The Equalizer Ch. 6

Marcus pulled Robyn closer to him. He was without words. After moments of being speechless he asked her, "Is it by me?"

"I don't know, that's my honest answer. It could be you or Miles. Please don't be mad."

Marcus was silent for another moment.

"Marcus there's a DNA test we can do. We can find out for sure."

"Have you told Miles? There's a chance that it's his right?"

"I haven't told him yet. I wanted to tell you first and I was thinking that we can get the test done."

"Are you going to break it off with him if its mine?"

"It's twins."

"So, are you going to break it off with him?"

"Yes. I only went with him out of a moment of weakness and feeling lonely. This. Us. Marcus is what I want."

"I'll take the test," Marcus said decidedly.

Robyn kissed him.

Just then Robyn was receiving an incoming call from Miles but she hit the automated text, " I'll call you back later."

"Was it Miles?" Marcus asked.

"Yes."

"So you're gonna tell him?"

"Yes, later tonight, but I'm going to make it abundantly clear that I want to be with you."

"Even if their his twins?"

"Yes."

Marcus gave Robyn one final kiss good night and then went home.

Robyn watched him drive away and hoped to God that the babies were his. She'd already had a daughter by Miles, and she loved Delilah but raising children with Miles was a difficult thing. Plus, if the babies were by Marcus they would have older brothers to look out for them not that Dee wouldn't.

When Robyn was with Miles they thought of giving Dee little siblings but it never happened.

Robyn went back inside,

Dee had gone upstairs to talk with her boyfriend Cam on the phone.

"So, how did it go?" Aunt Vi asked.

"Better than I thought it would," Robn admitted.

"Thought he might pull a Fred Sanford grab his chest and say "I'm coming Elizabeth!" Aunt Vi joked.

"No, I thought more like he would look like I dropped the hydrogen bomb on him."

Aunt Vi laughed.

"He held me and kissed me," Robyn said blissfully with a smile.

"I wouldn't be surprised if this makes Marcus consider another big decision that involves a ring."

"Oh auntie we haven't begun to discuss the prospect of marriage."

"Yes, but now you're expecting. That can make a man step up. A good man that is and I know that Marcu is a good man."

"Auntie I'm planning on telling Miles that I'm pregnant. I have to because I can't avoid him forever. He';; know that I'm ghosting him especially since we had our one night stand," Robyn reasoned.

"My advice is you don't tell him until you have Marcus take the test. If Miles thinks the babies are his he'll never stop pursuing you."

"You're right. Ok I'll wait to tell Miles and I'' tell Dee to not say anything to him about it."

"I'm telling you that's the thing to do because Miles is competitive."

"That he is," Robyn nodded.

Robyn then helped herself to a bag of Tat's thin chocolate chip cookies.

"I have such a craving," Robyn stuffed her face with a few cookies.

Aunt Vi laughed softly.

That night Robyn dreamt that she was coming upon a garage full of armed men. She was about to catch them unaware when suddenly two strollers with a baby in each appeared and the babies began to cry. Robyn tried to shush them but it was too late her position was compromised. Then she had to fight and shoot around the strollers which was like a choreographed dance. Then, Robyn woke up to the sound of her alarm.

She looked at her phone and saw that Marcus had messaged her anout the paternal prenatal test and his days of availability.

Robyn confirmed that she was going to schedule their appointments for Wednesday at three thirty.

Next she saw a text from Miles that read "Good Morning Beautiful".

Robyn was careful to not touch the message so he wouldn't see the "seen" status of the text.

She determined that she had to tell him that they needed to talk but that it would have to be sometime after the results came in.

She texted back, "Good morning. Could we talk sometime soon?"

Miles instantly texted back "Sure anything in particular?"

"I can't say over he phone," she texted.

"Why don't we meet up for coffee?" he texted.

"Busy this week how about Friay next week," Robyn texted.

Robyn watched the text bubbles move for moments and then saw the simple reply "Ok."

Next was a phone call from Harry.

"Hey Harry. Watch did you find?"

"I think you'll want to come in for this one."

Robyn got ready for the day and then headed straight over.

"So, I found that there's a underground Neo Nazi youth group that's been having an initiation where the new members have to vandalize a given target. In fact, a Chinese restaurant was also vandalized three bocks away a couple nights ago.

"The thing is that it's a youth group they can't be tried as adults but I'm sure vandalism and hate speech is something the police can make stick. Providing they aren't willing to turn a blind eye just because these boys are White.

Robyn and Mel went to talk to the owner of the Chinese restaurant at the restaurant the Golden Palace.

The owners, the Wangs, were first generation immigrants who spoke English as a second language. They were more comfortable speaking freely with Mel. As Mel and Robyn sat in the restaurant lobby, The Wangs offered both Mel and Robyn mooncakes which they accepted graciously. Mel told Robyn that the cakes were significant for the harvest season. Indeed, it was autumn.

