Chapter 27
"Who was that?" Mort asked, walking into the kitchen.
"The police," Deja responded sullenly.
"What'd they want?"
Deja glared at Mort, letting him know what they police had come there for. "Stupid question, sorry," he said. "Did you hold it together okay?"
"Yeah, I managed. Just hope they don't come back," she said, a worried look upon her face.
"Well, just make sure you're pulled together at work tonight."
"Yes, dad," she said, laughing.
"Haha, very funny. So you made me breakfast?" A grin spread across his still sleep-filled face.
"Us...I made us breakfast," she corrected.
They both sat down and began to enjoy the butter pecan pancakes, bacon, and eggs Deja had prepared. "I'm gonna have to let you make breakfast more often," Mort joked. Deja was just glad they seemed to be getting on as though everything were normal.
Deja had gone to work for the next three weeks and always had her best face on. The police had visited her on at least two more occasions and her story was always the same. She got the feeling that Officer Johnson was trying to trip her up, but Deja held her own. There was a statewide search for Todd now, but no one had come any closer to finding his body.
Lilly didn't want to believe anything bad had happened to him, but she was beginning to lose faith. She began staying after work and drinking herself into a stupor. On more than one occasion, Deja had driven her home and spent the night because she didn't want Lilly drunk and alone with her kids. Deja felt responsible for all of this anyway, so it was the least she could do.
Lilly had three kids. Joshua, 14; Elijah, 11; and Cassidy, 6. They're dad was a deadbeat and hadn't come to see them in about 3 years. Todd and Lilly were really all they had. Deja was determined to get Lilly off the booze. Her being drunk was not going to bring Todd back. Deja almost hoped the police would find Todd in the river so Lilly could begin the healing process.
The one positive thing to come out of the entire situation was Deja getting to know Lilly's kids. About to be a mother herself, she felt the connection. She made sure on those nights when Lilly wasn't stable, to see that the kids were in bed and had their things ready for school the next morning.
Joshua had even confided in Deja that he was worried about his mother and his uncle. Deja told him that until further notice she was putting him in charge of his siblings. He was now the man of the house and would need to help his mother out the best he could.
Deja would make sure all the kids, and Lilly, were fast asleep before she would leave to head home. Some nights that would turn out to be 5 am. Mort began to miss having her home every night, but he knew this was something she had to do for herself.
It was a rainy Friday afternoon, and Deja was freezing cold. She was wearing a blue paper robe and was lying down on the doctor's bench. Her feet were dangling over the edge as she waited for the doctor to enter the room. Mort sat in a small chair to the right of her. He looked just as nervous as her.
This was their second trip to see Dr. Phillips, but this time it was a little different. Their initial visit was just routine. Today, they would be getting an ultrasound that could possibly tell them the baby's sex and how far along she was.
Deja was about to turn and say something to Mort, when Dr. Phillips entered the room. He was a small, bald, pale man, but very kind and comforting. Deja liked him immediately on their first visit. He greeted them both and instructed Deja to open her gown so he could spread on the gel for the ultrasound. She let out a high pitched shriek as he began to massage the gel into her skin. He picked up the medical device and began to swirl it on the gel.
Mort stood up next to Deja so he could get a better look at the monitor. Dr. Phillips began explaining what was on the screen, but neither Mort nor Deja had a clue as to what they were supposed to be seeing.
Suddenly, the doctor ceased his talking and began to stare intently at the screen. The way he was focusing was making Deja grow with worry. "What's wrong?" she asked.
"Hold on...just a minute," he murmured. "I want to be sure of what I'm seeing..."
Deja looked at Mort, his face full of concern. She wanted nothing more than a healthy baby for her and Mort. She hoped the doctor wasn't about to give them some bad news.
A smile crossed Dr. Phillips' face as he announced that she was having twins. Deja's eyes nearly popped out of her head and Mort had to take his seat to keep from passing out. Not only was she healthy, but she was having twins. Deja couldn't believe it. She was going to bring not one, but two children into this world for Mort.
"Are...are you...are you sure doctor?" Mort managed to ask.
"Yes," a wide smile on his face, "you and Deja will be having a set of twins!"
"Wow," was all he could manage to say.
