The fact that I have triplets is astonishing—this is more than coincidence. This is mother fucking destiny.
Harper and Jackson can hardly believe it when I tell them Cherish had been up here all along over the last month with our children. Harper smacks me, tells me to stop messing with her.
She laughs and says there is something about this mountain that makes babies come faster than any other place on Earth. I don't think she's exaggerating.
When I explain that I’m not messing with her, she says she plans on coming up right away.
Jaxon smirks. “Holding those newborns better not give you baby fever.”
Harper sticks a tongue out at her husband, scrunching up her nose. “We’ll just see about that,” she says, her words telling everyone who’s the real boss in their house.
I tell her I appreciate it, considering I have a handful of errands to deal with in town and don’t want Cherish to be alone.
As I make my way down the mountain road, I think about all the things that need to get done today. My main goals are to get the phone line and electricity turned on, we may live in a ramshackle cabin, but we don't need to live like hillbillies.
It doesn’t take more than twenty minutes to get to town, and thankfully both the phone company and power company turn out to be quicker errands than I had thought they’d be. After I finish there, I stop at the market—I need to get some real food in my woman’s belly. She's been up here alone for a month, living on powdered milk and shit. It's time for her to be fed.
As I drive back to the cabin, I think how I'll work weekends and fix the cabin up right for her. For us. And I’ll take Jaxon up on his offer for a job as well. Between that and my savings, I’ll be able to care for my family.
I can't wait to walk through the door, and see my sister and Cherish together. With my errands done, I drive back up the mountain, ready to fry some bacon and gets some pancakes going on the griddle.
When I pull up to my uncle's cabin, a grin spreads upon my face. I see Harper's fancy ass sprinter van parked next to Cherish’s stolen vehicle.
I'm glad Harper could come up and keep Cherish company, I'm guessing they have a lot to catch up on. They go way back, we were all raised in the same church, kept company with the same people. And I'm hoping that the two of them can become friends. Maybe Harper can introduce her to the other women who live on the mountain––and I know seeing Honor would be good for Cherish too.
Before the car’s in park, Harper is running toward me, fear on her face.
"Oh my God,” she cries. “I’ve been trying to call you but my cell didn’t have service. And I couldn't just leave. I just—"
"Whoa, sister, what are you freaking out about?"
"She's gone!”
"What are you talking about?" I grab her hands and try to steady her. "Where is Cherish?"
"That's what I'm trying to tell you,” Harper cries. “She's gone. I went looking for her and but can't find her anywhere. I just don't understand. Her van is still here. The babies are––"
"Where are the babies?" I ask. "Where are my children?" Everything inside of me seizes. No, this cannot be happening. Not now. Not when everything was just beginning to make sense.
No. No. No.
Goddamnit.
"The babies are here," Harper says, trying to soothe me. "The babies are fine--"
She shakes her head, covering her face. "The babies are sleeping in their bassinets, but the door was swung wide open. She wouldn't have left. But look in the driveway." She points behind me and I turn to look.
That's when I see the tire marks in the soft mud, obviously new. Someone peeled out of here. Fast.
"We need to call the cops. Now," I tell Harper. "The church must have come back for her."
"How would they know?"
"I don't know, Harper," I shout—louder than I should. The last thing I want to do is startle her or the babies. But I'm torn up. "Go home, get Jaxon in case anything shady happens. I'll call the cops."
"Of course, but I can't leave you here."
We walk to the cabin, the babies whimpering, and I immediately pick one up. Andrew, I think. But I just met them last night. I rock him, immediately realizing he needs to be changed. And I realize they are all gonna be hungry soon.
"If we don't have Cherish back in an hour we're gonna need milk for the babies," I tell Harper.
She just shakes her head. "Three-month-olds can't have milk.They need formula." She exhales. "James, I'll take care of the babies. You drive down the mountain until you get cell service and call the cops, okay?”
___
Chapter Fifteen