Twisted Ties of Love (Izabella Salotti and Brett) novel Chapter 579

As the end of May rolled around, Izabella was five months pregnant, and her belly was undeniably prominent.

Carrying one child had been a challenge for Izabella, and now, with twins on the way, her back ached and her legs were swollen despite the daily massages Casey gave her with soothing oils. She'd take any chance to sit rather than stand, but sometimes, standing was inevitable.

Thankfully, the morning sickness had passed, but now it was a matter of enduring the ever-growing bump. The twins seemed to be at odds even in the womb, tussling and causing her belly to lurch this way and that.

Gently rubbing her stomach, she spoke in a soft voice, "Little darlings, no fighting now."

Her words seemed to calm the storm inside her; the movements softened until they ceased altogether.

Casey was drawing a warm bath when he heard her. He quickly emerged from the bathroom.

"Are those little rascals stirring up trouble in there again?"

"Yep."

Casey crouched before her, sternly addressing her rounded belly, "If you keep fighting in your mother's tummy, just wait until you're out here, and I'll show you what tough love is."

Izabella flicked his forehead with her finger. "They can't understand you, love. Some movement is good. It's when they stop moving that we need to worry."

Casey thought about it and agreed, though he still fretted, "But they shouldn't be wearing you out like this."

Izabella's body was feeling heavier by the day. With the bath ready, she attempted to rise, and Casey was right there, holding her steady.

Seeing the concern etched on his face, Izabella exhaled, "Don't fuss so much. I can bathe on my own."

"No chance, the floor's wet." Casey was overprotective, anxious whenever she was out of his sight. He worried she'd trip over furniture or slip on a wet floor, even the hustle and bustle of crowds on the street made him nervous they might jostle her.

With a smile, Izabella relented, "Alright, support me a little then."

Bending at the waist, Casey played along, "As you wish, my queen."

Both actors in their own right, Casey, an A-list star, and Izabella, an award-winning actress, occasionally enjoyed improvising scenes from their lives as if they were on set. One day they'd enact a romance, the next a corporate drama. Today, it felt like a tale of a queen and her devoted consort. In these playful scenarios, it seemed Casey's status was ever diminishing.

What else could he do but dote on her?

...

By July, the cicadas had emerged, their incessant buzzing adding a lively layer to the tranquil summer days.

Now seven months into her pregnancy, Izabella struggled to find a comfortable position for sleep. Lying on her back was too heavy, on her side too constricting on her heart. Insomnia became routine, nights spent sitting on the edge of the bed, with Casey by her side, helping her through the long, difficult hours.

The harder and more exhausting the days, the more Izabella looked forward to meeting their twins.

Bunny had ordered a mountain of baby gear online, filling the nursery to the brim. They'd even bought a bunk bed on a whim, never expecting to need both bunks so soon.

Casey, having wrapped up filming for "Interstellar Odyssey," was on break and embracing his role as a dad-to-be. He signed up for classes at a parenting center, learning how to change diapers, feed, and keep his wife comfortable.

...

As the end of August approached, the sunflower season was drawing to a close. Izabella was having trouble sleeping. Her body felt constantly tired and worn out, and even though exhaustion weighed heavily on her eyelids, sleep would flee the moment she closed her eyes. On the rare occasions she did manage to drift off, restless dreams would haunt her.

But the dream she had that night was different. Izabella dreamt of Niki, the beautiful Ragdoll cat. It sauntered over with a fluffy tail swishing and a comforting purr emanating from its throat. When it reached her, it gently kissed her cheek, and then, nestling close to her swollen belly, it let out a soft meow and nuzzled against her as if greeting the unborn twins.

Izabella reached out to embrace the soft creature, but before her fingers could touch its fur, Niki vanished like mist.

"Niki... Niki..."

"Bella," a voice called out to her. Izabella's eyes fluttered open to find Casey looking down at her with concern.

He held a tissue, gently dabbing at her cheeks, and only then did Izabella realize that the dream of Niki had moved her to tears.

Years had passed, and the sunflowers in their pot were in their fourth cycle of blooming in the summer and withering in the winter, sprouting anew in the spring only to blossom again.

Every glance at those sunflowers brought memories of Niki flooding back – the cat that, despite its fear of fire, had bravely attempted to rescue her from the flames. The Ragdoll cat, once beautiful, had been left scarred and injured by the inferno.

In the days following Niki's death, Izabella's dreams were haunted with the cat's suffering, its pained cries echoing as it struggled in agony.

Perhaps not wanting to see her in pain, the wise Niki had appeared only three times before ceasing to visit her dreams. Izabella couldn't conjure it up no matter how hard she tried; she could only cling to memories, or sometimes allow herself to hope. After all, she had come back from the brink herself; perhaps Niki had found a new life too.

No matter how deep the wounds, time has a way of healing them, but healing isn't the same as erasing. The scars remained, and the pain lingered, surfacing whenever she allowed herself to remember. That's why, when Izabella dreamt of Niki in its pristine, unscarred form, the tears flowed, unbidden and full of love.