Twin Daddies for my Twin Babies

Chapter 3

Six weeks ago

Pearl was the loudest voice in the room wherever she was. Her conversations were buoyant and intended to be heard. There was something of the unsatisfied thespian in her. Everyone knew she was an art historian within moments of meeting her, like it was her most favourite badge by which to identify herself. On every subject she was opinionated and if you didn't agree with her she wasn't angry, she just pitied you for not understanding the “correct” way to think about it. But if a friend, or even an acquaintance, was in trouble she was right there with both boots on. In any crisis she took charge, steered the most efficient course through the problem and never stuck around for any "thank you". You could forget to call her for a month or three and still she'd be happy to talk to you. It was like she had been born without the ability to harbour a grudge, though I suspect it's in there, perhaps reserved for people she expects more from.

But Kiara was her exact opposite. That is the reason might be they both were absolute best friends since college and the friendship had stuck. Kiara did not have a lot of friends but the ones she had were solid gold. Just like the man she loved. Her fiancé. Thinking about him, made Kiara smile. He was a sweet man with an honest smile and a good heart. He might not be that handsome but he was immensely compatible with Kiara and she loved him for all that he had done.

Pearl said that she was busy with some new stuff coming in the museum today and she would be with her within some time. So Kiara waited in the coffee shop opposite to the museum and ordered herself a Devil’s frappe. Yeah, she knew that with the wedding coming and all she should be looking after her weight and figure or the dress might not be a perfect fit but then who cared?

Kiara perused her social media page. Betty had new shoes from that designer store all the girls talked about and Tina's man had bought her a bunch of roses. She clicked like on both. Dave hadn't bought her flowers in a while, maybe there was something wrong. Perhaps she should drop some hints. Scrolling down there were Clara's vacation photos, gorgeous, she clicked "like" again but by now there was a tense feeling she couldn't shake. She kept on scrolling, adverts from companies and posts of grinning friends, all so happy. Rachel had a new hair do. She paused to look at her hair in the mirror and just as quickly looked away again. It was frumpy and dull. She checked her messages, no-one had replied to her messages in the past few minutes. They were online though, she could see that. She closed her laptop and headed out to the coffee shop, she could book a hair appointment at the salon next door for some cool new colours. Everyone just loved those pictures: "OMG," "WOW", "So cute xxx."

She had chestnut brown hair with blonde highlights, nowhere near the point of being black. It lay on her shoulders like a waterfall flowing mildly; flaming as bright as a sunrise. The breeze blew through her curls, straightening them into waves that whipped about behind her. From under side bangs shone eyes the colour of a dazzling emerald green, which travelled uneasily from one person to another. No one couldn’t help but notice that they glistened every time she moved them. They were the ones that seemed to draw you into a daze; not letting you go. Her eyes seemed to shine in the sunlight, but hide in the darkness. Below them is a nose so freckled that the brown splotches overlapped much like autumn leaves after harsh winds blew. Her smile was warm with a hint of shyness and her lips were like a frozen rose, dangerous but beautiful.

Finally Pearl was there and she said,” Whew!! That was the heaviest thing I had to carry in a month. My arms are absolutely sore.”

“You are the art historian, Pearl. They don’t make you do manual work there. I am pretty sure that you were ogling all the workers and the men who had come to unload the packages,” said Kiara as she rolled her eyes at her friend.

“Alright!! Yes!! You got me…okay? Happy? What can a girl do? Once I see a hot man I have to do something at least, you know? Have a chance? Flirt a little?” said Pearl and Kiara laughed out loud. Pearl always had the best way to see things.

“You know you should try it sometimes,” said Pearl as she gestured the waitress.

“I should try what?” asked Kiara as she took the long silver spoon and took a scoop of the vanilla ice cream on the top of the cold caramel coffee.

“Flirting…of course…what else? If not anything else then they will keep your girlie parts happy,” said Pearl as she ordered a hazelnut coffee with skimmed milk and three sugars.

“No thank you. I am engaged to be married in two weeks, remember?” Kiara prompted showing her the ring glittering on her hand and then she could hear Pearl muttering spoilsport.

