"Now boys, give us more time together, then we'll start making dinner," Jasmine said to the men. They reluctantly walked away, though they mumbled to each other about emotional women.
Jasmine and Trinity continued to comfort Nicole until all the tears ran dry. They slowly pulled themselves together and headed toward the kitchen. There was a household staff who normally cooked but sometimes it was soothing to prepare a meal together.
"I hear Joshua crying. I'll be right back," Trinity said, walking over to grab her infant from his car seat.
"He's beautiful," Nicole said with longing. She'd never allowed herself to even think about having a baby. You had to have a relationship first and she didn't have the time for one.
"He's only three months old. Jasmine and I had our youngest within a few weeks of each other and it's been great to share the experience," Trinity told her as she brought her son close to nurse.
Jasmine pulled her son Mark out of his car seat. He was awake but not hungry yet. Nicole wanted to hold him with an ache that surprised her but she didn't want to be forward and ask. As if Jasmine could read her mind, she handed over her son and Nicole sighed in pleasure.
"Oh, I haven't held such a tiny baby since Patsy was a newborn," Nicole said in awe, as she rubbed his precious cheek. "He's so little," she added in complete awe.
"They're a lot of work but worth every single minute and Derek is such an attentive and amazing father. He shares the nights with me, making everything perfect. There are many people who are disgusted with us," Jasmine gushed.
"I don't know of many men who are up for the three A.M feedings," Trinity added. "Drew is just as amazing at helping me out. I couldn't imagine doing this all on my own."
"Do you get to stay at home with them?" Nicole asked.
"We own a shop together but only spend minimal time there and the babies always come with us. Ryan built us an amazing nursery and a play structure for the older kids. We get to have a business that's ours. We take pride in it but still get to be the kind of mothers we want to be," Trinity told her. Nicole was filled with a bit of envy, which she instantly felt guilty about.
It would be so heavenly to not have any worries and get to be a full-time mother. She felt more like a mom to Patsy, instead of a big sister and she wished she'd been able to be with her more but she always worked hard to keep a roof over their heads and the supplies Patsy needed to get a good education. She'd spend every free moment with her though, which was another reason she didn't date. She really had a full plate.
The sad thing was she didn't think she'd ever get to hold her own child in her arms. Maybe someday she thought wistfully. The women continued to visit and Nicole got her baby fix, holding little Mark in her arms.
The men slowly walked into the kitchen like it was a war zone. They were afraid the women were going to send them away again and the alpha males didn't like the feeling of being told to go away. They crept through the doorway and there was an audible sigh of relief from all three men when they saw the women laughing.
They once again looked at each other as if they really couldn't understand the complicated minds of women. One minute they were sobbing together and the next laughing as if all was right in the world.
"Can we help you with anything?" Derek questioned. The girls looked up, as if surprised to see the guys standing there.
"You can get the steak going. The rest of this food will be ready before you know it," Trinity told them. They grabbed the marinated steaks and made a quick exit. The girls giggled at the guy's haste.
"I know it's terrible to play with them but sometimes it's simply way too much fun not to," Jasmine said with a giggle.
"Agreed," Trinity said. Nicole nodded, although she was afraid to play with Ryan. She had a feeling if she tried to play she was going to get seriously burned. She put it out of her mind and simply enjoyed her time of peace in a world, which had been shattered for many years.
They all enjoyed a wonderful meal, then sat by a fire, where Nicole found herself laughing more than she'd ever done in her life. The cousins were certainly entertaining and Nicole forgot, for a small moment in time, how much stress she was under. When it was past midnight, the family headed out she was uncomfortably aware she was alone with Ryan. She didn't know how to behave, or what to say.
"I'm really tired, so if you could tell me where I'm sleeping I'll leave you alone," she mumbled at him.
"You'll be sleeping in my bed again but this time I won't lay awake half the night in frustration," he growled at her.
"I'm not sleeping in your bed, Ryan," she said with her own rising temper. He couldn't force her to sleep with him. Ryan glared at her and slowly stood up. He seemed more of a predator than she'd ever seen before. She was somewhat terrified but more aroused than she would ever admit. He was an impressively masculine man and with that look of desire, mixed with fury in his eyes her stomach turned into a quivering mass.