Chapter 18 Cravings

It was eleven am Monday morning and Diane was in the newly built walk-in closet Gabriel had made for the twins. One side belongs to the girl and the other side the boy. Her sisters had just brought up the stack of baby clothes they had washed and she was packing them out. The nursery was now complete and her bags were pack and sitting by the door leading to the garage because the doctor said that it was a possibility that she would have the babies at seven months.

She was so big, she felt like she was about to pop. Gabriel did everything he could to make her comfortable, he would ask a lot of questions whenever he took her to her doctor's appointment to make sure he was doing everything right. He also tried to spend as much time at home as he could and right now he was in his study on a video conference; his study was so big that he split it into a library because he had so many books.

She also tried to help him whenever she could by writing up and signing the rent receipts for all his complexes and his plaza and sometimes paying the bills for him online and even though she was as big as a barrel she still kept herself looking good for him with her regular facials, manicures, and pedicures and keeping her hair looking good.

He made sure to keep their prayer time very special, they prayed every morning before he leaves the house and every night before going to bed, and as busy as he was he still found time to do Bible study with her. He was still teaching Bible class whenever the pastor wasn't available and there were still a few people in the church who believed that he was getting special treatment because he had money but she loves her husband's passion for God and he took his Christian life very seriously.

Sister Mitchell was still dropping hints at him to let him know she was still available but Brother Michael seems to have wised up, he was still whispering in peoples ear and stirring up trouble for Gabriel but at least he wasn't up in Gabriel's face anymore and there was no more note so that was good.

She was still attending Sunday morning services but sometimes find it very hard to go back in the night. Some times Gabriel stayed with her and some times she asks her sisters to stay so that he can get to go back. She knew that soon she won't be able to attend church at all because she was getting bigger by the week. Her doctor had also changed her from her two-week visit to every week now but she still considered herself blessed because her babies were growing perfectly.

Desreen poked her head into the room. "Hey sis, are you in here?" Desreen's voice brought her out of her thoughts. "I'm in the closet Desreen." Desreen enters the closet and hugs her sister. "Hi, how're you doing?" She asks. "I'm doing great, I'm very blessed." "That's good to hear, oh before I forgot Dana found this in the wash room; what is it by the way?" Desreen asks handing the device to Diane.

"It's my apple iPod, Gabriel bought it for me." "Oh yeah I heard about these; expensive aren't they?" "Yes it is but Gabriel loves to buy me expensive gifts; this one is always all over the house because he likes to put the headphones over my belly and play music for the twins; so how are you?" She asks massaging her belly. "Oh Diane, I'm wonderful; I mean ever since Gabriel helped me and Doreen to open the wholesale things have been great. I'm so grateful to him for all he has done for each of us." Desreen smiled. "I remember when Scott and I used to struggle with our little shop, it really wasn't doing very well, we didn't get many customers because of where we were but now; wow, we're so blessed Diane. Scott and I prayed so long for a breakthrough and to tell you the truth we almost gave up." She sighs heavily.

"We were going to lock down the shop and go look jobs somewhere else but just as we were about to do that there comes Gabriel; now to tell you the truth when I first met him I was looking to see what kind of gun or guns he was carrying because he looked downright scary but then he spoke and to my surprise he was a Christian, I really didn't see that coming; I mean we heard that he was baptized but I really wasn't expecting all that. Where is he by the way?" Diane put away the last of the clothes and sat on a chair and massaged her back.

"He's in the study on a video conference," Diane replied. "Cool; technology has come a far way but you know why I know that we're blessed; Gabriel could have chosen any woman to be his wife but it was the will of God why he chooses you and trust me when I tell you that we're walking in divine favor and we're using every chance we get to share our blessing with other people." "That's great, we cannot forget that God blessed us so we can be a blessing to others; now let's go down to the kitchen and get something to eat because I'm starving." Diane laughs still massaging her stomach.

"You're not going to eat something weird are you?" Desreen asks making a strange face. "Not right now ever since I was three months Gabriel has been having a hard time keeping up with my cravings." Diane laughs. "Yeah I remember his face when he was telling us about them, first it was Pickles and Peanut Butter, then Preszels and Tuna fish, and a few weeks ago it was Broccoli and Chocolate syrup, good lord I shudder to think what may be coming next." She laughs as they enter the kitchen. "He's one to talk; I'm sure all those taste a lot better than his Supligen and raw eggs." She snorts.

After they pick jasmine up from school on Tuesday Diane, Diana, Dana, Jasmine, and Gabriel went to Mega Mart to do some grocery shopping and to get some more Christmas decorations; even though she might be spending Christmas in the hospital her sisters were still going to decorate her house and then there was the buying and wrapping of gifts. They went from shelf to shelf until the trolleys were full, there was a guy at a counter wrapping gifts so Diane took four of hers over to him; he was in the process of wrapping them when the babies began moving around which causes cramps.

She tried taking deep breaths but the cramps only got worst. She then began feeling light-headed and breathless, she had to take shallow breaths while breathing through her mouth, holding onto the counter for support she softly called for her husband. "Gabriel; Gabriel baby; I need to sit down for a while." She said breathlessly. He quickly got her a chair and helps her into it. "Breathe baby girl; come on, deep breaths." He whispers softly.

