch Christopher and his wife Norma filed out of the hospital room with glows on their faces. Selena and Jordan stood.

“How are they?” Selena asked.

“Beautiful,” Christopher said, basking with pride at his grandchildren. Christopher tossed an arm around Norma’s shoulder and pulled her in. “Just beautiful.”

Nurse Staples stepped forward. “I’ll show you to their room if you’re ready.”

With haste, Selena and Jordan stepped forward followed by Phoebe and Quentin as they trailed behind the nurse into a dimly lit room where Jonas sat bedside, holding one bundle and Samiyah held the other.

Selena pulled her hands to her face and covered her mouth. With wide eyes, she cooed, “Oh my God,” as she moved closer to Samiyah with Phoebe by her side. Jordan slipped around to the other side with Quentin and slapped hands with his brother.

“Congratulations,” Jordan said, bending to gain a better look.

Jonas’ smile was so grand it made the muscles in his face pain.

“Thank you, brother. I couldn’t have asked for a bigger blessing.” Jonas glanced at Samiyah. “This woman is so thoroughly incredible, and I’m honored to call her my wife.”

Samiyah beamed, and a tear slipped down Selena’s face. Selena glanced over at Jordan to find him watching her closely. He winked, and Selena returned the gesture.

“Would you like to hold her?” Samiyah whispered, not wanting to be too loud since her newborns were sleeping.

“Can I?” Selena said in surprise.

Samiyah laughed. “Of course, just go over to the sink and wash your hands real quick, and she’s all yours.”

Thrilled, Selena jogged swiftly to the sink and turned on the faucet. It wasn’t long before she was joined by Jordan who stood so close a vibrating trail of chills covered her skin, making her dizzy. Wrapping his thick muscles around her, Jordan’s arms cruised down the length of her arms as his chest pressed into her back and he held his hands up under the downpour of water. Selena relaxed against him as Jordan washed his hands with hers, adding more soap to the mix of their fingers. Rubbing them together, Selena shuddered as the aphrodisiac of his cologne engulfed her. Without pause, Selena found herself leaning back even further into him, and Jordan’s solid frame welcomed the soft heat of her backside as her ample behind grazed across his pants.

Selena almost went into a trance. Being in Jordan’s arms felt so right it was ridiculous. He must have thought so too because for the longest they lingered there at the sink before Jordan turned the nozzle and reached for a paper towel. He dried her hands off first then his own before tossing the paper in the trash.

“After you,” his deep voice drummed.

Selena blushed and strolled unhurriedly back over to Samiyah.

“This is Zoey Alexandria Rose,” Samiyah said, handing baby Zoey over to Selena.

“Oh my God, she’s so adorable,” Selena sang, smiling down at the sleeping bundle.

“And this,” Jonas said, “Is Zander Alexander Rose.”

Jordan slipped baby Zander out of Jonas’ arms and cuddled him against his chest. “He has dad’s nose,” Jordan said. Without warning, baby Zander’s eyes fluttered open, and he blinked several times before staring up at Jordan.

“Hey, little man,” Jordan cooed. “I’m your uncle Jordan. Remember that name because I’m your favorite.”

Jonas and Quentin chuckled while Samiyah, Selena, and Phoebe snickered.

“Today is your official birthday. I want you to know, for a while you’ll get away with anything you want. You’ll be cuddled, spoiled, and protected at all times. But in no way does this mean this life you’ve entered is going to be easy. Sometimes things will be hard, but I want you to remember, whenever you need guidance, or help, you can get that from me.”

At Jonas’ raised brow, Jordan added, “Well, you can get it from your father, too, but if he makes you mad, you can come to me.”

They all chuckled again.

“I love you, little man. When you’re ready for law school, let me know. You’ll be my apprentice.”

Baby Zander yawned, and a tiny smile cornered his lips. The gesture caused Jordan to grin in return, and he bent to kiss baby Zander on his forehead. When Jordan pulled away, Zander had gone back to sleep.

“Congratulations again, you two,” Jordan whispered. “You’ve got everything two people should have in life. Love, family, and security. Cherish it. Most people don’t get a first chance, never mind a second.”

“Thank you,” Samiyah and Jonas chorused. “This will be you one day,” Jonas said.

Jordan smiled languidly. “I’m counting on it,” he said, looking over at Selena.