The Bridge - Chapter 16 - New Beginnings & Twins
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work is copy written by the author. All sexually active characters are eighteen years of age or older.
This work will, at times, contain instances of pregnancy, interracial sex, lesbianism, romance and affection. There is also threats of Non-consensual sex, violence, intrigue, some Dominance and submission, and a fair amount of heroism and family love and fun. And maybe even twins.
This chapter, given its contents is in the Romance category, because the basis for this chapter is precipitated by an instance of romantic love. This overall story has been in the NonConsent/Reluctance category, the Romance category, the Lesbian Sex and Interracial categories, where it could also have been posted, and will probably move around as it progresses. Which it will do if enough people like it.
I am on a bit of a hiatus while writing something that does not fall into the erotica arena. Chapter 17 will be coming, but not for a little while. Thanks for your indulgence.
The Bridge - Chapter 16 - New Beginnings & Twins
Early December 2054
Sunday was the start of my longest Christmas break ever. And my busiest. That is the longest while not pregnant. So, this year I can kick it out.
We would be spending our traditional Christmas break in downtown Philly, and some of its suburbs, seeing as much of the sights as we could fit in. Christmas eve falls on a Thursday, and the kids would have a half day. We would pack up the cars and when they got home, we would snack them up, jump in the cars and head to Center City.
New Years Eve would hit on the following Thursday. and we would return home to Romansville before the following weekend, to give the kids a chance to just crash for a minute before going back to school. Usually, Holly would plan every minute of every day, but Holly just wasn't there yet. She contributed, but not the way Holly usually does. She
was
getting there. She just wasn't running the show anymore. But, thank God, she was making herself a part of it more and more each day. For now, Lizzie and Bertha did most of the heavy lifting in that department.
As the days in December sped by, I found myself spending a lot of time on the phone and video chats with Linnie Lawrence, trying to get our new companies off the ground. She was getting ready to pop any day now, beside slowing her down, it made her have to think twice about everything, slowing down the whole process. But we persisted.
I don't think there's been a day since our Saturday soiree when one of our loyal troops didn't ask me how close we were to making '
it
' happen. Everyone we asked is coming with us. By the time everyone had left our little get together on Saturday, every single one of them told me personally that they will be joining the new company and how happy they would be working for a bad ass like me. That's the part I like best.
In my planning, I took into account that I was supposed to get my period a couple of days before the day we were supposed to send Peace to his maker. I figured that suited the occasion and would allow me to meet with him in my most vile of moods and most painful time for me. It tends to be when I am my most bitchy. It occurred to me that a week later than that, I still hadn't gotten it. I went scouting around and of all places found an unexpired test with the help of Bertha in the kitchen. Hmmm.
I went to my en suite and peed on the stick. Well, somehow, mama's on number four. I hope Duane takes this well. More importantly how will Holly take it? It's gonna be hard, but it's Duane's, and I most definitely plan on taking it to term, and being the mother of four. Only this one would be with me, uninterrupted for the rest of our lives. I immediately called my OB/Gyn and booked her for a house call on the Monday before we go down to the city. Mama wants to know if she can drink this holiday and she is coming to see Holly then, anyway. If not, I'm gonna be spending a lot of time with Linnie and Bertha in their maternal sobriety.
The first three weeks of December were just jam packed with stuff to do. It was looking like the combination of the little girl in Linnie's tummy and the holidays were going to screw up our timeline for the whole shebang to get started on the first of the year, but Linnie assured me, even if she was not right there when it happened, that by the end of January we will have caught up on all filings and paperwork to give the companies a January 1 start. Linnie was the first to know of my soon to be announced pregnancy. Not even Duane knew before she did. Sometimes, it's
gotta
be sisters before misters. I felt like she was the only one I could talk to about how I was feeling and how this pregnancy, even this early on, felt so much different than my other three.
A week before the doctor was due to visit, her lab tech came out and took my vital signs and some blood and urine and said that the doctor would discuss the results when she sees me next week. The day after the technician's visit I got a call from Dr. Rubin's office to both confirm our appointment and that, indeed, I was pregnant. That was when I would break the news to Duane.