“Hey! I told you to find someone for yourself as well since college so that we could married together. That was our plan, remember?” asked Kiara as she sipped into the delicious coffee.

“But that was your plan babe. I was never very keen on the prospect of damaging my entire life so that I could stay with one man. I played along because my precious mother always wanted me to get married and beget heirs for some family back in the country…ugghhgghh…thinking about that makes my blood boil,” said Pearl and Kiara smiled at her.

“Not everyone gets a man like Dave, you know? I mean, I don’t want to exactly brag but they are exactly everything that I could ever want in a man. He is sweet, caring and he knows all my tastes and preferences. He respects me and my choices…now where on earth am I exactly going to find this kind of man? And the one who wants to spend his entire life with me, have babies with me…” said Kiara and she smiled at the memory of when Dave had proposed her.

It was nothing very big or fussy. Just a cute little picnic for the two of them and then she had found the ring in one of the strawberries coated in chocolate. Dave had gone down on one knee before her and she had said yes. It was not something like she had dreamed off but then again it was nothing to sneeze at either. She loved Dave and she knew that he had put a lot of thought in the way he did. So it was better to accept tings the way they were!

After all we all did a little compromise when it came to life. There was really nothing wrong with that.

“I know that you think that you are happy babe…but are you really happy with Dave? I mean, I have never seen actually what you see in him…look at you. You are smart, gorgeous, talented, beautiful. And you have curves…oh dear god!! I would kill to have your curves but are you sure that this is the man that you wish to spend the rest of your life with?” asked Pearl and Kiara was stunned at the question.

Kiara had never even thought about it this way. It was all so good and to be said that everything was hunky dory would be rather perfect then why was she asking this.

“I am not sure why you are asking me this, Pearl. Is there something that I should know?” asked Kiara but Pearl nodded saying no and smiled.

“Babe, you are my best friend in the whole wide world. I only want that you get every single shred of happiness so that nothing comes in and is able to destroy that. Even though you have everything, you have been really kicked to the curb where your family is concerned. I mean, step-mother, step-sister, it is more like a Cinderella kind of situation,” said Pearl and Kiara nodded. She was absolutely right in saying that. Until today or maybe this time…she had never thought she would be able to find happiness in her life.

But then suddenly she had met Dave at their office meeting and they had clicked almost instantaneously.

Finally things were looking up and she did not want to jinx them by thinking that it was going to be a bad prospect or even speaking about it. Kiara nodded her head and said,” maybe finally God has seen that I have suffered enough and that I should get all the happiness that I can get in my life. And to be honest, I am happy. I never thought I would meet someone who would love me like Dave does and then I would love him too. And I want my marriage to go without any hitch. So as my bridesmaid, I take it that you are ready?”

“Of course I am ready, babe. I was born ready,” said Pearl as she smiled at Kiara.

“Great then. We are going to be going for the cake tasking today. So I am going to have cup-cakes for the dessert and the wedding cake….well the girl who designs them said that she has two or three new ideas on the flavours that I love,” said Kiara as she paid for her and Pearl’s coffee and then left a twenty dollars tip as well beside her plate.

“Great!! Free food and free sweets…those are two things that I never say no to,” said Pearl and they both took their coats and started walking. Kiara said that it was only a few blocks and they felt that after the calories that they had consumed it was good for them to get some exercise.

“Well you never say no to handsome men and free booze as well. And speaking of that have you decided who you are going to bring as your plus one at the wedding? I mean, it is only two weeks away Pearl. If you tell me that you are bringing one of your cousins then I am gonna make sure to kill James…and then again you pay him. Come on….you are so sexy and bright…I am sure you can find someone. I mean, if you like girls then that is great as well. We get another girlfriend,” said Kiara and Pearl looked at her in an expression of mock horror.

“Kiara Elizabeth Colon, are you telling me that you would accept me even if I am a lesbian? And that means that you are not the stuck up b***h like I thought that you were?” asked Pearl and Kiara stuck out her tongue in a childlike response. They both laughed out loud as they walked towards their destination.