The puppy turned out to be an amazing addition to their little family. While they were thinking of a name, Carter had found it hilarious that Nathan had constantly referred to the animal as creature. Long story short, they welcomed Creature Salerno into the family with open arms.
Chapter 19: 9 months: Part two (The babies are coming)
Month nine of Carter’s pregnancy rolled around swiftly, and with it came many obstacles. Carter’s contractions had become an everyday thing, and seeing her in pain was what Nathan hated the most. He felt so fucking helpless; all he could do was tell her to breathe as she endured pain that often times brought her to tears. When the contractions began to happen more frequently, the doctor told them to prepare for the arrival of the twins, which would happen any day now. Nathan did everything any normal expectant father would do. He made a checklist, prepared Carter’s overnight bag, gathered everything she needed to make the birth and hospital stay more comfortable, and reserved a suite in the hospital for her. He even made sure to always have his car keys on hand and the car parked directly in front of the house so that they’d have easier access.
One week into her ninth month, and Nathan was home full-time. Leaving Carter at home was no longer an option for him because he worried too much. After his constant worrying began to annoy his father, Nathan was fired for the duration of Carter’s pregnancy. Being temporarily terminated didn’t bother Nathan at all; Carter needed him for everything at this point. Everything from walking to sleeping at night had become difficult for her. There was nothing that Carter wanted more at this point than to have the babies. How did Nathan know that? Because she said it often … well, yelled it often. At forty weeks, she was still pregnant, and mad as hell about it. The doctor said that the twins were healthy, but running out of space. He had expected the birth to happen weeks ago, but the stubborn children weren’t budging. He’d called and proposed that they induce labor, and Carter had Nathan set a date immediately. Now, the majority of their days before the induction date were spent doing exercises and activities that would naturally bring about labor. It was both amusing and an experience Nathan would never forget.
“This is not supposed to be happening,” Carter whined as she bounced up and down on the birth ball. When Creature came up beside her and nudged the ball, Carter scratched his ears. “No, Creature,” she said to the pup. “Go over there with Daddy.” Doing as instructed, he trotted over to the couch and jumped on Nathan’s lap. Carter resumed bouncing on the ball and whining softly. “I was promised an early delivery. Why don’t they want to come out?”
Nathan shrugged as he continued to watch a classic football game on ESPN. “Hey, babe, what are we going to do? Their birthday is going to be so close to Christmas.”
Carter’s voice shook as she continued to bounce up and down on the ball. “I think it’s perfect. Everything will be on sale. You know how much I love to sale shop, bubby.”
“You hated shopping when I met you, Carter.”
“Correction,” she said with a sly smile, “I hated window shopping. I was poor, remember? When you gave me that black card, you gave me the world.”
Nathan chuckled.
“It wasn’t easy spending your money when we first started dating …”
Nathan smiled. “It’s a lot easier now?”
“Hell yeah it is!”
This time Nathan laughed.
“Especially now that I’m having your giant babies.” She held out her hands. “A little help please.”
Nathan sat Creature on the floor and stood up to help her stand. “Our babies are not giant, Carterina. That’s our love in your tummy,” he chuckled, “lots and lots of love.”
Carter punched him in the arm, but her hands immediately went to her back as she slowly strolled over to the couch.
“My back hurts, my ankles are swollen, and my ass is the size of a house.”
Nathan smiled as he watched her struggle to sit down. She was so damn cute; her petite little body and her large, round tummy on full display. She wore a pair of pink yoga pants and a matching sports bra.
“Okay,” she said a bit out of breath. “So I’ve done some light exercise, the birth ball, we went for a walk outside, and we tried the massage.” She paused and thought for a moment before looking up at him excitedly. “We haven’t tried pelvic tilts.”
Nathan frowned. “What’s that?”
“I read about it online. A woman did it and she went into labor right after.” She wiggled her hands out for him to pull her up and he did. “I have to get on all fours and gently swing my hips back and forth.” Gasping excitedly, she bounced up and down. “While I’m down there we might as well have sex, too. That helps. I think about three orgasms should do the trick.”
