When her contractions came fast and furious, I won’t lie, she scared the fuck out of me. Besides Gigi, Suzy was my everything.

She was the reason I woke up in the morning. The reason I didn’t go to jail for beating the fuck out of some pissant jagoff every day.

I’d be nothing without her. Without her, I didn’t work.

“Everything is fine, Mrs. Gallo,” The obstetrician reassured us with half her arm up my wife. “You’ve just dilated quickly. The babies are about ready to come out.”

Suzy’s mouth was hanging open, so I figured I’d ask what she was thinking. “Already?”

“Sometimes labor is quicker the second time around.” She smiled, patting Suzy’s leg after withdrawing her arm and snapping off the biggest pair of latex gloves I’d ever seen.

I watched in complete horror and tried not to gag. “Isn’t it too early for her to give birth, Doc? She’s not full term yet.” I stroked Suzy’s hair, trying to keep my cool.

“It’s perfectly normal with multiples, plus the babies are developed enough at this point to be healthy. Don’t worry, Mr. Gallo. I know what I’m doing.” She winked, laughing as she tossed the gloves in the trash. “I’ll be back in a few minutes and we can start pushing.”

When she walked out of the room, Suzy glared at me. “What’s this we shit? I’m the one with two aliens inside of me, trying to claw their way out of my body. I’m the only one pushing them out of my tiny vagina. Not you. Not her. Me!” She waved her hands frantically in the air. “I’m the one doing everything while you sit there calm, sexy, and without your body splitting in two. I’m going to be the one tearing wide open as I push two humans and their giant Gallo heads out of my body.” She collapsed, gasping for air, and closed her eyes.

I bit my lip. Pregnant Suzy was unpredictable, but in-labor Suzy was just downright scary. “I know, sugar. You’re doing all the hard work. I’m just here to cheer you on and support you.”

Her nostrils flared and her eyes grew wide when she glanced up. “Support me? If you want to support me, you’ll never knock me up again. You want to cheer me on?” She rolled her eyes and made a noise low in her throat. “Stop fucking talking.”

I braced myself, waiting for her head to do a 360. I brought my mouth right next to her ear. “My sweet little wife, you beg for my cock every day. It takes two to tango, sweetheart. I didn’t put you in that bed.” I lowered my voice further, whispering, “Your sweet little cunt did.”

She closed her eyes again and moaned. “You’re just too damn good. I can’t keep my hands to myself. It’s still your fault, my dear husband.”

I couldn’t hold it in any longer. I burst into laughter. “Now, I fuck you too good?”

“Yes!” she screeched, pounding her fist on the crappy, plastic hospital bed. “If you weren’t so good at it, I wouldn’t be lying here right now.”

Just as I was about to reply, the nurse walked in. “I hear someone is ready to push.” Her voice was so chipper, kind of like my wife’s used to sound like before pregnancy. “Are we excited?” she asked, moving a tray of instruments next to the foot of the bed.

“I just want this over. I’m so freaking uncomfortable.”

“That makes two of us,” I muttered and nodded at the nurse with a fake smile on my face before leaning over and kissing Suzy’s forehead. “Ready, sugar?”

She didn’t reply. The look she gave me was one I’d seen before. She was cursing me inside, but she was keeping it to herself since we were in mixed company.

“We’re as ready as we’ll ever be, ma’am,” I said.

The nurse blushed, turning the brightest pink I’d ever seen while she pulled the stirrups out for Suzy. “Ma’am, we’re just about ready. Let me go get the doctor and we can get started.”

“See? Even the sixty-year-old nurse wants you,” Suzy said after the nurse walked out.

Pulling her hand to my mouth, I kissed it gently. “Sugar, the only woman I ever want is lying in this bed. Now, instead of giving me attitude, why don’t you get a little excited about our babies? Yeah?”

I knew as soon as the words left my mouth that it was the wrong thing to say. I had been through this before. Seen what happened when a woman gave birth. It was the most frightening, godforsaken thing I’d ever experienced. If men gave birth, humans would’ve been extinct a long time ago. There was no way in hell I’d let that happen to my body. There’s no sex in the world worth being split in two. I knew I was being a tad dramatic, but I saw that shit.

