The Awakening of Love Ch. 13

I do not know any of the television personalities in this chapter!

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Jake walked into the salon one morning to find Ashira trying patiently to handle a client that was very irate. "Miss, if you can't calmly tell me what the trouble is, I can't help you," Ashira said, trying to be as patient as possible, she saw Jake behind the client.

"Do you need help?" he mouthed. Ashira shook her head and returned her attention to the client who lowered the volume a little.

"I paid for a month of tanning, came in here maybe four times and when I tried to tan today, the little floozy you have out front told me my package expired," the woman said angrily.

Ashira closed her eyes for a moment and silently counted to ten. She really wanted to chew this woman out for berating her friend. Jake took a step closer, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Do you have your tanning id card?" Ashira asked. The woman handed Ashira the card. "Just give me one moment while I pull up your account," Ashira said, swiping the card through the card reader. Ashira scrolled through the information on the screen. "When did you buy your tanning package?" Ashira asked.

The woman shrugged. "I can't remember, but it couldn't have been more than a week or two," she answered. Ashira looked past the woman to Jake. "Jake, can you go back to the records room and pull Miss Carlson's file please?" Ashira asked.

Jake nodded, walked up to the desk, took the card from Ashira and walked away. "Who is that?" Miss Carlson asked, her eyes following Jake as he walked away. "He is quite a good looking man, and that ass," Miss Carlson said, imagining what it would be like to get in bed with Jake.

Ashira laughed and rolled her eyes. "That's Jake, our head of security, and my fiancee," Ashira answered. Miss Carlson frowned, and wondered if there was any way of getting Jake away from Ashira. The front door opened again and Ashira looked past her irate client.

"Linds!" Ashira exclaimed, happy to see her boss. "Excuse me please," Ashira said to Miss Carlson as she hurried over to Lindsey. "Let me help you," Ashira offered.
Lindsey dumped a paper bag into Ashira's arms and followed her to the front desk. As Ashira and Lindsey set the bags down, Lindsey got a good look at Ashira's slightly rounded abdomen.
"It looks like you need to start doing stomach crunches. A pretty girl like you shouldn't carry around so much extra weight," Miss Carlson observed.

Lindsey stared at Ashira in surprise and Ashira blushed as Jake came back up front with the file. "Hey Linds, good to see you!" Jake exclaimed, giving his boss and friend a kiss on the cheek. Lindsey gave Jake a tight hug before returning her attention to Ashira.

"Are you ..." Lindsey didn't have to finish the question because Ashira nodded with a slight smile. Jake reached for Ashira's hand and held it for a minute.
"We are," Jake told Lindsey, holding up Ashira's left hand for her to see. Lindsey grinned, sensing another excuse to have a party.
Jake and Ashira exchanged looks and laughed. "No parties," they said together.

Ashira moved back behind the desk and opened up the file. "Miss Carlson, according to both your receipt that we filed and the computer records, you purchased your package over two months ago," Ashira said.

"How can that be?" Miss Carlson asked, growing angry again. Ashira showed her the receipt. "You fabricated this! You don't want to give me my full tans!" she exclaimed.
Ashira sighed and rubbed her eyes. She'd only been at work for twenty minutes and already she wished she were anywhere but there.
"Do you have a credit card or bank statement that could prove that you purchased it a few weeks ago?" Ashira asked. The woman shook her head, and leaned close to Ashira.
"If you don't give me back my tans, or my money, I will make you regret ever being born," she threatened quietly.

Jake pulled the woman back. "You have stepped way over the line. I'm banning you from the salon, if you don't start walking out of here in the next thirty seconds, I will call the police," Jake said, pulling his cell phone out of the pouch on his belt. Miss Carlson reached for her key card but Jake shook his head. "You aren't allowed back here, ever," Jake said. Miss Carlson huffed, spun on her heel and left the salon.

-3 months later-

Ashira, Jake, Mark, Sunshine and Trevor sat in patio chairs in the back yard of the house on the ocean singing "happy birthday" to Serenity who looked around at everyone, the presents and the cake in awe. Ashira leaned over and helped Serenity blow out the candles and everyone clapped. Serenity clapped too making everyone laugh. Serenity's first birthday was a fun but exhausting event.