Nathan nodded with mock seriousness. “Three, maybe four.” He kissed her forehead while gently rubbing her belly. “Or five if you don’t fall asleep after the second one, like you usually do.”
She poked her bottom lip out into a fake pout. “Well, I get tired sometimes. I can’t help it,” she whined.
Wrapping his arms around her, he ran his hand up and down her back comfortingly. “I know, baby,” he soothed in his best baby voice.
Carter hugged him around the waist and rested her head on his chest as they swayed back and forth in the middle of the floor. The silence was perfect, comfortable, and relaxing. Nathan closed his eyes and rested his chin on the top of her head.
“They will be here soon, Nathan. The twins,” Carter said, breaking the silence. “Are you ready?”
He kept his eyes closed and continued to sway with her. “Hmmm … I’m as ready as I’ll ever be,” he muttered lazily.
“I loved being pregnant, but I have to say, I’m happy it’s almost over. My body has change so much, and have you noticed how big my boobs are?”
Nathan smirked. “What kind of husband would I be if I didn’t?” What kind of
man
would he be if he hadn’t notice that?
“They’re like swollen to the point where it hurts sometimes though, bubby. And my nipples are huge.”
Nathan shook his head. “I still find nothing wrong with this change, honey.”
Carter chuckled. “You’re such a jerk,” she whispered. “It was scary in the beginning, too. My ass got fat really fast, my hormones were everywhere …”
“And you were gassy,” he added. “Very, very gassy. Especially at night—OW!” Nathan laughed when she pinched his side … hard.
“We had a deal, Salerno,” she warned, shooting him a glare. “We don’t speak of that horrible time.”
He grinned down at her, laughter causing his eyes to shine. “I honestly don’t know why you get so worked up about it, Carter. You’ve been passing gas in your sleep since our first night together.”
She gasped, and her mouth dropped open in outrage. “I do not!”
Nodding, he said, “I swear to you, Carter. You do. I don’t even notice the gas or the snoring anymore, though. We’ve been sleeping together too long now. But the first time was a bit of a shock.” He laughed. “I was positive that I’d be the first one to pass gas in front of you, but once again that night you did something that surprised me.”
Nathan laughed harder when Carter repeatedly hit him in the arm. “You’re such an asshole, Nathan Salerno!” She turned and began walking away from him. “I’d rather be the gassy one in this marriage than the one that constantly takes dumps with the bathroom door open,” she shot.
Nathan shrugged. “It’s better that way. I don’t like to be confined. I always tell you to light a match before I do it. It’s called courtesy, baby.”
Carter laughed as she continued to walk away from him. Nathan’s gaze fell to her ass and he admired how good she looked in her yoga pants. He smirked. Suddenly he was in the mood to try her labor inducing idea.
“Where are you going?” he asked.
She waved her hand in the air. “I want a snack.”
“But what about the sex? You get me all worked up with all this talk about your sexy, gassy ass, then you leave me hanging for a snack?”
She giggled and looked over her shoulder with a playful smile. “Kiss my loud, snoring, gassy ass, Nathan Salerno.”
Carter squealed when he lunged forward and scooped her up in his arms.
“I’ll kiss your ass all right, Mrs. Salerno.”
“Put me down!” she yelled through laughter. “I’m too heavy, Nathan!”
Nathan grinned wide. “I don’t think so, woman. We’re about to go upstairs and induce some labor dammit.”
Peals of laughter echoed throughout the house. Nathan was just about to ascend the stairs with his wife holding on to him tightly when their front door burst open.
Kyle stormed through the door with a scowl on his face, and his jovial daughter in his arms. Sofia jumped up and down happily in her father’s arms at the sight of Nathan and Carter.
“She’s gone,” Kyle said, sounding out of breath.
