Chapter 1
Zane
“Imagine yourself floating in the ocean. Go on and close your eyes, everyone.” The instructor’s voice was soft, and I followed her command with pleasure. I had been ready to close my eyes as soon as she started showing us charts and photos of the labor process. I wanted to burn the images from my mind. I’d tried to look away, but Lucky had pinched me and given me a look. “Now imagine that you are surrounded by warm calming water. And think nice pleasurable thoughts. Think of your loved one. Think of how much fun it is going to be when you bring your little one home. And just keep thinking those thoughts.”
I laid back with my eyes closed and imagined Lucky and I playing in the backyard with Skylar and Noah. Lucky would be playing with the kids, while Noah and I grilled burgers and hot dogs. I paused as I thought about the scene—something was missing. I thought for a moment, and then I added Robin to the image in my mind. Lucky and Robin would be playing with the kids, while Noah and I grilled. I smiled as I pictured myself grabbing Lucky and sneaking her upstairs to the bedroom for a quickie, while Robin and Noah looked after the kids. That would be hot and needed. I was already worried about how much sex Lucky and I would be having after she had the babies. The doctor had said that it could be months before Lucky would be able to and wanted to have sex. I wasn’t sure she had appreciated me asking him that question, but I’d wanted to know.
“Are you feeling calm?” Her voice sounded soothing, and I felt myself drifting off. This class wasn’t so bad after all. The floor wasn’t super comfortable, but I suppose beggars couldn’t be choosers. I wasn’t sure why I had been so loath to come with Lucky, this was really not bad at all. I was imagining what Lucky was going to do to me tonight to thank me for coming with her when someone starting screaming loudly.
“What the f**k?” I shouted as I sat forward, blinking rapidly as I looked around the room. There were several couples looking at me in distaste, and one stuck-up looking redhead was shaking her head at me. I could almost hear her thoughts. “He’s going to be a bad dad,” she was thinking. I looked at Lucky and she glared at me and I gave her a lopsided grin. “Oops, sorry everyone.” I apologized to the instructor and she gave me a small patient smile.
“That’s okay, Mr. Beaumont. Now you know what your babies are thinking, folks. The birthing process is just as tedious for them as it is for you. They are calm, warm, enjoying the comfort of their mother’s belly and then all of a sudden they are pushed into the world, and it is cold, bright, loud and scary. If they could speak, it is very likely that they would also be saying some variation of ‘what the f**k’ as well.” She smiled wickedly at me and I laughed. I looked around the room again, as if to say I’m not the only one, but no one else was laughing. The redhead looked madder than ever, and her husband looked like he wanted to run away and hide. I wanted to tell him to get out of dodge, but I guess it was too late. He’d already gotten her pregnant. I shivered for him as I realized that he was going to have to spend the rest of his life with someone that looked like she was having a colonoscopy every second of the day.
“I am going to kill you, Zane.” Lucky whispered to me, as the instructor gave us a few minutes to gather our thoughts.
“It’s not my fault.” I shrugged. “She scared me.”
“How could she have scared you?”
“I was sle…I mean, I was thinking happy thoughts about our babies and next thing I know someone is screaming like they are being murdered. I thought someone was giving birth in the room or something.”
“That’s the point.” She rolled her eyes. “She was simulating what the birthing process is like for the baby. Giving birth is hard for the mother and for the babies.”
“I know,” I said, feeling very serious all of a sudden. “I’m sorry, Lucky.”
“It’s okay.” She reached over and squeezed my hand. “It was kind of funny.”
“Do you think everything’s going to be okay?” I looked into her eyes. “When you give birth and everything?”
“It’s going to be fine.”
“Are you sure they gave you all the tests?” I could hear the worry in my voice. “We can get you to some new doctors if you don’t trust the information you’ve received so far.”
“I trust my doctor, Zane,” she said patiently.
“Are you sure? We need to make sure that you don’t—”
“Everything is going to be fine, Zane.” She reached over and kissed me on the cheek. “I know you’re worried, but everything is going to be fine.”
“I’m just scared, after hearing about my mom, you know.”
“I know.” She nodded and jumped up. “I understand.”
“Okay, everyone. The break is done. Who’s ready for some fun?” The instructor spoke loudly and the room fell silent. She looked around waiting for someone to answer, and I stuck my hand up.
“I’m ready.” I spoke up, and I saw the redhead give me an annoyed look out of the corner of my eye. “I’m very ready.” I continued, laughing to myself. “Is there a room that Lucky and I can go into?” I continued, deliberately misunderstanding what she had meant. “I didn’t know we were going to practice how to make a baby as well.”
“Zane.” Lucky grabbed my arm, the red rising in her face.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Beaumont, but that is not the type of fun I was talking about.” The instructor gave me a small frown, but I could see a glimpse of humor in her eyes. I was pretty sure she was glad to have people like Lucky and me in her classes, along with the stuck up bitches from Beverly Hills.
“Oh, darn.” I laughed and put my arm around Lucky’s waist. “I guess it’s obvious we don’t have a problem in that department. We’re having twins.” Lucky pinched my waist hard, and she glared at me again as I looked at her.
“I am going to kill you when we get home. You’re in so much trouble.”
“Going to spank me, are you?” I whispered back and she laughed as she rolled her eyes.
“You wish. Now, shh.”
“If you two are done, I would like to continue on with our next session.” The instructor gave us a disapproving look, along with the rest of the class, and I realized we were the bad apples in the class. I knew that Noah would think it was funny as hell when I told him what happened. That would teach Lucky to bring me along to these things. She knew I had no interest in watching videos of women giving birth and screaming. What man really wanted to see all that? I mean, it was a good video for a sex education class: it would stop boys from sleeping around, possibly. But it sure wasn’t doing anything for me, as a soon-to-be father.