Chapter 19
Nalani was a ball of nerves as she sat in the kitchen with a cup of coffee in hand, the twins still sleeping. She couldn't stop her knee from bouncing, already dressed for the day and she didn't have to work. This was her one day to sleep in and instead she was up, feeling sick to her stomach while inhaling caffeine. She hadn't gotten much sleep ever since Mark found her again, having refused to leave Dallas until he found out if the twins were his.
Right after Nalani reluctantly agreed to the paternity test, Mark immediately drove her and the twins to Dallas Memorial to get the procedure done. Thankfully, all they did was a cotton swap of the mouth because she honestly didn't want her children poked and prodded with needles. Hell it killed her every time they had to get shots, but Nalani knew it was for their own good, wanting them to stay healthy.
Feeling guilty for leaving Mark high and dry like she did, Nalani offered Mark to stay with them until they found out the test results. She absolutely refused to let him sleep in her bedroom though and Mark agreed, knowing it wouldn't be wise to start anything sexual with someone who broke his heart. Nalani cleaned out her last spare bedroom of the house, which was cluttered with her and the twins' things they didn't have a use for, making Mark put most of it in the attic.
He didn't mind helping out and Nalani was thankful, especially having the twins begging her to pay attention to them or answer their questions. They were growing up too fast and Nalani felt sad, knowing in just a few short years they would be able to tie their own shoes and talk clearly without lisping or stuttering. It hurt her even more because if Mark was the father of Matthew and Megan, he'd missed three years of their life that would never be reclaimed.
While Mark stayed with them, the twins slowly warmed up to him and Nalani didn't like it. If he wasn't the father, she knew Mark was going to leave and never come back again. Nalani knew the truth about her being raped instead of cheating on him could never be revealed because Scott would return if he came back into her life fully. Hell, if Mark was the father he wasn't going anywhere anyway and Nalani wracked her brain night after night, trying to figure out how to push him away again.
Just like she was doing now.
The cheating didn't exactly come across the way she wanted because Mark didn't believe her. Nalani did her best to try convincing him of it, but Mark was steadfast and stubborn, not able to fathom her screwing another man in their bed. Why was that so hard to believe? Nalani wasn't exactly a saint by any means and wondered when Mark put her on such a high pedestal.
Hell it was her fault her father and baby sister were brutally murdered and raped by her ex-boyfriend, the same man who raped and warned her that if she didn't leave Mark, he was going to come back to kill both of them. The revelation from Scott made that guilt burn away at her and Nalani knew sooner or later she would crack because of it, staying strong only because of her babies. If Scott was the father of the twins, it wouldn't make a difference because Nalani loved Matthew and Megan more than her own life.
They were her life.
"Mornin'."
Nalani jolted out of her thoughts when she heard that deep sleep gruff voice behind her, fighting back a shiver. "Morning." She quietly greeted, sipping her coffee, hearing his shuffling from behind followed by pouring the pouring of his own coffee.
Mark couldn't function regularly without at least one cup of java and Nalani knew that better than anyone, having had his coffee ready for him on a daily basis when they were together. Nalani would also have breakfast ready for him, even if it was just a simple bagel with cream cheese, which Mark did like on occasion. Mostly though, it was a BLT or a quick omelet and he always made sure to eat before leaving the house for work. He needed the strength and not to mention Nalani was a hell of a cook, her omelets like a little slice of heaven in his mouth.
"What're you doin' up so early?" Mark asked in a heavy drawl, taking a long sip of his straight black coffee. "Can't sleep?"
"I'm always up this early." She defended, standing up from the table to start making breakfast since the twins would be up soon. "You could've slept in longer."
"Couldn't sleep."
"Right."
Nalani busied herself around the kitchen, being as quiet as possible because the twins needed their rest. They always got up at the same time like clockwork, though lately Mark had been keeping them up later than normal to spend time with them. She wondered if he would ever go back to Houston, sighing inwardly at the thought of Mark sticking around Dallas. Knowing the twins would want pancakes, Nalani pulled some eggs out of the fridge along with bacon, hash browns, sausage links and the rest of the ingredients she would need to make breakfast.
Part of her hoped the paternity results said that Scott was the father just so Mark would believe her cheating story and leave her alone. The other part wanted Mark to be the father because it would shatter what was left of her heart if her rapist ended up being the one who gave her two beautiful angels instead of the man she secretly loved. This was going to be hard to deal with either way and Nalani wasn't sure if she was ready for it, knowing in just a few short hours they would all go to Dallas Memorial and find out the results.