Ashira had wanted to make dinner and the cake but Jake and Sunshine convinced her to order in pizza and let Sunshine help with the cake. Serenity talked to Jake in her baby babble as Ashira started cutting the cake. Ashira started to walk back over to the main table with the slices of cake when she nearly tripped over one of Serenity's baby dolls. "Hey, easy there," Mark said, reaching out and steadying Ashira. "You okay?" Mark asked. Ashira nodded, feeling Jake's eyes on her and shivered. "You usually aren't such a klutz, are you sure you're okay?" Mark asked. Ashira blushed but nodded.

"It's a little embarrassing, but I can't see my feet," Ashira admitted. Mark grinned and led Ashira by her elbow back to the main table.
"I'll serve the cake, you sit," Mark said. Jake wrapped an arm around Ashira's waist possessively. He felt more comfortable with Mark around, but part of him still feared he would want Ashira and Serenity back.

Mark sighed as he studied his ex-fiancee, the mother of his daughter heavily pregnant with another man's child; a man that he had practically driven her to. Mark was beginning to regret giving Ashira up and signing over his parental rights to Serenity. He could come see her whenever he wanted, and didn't have to pay a dime in child support, but Mark was beginning to want to be known to Serenity as daddy and not Uncle Mark. Mark shook his head, chasing away his thoughts and brought cake and tall glasses of milk for everyone. He needed to talk to Ashira, but could wait until she had the baby. No point in stressing her out if he didn't have to.

-3 weeks later-

"I can't believe we're here, this is insane," Ashira said, fidgeting in her chair as she and Jake waited for the trial to begin.
Jake nodded and sighed. "I know, suing over something this trivial, it's a waste of tax payers dollars," Jake agreed. He studied his new wife carefully, smiling. They had married the week before, three days before Ashira's due date. The ceremony took place on the beach with only Trevor and Sunshine as witnesses and Serenity as the bride's maid. Their honey moon was just a night at the local Hilton and the love making had been gentle but passionate.

The bailiff said, "All Rise." The words shook Jake out of his thoughts and he helped Ashira stand up. Judge Judy walked over to her position over the rest of the court and banged on the gavel, ordering everyone to sit back down. She then proceeded to ask Miss Carlson her side of the story. Jake only half listened as he studied Ashira out of the corner of his eye and frowned when he noticed Ashira was gripping the stand so hard her nuckles were white.

"Are you okay?" Jake whispered. Ashira waited a minute before nodding and took a deep breath. Judge Judy noticed Jake whispering to Ashira and turned her attention to him.
"Would you like to share with the rest of the court what you were just asking the young woman next to you?" she asked.
Jake wanted to roll his eyes. "I was asking my wife if she was okay, as you can see for yourself your honor, she's very pregnant," Jake answered. Judge Judy opened her mouth to tell him not to be sarcastic when Jake sighed and apologized.

Judge Judy nodded and turned her back to Miss Carlson who finished telling her side of the story. Judge Judy turned back to Jake and Ashira. "And what do you have to say?" she asked. Ashira straightened her spine a little. "Who are you and what is your position with Larson's Tanning Salon?" Judge Judy asked.

"My name is Ashira Barnes, and I am the office and general manager," Ashira answered.

"Go on," Judge Judy prodded. Ashira proceeded to explain the events of the day that happened over 6 months prior. "How is it you remember so much about this incident?" Judge Judy asked. Ashira opened her mouth to speak, but closed her eyes and gripped the table again. Glancing at Ashira in concern, Jake stepped forward.
"When ever we have a conflict with a client, we document it in the file we have. In this file, we keep receipts of every purchase the client makes and when. We print out two copies, one for us, which the client signs and one for the client themselves," Jake answered. "And I'm Jake Barnes, head of security for the salon," he added, turning back to Ashira. "What's wrong?" Jake asked softly.
Ashira shook her head. "My back keeps cramping, I'm fine," Ashira said quietly.

Judge Judy asked for the file which Jake handed over to the bailiff. "I'll be back in a few moments, I'm going into my chambers to deliberate," she announced, standing up and walking away. Jake eased Ashira into the chair behind their podium and the bailiff walked over.

