Holding my stomach self-consciously, I couldn’t help the smile, not with the news that I was having both a boy and a girl. “Umm. A boy… and a girl.”
“Twins?” Brittany shrieked.
Tim’s eyes became thin slits. “You just found out today you’re having twins?”
“No. I was waiting to tell the dad. He went to the appointment with me.”
“We get to know who the dad is, then?” Brittany asked, which surprised me. I hadn’t been sure Ava would stick to her promise not to tell anyone her brother was the father.
“Sure.” I shrugged. “He’s coming in for dinner tonight.”
Before they could say anything else, I left the station to make sure my tables were clean for the dinner rush about to roll in. The evening started out just fine, not too busy. People piled in around five. Tim’s was one of the only places near The District that still had authentic Cajun food on its menu, so crowds swarmed the place even on weeknights.
As the evening went on and more people filed in, I ended up running a freaking marathon just to keep my tables happy. The fact that I was getting winded pissed me off, but I tried hiding that, as well as the weird tightening and pain in my lower abdomen. Especially when Kai, Ava, and Cade walked in, getting a table in my mostly full section. I couldn’t lean on anything when the pain about knocked me off my feet while I approached their table. But I must have made a face, because Kai was watching me with an intense gaze.
“Congratulations!” Ava exclaimed, hopping up to hug me before I could even greet them.
“Yeah. Congratulations,” Cade said as I awkwardly patted Ava on the back, trying to compose my face because she was pressing into my tightened stomach. Dr. Clarke had said this might happen, and it wasn’t alarmingly painful, only uncomfortable.
“Thanks, guys,” I told them when Ava sat. Kai was still watching me with his lips in a thin line.
“I can’t believe it’s twins! It’ll be so fun seeing what a boy and girl are like!” Ava kept going on, but I couldn’t really pay attention.
“Yeah.” I tried for enthusiasm but failed miserably. “We’re a bit packed tonight, so I can’t chat long. Sorry. What can I get y’all to drink?”
They ordered their drinks, and I hurried off to get them as well as refills for my other tables. The tightening kept happening as I picked up orders and dropped stuff off at tables. They weren’t regular though, so I brushed it off… for the most part. When no one was in the station, I would hunch over the counter, breathing deeply. I drank about a gallon of water between running around my tables, which made me have to pee a lot. Kai kept on watching me, but I stayed composed in front of him.
A much more intense bout came on right after I took them their food. I hurried—well, mostly waddled—back to the station that was thankfully empty. With a quiet whimper, I hunched over the counter and drew in a deep breath. “Come on,” I muttered to myself and the babies. “We’re doing okay. We’re just fine.” I scrunched my eyes shut around another breath.
“How long’s that been going on?” Kai’s question made me jump, then cringe.
I ungracefully spun around to face him head on. “Don’t know what you’re talking about.” When I went to move around him, he grabbed my elbow. I nearly growled at him.
“Please don’t insult me, Kate. I’ve been watching you since we got here, and you’ve looked like you’re in pain the whole time.”
“I’m fine.” I jerked my arm from his grasp.
He took up the entire doorway before I could go anywhere. I gave him the best glare I could muster. “Kate. Don’t be stupid. If you’re in pain, you shouldn’t be on your feet.” With a roll of my eyes, I sighed. “I’m fucking serious,” he whispered angrily, getting in my face. “You aren’t stupid. And you aren’t weak. You’re almost six months pregnant. With twins. You should be taking it easy, not running around a restaurant.”
“Everything all right, Kate?” came Tim’s voice from behind Kai. I could have kissed his feet.
Kai glared but moved aside so my boss could get a better look at me. Tim’s face was completely flat, but his gaze was trained on Kai, not me.
Whipping out my best dazzling smile got his attention. “It’s fine. I was just about to take refills to one of my tables.”
“And this is?” He gestured toward Kai.
“Kai. Ava’s brother,” I answered before Kai could.
The grin he wore could only be described as malicious. He stuck his hand out in front of Tim. “Also the father of those babies.”
The way Tim’s eyes popped out, I about died. He shook Kai’s hand very chummy like, turning my smile into a frown.
“The twins are yours?” Tim clarified, looking him up and down, sizing him up. Kai nodded. I closed my eyes and took several deep breaths. When I opened them, they were both ogling me, Tim with raised eyebrows, Kai with that wicked smile still in place. “Is everything okay?” Tim asked me, glancing back at Kai.
“She’s trying to be a tough girl, but I’m pretty sure she needs to put her feet up.”
I had never in my life wanted to smack someone so badly. How dare he step in with my boss of all people. How dare he belittle me like that.
“I am fine,” I told Tim, not even looking at Kai anymore. “I had a cramp was all, but I’m good now.”
“Hmm.” Tim looked me up and down before glancing over his shoulder at the dining room, then back at me. “I think we’re slowing down a bit. Soon as your current tables leave, I want you heading home. You’ll just be first off tonight, okay, honey?”
At that, I heard Kai’s teeth clack together, but I still didn’t look at him. The fury rolling through me had to be held at bay at my place of work. I would allow him to draw whatever conclusions he wanted regarding my boss calling me honey, though Tim and I both knew it was just his Southern sweetness coming out.
“Tim, it’s seriously fine. I came in later than usual. I really don’t mind sticking around and closing up.”
“It would put my mind at ease.” He patted my shoulder with a kind smile. Kai’s hands fisted at his sides as he shifted his weight back and forth. “You know I don’t like you overdoing it.”
“Of course I know that” was all I could say. Anger brought my nausea to the forefront. This was something I couldn’t fight, couldn’t control. “I’m gonna get back to my tables, then,” I told him. When I walked past them, I shoved the billfold at Kai’s chest, snapping, “Your check,” without even glancing at him.
My tables were satisfied, even though I’d gone missing for however long that had been. Kai paid their check but hung around after Ava and Cade went home. I didn’t pay him any attention while I finished off my few tables and closed out the section for the night. The tightening kept coming and going, but with things a bit slower, it calmed down, too.
After doing some side work, Tim cashed me out and told me he didn’t need me to come in again until Sunday. My heart sank. A Sunday. We did just fine on Sundays, but as things went, that usually ended up being our slowest day. I could see what he was doing, and I couldn’t allow it. My bills would pile up. I had two freaking babies to get ready for. And I would not be accepting any charity from Kai. “Tim, please don’t pull me from the schedule just because of tonight. I need the work.”