《Welcome To The Family》Right
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Taylor came back into the house before the rest of the men. Emme had spent most of the day asleep. The moments she was awake, I could hear her sniffling as she tried to hold back sobs. I would rub her back in an effort to comfort her. She was asleep when Taylor came into the room.
I pushed myself up so that I was sitting when Taylor came into the room. He did not say anything to me as he walked to the side of the bed. He kneeled down and ran his fingers through Emme's hair. She stirred but did not wake.
"Lindsey, go help Mom with dinner," he said.
I nodded before getting off of the bed. I stopped when I was at the door and looked over my shoulder. Taylor brushed his knuckles against Emme's cheek. Her eyes fluttered open before she pushed herself up. Taylor helped her sit on the edge of the bed.
I hurried out of the room. I felt like I was already overstepping my boundaries by watching them. I went down the stairs and Jenny was at the sink cooking.
"How is Emme?" she asked me as I joined her.
"She slept most of the day," I said.
I did not include the part of her silently crying while awake. I did not want her to worry anymore about Emme than she already did.
"Good," Jenny said. "She needs the rest."
"Taylor is with her now," I said.
"I have good feelings that she will feel better about this family now."
The door opened, and Gabe and Noah walked into the kitchen. Gabe came up behind me and put his hands on my belly. The smell of dirt and sweat filled my nose. I leaned back into his chest.
"Are you okay?" he whispered into my ear.
I nodded. I was alright. I just hoped that Emme was okay. I wondered if she would be coming down for dinner or if Taylor would keep her in bed for the evening. I was curious if Emme was crying while Taylor took care of her.
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I set down the knife that I was using to chop vegetables, and I turned and slid my arms around his neck. He pulled me in for a kiss. When our kiss broke, I stayed on my toes and was inches apart from Gabe.
"I love you," I said.
Gabe smiled and kissed me again.
"I love you too," he said. "Let me get washed up."
I nodded and let go of him. Jenny and I put dinner on the table as the men cleaned up. As I was putting plates on the table, there was a thudding noise coming down the stairs. I looked to see it was Taylor with his arms around Emme. She had changed into a sundress, but her curls were still a matted mess.
We all sat around the table. Taylor pulled out a chair and helped Emme sit down. She sighed as Taylor filled her plate full of food. I was expecting her not to want to eat, but instead, she shoveled the food into her mouth. I guess she was hungry from not eating for a few days.
Gabe put his hand on my knee and squeezed. I realized that I was staring at Emme. I bit down on my lip as I looked down at my plate.
"It's good to see you eating, Emme," Noah said.
Emme looked up from her plate for a moment before shoving more food into her mouth.
"It's good for the baby," Jenny said.
Emme visibly shuddered before setting down the fork. Jenny's comment ruined her appetite.
"Emme, we know you're worried," Noah said, "but you are going to be a great mother. You are going to give this family many healthy boys."
Taylor reached around her and put his arm over her shoulders. Emme jumped when he touched her. Her fork clanged with the plate and she held her bandaged arms to her chest.
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"Of course she will," Taylor said. "I can't wait to have our son."
"What if it is a girl?" Emme asked.
Noah clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth as he shook his head.
"Hasn't Taylor taught you that you should be asking no questions?" he asked. "You need to trust us. We are always doing what is best for you."
Emme pushed her food around her plate with her fork for the rest of dinner. I would find myself staring at Emme, and then Gabe would squeeze my thigh. It was a silent gesture to tell me to stop looking at her.
Jenny and I stood after dinner and began to clear the table of dishes. Emme stood. It was so abrupt that we all watched her. I thought that she was going to run for the door, but instead she picked up her and Taylor's plate.
I chewed on my bottom lip to stop my jaw from hanging open. She was actually helping us? She wasn't screaming and trying to run away?
Emme said nothing as she brought the plates into the kitchen. She surprised me even more when she filled the sink full of water to wash the dishes. Taylor got up from the table and went into the kitchen. He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the counter as he watched Emme work.
They said nothing to each other. Emme avoided looking at Taylor as his eyes were locked on her every move.
After we cleaned up, the men went back outside with Jared. I could see them through the bars on the window that they were sitting on the porch. My heart ached as I was a bit disappointed that I did not get to go outside with them like I usually do. They must not want Emme to know that it is possible to ever go outside.