"Ma'am, if you don't mind my saying so, the last time I saw a woman in this much pain as far along as you are, it was when my wife was in labor with my youngest child," the bailiff told Ashira. Jake's eyes widened.
"Shira, are you in labor?" he asked.
Ashira took a deep, calming breath. "Yes," Ashira admitted. Jake cursed under his breath.
"Why didn't you say something?" Jake asked, unable to hide the anger in his voice. Ashira looked at him, her eyes wide and pained.
"Because we'd automatically lose the case and have to pay this woman everything she's asking for," Ashira answered. Another contraction gripped her, this one stronger than the previous ones and she was unable to keep from crying out. She reached for Jake's hand and when he slid his hand into hers, she squeezed it as tightly as she could.
Sunshine stepped forward. "If need be, I can stay for the verdict," she said softly as Judge Judy walked back into the court room and Ashira struggled to her feet with the help of Jake and Sunshine. Judge Judy looked over at Jake and Ashira and having been through it herself, knew exactly what was happening.

"Mrs. Barnes, when are you due?" Judge Judy asked gently.
Ashira gasped for breath and Jake turned to face the judge. "She was due almost a week ago," he answered. Judge Judy shook her head.
"I'll make my ruling brief. Miss Carlson, you have no records to proof your story, and these people from Larson's Tanning have records that proof their story, and they have your signature. Judgment for the Defendant, case dismissed," Judge Judy said, banging her gavel.

As the hammer met the base, Ashira let out a scream of pain as an intense contraction gripped her body and a rush of fluid poured between her legs. Jake swayed but didn't pass out, helping Ashira sit back down. "Jake, I'm scared," Ashira whispered. Jake squeezed Ashira's hand as medics rushed down the isle. As the paramedics started to help Ashira onto the stretcher, she groaned. "I don't think I'm going to make the hospital," she said suddenly.

Jake stared at Ashira in concern as she lay back on the stretcher. One of the paramedics carefully lifted Ashira's skirt up past her knees.
"Ma'am, I need you to lift your bottom for me," the paramedic said gently. Jake helped Ashira lift up and the paramedic slid Ashira's now soaked panties down her legs. "You're right, you won't make it to the hospital, the baby's crowning," the paramedic said, checking Ashira.

Jake shook his head. "No way! She has to wait till we get to the hospital!" he exclaimed, panicking. Ashira moaned in agony.
"Jake, shut up!" Ashira wailed. The paramedic chuckled as her partner started an IV in Ashira's left arm.
"This is to keep you hydrated, when the next contraction comes, you need to push and push hard," he told Ashira. Ashira reached for Jake's hand who took it.

Jake winced as Ashira squeezed hard on his hand as she pushed, screaming.

"Don't scream, save your strength and energy," the paramedic said gently. "Again! One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten," the paramedic counted. "Breathe," she coached as her partner hooked up a fetal monitor to Ashira's abdomen.
"Oh God!" Ashira groaned, pushing as the contraction struck. Ashira didn't know if she wanted to cry, pass out or kill Jake for doing this to her. Ashira looked over at Jake and would have laughed at the look on his face had it not been for the agony she was in.

"Listen Ashira, the head is almost out. I need one more good push for me, but when I tell you to stop pushing, you need to stop, understand?" the paramedic asked. Ashira nodded. "Push, hard!" the paramedic exclaimed. Ashira pushed as hard as she could and almost didn't hear when the paramedic told her to stop. "Good job, just lay there, I know it hurts, it's almost over," the paramedic said, manipulating the baby's shoulders one at a time past Ashira's cervix. Ashira wanted to reach down and pull the baby out herself and screamed as the pain intensified. She wanted the baby out and she wanted it out now. "One more gentle push," the paramedic coached. Ashira pushed and the baby slid out into the paramedic's arms.

Ashira fell back on the stretcher, panting hard, closing her eyes, relieved that the pain was over, but soon realized it wasn't over when another strong contraction gripped her. The paramedic handed the screaming new born over to her partner and peered at Ashira's exposed vagina again.
"Did your doctor say anything about twins?" she asked. Jake and Ashira stared at each other, wide eyed and shook their heads. "Well, then he missed it, push Ashira, push now!" the paramedic shouted. Ashira screamed as the head ripped past her cervix, tearing her in two places and screamed louder when the shoulders slid out, aggravating the tears and when she heard the baby start screaming, she laid back, gasping for air, praying it was over.
The paramedic smiled as she cut the cord and handed the baby to Jake while she propped up the back of the stretcher a little bit higher and her partner placed the first baby in Ashira's arms. "Congratulations, you have a beautiful little boy and a beautiful little girl," the paramedic that delivered the twins said as they loaded Ashira onto the stretcher.