“Are you fucking serious right now? Get excited? Fuck you, Joey Gallo,” she snarled, and I swore her face morphed into something straight out of a horror movie.

“Did you figure out a name, baby?” I changed the subject quickly.

She placed her hands on her belly, like I’d seen her do a thousand times and stroked it with her thumbs. “I don’t care if we call them A and B. I just want them out!”

I pulled her hand from her stomach, rubbing the tender flesh between my fingers. “I think we should name them Luna and Rose.”

She rolled her eyes, turning toward the window and away from me. “Whatever is fine.”

“Suzy.” I squeezed her hand gently. “Look at me.” She turned toward me, slowly dragging her eyes to mine as I waited. “I don’t know what’s happening here, but you need to remember a few things, love.”

“What?” Her voice was laced with attitude.

“First of all, I love you more than life itself.” I leaned forward and kissed her cheek. “Second, you’re still as beautiful as the day I met you. Remember that day, sugar?”

The corners of her mouth turned up, and I could almost see her replaying the moment in her head when I found her on the side of the road. “Yeah.” She blinked slowly before sighing.

“When I look at you, I’ll always see that scared, beautiful creature in my headlights as I blew by. I knew the moment I saw you that I had to have you. Never forget that you’re mine and always will be. I don’t care about anything but that.”

“But, Joe—”

I put my finger against her lips. “No buts.”

She glanced down and swallowed before bringing her eyes back to mine. “I love you. I’m sorry.” She sighed. “Will you forgive me?”

I kissed her roughly on the mouth. “There’s nothing to forgive, li’l mama.”

She grinned, her eyes sparkling at the mention of the nickname before her face changed and her eyes widened. “Oh, God! I have to push.”

“Here we are.” The doctor looked calm, dressed in full battle gear when she entered. “Are we ready?”

I didn’t give Suzy any time to snap back. “Yes.”

She sat at the end of the bed and grabbed a new pair of gloves. “How are you feeling, Mrs. Gallo?”

My stomach instantly turned at the memory of Gigi’s birth, and I had to do it twice this time.

“I’m good and ready.” Suzy placed her feet in the stirrups, peering up at me with scared eyes as I helped her shimmy down the bed to get into position.

I smiled and smoothed away the tiny wisps of hair that had settled near her eyes. “You got this,” I said, but I wasn’t sure if I did.

---

Two hours later, lots of screaming, tons of blood, and a whole lot of tears had been shed. But I now had three beautiful daughters, along with an amazing wife.

I snuggled Rosie close, kissing the top of her head. “Hey, sweet girl.” I peered into her dark eyes, still glazed over from the trauma of birth. She let out a tiny noise and squirmed in my arms, and I gripped her tighter. “I’ve waited so long to meet you, Ro. Now that you’re here, I’m never going to let you go.” I rested my lips against her tiny little cheek, feeling the softness of the newborn skin as the enormity of the moment finally crashed over me. Turning my body to face Suzy, I watched as she held Luna in her arms, whispering sweet nothings in her ear much the same way I was with Ro.

The only one missing from the room was Gigi. She had been so excited to become a big sister. She’d squealed with delight when we talked about all the things she could teach them. And she was thrilled she’d finally have some play friends, even though it would take a couple of years.

I settled next to Suzy, resting my arm with Ro on the bed, and smiled as I looked at my family. Suzy had gone through delivery like a trooper. A batshit crazy one, but still, she did it. “Hey,” I whispered.

“Hey,” she whispered back with a smile.

“It’s all done. Now comes the hard part.”

“Says the man with his nether regions still intact.” She scoffed.

I chuckled, trying not to jostle the baby. “This is the last moment of silence we’ll probably have for a very long time.”

“I know.” She frowned, pushing the edge of the blanket away from Lu’s face. “I don’t know if I’m ready, Joe.” Her face was riddled with fear and apprehension.

“I’ll be there every step of the way, sugar. My mom will stay over as long as you need her too. You’re not alone in this.”

“We need to talk,” she said, and my stomach plummeted.

