Chapter Three • He Must Have Been Dropped As A Baby

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aphroditejoyce I know that a gift so great is only one that God could create.
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Aphrodite found herself spending a pleasant day in the company of Joshua and his two young sons, Jeyce and Jaciyah.

This was a significant occasion, as Aphrodite had recently learned that she was carrying the children of both Joshua and his twin brother Jonathan.

Joshua had been making a concerted effort to integrate Aphrodite more fully into his life, determined to ensure that she developed a close relationship with his boys.

As they strolled together, Aphrodite's towering six-inch heels clicked against the pavement, drawing concerned glances from the trio.

"Okay, take off them heels," Joshua gently instructed, eyeing her footwear with worry.

Aphrodite glanced down at her elevated shoes, puzzled by his apprehension. "What's wrong with my heels?" she asked, perplexed.

The boys, Jeyce and Jaciyah, mirrored their father's apprehensive expressions, silently agreeing that such lofty footwear must be causing her some discomfort.

"Your feet must be hurting in those," Joshua observed, to which Aphrodite responded with a good-natured chuckle.

She was quite content to allow Joshua to embrace his overprotective baby daddy tendencies, as it would provide her the perfect excuse to indulge in some much-desired shoe shopping.

"You know what, you're right," she conceded. "Maybe we can go to that shoe boutique over there, and you can buy me some cute flats," she said, promptly crossing the street before Joshua could respond.

He hurried to catch up, placing a guiding hand on the small of her back to ensure her safe passage.

Once inside the boutique, Aphrodite eagerly began perusing the selection, her eyes immediately drawn to a pair of alluring high-heeled boots.

"Flats or sandals, Ditie," Jeyce reminded her, gently steering her attention toward more practical footwear options.

Jaciyah then chimed in, pointing out a pair of stylish yet comfortable-looking sandals that perfectly complemented Aphrodite's outfit.

It was clear that Aphrodite was not only contending with an overprotective Joshua but also two mini-Joshuas, each determined to ensure her comfort and well-being.

Joshua chuckled as Aphrodite pouted, picking up the flats that Jaciyah pointed out to her. "Fine, I'll take these," Aphrodite said.

After browsing the chic shoe boutique, Aphrodite emerged wearing the comfortable flats Jaciyah had selected, her feet finally relieved from the strain of walking around in heels all day.

As the group made their way back to the car, Jeyce's grumbling stomach broke the contented silence. "I'm hungry," he announced, glancing over at Aphrodite, who nodded in agreement, her appetite stirring.

Turning to the rest of the group, Joshua took charge, asking, "Okay, what do you all want to eat?" Without hesitation, the unanimous response was a craving for juicy, tender steak.

Sensing the group's collective hankering, Joshua led the way to a renowned local steakhouse, the enticing aroma of sizzling meat wafting through the air as they approached.

Once seated at their table, the boys seized the opportunity to learn more about Aphrodite, bombarding her with a flurry of questions.

Where was she from? What were her hobbies and interests? They were captivated by her every word, eager to uncover the depths of her personality and discover what made this enigmatic woman tick.

Aphrodite graciously entertained their curiosity, regaling them with tales of her adventurous life and passions, the conversation flowing freely as they savored the mouthwatering steaks that had been prepared to perfection.

The following day, the scene at Aphrodite's house was one of tense but necessary discussion. Trinity, Joshua, and Jonathan had made the brave decision to bring their parents to Aphrodite's, intent on confronting the situation surrounding her unexpected pregnancy head-on.

As the adults gathered, it became clear that Aphrodite's parents, both respected doctors, were far more understanding of the circumstances. Having witnessed similar scenarios in their medical careers, they approached the delicate topic with a sense of empathy and wisdom that the other parents sorely lacked.

In contrast, the reactions from the remaining mothers and fathers were a study in shock and disbelief. They simply could not fathom how their adult children could have been so careless, their faces etched with a mix of horror and disappointment.

However, as the initial outrage began to subside, a more practical concern emerged - namely, how this unconventional family would navigate the challenges of raising four babies together.

Ever the voice of reason, Aphrodite calmly proposed that her home would serve as the central hub, a place where the grandparents and parents alike could gather to dote on the little ones.

Her spacious abode, Aphrodite assured, had ample room to accommodate everyone involved in this unique and quickly expanding family dynamic.

The room fell silent as Jonathan's inappropriate joke landed with a thud, leaving everyone in stunned disbelief.

Trinity, his wife, stared at him with a mixture of shock and disappointment, her brow furrowed as she demanded, "Boy! What is wrong with you?"

The tension was palpable as the other guests exchanged bewildered glances, unsure of how to react.

Aphrodite couldn't help but chime in with a touch of sarcasm, "He was dropped as a baby, wasn't he?" implying that Jonathan's questionable behavior was the result of some sort of developmental trauma or cognitive impairment.

The awkward chuckle that followed her remark only served to further highlight the gravity of the situation, as the once lively gathering had been brought to a screeching halt by Jonathan's ill-timed and highly offensive attempt at humor.

The air was thick with unease, and it was clear that he had crossed a line, leaving his loved ones to wonder what had possessed him to say something so wildly inappropriate and out of touch.

In the ensuing silence, the group grappled with the fallout, unsure of how to move forward and restore the lighthearted atmosphere that had once filled the room.

"I'm sorry, I guess it's not cool to joke about the foursome just yet," Jonathan said.