LUVIE [fin. / unedited]

t h i r t y - t w o

w i l l i a m

The lights were really bright as I open my eyes. 

I slowly blink to clear my vision, the tiled ceiling coming into view. A rhythmic being noise coming from an unknown source nearby. I just lay there for a moment before, slowly sitting up. I glance over to the couch to see Luvie.

Looking at her, I smile, then quickly frown at her appearance. Her red, swollen eyes have bags under them and her hair is tossed up in a bun on the top of her head. The twins were curled up next to her, a blanket was resting across all of them.

The blanket laid flat, across for a small section above Luvie. Then, the blanket went a few inches above Luvie. I looked around for a moment, looking for a glass of water. I found it on the table sitting next to me. I down it in seconds, trying to soothe the ache in my throat.

I looked back over at the twins to see Allen looking at me. His eyes grow really wide, and I press my finger over my lips. He slowly crawls out from under the blanket and runs over to me. Looking at him, I see tears running down his little cheeks.

I help him onto the bed, and into my lap. He curls into me, his body in a ball in my lap. I lean my head on the top of his head, pecking his forehead as he grips onto my shirt. I feel my shirt soak up his tears. I hear him sniffle. "How was school? What did I miss?"

Allen's eyes widen, and he sits back wiping his tears. "Macen Archer* is a meanie head!" He exclaims with such hatred I cannot help but laugh. "Oh really?" I ask him, he nods his head vigorously. "I was colouring, and he painted a big red spot on my face! The middle of my face! It took a whole week to get off! I walked around school with everyone laughing at me!"

I look at him, "Oh really?" He nodded again. "And what did you do to him?" He beat his head, "I only put gum in his hair." He mumbles lowly, "He just had to get a haircut. That's all!" I look at him, trying to prevent myself from laughing.

"Okay, did you apologize? Your mother raised you better than to put gum in little boy's hair." He nods, "I did! I did! I did! I promise!"

"Okay, let me hear how you apologized."

"I walked up to him, and I said 'I'm sorry for putting gum in your hair.' After I did that, he was mad at me, I kissed him! Because you kiss Mom when she's mad at you and she usually forgives you. His cheeks got super red and he ran away! Leaving me there!" He said and looked at me with wide eyes.

I smiled, laughing. "So I asked mom if I did it correctly and she only laughed at me!" I faced Luvie, to see her looking at me with wide eyes, and tears that were down her face. I smiled at her, "Hey Luv." She gets up, very slowly, a hand on her belly. I gasp as I look down at her stomach. "Is that...?" I ask her smiling widely, she only nods. I open my arms, and she breathes a sigh of relief.

Rushing over to where I was on the bed, she flops down on me. I hold in a wince, happy to have Luvie back in my arms safe and sound. "Never scare me like that again, I almost had a heart attack!" I feel tears on my neck and tilt her chin up to look at me. "Please don't cry. Please?" I asked her, as she buried her head in my neck.

I look around for Allen to see him, in the corner of the couch balled up. "Group hug!" I say, trying to prompt Allen to get up off of the couch. I succeed and he slowly comes over and sits by Allen. "Your arm is all healed up!" I say excitedly looked at Allen. He smiles "Yeah! Got it off last week!"

I looked at him confused, realizing that he broke his arm not that long ago, so it should still be in a cast.

"Last week? It should still be on for another five months at least!" Luvie looks over at me with sad eyes. Allen and Alek look at Luvie. "Momma, we got to tell him!" Allen poorly whispered. "Grandma Fitte is in the waiting room, just beyond the door. Go play with her while I talk to Daddy." She said with a smile, pressing a kiss to their head.