"You both should rest," Jenny said. She smiled before she clasped her hands in front of her face. "I love that the two of you are pregnant at the same time."
Emme's hand went over her belly. She chewed on her lip as she stared into space. She jumped when I put my hand on her shoulder. My chest tightened, afraid that she would attack me again.
"Let's go to the living room," I said.
Emme let out a deep breath before nodding. I grabbed the crook of her elbow and pulled her into the living room. Jenny was close behind. I sat down on the couch and Emme sat next to me. Jenny went over to the record player, and music began to fill the living room. It was Big Band music that my grandparents would listen to.
"How do you feel about Taylor?" Jenny asked. "I have always tried to raise my boys right."
Emme rubbed her arms as she rocked back and forth on the couch. She was staring at the floor. I rubbed her back, and she did not try to push me off.
"How I feel about Taylor," Emme repeated. "How I feel about Taylor."
"Yes," Jenny said. "Do you love him?"
"Love him?" Emme furrowed her brows. "Do I love him?"
Jenny nodded. Emme let out a deep breath and shook her head.
"Do I love him?" she said again. "Do I love him?"
"Emme, you know he's trying to take care of you, right?" I asked.
She closed her eyes. She was silent for a moment. The loud music filled our ears.
"I love him," Emme said.
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The Nomad
A [participant in the Royal Road Writathon challenge] for 2020. A child born in one era and raised in another searches for his past. Along the way he must deal with the shackles placed upon his mind, a wise-cracking ship AI, and more bureaucratic paperwork then any one soul can shake three sticks at. This story began life as a one-off short, but this version has been a) expanded into a full work and b) a complete re-write of the orgional. You can find the origonal version here in my short-story anthology. Cover by gej302!
8 191Witness
The mind is a fragile thing. One slip and the shattered pieces are so innumerable that reconstruction is impossible. One such Theodore Chatwood is unfortunately very familiar with that sentiment. From a young age, frequent visions of horrid, incomprehensible beings plagued his mind, and it only became worse with time. They speak in colors, whispering in ageless language... They wait in corners, watching intently. The world harbors much more than meets the blind eye. Do not fret, though. Simply take the syringe. Hold your breath. Close your eyes. It will all be finished soon... *Updates every Sunday* Cover by: Tentacles and Teeth
8 170Ronny McKitty
Ronny McKitty is a lazy, uninspired man coming up on his 30th birthday. He’s never had a job, a lover, not even a passion. This state of things upsets the narrator, a god responsible for creating his bloodline, who decides to shake things up by hiring a hitman to kill the guy. Soon afterwards, Ronny finds himself stranded in another world, just in time to learn that the city he arrived in was going to be attacked by monsters in a month's time. Penniless and afraid, he finds himself with no choice but to prepare for the oncoming calamity by taking advantage of the ‘System’ our narrator installed into his soul. Surviving his second death will be a challenge, but he might just pull it off!
8 127The Survivor From Snowdrift
Emerencia grew up trained by her Uncle as a swordsman in a isolated village deep in the mountains called Snowdrift. Emerencia's father who successfully ran the Snowdrift Iron Mine suddenly started making low production of Iron Ore for the kingdom. After a third low production delivery of ore, a Vaesite general himself commanded his soldiers to burn the village to the ground along with killing all of the villagers. Emerencia wakes up in a puddle of melted snow just outside her uncle's house surprisingly alive. As Emma leaves her village to seek revenge, she also gets to see the world for the first time. She even makes new friends who start to feel like family. Most importantly, Emerencia learns how cruel the king and his soldiers really are.
8 116In the Name of the Unholy Spirit
On his dying breath, the five year old Silas is saved by the angel Arkun. To save the boy, the angel shares a part of his broken halo, and in doing so, he ends up making the boy the first human with angelic powers in the world. Follow the adventures of Silas and Arkun as they build an Empire and shape the world according to their desires. "Participant in the Royal Road Writathon challenge."
8 185Reeds longing for the Stars
This Xianxia is set in a tribal society in the early Bronze age and progresses along with the MC. What is a Commoners worth, if powerful people wave their hand and their village is gone? Does Power alone qualify for the right to rule? If the quest of cultivation is to become immortal why should you proceed if your family and your friends wither and die? Is unbearable loneliness all that is at the end? A book found sets things in motion that slowly shape the essence of the young Realm.
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