“Hey,” Ma said when she popped her head in the door, drawing our attention away from each other.

“Come in.” Suzy motioned to my mother and pretended like she hadn’t just said the words that instantly make every sane person’s stomach drop.

We need to talk.

“Oh my God, they’re so tiny,” Ma said, approaching the bed with Pops right behind her. “Look, Sal, more girls to spoil.”

“Hi, Suzydoll. How are you, love?” Pop asked, leaning over the bed and kissing her gently on the head.

“I’ve been better.” Suzy gave him a sweet smile. “Want to hold Lu? Wait. Is this Ro? I’m so confused.”

Ma elbowed him when he started to reach for the baby. “Not before me. Don’t worry, Suzy, twins can be challenging but you’ll be fine.”

“Mar, there are two babies,” Pop reminded her, rubbing the spot she just bruised.

“Here, Pop, hold Rosie for me. My arms are getting tired.” I lied, but I knew my parents were just as excited as we were for the new arrivals. We’d have them all to ourselves soon enough.

“Where’s Gigi?” Suzy settled back into the bed after Ma took Lu from her arms.

“She’s out with Izzy. They’re playing ‘I Spy’ to keep her mind occupied until she can come in.”

I grabbed my wife’s hand and gave it a quick squeeze. “I better go out and let her know Suzy is okay. Want me to bring her back with me, sugar?”

“Yeah. I need to see her.” She smiled halfheartedly. I knew there was so much left unsaid, but I had no idea what she wanted to share. Either way, I had a sinking feeling when I walked out of the hospital room.

I watched for a few moments from around the corner as Gigi jumped up and down and Izzy laughed. They were spitting images of each other. She may have been mine, but she was a mini Izzy in the making and it scared the crap out of me.

“Daddy,” she said, catching my eye before running toward me and jumping into my arms.

Wrapping my arms around her, I gave her the biggest hug and twirled around in a circle. “Hey, baby girl. Are you having fun with Aunt Izzy?”

Gigi placed her tiny hands on my cheeks, and with the straightest face, said, “She cheats, Daddy.”

I laughed, glancing over at Izzy. “She’s always been that way, Gig. She has to win at everything.”

“It’s not fair. I’m widdle. She should let me win.” Her tiny, wet lips connected with mine when she snaked her arms around my neck. “Tell her, Daddy,” she whispered and pointed at Izzy, who was now talking to Mike and ignoring us.

“That’s not how it works, baby. People just can’t let you win.” I held back my laughter at the innocent look she gave me, pleading for my help.

“But Mommy lets you win.”

My eyebrows rose. “She does?”

She climbed to my side like a little monkey and adjusted her body to curl into her favorite spot in the crook of my arm. “I heard her. She says ‘I give in. It’s yours. Take it.’ and usually makes weird noises, but she always lets you win.”

Embarrassment flooded me. “Oh, baby. Mommy is a very sweet woman. Your aunt Izzy isn’t so giving.”

“I know.” She pouted, running her fingers through the back of my hair. “Like when you’re playing a game and you tell Mommy, ‘I own you.’ Mommy knows that she can’t win with you, so she just gives it to you.”

Oh my God. Clearly Gigi had been hearing us at night. I thought the walls were thicker. The only thing I’m thankful for is that she thinks we’re playing games, and innocent ones at that.

“Mommy and I are different, sweetie. Want to see your baby sisters?” I changed the subject because, right now, I couldn’t even begin to process the possible harm our evenings would cause to my daughter in the future.

She bounced in my arms with the biggest smile. “Yes! Is Mommy okay?”

I rested my lips against her temple as I headed back toward Suzy’s room. I inhaled the familiar scent I’d grown to love, the strawberry shampoo Suzy also used on herself. “She’s perfect, Gigi. Now you can’t talk real loud or you’ll scare your sisters.”

She placed her finger against her lips. “I’ll be really, really quiet, Daddy. Promise.”

As soon as I opened the door, Gigi wiggled from my arms and ran toward Suzy, yelling, “Mommy! Mommy!”

That was my Gigi. Nothing would ever be the same again. Quiet time was over and chaos was about to begin.