Chapter 32 ~ A heart’s mark!
Blake’s POV ~
It’s been a busy several months. I used Smokey Moon’s territory to build cabins and cottages for the influx of new people from River Run. The money from the sell of that territory has gone a long way. Thanks to Jolene’s planning, we now have a high school..and a library! Our town has built up so much. She’s encouraged everyone to open shops of their preferences. We have boutiques..salons..a tailor.. shoe store. A butcher and two grocers. A service station. We’ve grown so much, Dalton had to incorporate our town, so the humans recognized us as a legitimate town.
The gala is in two days. Jolene is due in two weeks, but because she’s carrying twins..the doctor says she can go any day. And of course, she’s anxious. Matthew has been growing like a weed. He looks like he’s five..but he delights in telling everyone he is only three.. the shock on their faces makes him giggle. We worry that Dalton seems to be his best friend, but Jolene tells me it’s fine, since their mentality is on the same level. I’m not entirely sure she’s joking…
Lynette just found out she’s pregnant again. With twins this time. Damien has been hiding out in our guest room for two days. I guess Lynette threatened to cut his dick off again. Ten kids! Ten fucking kids before he’s 30! Damn! I would consider cutting his dick off too. Maybe…
My beautiful Jolene is making a fuss.. and I am heading her way, praying silently ‘Please Dalton..don’t be stupid today.. please let it be anyone else..’ and as I walk into the ballroom… it is indeed Dalton! Fuckkkk! “I told you..a hundred times! The banner for the entryway was simply supposed to read ‘Welcome’ nothing more! Nothing more, Dalton! Definitely not ‘Say Goodbye to Your Freedom!’ That’s not funny! Why is that funny!? I hope your mate beats you with her shoe!” And Dalton, because he doesn’t have the ability to shut up while he’s ahead says “It’s a little funny!” I shake my head..knowing he is in for a world of hurt..and I’m not saving him.
She smiles..not a nice smile.. the one that makes the devil run “Dalton! You have two minutes to get that banner down and the right one in its place. Two minutes, or you will attend the gala with black eyes!” And as she walked past him, she dumped the bowl she was holding, all over his head. It looked like leftover cereal milk. She yelled “And clean that up!” As she left the room. I was laughing so hard.. especially when Matthew came in and said “at least you don’t have a sore bottom and a time out” My eyes widened and asked my three year old “What did you do?” He shrugged “I helped Mommy with flowers for the dance” and I’m thinking he was paddled for that?
Then Dalton laughed “Yeah..with a sharpie…on the walls” and pointed over where two housekeepers were scrubbing the wall.. while another was opening a gallon of paint. Shaking my head, I went to find my poor mate.
She was in the kitchen, checking the menu, and I asked if she was okay. She shrugged “ I never know.. if it’s Matthew that leads Dalton astray.. or vice versa. It’s a daily conundrum.. yesterday.. I had to separate them for two hours. Dalton kept poking Matthew.. every few minutes.. Matthew was yelling for me to make Dalton stop touching him. I yelled at Dalton..and made them sit beside each other in time out! Then I hear Dalton singing ‘I’m not touching you’ over and over.. and Matthew yelled ‘Mooommm make Dalton stop NOT touching me’ What the fuck, Blake? Just…just.. I mean.. what the actual fuck!?”
I’m biting my lip. I know if I laugh I’m wearing a bowl of something dumped on my head…but it’s funny, right? It’s a little funny!
I’m standing at the foot of the staircase, awaiting my mate..when I look up and see her step into the view. She is breathtaking.. wearing a shimmery blue gown that looks silver, as the light catches. Off the shoulder sleeves, the front is layered, with the final layer opening all the way down the middle. Exposing her beautiful baby bump..and I have never been as entranced by her as I am in this moment. Her face splits into an excited grin and I thank the Moon Goddess for allowing me to be in this woman’s life!
The King and Queen are announced first.. and Jolene arranged throne chairs on the dais for them to have their place lol of honor. And by the looks on their faces, they hadn’t expected it. But my love always tries to follow protocol. Tries. There are times she really doesn’t bother.. but apologizes for her lack of decorum. Which in itself is amusing.
We are being announced and once I have given my thanks for coming speech we open the dance floor. Dalton found his mate within minutes! A cute little girl named Katherine.. but please call her Kat. Jolene hugged her and apologized. Kat looked perplexed and Jolene just whispered “You’ll learn why I said I’m sorry” while Dalton whines “Lunaaaa!” and I laugh!
I take my beautiful mate out on the dance floor and it seems the gala is a huge success. Everyone was having the best time. We had counted at least ten pairs so far. Jolene gasps and whispers “My water broke. Blake..the babies are coming “ and I rushed her off the dance floor..alerting Lynette as we passed. We raced to the infirmary while the King stayed at the gala to keep things under control.
Lynette said “These babies aren’t wasting any time. Probably because she’s been on her feet nonstop the past two days..asking Jolene had she been having contractions. Jolene shook her head “No.. some cramping, but nothing excessive “ Matthew storms in and crawls up into the bed with his mother. I tried to lift him down, but he was adamant. He laid his hand on his mother’s stomach and was whispering.. Jolene caught her breath “I have to push! Now!” And within fifteen minutes both of our daughters were here! While Matthew was an exact replica of me.. our girls were complete duplicates of their mommy.
Lynette laughed and said “Matthew..you are a handy dandy little man to have around! I have never witnessed an easier birth! Especially twins!” She cleaned the babies.. bathed them, weighed and measured them. Then, I picked them up.. holding both close. My babies! My little girls. Both are exactly seven pounds and eighteen inches long.
We all sat quietly. Enjoying our little family. Jolene was feeding the girls and Matthew leaned over..kissing first one… he whispers “You are Arabella” and his lips glowed against her temple, just above her ear.. then he leaned over the second baby and whispers “You are Gabriella” kissing her..with his glowing lips. Jolene looked at me and grinned “The Goddess named our girls!”
I looked down at them and realized where Matthew’s little lips touched.. was a small heart..Arabella’s on her right temple..and Gabriella’s on her left. I laughed “They aren’t identical anymore..but only we will know it! Our clever little boy!”
There will be great things coming in our children’s future!