The Question (25 page)

“I see what you mean. So you’re really leaving? Who’s watching the babies?”

“The agency sent over a nanny yesterday. I’ve been trying to teach her the twins’ schedule in between all the other stuff I’m doing.”

“Sounds like you have everything worked out. I won’t keep you. I know you’re under a deadline. Call me when you get to Vegas. Put me on speakerphone and let me hear the ceremony. Or maybe you can find a chapel with one of those computer thing-a-ma-jingies that lets us view it live.”

Gail fell on her back laughing. “They’re called web cams. I’ll see what I can do. Talk to you later.”

“Bye.”

* * * *

“Is this the last of it?” Greg asked as he took the bag from her hand.

“That one’s going on the plane with us. You have the rest.”

“I’m going out to the car. We have some extra time, but don’t take too long saying goodbye,” he cautioned.

“I won’t. Thank you.”

Gail turned to Ms. Gooseby, the temporary nanny, who held Jamal. “I tried to write down everything I could think of. Ask Angelina or Carmelita if there’s something I missed that you need to know. They’re really sweet babies and you shouldn’t have any problems.” She held her hands out for Jamal.

“Little prince, you be good for your daddy. Don’t let me get any bad reports or you won’t get any really cool gifts from me.”

He spouted a bunch of gibberish and grabbed her bottom lip. Gail gently bit his fingers, causing him to flash his semi-toothless grin. She kissed him and gave him back to the nanny.

To Angelina she said, “You take care. Make sure you get that degree. I’m expecting great things out of you. I’ll be checking.”

“I will. Take care of yourself. Don’t forget to keep in touch.”

Gail caught Jamilah when she launched out of Angelina’s arms. “Hey, baby girl. You feel a little warm. Do you have another tooth coming in?”

Jamilah laid her head on Gail’s chest and snuggled in. Gail gently rubbed the back of her head and rocked her. “Give her some Tylenol. If this goes like before, she’ll be cranky and her nose runny. Watch out for diarrhea.”

Gail passed the baby back to Angelina. Jamilah immediately cried, reaching out to Gail. “I’ll take her to the nursery and give her the medication before she eats.” Angelina turned and carried her quickly away.

“Carmelita, I’m going to miss you. When I get settled, I’ll be calling for some of your recipes.”

“You do that, Ms. Gail. Keep your husband nice and fed. Is the way to a man’s heart, no?”

“I’ll take your word for it.” Carmelita has been married to the same man for over thirty years. She ought to know.

Everyone walked off, leaving Gail and Rashid alone in the entry foyer. Gail willed the right words to come to her mouth. “You’ll be fine with them. You’re a good father. I knew you would, that’s why I agreed to do this. Take care of yourself and don’t work so hard.”

“Be happy, Gail. Keep in touch. The children and I will miss you.”

“I’m the god-mommy, remember? I expect lots of pictures and email updates on their progress. You’d better keep in touch as well. We’re friends now. Friends keep in contact.” She floundered awkwardly, trying to decide what to do. Finally, she held her hand out.

Rashid looked at it then used it to pull her into a bear hug.  “Don’t go. Stay,” he whispered into her ear.

“I can’t. I gave my word.” She clutched him tightly.

Long moments later, he released her, setting her back gently onto her feet. “If you change your mind, my offer still stands. You’ll always have a home with me. Call when you get settled and I’ll bring the babies out for a visit.”

“Thank you.” She took one step back, then another, turned then stopped. She fought with herself, needing to leave but unable to, not just yet.  She spun around and threw herself at Rashid. He caught her and brought her close, squeezing the air from her as he crushed her to him. She kissed him lightly on the cheek and jerked away. Without pausing, she rushed out the door to where Greg stood leaning against the car.

“Ready?” he asked.

“Yes.” He opened the car door open for her. “Thank you.”

While he walked around to his side of the car, Gail surreptitiously wiped the tears from her eyes. This was a happy occasion, darn it. She would not be sad.

As they drove to the airport, Greg kept up a steady stream of conversation. “After we land, there should be enough time for us to check into the hotel and head for the courthouse to get our license. We can pick up brochures from the various chapels and look them over while we’re eating.”

“Rachel said to get one that had a web cam so they could watch it live.”

“I don’t know if they have that yet but if they do, I’m on it. Hell, let’s get the whole package. I’m only doing this once. There should be one that does tux and gown rentals, photos, videotaping, as well as the actual ceremony.”

“Sounds good to me. My family will definitely be happy.”

“We still need to pick out rings. The hotel should have a decent selection. If don’t see anything you like, we’ll go elsewhere.”

“Are you going to wear a ring?”

“Of course. I want everybody to know what a classy lady I belong to, and don’t expect just a simple band from me. I plan on getting you a ring sparkly enough that they’ll see you coming and know that you’re taken.”

Gail smiled at the thought. “Just don’t make it so big that I get mugged.”

“You are a strange woman. You should be demanding the biggest, most expensive ring I can buy.”

She waved his comment away. “My tastes are simple. It’s not the ring, but the meaning behind it that’s important.”

“So I can get you a cigar band and you’ll be happy?”

“Hell no! You’d better represent.” She glared at him.

Greg burst out laughing. “That’s what I thought. It’s the meaning behind it that’s important,” he mimicked.

She shook her head at him. “You know what I meant. I don’t expect you to go broke trying to buy me something expensive, but I do expect my ring to show the esteem you place on our relationship.”

“I know, baby. I’m just teasing.”

They turned in the rental car and checked their luggage. Greg took her hand and brought it to his mouth for a kiss. “I can’t tell you how happy I am that you’re with me.”

“Me, too.”

“You want to get a bite to eat?”

“Definitely.”