Robyn bit into her mooncake and was delighted by the fruity custard filling.

Mel asked the Wangs in Cantonese "What exactly happened?"

The Wangs answered, " We were closing up shop when we heard a noise we found three people in hoods spraying on our walls outside. They ran off before we could catch them."

Mel asked in Cantonese "Did you see their faces?"

The Wangs shook their heads and said, "They wore masks all three of them."

Robyn felt bored as she was an outsider to the conversation. She thought about her babies and wondered how far away they were from being able to hear conversations like this while in the womb.

Robyn was relieved when the conversation finally ended. She had nothing else to do but guess what was being said or stare out into space.

"So, what new information did they give you?"

"They couldn't identify the people who did it, they were wearing masks but they did think that their forms looked like they were teenagers."

"That proves that these are probably those racist kids that are pat of that Neo Nazi club. It's scary to think that there are kids in such clubs. As adults we strive for a better future for our kids and Neo Nazism has me thinking what people are passing down to their kids."

"I get it. Makes you wonder if we are leaving better kids for the earth and not just a better earth for kids," Mel said.

"I mean doesn't it bother you that this type of hatred is still around in the twenty-first century?"

"Yes it does. Sometimes I wonder if we're going backwards instead of making progress."

"That's because children need to be taught kindness. I'm for damn sure going to teach mine to be kind and decent."

"Speaking of how are you feeling lately?"

"Morning sickness has stopped thank God. But I'm starting to feel more tired all the time."

"You should take a nap after we get back to the lab. Also you should have some wonton soup which is why I got you some from the Golden Palace.

"When did you buy that?"

"Oh, I Door Dashed it so it should be heading to your house soon."

"Thanks Mel!"

"Anything for you and the babies," Mel smiled.

Just then Miles texted her, "Hey beautiful I hope you're having a good day."

Robyn texted a curt, "Thanks."

Then a text from Marcus came in, "How are you and the babies feeling today?"

Robyn texted Marcus, "We're good. I just want to hurry and take the paternity test."

Marcus texted, "Me too. So, we can move forward."

Robyn texted, "Want to meet for lunch after the test?"

Marcus texted "Yes."

Back at the lab Harry said, "What we need is to have the police set up a sting operation to catch these guys because I have a feeling that they're going to graduate from vandalism to something like cherry bombs."

"Yeah. They're not the kumbaya type to celebrate initiations with smores and hotdogs," Robyn said.

"We should contact Marcus maybe they can get a mole in the group and track their movements.

Robyn had her own motives for contacting him but she told him the situation and the NYPD took over the case.

Wednesday rolled around then three thirty came. Robyn and Marcus sat next to each other in the waiting room of the OBY GYN's office.

Marcus read a poetry magazine while Robyn scrolled on her phone and occasionally fiddled with her hands.

" Rob. What are you nervous about I mean really?"

"I'm afraid that the babies won't be yours, you'll resent me and Miles will use my pregnancy as a reason for us to get back together."

"Rob. I could never hate you. I would still want you and I wouldn't mind raising babies that I didn't father."

Robyn smiled and then held Marcus' hand.

Just then they were called up to the office. They held hands. A sample of Blood from Robyn and a saliva swab from Marcus then they were left to wait three days for results.

Robyn and Marcus went to a café for a late lunch.

Robyn ordered a Monte Cristo while Marcus ordered chicken soup.

"Now this is nice," Robyn said.

"What the sandwich?"

"No, I mean you and me here chillin."

"Well, I guess you should take days like this in because once the babies get here you'll be busier."

"I know that's right. I remember Dee being a baby she didn't have bad collick but it was some long nights with her."

"Yeah I remember midnight feedings with my boys and don't get me started on the diaper changes."

"Oh yeah, I remember those."

"So how big are the babies right now?"

" They're about the size of mandarin oranges."

"Isn't it something how they start out so small then they grow up?" Marcus said reflecting on how old his two sons were now.

"Dee's excited to become a big sister."

"I'm sure the boys would be excited as well."

"How's your soup?"

"It's good want some? The babies can use all the nutrition they can get."

"Yes thank you and don't worry about me I'll probably have a second lunch since I'm hungry all the time.

"Make sure you're getting in all your protein."

"I will baby I'm taking all my prenatal vitamins which is filled with the iron I need."

"Good." Marcus said holding Robyn's hand.

After lunch they went for a walk at a nearby park.

Marcus never let go of Robyn's hand the entire walk. He watched her admiring her beauty.

Robyn became self-conscious.

"Robyn I think you're glowing. You look especially beautiful today. You always look beautiful though," he kissed her hand.

"You buttering me up Marcus?"

"Not at all"

"Robyn?" a familiar voice said.

"Robyn turned around and saw that it was none other than Miles.

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