Plausibility

Epilogue

Aquilla loved living in the city. She loved their new apartment only two blocks from the studio. She loved being in business with Seri and never imagined she would ever be this happy. She smiled up at their neon pink sign every time they locked up Seri & Quill’s. The name was perfect, and after only two years of being in business, they were a hit. A big hit. They taught women how to stand up for themselves, kids how to escape a kidnapper and even the NYPD.

The cocky police officers were their favorite. There was always one, one that was pissed because he was being made to take the class being taught by two little girls; one that always thought he was going to put the girls in their place and, of course, one that always looked like an ass in front of his peers because he couldn’t. They would look at each other and smile when one of them would throw the arrogant ass to the red mats, flat on his back, usually accompanied by a painful moan.

“You sure you’re feeling okay? You haven’t been on the mats all week,” Seri accused, knowing Aquilla loved being in the center of the mat.

“I’m fine, and I have to. I’ve just been leaving the slamming to you.”

“Why?” Seri asked suspicious.

“Because, I hurt my shoulder a little.”

“You’re a liar. Something’s up, I can tell, Quill.”

“Nothing’s up. Go home.”

“What are you doing tonight? Your dad is cooking chicken on the grill. Do you want to come over?” Seri asked as Quill locked the front door.

“No, and you are such a traitor. I can’t believe you are eating that stuff. No feet… Remember our rule? We don’t eat anything with feet,” Quill reminded her.

“Chickens don’t really have feet.”

“They do too. What do you call them if you don’t call them chicken feet?” Aquilla argued.

“In China, they’re called Zhao.”

“We’re not in China, and you’re still a traitor. I’ll see you later,” Quill said as she turned to walk the two blocks to her apartment and Seri flagged her cab.

“Hi,” Quill said, unlocking the door to their apartment, seeing Julius at the table with a slew of papers, folders and his laptop strung about the table. “What are you doing?” she asked, kissing him on the cheek.

Julius pushed the laptop to the side and pulled her in front of him. She tousled his hair and kissed his forehead. “I am keeping you and your sidekick’s books straight,” he answered. “You guys used eighty dollars more in electric last month.”

Quill laughed. “Does it matter? It’s probably from the two new juicers.”

“I was just telling you in case you cared about where your profits were going.”

“I don’t care about that stuff. That’s why I keep you around.”

“How was work? You look tired.”

“I am a little tired. I think I will go soak in the hot tub for a bit.”

“What are we doing this weekend?” Julius asked, slipping her socks off and rubbing the balls of her feet.

“Hmm, that feels amazing. I am having lunch with Whisper tomorrow and then I thought maybe we would go look at a house,” Quill announced, waiting for the reaction.

“What house? Why do you want to look at a house? You mean to move to?”

“Yes. It’s about a mile from my dad and Seri’s on two acres. It’s got a pool, a custom built playground, four bedrooms, three baths, and an amazing garage for you,” she added.

Julius looked up at her confused. He dropped her foot and stood between her legs.

Shit. She didn’t want him to stop doing that. He hadn’t touched the other foot yet.

“You want to move from our apartment? I thought you liked it here.”

“I love it here.”

“You’re not making any sense. Were you smoking that shit with Seri again?”

Quill laughed. “No. I just don’t think I want to raise a baby in the city.”

“You want to raise a baby?” Julius asked, still not getting it.

“I don’t think it’s a matter of wanting to raise a baby. We are GOING to raise a baby.”

“Quill?”

“I’ve told you for over two years that your birth control method was eventually going to catch up with you.”

“Quill?”

“Daddy?” Quill countered.

“Daddy?”

“Yes, Julius you’re going to be a daddy.”

“Are you fucking with me?”

“Uh-uh,” Quill muttered, biting her bottom lip.

“How do you know?”

“I’ve suspected it for about two weeks now. I went to the doctor this morning before we opened the studio.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I’m telling you now.”

“Does Seri know?”

