Chapter 4: Life is Full of Surprises
I feel like a beached whale these days. Me back is always ‘urtin’. Silas does whatever ‘e can t’ ‘elp me out. ‘Is massages are great and they ‘elp t’ ease the pain fer a time. I’m about ready fer this t’ be done. I wanna ‘old me baby in me arms.
I’m feelin’ like such a fool; but I ‘ate it when Silas gets called int’ work at all hours of the night. Look at me, actin’ like a brainless female. But I’ve gotten so I’m used t’ ‘avin’ ‘im there. Osiris must know ‘ow I feel cause ‘e’s taken t’ sleepin’ wit’ me when Silas ‘as t’ leave.
When ‘e’s not sleepin’ wit’ me, the little bugger curls up on the kitchen counter with Isis and takes a nap. Oh, the life of a cat. ‘Course, not all sleepin’ and eatin’. Isis ‘as a ‘abit of sharpenin’ ‘er claws on the couch. Silas doesn’t take too kindly to that…
Life sure knows ‘ow t’ surprise ya… I’d gone t’ lay down in the middle of the day; I’d been needin’ t’ do that more an’ more as time went on. I ‘ad just about fallen asleep when a pain like nothin’ I’d ever felt before spread through me stomach. Me first thought was that somethin’ was wrong with baby. I got out of bed, screamin’ fer Silas. Next thing I know… water’s runnin’ down me leg. I was in labor! Despite Silas’s dangerous career, and ‘ow ‘e always seems t’ ‘ave a good ‘ead on ‘is shoulders… well, he panicked a bit when he realized I was ‘avin’ the baby right there. Eventually, ‘e calmed down and remembered t’ tell me t’ breath, but I could see it in ‘is eyes that ‘e didn’t like watchin’ me in such pain.
I musta pushed fer ‘ours. Finally, me and Silas’s daughter was born. This is Teuta Agana.
‘Er sister… yes, ‘er sister… Apparently, I ‘ad been pregnant wit’ twins and ‘ad never known it! Anyway, Rusila Agana followed a lil bit later.
Until Silas and I can get enough money t’ add ont’ the ‘ouse, the girls share our room. It’s also easier t’ take care of ‘em, though makes fer some sleepless nights…
At the risk of soundin’ like a sap, it’s a beautiful sight t’ watch Silas ‘oldin’ his lil girls. I can see the wonder in ‘is eyes when he ‘olds ‘em close. ‘E’s a lil awed, a lil nervous when ‘e ‘olds ‘em, like ‘e can’t get used t’ somethin’ so small. But then ‘e smiles at me and I smile back.
This is a portion of a letter that Silas wrote to his partner shortly after his daughters’ birth:
“It’s hard to believe… All I ever wanted to do was become a police officer, to make it to the top. That first day, when I graduated from the academy, never thought there’d be anything that I wanted more. Then I held my little girls for the first time… I can’t even really describe it. It’s hard to describe a miracle.”
Family lore talks about the patriarch of this family as a man who knew what he wanted. He loved his family and worked hard all his life to provide for them. He made sure that he and Quianna took turns with the kids, even when he had to work more than she did.
Got a weird package in the mail today… these two dolls were sent to the ‘ouse fer the girls. Supposedly from some Great Aunt or other… I don’t ‘ave a great Aunt, and neither does Silas. I ‘ave my suspicions though… not real ‘appy about it, t’ be ‘onest. Me sire may ‘ave been one ‘eck of a pirate, but as a father, ‘e was lackin’. But the girls seem t’ like ther dolls, so we’ll keep ‘em.
Silas and I finally managed t’ save up enough money t’ build onto the ‘ouse. We ‘as a second story now, which is where the girls’ room is gonna be. Place is finally startin’ t’ look like a ‘ouse, and not just a lil ‘ut. Ther’s not much up there right now, not until we get more money.
Silas often gets up in the middle of the night, needin’ t’ check on the girls. ‘E’ll go to their cribs an’ touch each of their lil ‘eads, then he joins me back in bed. ‘E’s not ‘ome as much as I’d like, or as ‘e would. But ‘e’s only three promotions away from the top of his career and his Lifetime Wish. I worry fer ‘im. ‘E’s doin’ a lot of undercover work that ‘e can’t talk about. But ‘e’s a smart man and knows what ‘e’s doin’. Plus, ‘e’s got me and girls t’ come ‘ome, so ‘e doesn’t take foolish chances, not if’n ‘e can ‘elp it.
This is ‘ard fer me t’ admit, but I was wrong… I thought the next step of me life, after being marooned on that deserted island was t’ find me a new ship and go after that dog, Semus. But instead, I ended up ‘ere on Sunlit Tides, and now I ‘ave the most precious lil girls one could ask fer, a ‘usband that loves me- and them- more than anything. I’m ‘appy. I may not be a Captain of me own ship at sea, but I’m a Captain of a different kind of ship ‘ere. I don’t need t’ be a pirate t’ leave a legacy. Me legacy is those two girls. And that’s somethin’ that’s worth more than a pirate’s booty.
Quianna often included random shots of the cats and other incidents that happened without much explanation. I’ve decided to keep these in here and just supply some of the explanations myself.
This first one, little Bastet aged up. From Quianna’s description, she was quite pleased what a mix of her parents Bastet ended up being. And she’s a lot like her mother, loving to pounce and to play a bit rough. And just like her mother, her favorite target is Osiris.
Apparently, they had a bit of a kitchen fire at one point, when the stove was left on. But both Silas and Quianna kept a cool head and were able to put it out fairly quickly before much else was damaged.
Oh my, it appears that Isis was pregnant again, though no one realized it. Here she is giving birth. Ma’at and Hathor are almost clones of their mother. But with two babies to take care of, Quianna and Silas, unfortunately had to give the two little ones up for adoption to a good home.
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