Ivy's Twisted Vine Redux by Latrivia Nelson (books to read for beginners .TXT) 📕

of his thoughts that they were not. He felt it in the pit of his stomach every time they kicked in Ivy’s stomach.

Grey left them in silence and undisturbed. Going back to Ivy’s side, he wiped his face. He deserved this. For all the times he had cheated and lied, he deserved to be stripped of his dream. It was his fault. He was the liar. He was the con artist not Ivy. But thank God that he still had her.

“It’s okay,” he finally said trying to smile at Ivy who looked at him worried. “We’re still going to be a family.”

***

Nicola looked at Emerald who sat across from him whispering to Trina and finally stood up to leave. Why was he here? It was evident that Grey was the father. Grabbing his jacket, he smiled at Madison. He didn’t need to say anything, he was sure. When he was angry or unsure of himself it always showed, and he was sure everyone in that emergency room could see it now. Disappointment.

“I’m going to go on and head out of here,” Nicola said waiving uncomfortably.

Sade looked up quickly. “Wait!” She felt all eyes on her. “You can’t go yet.”

“Why” Nicola said dropping his jacket.

“Well, Ivy wanted to see you too,” she looked at Madison who she had quietly told while the others weren’t looking.

“Why?” He needed to hear Sadie say it. “What’s going on?” He looked at Madison.

“Son, you’re the father,” Madison said smiling. He could see the excitement in Nicola’s face.

“I am?” Nicola sat down feeling as though he was going to faint. “How do you know?”

“It’s obvious.” Sadie said going to him. “Does anyone in your family have blue eyes?”

“Yeah, my mom.” Nicola said looking up at her still stupefied.

“Well one of the children has blue eyes and the other has green eyes. Madison’s side of the family carries that gene.” She sighed. “We won’t know for sure until you both give blood, but those children look like you, Nicola.” She smiled at Emerald who held Trina’ tightly. “Ivy’s decided to let you help her name them.”

“Really,” he said arching both of his dark brown eyes in disbelief. He put his hand over his mouth and shook his head.

Trina stood up and went over to Nicola, seeing that he needed a more familiar face. Touching his shoulder, she kneeled in front of him. He hugged her tightly like she was all that he had in this world. They both had gone through so much. They were the beginning of this all. She patted his back.

“I wish that Brooks was here,” he said fighting tears.

“He is,” Trina said shaking her head and crying. “He is.”

Just then, Grey entered back into the waiting room visibly distraught. He looked over at Nicola hugging Trina and cleared his voice. Grey figured that Sadie had already told Nicola, but he wanted to confirm the news for himself.

“Congratulations,” Grey said grabbing his coat.

“Thanks,” Nicola said feeling no need to fight with Grey any longer.

But Grey felt utter disgust. He did not stop to bid Ivy’s parents a good night. He did not go on with his normal pleasantries. He gracefully bowed out of the waiting room with no explanation of where he was going and no concern for leaving Ivy’s side.

“Where is he going,” Sadie asked Madison as Grey walked out.

“The boy needs to get some air,” Madison said rubbing Sadie’s back. “Let him walk it off.”

***

Ivy sat in the bed patiently awaiting Nicola’s entrance. She somehow could feel him near her the entire time that she was having her sons. Amazingly, before she ever looked at her children she knew to whom they belonged. Too tired to fix her hair or even smile after her exhausting confrontation with Grey, she gazed at the door as it openly slowly. Hesitantly. Then Nicola’s face appeared with a nervous smile, blush red and curious. His chestnut eyes swept the room; he spotted them on the far side of the room with nurses who had returned with small bottles of milk.

“Hey, lady,” he said smiling. “I heard that I’m a daddy.”

“Hi, yes you are,” she said weary. “Who didn’t keep their trap closed?” She tried to sit up.

Nicola quickly moved to her, adjusting the pillows behind her back. “Be careful,” he said tending to her. “Your mom told me.” He looked into her eyes. “Are you okay?” He kissed her forehead.

“I’m fine,” she said glad that it was all over. “I have stitches, but nothing that won’t heal in time.” She moved uncomfortably shifting slowly trying not to awake the pain.

He frowned. “Stitches?” He’d rather not know. He made his way over to the babies.

The nurses looked at each other in amazement. Dismissing themselves again, they wondered would any other possible fathers be in to see the new additions. Giving Nicola the babies’ milk bottles, they closed the doors and smirked.

“Oh my God,” Nicola exclaimed standing over them. “They look just like me!” He reached out to pick up one of the children. The baby with the blue eyes stared at him. “Can I pick them up?” he asked remembering himself.

“Do you know how to hold a baby?” Ivy asked alarmed.

“Yes,” Nicola said picking up the green-eyed twin and holding him close in his arms. “Hey, little fella,” he said cooing at the baby. “Hey, I’m your daddy and yours…” he said looking at the other baby that lay quiet awaiting his father’s embrace.

“What are you thinking right now?” Ivy asked watching him melt.

“I’m thinking that I have a reason to live,” he said in nearly a whisper. He put one baby down and picked up the other. “I want to hold them all day.” His tears fell on the baby’s skin. Ivy smiled as he watched him. She had never seen him like this before. Glowing. Radiant. Proud. He rocked the baby carefully, who snuggled comfortably in his large, muscular nest of arms.

“I’m thinking the same,” Ivy said