“I think she does. Seri knows everything. She’s just waiting for me to tell her.”

“Quill?” Julius was in shock. He just couldn’t seem to get it to sink in.

Quill didn’t reply with words. She kissed him, showing him with the emotion behind it that she loved him, and they were going to be okay.

“We’re going to have a family?” he asked, pulling away.

“Yes, what do you think about that?” Quill asked his lips.

“I don’t know. I think. I think. I don’t know what the hell to think, Quill.”

“But you’re happy?” Quill asked.

“I am very happy, shocked as hell, but happy.”

“Phew, you had me worried there for a second.”

“Let’s go to this house you’re so excited about and do a drive by,” Julius suggested, excited.

“I’m tired. We have an appointment tomorrow afternoon.”

“Please,” Julius begged. “I’ll rub your feet, your legs, back, pussy,” he snuck in.

She laughed. “Fine, I’m holding you to it. All of it.”

Shelby Seri Chavez was born on the coldest day of winter, weighing in at 5 pounds 7 ounces. Julius couldn’t have been happier. She was perfect. She had his dark hair and nose, but crystal blue eyes like her mommy. He hoped they stayed that way.

He had no sooner gotten them home and Quill settled on the couch of their new home when the entire family was at the door. Seri, Liz and Monica all fought over holding the tiny little baby while Manny stared at her. He was afraid of breaking her.

“I need you to move back to Connecticut so that I can take care of this little angle while you work,” Liz suggested.

Quill laughed. “I work here. You work there. How’s that going to work? Besides, her daddy is going to be here for her.”

“You’re not hiring someone?” Liz asked, alarmed. She didn’t like it. Julius couldn’t take care of a baby.

“No, Julius doesn’t want to. He’s going to be a fulltime daddy. He’s already an expert diaper changer and burper,” Quill said, smiling at him and the spit-up on his shoulder.

“I’m not sure I like it,” Liz admitted, kissing Shelby’s puffy little cheeks.

Quill knew the day they found out that she was a girl, she would be called Shelby. She owed her mother that much after putting her through hell for all those years, and then more when she moved home. Seri, of course, had to be in there too. Quill wasn’t sure she would have made it without Seri. No. She was sure she would have never made it.

Julius stared at Quill, sleeping in their bed. She was exhausted and happy to be home in her own bed. Shelby peacefully slept beside her mother in her little bed. He couldn’t have dreamed he would be where he was standing in a million years.

He thought about his father and how much he would have loved being there for Quill and his granddaughter. He would have spoiled her rotten. He missed him, but was nonetheless, happier than he had ever been in his life. He was going to be the best daddy he could be, and as soon as Quill quit being so tenacious and walk down the aisle with him; he would be the best husband he could be.

He was fine being the stay at home dad, taking care of the books for her and Seri, and just being a daddy. He wanted more. Shelby was going to have someone her own age to grow up with.

“What are you doing?” Quill sleepily asked, seeing his silhouette with crossed arms leaned against the threshold of the bathroom.

“Thinking about how much I love you,” he softly replied.

Quill smiled. “I love you too. Come to bed with me.”

Julius sat on the bed beside her and held his finger in the tiny hand of his baby girl. His baby girl. It just seemed so surreal. Quill pulled herself up and wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in the crook of his neck.

“Stop worrying. You’re going to be fine.”

“What if I screw up? It’s crazy how much I love her, Quill.”

“You’re not going to screw up.”

“But what if I do?”

Quill placed her head on his chin and her hand on the side of his face. “You’re not going to screw up. You are going to be a great daddy, and she is going to love you as much as I do. I can already see you teaching her to kick ass.”

“She’s not going to have to worry about that. I’m never letting her out of my sight.”

“Come to bed with me,” Quill whispered to his lips. She was tired and knew that Shelby would want a bottle soon.

Julius slid out of his jeans and moved in behind her, holding her close with their baby right beside them.

“Julius?”

“Hmmm?”

“We’re a family.”