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Carter looked at the phone, scowling as his brother hung up on him.
Chapter 5
Zahara hesitated at the double glass doors leading to the side entrance of the university. She was using a different exit, as for the past couple of days, she had been hounded by the majority of Carter’s family and even a friend of the twins, all trying to get her to sit down and hear Carter out again.
She blew away an irritating strand of her curly hair that was grazing her lip, tickling it, and eyed the bush that hid some of the sidewalk. Her stomach rumbled, signalling that she needed to go and get something to eat or make something. It was now high time to feed her belly and baby. She sighed, hoping this time she would be given a reprieve. She was going to talk to Carter but just wanted him to stew for a couple of days. The man needed to be brought down a peg or two. Too many people jumped when he snapped his fingers.
Zahara couldn’t believe how many people had shown up on his behalf. She had met his twin brothers: Michael first, who was handsome, funny, and engaging as he tried to flirt and charm his way into convincing her to talk to his older brother. Then Michael’s fraternal twin Ben had had a go. He was serious, the complete opposite of his twin in every way, even in looks. Both were handsome men, but even though he had the same eyes as Carter and Michael, she found them to be a little on the creepy side.
Ben looked to be dissecting her when they first meet, and not in a good way. She’d sensed that he had some dark tendencies to him, and she shivered when he took her arm to help her down the stairs leading down from the university doors. Her intuition on high alert with him and her instincts proving right when even though his face looked innocent, he had let her know in a polite way—that sounded like a warning to her—that she needed to talk to his brother.
Then she had been surprised when a dark black woman, slightly taller than her and with a thick, muscular physique approached her. At first, Zahara thought she was looking for directions, until she mentioned Carter too. But she had to contain her mirth when Ambra started talking about Michael and Ben being great uncles—specifically Michael—and she had known that Ambra was in love with Michael. Zahara was not surprised. He was a charmer, but he was also a heartbreaker. Just like his older brother, she thought bitterly as she stepped down to the cement sidewalk. As she approached the bush, she heard a sneeze. She squeezed her eyes shut and wondered who was there now. It sounded like a feminine sneeze, and she had a feeling that this time she was going to meet Elizabeth Carter, mother to Carter, Leaf, Michael, and Ben.
Zahara turned the corner and smiled at the lady patiently waiting there for her. The woman returned her smile, her blue eyes crinkling at the corners, reminding Zahara of Michael. He took after his mother a little in his features, even though he had dark hair and silver eyes like his brothers, while both Carter and Ben must take after the father she assumed.
The older woman gave Zahara a sheepish look, then moved forward and simply wrapped Zahara in her arms. She was surprised at first and then sniffled, tears pooling in her eyes. She returned the shorter woman’s embrace, resting her head against hers. She hadn’t realized she needed a hug until Elizabeth did that.
They remained like that for a moment until Elizabeth pulled away.
“Let me take a look at you.” Her gaze moved over Zahara’s form in her dark-blue coat with jeans and the matching hat and scarf that framed her neck and head.
“Beauty and brains.” Her eyes took in Zahara’s school behind her. Then she shivered, and Zahara wondered how long she had been waiting there for her, feeling slightly guilty.
As if reading her face, Elizabeth smiled and patted her gloved hand. “Not to worry dear, I wasn’t out here very long. My driver just dropped me off. I borrowed Carter’s phone, as he has paid someone handsomely to put a tracker on your phone.” She beamed with pride.
She then frowned. “He probably won’t be too happy with me stealing his phone while he was in the shower, but he can wait to get it back.”
Zahara’s mouth gaped open in surprise and her cheeks heated with anger that he had done that, but then a burst of laughter escaped her. His mother had been able to get his most precious device away from him without him knowing. She loved his mother already and knew that Carter was a very lucky man to have such a loving soul for a mother.
His mom gave Zahara an impish smile—she liked Zahara.
Zahara’s mom loved her too, but right now she was angry with her, and the feeling was justified. Zahara knew eventually her mom and dad would come around, but it was hard not having their support and love.
The hug had been just what she needed. She had been keeping up the appearance of having everything together and that she was doing fine on her own, but she was scared and worried about her baby and wanted someone to talk to about what she was going through. She wanted to make sure she was doing the right things and getting the correct check-ups, and that what she was feeling was normal. She knew she could talk to Selena, but her sister was a little bit busy with her own baby, and she didn’t want to intrude on her and Calum’s time by having them worrying about her.
“How are you doing dear?” Elizabeth’s gaze searched hers, and then she nodded. “Is there a place where we can sit and get out of the cold? I think you have many questions, and I would like to know more about the woman carrying my grandchild.”
Zahara nodded. “There is a quaint coffee house not far from campus. Students and people living in the area frequent the family-owned business.”
“Okay, give me one second,” Elizabeth said and pulled out her phone to send a quick text to her driver, Zahara assumed. Elizabeth phone began to vibrate, and she looked down at the number with a grin before answering.
“Don’t worry Carter, I will take good care of Zahara. No, no need for you to come by yet. We don’t need you breathing down our necks and ruining our bonding time.” She listened for a second and then said, “Bye Carter, love you. Now where is that coffee shop you mentioned?”
Elizabeth put her hand on Zahara’s inner arm, and they strolled to the coffee house with Elizabeth peppering her with questions about what she was studying.
Once inside, they settled at a table, and Elizabeth ordered her coffee while Zahara had an iced tea.
She took off her coat, hat, and scarf and laid them on the back of the empty chair next to them. When she faced forward again, she saw tears of joy in Elizabeth’s eyes. Zahara smiled.
She stood up and moved closer to the other woman. “Would you like to touch my stomach?”
Elizabeth looked up at her and nodded. Her hand shook as she touched the hard surface, feeling it. “You seem much bigger than your almost five months. Could you be carrying twins?” Elizabeth asked curiously.
“No, I do not think so. My first ultrasound only showed one heartbeat. This will probably be a big, tall baby like its father.”
Elizabeth gave her a doubtful look but didn’t say anything as she swept her hand across Zahara’s width, her smile never leaving her face. She leaned forward and spoke quietly to Zahara’s stomach, telling the child how loved and cherished they were and that she couldn’t wait to meet her first grandchild.
She pulled away and Zahara sat back down. They sipped their beverages, and then Elizabeth sat back with a sigh, rubbing her forehead.