"I know this must be a lot for you to take in right now. I'll step out of the room for a moment to let you two discuss this in private."
"Thank you," Deja said as he shut the door behind him.
"Mort, this is wonderful!" Deja was anxious bout being a first time mother, and to twins no less, but she couldn't think of more wonderful news.
Mort sat in the chair, staring blankly at the wall. "Mort, do you hear me?" she said, raising her voice. She snapped him out of his thoughts and he got up from his chair and planted a huge kiss on her lips. "Good, I was worried about you for a minute there," she smiled back.
"I can't believe I'm going to have two kids," he said, running his hands through his hair.
"Yes, you are, dad."
Dr. Phillips entered the room again, and began to point out the different body parts of the babies. He told Deja she was about two and a half months pregnant, which was longer than her and Mort had thought. He was also able to tell them the sex of the babies if they wanted to know. Mort and Deja looked at each other and decided to go ahead and find out. Finding out they were having twins was enough of a surprise they figured.
Dr. Phillips began to study the screen intently. "Well, I have another surprise for you," he started, "you're having a boy...and a girl."
Deja and Mort began to laugh. She couldn't believe they were both getting what they wanted. She'd always dreamt of having a little girl to dress up and play barbies with. And Mort wanted a son to chase around the house and play sports with, even though he wasn't too big on sports himself.
"How happy is your mom gonna be, huh?" Mort asked her later that evening.
"Oh, she'll be thrilled," Deja said happily. "I just hope she's not mad that I haven't told her yet."
"I'm sure she'll understand that you've been too busy making love to me everynight," he said, a confident smirk on his face.
Deja rolled her eyes at him and walked into the living room. She made a quick call to her mother, telling her the news and rejoined Mort in the kitchen.
"Well, what's the verdict?" he asked.
"She told me to tell you congratulations and give you this." She then leaned down and gave Mort a seductive kiss.
Raising his eyebrows, he said, "Maybe I got together with the wrong family member."
Deja playfully slapped him and said, "She told me to give you a kiss on the cheek, but I prefer kisses on the lips." She winked at him.
"So what are we getting into tonight?" Mort asked.
"I don't know about you, Mr. Rainey, but I'm tired and need my rest," she patted her stomach.
"It's only 8 pm."
"I know, but mommy needs all the rest she can get."
"I guess, I'll work on my novel then," Mort said, disappointed.
Standing in front the bedroom door, Mort kissed Deja goodnight. She closed the door behind her and Mort sat down at his computer.
His story was coming together nicely and he had the perfect ending all picked out. He felt like this added boost of energy was coming from Deja's presence in the house. His mind began to drift of thoughts of the family that he would have in the coming months.
Deja sat on the porch reading one of Mort's newest novels. She loved rereading everything her wrote. Just then, a small boy, about five years old ran onto the porch startling her. "Anthony, what are you doing all wet?" Deja asked.
"It wasn't my fault mom! Madison pushed me into the water," he answered shyly.
"Where is your father?" Deja said, taking the little boy's hand and walking towards the lake.
She saw Mort holding the little girl in his arms. She was crying and Mort was consoling her.
"What happened?" Deja asked.
"Nothing serious," he began, "Madison was playing by the shore and Anthony and I were playing toss with the ball," he pointed to the ball lying on the ground. "Maddy wanted to take Anthony's place and he wouldn't let her. She started chasing him and Maddy pushed him into the water."
Deja shook her head, laughing at the sight of her wet child. "All right you two, let's head in, it's bath time anyway."
The four of them made their way inside and Deja ran their bath water and poured in the bubble bath. After putting both of the kids in the tub and giving them some toys to play with she sat on the toilet lid and watched them play.
After a good 45 minutes passed, the kids were clean, dressed in their pajamas and tucked away in the bedroom. Mort had done some remodeling to the house and turned the extra room downstairs into the kids room. After saying their goodnights, Deja and Mort walked into the living room and sat on the couch.
Deja laid her head against Mort's shoulder and wrapped her arm around his waist. Mort could never recall feeling this complete. His family made him truly happy. He was basking in this moment.
Out of nowhere a loud knock on the front door interrupted his daydream. He hesitated to answer it, but didn't want the knocking to wake Deja. He opened the door and shock overcame his face by what he saw.