Glancing over at her, Mark smirked as he turned around fully to watch her bustle around the kitchen, the smell of cooking making his stomach rumble. He couldn't help walking over while she hovered over the stove, starting the honey flavored sausage and bacon while making scrambled eggs. This reminded him of when Nalani used to make breakfast for him and some things never changed. She still cooked the same way, which Mark loved and she hummed softly under her breath while she did it.
This woman was truly going to be the death of him, especially wearing skinny blue jeans that hugged her beautiful legs and ass perfectly. She had on a blue jersey shirt that was sleeveless and had a black buckle around the middle for style, the shirt showing off her curvy figure. If anything having kids made her even more beautiful and her curves more profound, not to mention her breasts were much bigger than the last time he saw them.
Mark fought the urge to just reach out and grab a handful of her ass, begging to feel it through the thin material of those skinny jeans. Her honey blonde locks were currently pulled up in a messy bun on top of her head, a few tendrils framing her makeup free face. Nalani had no idea how much Mark missed her and he planned on doing everything in his power to get her back, refusing to believe she was capable of cheating on him.
"Need some help?" Mark asked, his mouth right by her ear, and smirked when she dropped the spatula she'd been holding to move the eggs around.
Nalani had to learn how to breathe, forgetting briefly how quiet Mark could be, his hot breath on her ear sending shivers down her back. "No I'm fine." She stated, trying to sound harsh, but it came out in a soft voice. Nalani walked away from him to go to the fridge, pulling the milk out and turned around, only to run right into Mark's bare chest. "Damn it!"
Mark blinked, not expecting her to turn around so quickly, and instinctively grabbed her arms to steady herself. The milk thankfully hadn't fallen to the floor, probably because Nalani held onto it like a lifeline. Emerald green locked on guarded blue, Nalani quickly stepping away to walk around him, breaking the contact on her arms. She didn't want Mark touching her because every time he did she couldn't think clearly, though he didn't know that.
"Why don't you go in the living room and watch TV?" She suggested somewhat irritably, cracking open the milk to pour into the pancake mix. "I'll let you know when breakfast is ready."
"Sure…" Mark couldn't help smirking at her reaction and simply leaned against the counter, arms folded in front of his chest. "But I'd rather watch you, darlin'."
"Stop it." Nalani whispered, stirring the mix with the beater faster than normal, shaking her head. "I told you there's nothing left between us."
Mark snorted, rolling his eyes. "And I told you I don't believe that." He retorted swiftly, losing count at how many times they had this discussion over the past month.
The hospital was taking their sweet time getting the paternity results back and Mark honestly didn't mind because he knew slowly but surely he was breaking Nalani's walls down. It was almost as if fate was giving him this time to try winning her back, to warm her up and Mark knew he was doing it. Just the little reactions he got from her gave him enough not to give up, to keep pushing. Eventually she would explode and hopefully spill the truth to him, which is why Mark kept pressing, refusing to back off.
"I don't understand why that is so hard for you to believe and understand."
Nalani was growing frustrated and finally stopped stirring the pancake batter, pouring it on her special platter she made them with. It was a straight long griddle that made the pancakes perfect, small enough for the twins to consume. She then grabbed the spatula, keeping her back to her ex-boyfriend, knowing the twins would be getting up any minute because the smell of their mother's cooking. Nalani actually cracked a small smile, knowing how much her kids loved her cooking and that made her feel like an accomplished mother.
"It's a load of bullshit and ya know it, Nalani." Mark stated, standing right behind her again, his hands resting on her hips very gently. It felt like his hands were scorching her sides through the thin material of her clothing, but Nalani refused to give in. "You know you still love me and you didn't leave me because you fucked someone else. I woulda known it darlin'…"
"Stop calling me that." Nalani growled, pulling away from him and shook her head, finally turning to face him as tears began building in her eyes. "Do you think this is easy for me, Mark? Do you think this is easy admitting something like this to you? I…" Her words died off when a small footsteps padded down the hallway, immediately stopping the argument. "We'll discuss this later."
Mark knew better than to argue with Nalani in front of the twins and nodded stiffly, smiling as soon as they walked in the kitchen. "Mornin' guys." He greeted, Megan instantly walking over to him in her Little Mermaid nightgown, rubbing her eyes tiredly while Matthew just got up in the booster seat by himself.
"Morning daddy." Megan sweet voice whispered, yawning loudly as the big guy who'd been staying with them for the past month lifted her up in his arms, leaning her head on his shoulder.