I called him down at the Navy Yard, where he was working with Herman, and his administrative staff getting the place together, and on upcoming procedures and about new hands that were coming on board. Assisting was a young lawyer from The Lawrence firm, to handle documentation of policies and procedures, and an administrative operator from Rhee Spanner, to help Alec and Avi with vetting new potential employees and spotting the standouts; those who would be leaders or those who would be duds.
"Duane. I need you home for dinner tonight. We need to talk, and I've reserved dinner for us at seven at The Stottsville Inn tonight."
"I can do that. I'll be wrapping up with the admin staff around five and I'll shoot right home. Is there something you need to tell me now?"
"Oh no, it can wait."
"Then I'll see you then. And Hannah."
"Yes, Duane."
"I love you."
"Oh Duane, I can't even begin to express how much I love you. But I will try to tonight."
"Are you gonna leave a little time tonight for us to... ya know?"
"Oh yeah. I think that's definitely on the table."
"Okay, my love. See you tonight."
I worked my ass off until the kids came home and played with them and spent time with them until dinner time. Bertha and Lizzie took care of the kids for dinner as I was going out and wanted to get ready. A special kind of ready. Once I start blossoming, it's gonna be a long time before I'm looking sexy for my man, so I'm gonna give him what I've got while I've still got it. And I expect tonight, he's gonna be motivated to give it right back to me. Is this going to be a whole new direction for our relationship or is it just the next logical step?
Duane and I had had the talk about my desire to get a hysterectomy and shut down the baby factory for good. Three babies are enough for any woman. Well, so much for that. But I'm all tingly from the thought of sitting across from him and telling him the news. Our news.
I picked out my favorite; a sexy little black minidress, but it was just too tight on me. Already? I can't believe I've gained that much weight. I didn't think I was that far along. So, I decided to make it informal and put on my short mid length denim skirt and an emerald green sweater that matched my eyes, and had Mama stitched over my right breast in a hot red color. The stitching matched my nails.
Duane had given his notice to Guardian on the first of December, but made the arrangement to continue to run the crew that guarded us until the new company took over the first of the year. He also alerted the Guardian folks that several operators would be going with him and similar arrangements would be made for them. A week later Duane gave our troops the freedom to cut their ties with Guardian. Some would take vacation time between Christmas and the New Year and some would continue to work.
Herman would be running Royce Field Services while Duane did double duty of enjoying family time with us and working to protect us all at the same time. Not to mention the work he was still doing helping Herman to put the business on solid footing for new and existing clients. He did it and made it look easy. Before the end of the year, we had fifty-three committed applicants. More than enough to cover our current needs. But those needs would grow, and we'd need more operators.
---------------------
The honeymoon period between Duane and I must not be over, because we held hands the entire way to the restaurant. Duane questioned me the entire time, like a human pry bar he tried to extract my secret. But I held firm. When we were seated, I immediately ordered appetizers but not drinks. Duane ordered one of their many draft beers. When the server returned, she asked me if I was sure there was nothing I wanted to drink, I took the wine glass and turned it over. "Leave the wine glass there for right now. I'll have some sparkling water. Perrier if you have."
"We do. I'll get that for you right away, Miss Todd."
When she left Duane gave me a side eye and asked, "Not drinking? I thought we were celebrating?"
I just looked over at the upside-down wine glass. Then I looked back at him and gave him a big, broad smile. He looked at the glass and then at me. "No. It can't be...you?"
"Are pregnant, my man. And guess who's my baby daddy."
"Don't you mess with me, woman. It had better fucking be me. This is serious."
"As a human being you're going to spend the rest of your life responsible for. And we ain't gonna need a DNA sample for this one."
He jumped up out of his chair, scaring the poor server who was just returning with my sparkling water. He got down on his knees and wrapped his arms around me, and I don't think I could count the number of times he told me that he loved me. I don't think he let go of my hand the entire time we ate dinner. He just looked at me and looked at me. And smiled and smiled and smiled. "Duane. Give me a minute to cut my steak."
"Of course, my love." And he let me cut my steak up, which I did all at once and then grabbed his hand again. Hell, I
