The Don And His Flower

56

Another contraction.

Imani winced, hand gripping the clear glass of water. She seethed her breaths, trying to pour herself just a bit more before failing. The cry was nearly muted, tearing through her throat as she was supported up. Valis had woken up in the middle of the night as well. Placing his sleeping son back into his own bedroom, Valis had prepared the bed. 

With the towels and bottles of water chilling in the minifridge, Valis had made it his mission to locate his more than likely contracting wife. Her due date was two days from the severely late night that they found themselves in. His hands were on her sides, listening to her soft whimpers of need as he supported her up. "The doctors are all on their way. Let's get you into the tub, tsvetok." Flower.

He bathed her.

Combed her hair.

Secured the tight coils up into a high bun.

All the while kissing and praising her strength for what was yet to come. Imani sighed in relief, letting the ice melt slowly down her throat. The doctors were now here, taking necessary notes and making soft talk before timing yet another contraction. "Okay, Mrs. Kholodov. I believe it's time to push yeah?"

Imani took the comforting position of squatting. With every contraction, whether it was big or small, she pushed. 

Four pushes. 

That's all she gave before Valis was holding the wailing tiny baby in his arms. He looked at his daughter, pale skin red as she cursed the world for the cold air that tickled her skin. He was swift, guided into cutting the cord before his other baby came out within five pushes.

Another baby girl. 

He quickly followed the actions, letting the doctors take them before he help his wife lay back. Valis kissed her face, her hands.

Everywhere that the woman let him kiss her, he kissed. His words were nonstop, watching the happiness in her eyes as she held two naked babies to her chest. sweat beaded on her forehead as she observed them.

The first baby girl. Pale complexion, loose coiled black hair that stuck to her skin. She stole her looks. Her eyes, nose. lip shapes. Only thing that the beauty had was her father's ears and toes. Imani and Valis observed the other baby girl, shocked at the very close similarities that they had. "We have twins Valis. I..oh my goodness."

Valis looked at the dark brown baby that had the very same similarities as her three minutes older sister. The only difference they had was the skin tones. 

Identical twins.

The charge family doctor came forward. A smile to his face as he covered the anxious newborns with a soft thin sheet. "Mr. and Mrs. Kholodov, if you don't mind." Imani reluctantly let the babies go to the awaiting doctors and midwives. Valis absorbed their cries, trying to spot the difference into them as he felt Imani's hands tighten on him. "Valis." 

He could see the numbness radiate off her body.

She could see the distant look in his eyes.

The same look he had when Xander was born. 

They weren't enough. 

"Imani." His lips calmly found the tips of her fingers again and again. Eyes watery as she accepted his kiss against her warm thigh. "I love you." He breathed out, relief in his heart as he listened to the healthy lungs of his newborns, their cries wailing out. Almost an hour had passed, sleep and slight comfort had overcome Imani and her newborn babies.

Valis gripped the baby monitor in his hands, looking at the two bassinets that held his baby girls. Standing on the tip of his toes, Xander excitedly pushed away his yawn. His exhaustion clear but pushed aside as he looked at the swaddled newborns that he knew as his sisters. The Don couldn't feel. 

He couldn't feel anything looking at his babies. 

He couldn't feel a damn thing looking at the three of his kids, it was making him sick. Valis loves them, he knows that. But he couldn't feel anything else. No joy, no excitement. No peace, no anger or any emotion. It worried him painfully. 

They were beautiful rare additions to the growing family Valis and Imani had. Yet, all Valis did was accept them. Valis put a single finger to his closed lips, urging the boy out the room and back into his own. "Is mommy okay? They look so squishy." The Don nodded, hand tightening more on the baby monitor as he followed after Xander into the child's bedroom. He swiftly kicked his slippers off, going back into the lightly warm sheets that cocooned him. "Your mother is fine Xander. She's just really tired. Your sisters do look squishy don't they. Don't worry, so do you. How about we sleep in late this morning, yeah? It's still the middle of the night, anyways."

The child yawned once more, nodding in agreement as he looked at the unknown emotions that swirled in his father's orbs. "I hope you feel better, daddy." He sighed in soft content. Valis was at the doorway when his son told him this. He looked over his shoulder, smiling ever so softly at the half sleeping boy. "Whatever is bothering you and mommy. I hope you just feel better."

***

The Russian Don was in a chair. Sitting beside the bassinets were his children stir about. He ignored the fourth buzz of his phone. 

Another call.

Another text.

He ignored his wife. 

Attention focused on the two girls that rest peacefully even hours later. 

Buzz.

Buzz.

Buzz.

Is this what his father felt? 

The desire and greed to control so much, to feel not much of anything when looking at his children. His father was blinded by money and power. Valis listened to the buzz of his phone once again, letting the angry tears fall as he failed to console his emotions. 

Why can't he feel joy? 

Why can't he pick up his babies?

Imani.

Why can't the man even go console his wife?

"Valis." 

He sniffled hard, feeling the warmth of her hand on his shoulder as she leaned on him. The glow of her phone went away as she gripped it in her free hand. He sat up straighter, securing her as she sat on his lap. "Have you been here the whole time? Hey.."

The sob racked his chest hard. 

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry. 

Valis let the two words come out muffled into her chest. The Don couldn't even explain the pain he felt inside himself at the moment. He was supposed to be celebrating such a blessing of not one but two healthy babies, adding to the healthy one that slept in his room. Instead, he sat here. In the nursery of his daughters, remembering about the past. A life he never wanted for himself. 

He mourned his brother. 

Mourned Imani's mother.

The Valis he used to be.

The Imani that he missed before ruining her life with his own. 

He mourned the innocence his children hold in their eyes at the moment. Knowing that not even Valis would be strong enough to shield them from the ruins of the underworld. 

"Valis."

"I'm sorry, Imani." He sobbed, letting her hands rub amongst his back. 

"I'm sorry."