They chose one of the more interesting looking cafes to dine in. As they ate, Gail watched all of the people coming and going. The babies, in particular, caught her attention. They were everywhere. Some were crying. Many were sleeping. Some were in strollers, while others carried in their mother’s arms. A few toddled slowly along under their parent’s watchful gaze.

Her thoughts went to Jamilah. Had they given her medication? Was she still feverish? She hoped Ms. Gooseby was being patient with her. Jamilah got really fussy when she didn’t feel well and wanted to be held, even while sleeping.

What about Jamal? If Jamilah was teething, it was certain that he was, too. She forgot to tell Ms. Gooseby to check his ears. Jamal was prone to ear infections, but unless you checked, you wouldn’t know because unlike Jamilah, Jamal rarely cried.

That got her to thinking. What else had she neglected to tell her? There were so many things that she did automatically that she didn’t even think about it anymore. Gail just knew it needed done. For instance, you couldn’t leave the house unless Jamilah had her pacifier with her. Jamal only sucked his at night when he was sleepy. Jamilah got hot easily and would sweat all night if you dressed her in more than a t-shirt. Jamal was cold natured. He needed socks on his feet and his little cap on his head or he got sick.

She hoped Jamilah wasn’t missing her too much. Of the two, Jamilah was more particular about who she let comfort her. Once, Gail had gone shopping for the day. When she returned home, the house was in an uproar. Jamilah was screaming and no one, not even Rashid, could calm her. As soon as Gail got her, she immediately quieted. Jamilah wouldn’t let Gail put her down any that night. Gail actually ended up sleeping with the baby on her chest.

Well, they would figure it out. The twins would eventually adjust to her not being there. With their short memories, they would soon forget her. She would become “godmommy,” that woman who sent money on birthdays and Christmas. They won’t know that she was the one who gave them life. “Mommy,” their real mother, would be that woman that disappeared while they were young and never heard from again. Or even worse, the woman that Rashid married to provide his children with a full-time mother.

As for herself, she’d have a new husband and a new job—plenty to keep herself busy. So what if she’d be missing their first steps? Who cared that she wouldn’t know what their first words were? Or wouldn’t be there to see them grow and change, or watch their emerging personalities develop? She’d have her life and the twins would have theirs. She’d still get to see them occasionally and be a part of their lives.

The food she ate turned sour on her stomach. Rashid said he’d bring the babies for a visit, but would he really? He had good intentions but stuff happened every day. With the whole continent between them, it would be so easy losing touch. Between the three-hour time difference, and their busy lives, the things that held them together would slowly fade away.

A finger snapped directly in front of her face, causing her to jerk and flinch away. “Gail, you in there?”

“What?” She looked at him blankly for a minute before her mind cleared. “Oh, I’m sorry. My mind must have wondered. Did I miss something?”

“No, not really. I’ve only been speaking to you for the last hour.”

“An hour? Couldn’t be. We just sat down.”

“What were you thinking about?”

“I was looking at all of the babies. I didn’t expect to see so many in the airport.”

“Is that all?”

“Basically, why?”

“Because not only haven’t you heard a word I said, you’ve been crying the whole time. What else is going on in there?”

She snorted and rolled her eyes. “I would know if I were crying. I’m happy. There’s no reason for tears.”

Greg reached out with his finger, gathered some of the moisture on her cheek, and showed it to her.  Gail looked at it dumbly, and then brought her hand to her face, surprised when it came away wet. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize. Geez, what a way to start our life together.”

“You can make it up to me by telling me what’s going on in your head.”

“I was thinking about the twins,” she reluctantly admitted. “About how they’re getting along without me. I tried writing down everything that I could think of that Ms. Gooseby needed to know. I’m realizing now that there was so much I left out.”

“They’ll be fine. They have Rashid, Angelina, and the housekeeper. Anything she needs to know, she can find out from them.”

“I know. It’s just harder than I expected it to be. I could hear Jamilah crying for me as I ran out the door. I hope she’s calmed by now. She’s not comfortable with the nanny. Usually, I’m the only one who can calm her when she upset.” She worried over the thought, knowing there was nothing she could do.

“…do?”

“What did you say?”

“Delta Airlines, Flight 91, now boarding at Gate A3. First class.”

“That’s our flight.” Gail began gathering her things.

Greg placed a hand on her arm, stopping her. “Go home, Gail. Go home to your babies.”

“What! Why…?”

“Hear me out. I know you love me. There’s no doubt in my mind. But you also love them. What kind of man would I be to take you away from your children? You could marry me and maybe you would be happy, but part of you would always be mourning their loss. If I could give you more, it would be a different story, but I can’t. I was sterilized several years ago. I said I didn’t want any children, and I don’t, but for you I would have made an exception. Rashid’s offered you the opportunity to be their mother for real. Take it.”

“You can’t be serious. Greg, I love you. I want a life with you. Yes, I love the twins. How could I not? But my life is with you now. I’m sad about leaving them—it’s only natural—but I’ll get over it. I don’t need or want children of my own. I have you and you’re more than enough for me.”

“That’s your pain talking. You once said the same about allowing another man into your life, and yet, here I am. What happens when your heart begins to heal? I’ll tell you what. You’ll think back on this day and regret the decision you made.”

“Delta Airlines, Flight 91, now boarding at Gate A3. Rows 1-15.”

“We don’t have time for this foolishness. We need to go before we miss our flight.” She pulled her hand away from his and reached for her bags.

“Gail, you’re not listening to me. Stay here, marry Rashid, and be a mother to those babies.”

“This is pointless. I’m not marrying Rashid, and that’s final. I’m going with you. End of story.”

“No, you’re not. I’ve changed my mind. I don’t want to marry you.”

Gail drew back and looked at him in shock. “You’re lying.”

“Delta Airlines, Flight 91, now boarding Rows 16 - 30.”