Mark's heart melted when the little girl called him that and heard the spatula clatter to the kitchen floor, Nalani having whipped around to stare at them with wide blue eyes. "Mark, can I speak to you in the other room for a minute?" She asked in a kind tone, but it didn't reach those ice cold eyes, stalking into the living room after flipping the pancakes with a new spatula.
Sighing, Mark set Megan in her booster seat and kissed her forehead, following Nalani into her bedroom as requested. "I know what yer gonna say…" He began and was instantly cut off by a pissed off Nalani.
"HAVE YOU LOST YOUR DAMN MIND?!" She exploded, shoving him as hard as she could, having shut the door so the twins didn't hear her. "MY KIDS DON'T NEED TO BE CALLING YOU DADDY YET, YOU IMBECILE!"
"Why not?" Mark demanded, already knowing in his heart those were his children, especially Matthew because of the boy's appetite and little quirks he did. "Those kids are mine…"
"NO THEY'RE NOT!" Nalani shouted, her entire face going red and threw the spatula down on the bed, blinking as tears streamed down her face. "YOU DON'T KNOW THAT AND UNTIL YOU DO, YOU NEED TO KEEP YOUR GODDAMN MOUTH SHUT AROUND THEM ABOUT BEING THEIR FATHER!"
In her heart, Nalani truly believed he wasn't the father, even though she honestly didn't have a clue. The doctor said the conception date was the same day she both slept with Mark around three o'clock in the morning before he left and was raped later that night by Scott. When Nalani found out, she was stunned because that meant she literally couldn't pinpoint who the father was, having silently prayed and hoped it was Mark for the past three years, but deep down, she had a sinking feeling they were Scott's.
As heartbreaking as it was, Nalani hoped they were Scott's because that meant Mark would be out of her life and safe from harm forever. If those kids ended up being his, Nalani knew he wasn't going anywhere anytime soon and she would probably either have to accept it or run again. The man was stubborn to a fault and she both hated and loved him for it, wanting more than anything to jump into his arms. In the back of her mind was Scott's threatening words and Nalani was doing everything in her power to persuade Mark she'd cheated on him, failing miserably.
"Those kids are mine and we're going to prove it today." Mark walked out of the bedroom, refusing to apologize for telling the twins he as their father because it was the truth. "Fuckin' woman…"
After a rather tense breakfast that was filled with Matthew and Megan's endless chatter, Nalani took them to get bathed and dressed, knowing Mark was antsy about getting to the hospital. She called Denise, the woman who took the DNA samples from the kids and Mark, letting her know the results were in. All they had to do was come to the hospital because she refused to give them over the phone, hospital policy and all.
With the kids dressed, Nalani walked out of the door with Mark carrying Megan while she had Matthew, strapping them both in their car seats. She was sorely tempted to tell Mark to follow her in his Chevy Silverado but refrained, the guilt once again eating away at her. Pulling out of the driveway, Nalani drove to the hospital in virtual silence, the twins being surprisingly quiet for a change. She wondered what was going on and glanced over at Mark, immediately looking away as soon as his eyes went to her, knowing this was all about to come to a head.
The moment of truth.
Was Mark the father of Matthew and Megan or was it Scott Mitchell?
Pulling into the parking lot of Dallas Memorial, Nalani stepped out and immediately got the kids out, Mark taking Matthew this time while she took Megan. They walked inside the hospital, Nalani paling with each step they took, knowing there was no turning back. She could run in the opposite direction, but that wouldn't stop Denise from giving the results, tears forming in her eyes. When Megan asked her if she was okay, Nalani simply smiled and kissed her cheek, letting her know everything was fine.
Nalani hoped anyway.
Sitting in Denise's office waiting was maddening to Nalani and she caught herself chewing her fingernails from how nervous she was. Mark was calm as a cucumber, holding both twins on each lap, keeping them preoccupied. She should've been doing that, but Nalani was too nervous and felt too sick to do it, ready to toss her cookies if Denise didn't hurry up and say the results. Her head snapped up when the door opened and Denise walked inside, smiling softly at them, sitting behind her desk with the manila envelope in front of her.
"Good afternoon, Nalani." She greeted softly, causing the woman to nod in return, her eyes turning to Mark. "And you too Mark, I know this past month hasn't been easy for either of you."
"What're the results?" Mark was tired of waiting, wrapping each arm around the twins protectively, his eyes locked on the only woman who held the answer he wanted most of all.
"Mr. Calaway, the DNA test results reveal that…"
Nalani listened and felt her eyes widen in shock as Denise read the results out loud, feeling her heart nearly stop.