Soulmates

Chapter eight

I woke to Grace crying in the middle of the night. I didn't hear Monica and carefully slip from under Kelly. I enter the nursery and Grace was standing up in the crib. Her cries stop the moment I enter the room and reaches her hands up towards me. I pick her from the crib and she nuzzles her face in my neck, her hands clutching my tank top.

I sit in the rocker and gently rock the chair. I rub Grace's back gently and feel her relax against my chest. Her breaths slowed as she slowly fell back to sleep, but as soon as I stood up she whimpers. I go back to rocking and again she falls asleep. 

I go to lay her back in the crib and she holds onto me tight, whimpering. I go back to rocking, feeling myself grow tired. I close my eyes as I continue rocking and Grace lets out a content sigh. 
 

I wake to a kiss on my forehead from Kelly. Monica was also in the room and Grace was still asleep on my chest in the rocker. I rub my eyes and Grace sits up, yawning. She spots Monica and climbs off my lap. "Thank you, I didn't hear her last night," Monica chokes quietly as she picks up Grace. 

"I didn't mind," I say softly and stretch from sleeping in the chair. "I'll make pancakes."

"Jennifer," Kelly says quietly grabbing my hand as I was about to walk out of the room. I turn into a kiss and gasp, leaning into her embrace. "Good morning."

I raise my eyebrows, at a loss for words and Monica laughs. "You two are perfect for each other," she says with a smile and walks out of the nursery. 

Kelly smiles and walks out behind Monica. I head down and as I reach the stairs the door bell rings. I answer the door and it was a woman who looked like Valerie. "Are you Jennifer Williams," the woman asks with tears in her eyes.

"Yes ma'am," I say softly. "Would you like to come in? You must be Monica's mother."

"How did you know," she asks confused.

"I'm engaged to Kelly and you resemble Valerie," I say with a light smile as she follows me to the kitchen. "Would you like to join us for breakfast?"

"Thank you," she says quietly and hugs Monica. "Valerie told me where I might find you after what happened yesterday. Why didn't you call me?"

"I'm sorry," Monica chokes quietly holding onto her mother. "Grace has been attached to Jennifer since they met at Jamie's funeral. She thought Jennifer was Kevin in his military uniform."

"I gave Grace a photo of me and Kevin while we were stationed in Iraq five years ago," I say softly as I mix batter to make pancakes. "She's knows I'm not him."

"You fought with Kevin and Jamie," Monica's mother asks surprised. 

"Yes ma'am."

"Such a gentlewoman you've caught Kelly," she says with a smile and looks back at me. "Please call me Angela."

I nod lightly as I pour batter on the skillet and Grace hugs at my leg. I pick her up and blow raspberries on her cheek. She squeals with laughter and watches me flip the pancakes. "Keep a hold on this woman Kelly," Angela says with a smile. "She's good with kids."

"I'm pregnant Aunt Angela," Kelly chokes quietly and looks at me. I nod and she fills her Aunt in on everything about us. "They're Jennifer's twins."

When it was quiet longer than I thought it would be for her reaction, I turn away from the stove. She looks at me holding her granddaughter with disgust. Tears fill my eyes and say in a choked whisper, "This is not something I broadcast. Everyone else in your family has been accepting of my condition."

"You let this freak touch your daughter Monica," Angela asks with disgust. 

"Get out," Kelly chokes in anger.