Total pages in book: 14
Estimated words: 13384 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 67(@200wpm)___ 54(@250wpm)___ 45(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 13384 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 67(@200wpm)___ 54(@250wpm)___ 45(@300wpm)
No, this isn’t just usual happiness. Today, there’s a special kind.
We started in darkness. In confusion and conflict. But now, we’re straightforward, just a simple, beautiful love. Some might say, boring love, but not me.
I just know he’s going to be overjoyed when I tell him.
I can’t even wait for him to fully step out of the car. My husband, with his tall, wide build, his intense eyes, and a smile that never leaves his lips these days.
“I’m pregnant!” I yell.
He rushes from the car, then slows down, stops and stares like he’s convincing himself I’m real. He knows me, too well.
We were so lucky to find each other, soulmates, despite it starting in blood. Such opposites. In a dark, dark place. And with so many torn, conflicted emotions. These days, I just don’t reflect. Dare not. Only look forward.
“Oh, God,” he says, pulling me into a fierce embrace. “This is just … perfect. Perfect, Mara. We’re going to be a real family, finally.” He genuinely looks relieved and content.
“I’m so excited too,” I murmur, resting my head against his chest. “But we’re going to need to be careful when we tell them how we met.”
“In a car park,” he snaps.
He laughs, hugging me tighter. Then we find each other’s lips, and thinking about anything else is completely impossible. For now.
EXTENDED EPILOGUE
RADOMIR
Six Years Later
“Call me back, or message me when you have a more reasonable offer,” she says and ends the call. Mara smiles at me across the kitchen divider, her hand rests on her pregnant belly. I swear, she somehow looks even more beautiful when she’s pregnant. More full of light, and life, and love. “Now I start counting…one,” holding a solitary finger in the air, she continues to prep our breakfast.
“Are you going to make a habit of rejecting billionaires?” I tease.
She grins. “I learned from you, angel. Never doubt my worth. Right?”
I’m so proud of her achievements. “There’s a reason you’re one of the most sought-after photographers on the whole West Coast.”
“Mommy’s the bestest!” Charlie says, laughing as he skips in from the living room.I smile at our son, ruffling his mop of brown hair. “I couldn’t have put it better myself.”
“Daddy is determined to get paid a bazzlion dollars to guard the CEO,” Mara says, grinning at me. “And Mom deserves top dollar for her prints, too,”
I smile, but keep a neutral face. Burying the shudder that touches me whenever she says Daddy … that’s for later.
Her cellphone rings again. Mara laughs and claps her hands, “forty, forty-one, forty-two”. She grabs her phone from the counter. “Hello.” She places one finger to her lips to shush us both. “Oh, well, yes, that is more reasonable. I think we might just make this work. Thank you, yes, you too, bye.”
I walk around the kitchen island and sweep my wife into my arms. “Don’t sound so surprised. You know I don’t quit easy.” She raises her chin defiantly.
I pull her finger up to my mouth and give it a teasing bite and a quick suck. Charlie makes an ick noise when I kiss his mother. I chuckle, turning toward him. “Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten about you!”
He squeals in delight and darts for the hallway. “You gotta catch me first!”
“Challenge accepted!”
The cellphone blares again, but if these past six years have taught me anything—and they’ve taught me everything—it’s that family comes first.
Always.
The End