"I can't; it hurts when I breathe." She replied gasping between breaths. He bends down in front of her and began gently massaging her stomach and felt a thud against his hand. "Wow; powerful little buggers aren't they?" He asks laughing. "You can say that again," Diane replied still trying to catch her breath. "It's time to settle down little ones; I know the both of you want to play but you have to take it easy on your mother alright." He spoke directly to her stomach and to the babies, then he begins to hum to them; within fifteen minutes the babies settled down and the cramps gradually fade away.

Diane breathes a sigh of relief. "Thank you baby, at least they're learning from early to listen to their daddy." She said taking another deep breath as he smiles up at her. "I like the fact that they're obedient and since we have all but bought this place out; maybe we should go home." He chuckles. "I think you're right but wait baby boy I didn't get the cheesecake and my ice cream." She pouts. "Your latest cravings?" "Hmm," "Okay I'll go get them." He said getting up. "Wait I have a better idea; you and Dana get Diane and the grocery into the car while Jasmine and I get the cake and ice cream," Diana suggests. "Thanks, sis, it's the cookies and cream, ice cream okay." "Okay, I got it," Diana said rolling her eyes as she holds Jasmine's hand and walks away.

On Thursday Gabriel had lunch with his friends at an awesome restaurant called Cuddyz. They laugh and joke while stuffing their faces. "Hey prince I have a question for you," Mike said still laughing. "How do you go from being a lady's man to a one woman man and what do you do when your girl isn't giving it up or in your case can't give it up?"

"That's three questions Mike but we all know that we have to base our relationships on a lot more than just sex; now if your girl isn't giving it up then you guys must be doing something wrong and in my case; my wife can't give it up because she is almost seven months pregnant with twins, now in my case my wife and I find other ways of getting the satisfaction we need, so I think you guys need to figure out exactly why your girls aren't giving it up."

Marlon snorts with disgust. "It's always something different wid Maxine, its either she too tired or she has a headache or it's her time of the month or she is just not in the mood, but I think the reality of our situation is that not because you have a good marriage means we're going to, now don't get me wrong we love we girls to death and we're thrilled to be getting married but our girls are nothing like Diane; Diane is soft, sweet and gentle while our girls are real ghetto chicks so Mike and I have gotten used to the fact that whenever they lock shop we go somewhere else and get what we want," Marlon said with satisfaction. "I agree with Marlon, sometimes these girls make it really hard for us to be faithful," Mike adds

Gabriel leaned his head left then right as if trying to relieve the tension that was building in his muscles, then after taking a deep breath he addresses his friends again. "Look guys, doing the right thing is never easy but the question I want to ask is this; I know that you guys were cheating on your girls but do you think it's possible that your girls are cheating on you?" Mike and Marlon looked at each other.

"Damn dawg; that didn't even cross our minds," Mike said looking embarrassed. "Listen guys I'm not trying to embarrass you, I just think that it's a possibility that they too could be getting it somewhere else because I'm willing to bet that they don't know that you guys are cheating." Marlon bites at the inside of his mouth for a few seconds before saying anything to that statement.

"Well Maxine suspects something but she can't prove it." Justin chooses that moment to join in the conversation. "I think you and your girls need to sit down and have a long talk before you all get married." He suggests. Marlon nods his head in agreement. " What my girl don't know won't hurt her but you have a point, as soon as I reach home Maxine and I are going to have a long talk because after I say these vows to her I'm done wid all this lock shop business." "I think I'll do the same; Janet and I need to straighten out a few things and we need to do it very soon especially since we're planning on getting married before Diane gives birth," Mike said cleaning the rest of his lunch from his plate.

That statement caught Gabriel totally of guard; he was about to finish his drink but the bottle pause in mid-air instead. "Hold on a second; you guys are planning on pulling off a triple engagement party and a triple wedding before my wife gives birth?" He asks in disbelief while lowering the bottle back to the table. "Oh yeah, and you're going to help us," Justin answered. "I've no problem with helping you guys but what's the rush?"

Marlon answered first. "Well, because we need Diane at our wedding and because we don't want to wait three months after she has the babies not to mention that as soon as dem little one comes into this world you won't have time to scratch your head much less help us plan our wedding." "And because we don't want her traveling any long distance, we've decided to keep our engagement party and our wedding reception on your lawn; how does that sound?" Mike asks looking please with himself.

Gabriel snorts and shakes his head as he looks at each of his friends, his eyes then came to rest on Justin. "Is Claudette okay with all this?" "Yeah, we're both okay with it, seeing as though the pastor has already given me two lectures I say the sooner I make Claudette my wife the better." "Alright; you guys seem to be on a roll so let's make this happen."

After lunch Gabriel went to one of his apartment complexes to check on a few things, he was about to head home when his phone rang. "Hello.' "Hello, this is Mr. Jackson from the university hospital; is this Mr. Maxwell?" "Yes." "Sir we need you to come to the hospital right away." "What's this concerning?" Gabriel asks his heart rate increasing. "Sir there's no time to explain over the phone just get here as soon as you can. I will meet you in the parking lot."

The call ended and fear grips him as the thought that it could be Diane came to his mind. A shiver ran down his spine and he could feel the panic setting in. Something was wrong with his wife and his babies but why didn't her sisters call him. "God please let her be okay." He prayed as he drove to the hospital at ninety miles per hour.