Nathan and Carter looked at each other, then back at Kyle, frowning in confusion.
“Faith left!” he yelled. “And I want to say so many curse words right now, but I can’t bring myself to do it in front of my little girl!” Kyle was seething. His face was crimson, his muscles were tight, and his chest rose and fell with angry heavy breaths.
Nathan placed Carter on her feet, and she went and took little Sofia out of Kyle’s arms, taking her to the living room, Creature following behind them. Nathan motioned toward the kitchen and Kyle followed behind him.
As soon as they walked in the kitchen, Kyle paced the floor.
“That lying bitch left my daughter with the doorman. She left me a fucking note, claiming that she needed a fresh start away from me, and anything that reminded her of me. Meaning my daughter! And this is after I gave her gold-digging ass fifty thousand dollars to take care of my daughter, pay her rent, get my daughter some decent food, clothing, and a new bedroom set. That thieving whore took the money and abandoned Sofia!”
Nathan nodded. “All right. Let’s calm down and think about what to do, brother.” Nathan tried to think, but his concentration was interrupted when Creature came running into the kitchen, barking up a storm. Nathan softly chided the pup and tried to focus on Kyle’s issue.
Kyle continued to pace angrily. “I know exactly what to do, Nathan. I’m tracking that bitch down and teaching her a lesson. Nobody steals from me.”
“You’re not thinking straight, Kyle.” And the fucking dog was still barking. “Quiet, Creature! Go to mommy!” The pup ran out of the kitchen.
“Yes I am, Nathan. I’m going to find her and—”
“And what? Beat her?” Nathan asked, trying to get through to Kyle’s rational side. “I don’t believe you would, Kyle. You’ve had your ups and downs with women, but never once have you struck one.” Right at the moment Creature came running into the kitchen once again. This time he climbed up on Nathan’s leg, barking more urgently. Nathan frowned.
What the hell is wrong with the dog?
Kyle’s yelling brought him back to the present.
“Faith is not a woman, Nathan. She’s a bitch that lied to me for months, stole fifty thousand dollars from me, then left my daughter with a strange man in the lobby of my goddamn apartment building!” he roared. “I’m going to find her, I’m going to ruin her life, and then I will make sure she
never
sees Sofia again!”
“Well that’s going to have to wait, guys.”
They both paused when they heard Carter’s shaky voice. They looked over to her and saw her standing there with little Sofia jumping happily in her arms, and a terrified expression masking her face. Creature ran over to her and sat in front of her, whining softly. Nathan frowned as his gaze swept over her to see if there was something wrong—
He froze when his eyes discovered to her now soaking wet yoga pants. He stared at them with wide eyes. “Please tell me you peed on yourself, Carter.”
Carter shook her head as her breathing began to pick up and an unbearable pain shot through her body. “Nope,” She replied tightly. “This is it, Nathan. This is the real thing. My water just broke. They’re coming today.”
“Oh my God,” Kyle whispered, standing as still as Nathan was.
“Okay, someone
really
needs to take me to the hospital. Now!”
Nathan jumped into action at the sound of her pained cry. So
that
was what the dog had been trying to tell him. He made a mental note to start listening to Creature more.
Quickly he remembered his checklist. Carter’s things were by the door, and the car was parked in front. Now all he needed was … “My keys!” he yelled. “Where are my keys?”
“Your pocket, Nathan, your pocket,” Carter yelled as she handed Sofia over to Kyle. “You never take them out. Now let’s go! I’m not having my babies in the car.”
“Got ’em!” he shouted triumphantly when he pulled them from his pocket. “All right, let’s go!”
Nathan snatched up Carter’s overnight bag and helped her as they exited the house. They walked to the car while he simultaneously called the doctor, yelling,
“It’s time!”
over the phone. Once he got her in the car, he nearly tripped as he ran over to his side.
“We’re right behind you, boss!” the men that would accompany them for security purposes yelled.
“I’m right, behind you, too,” Kyle yelled.