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Drake and Zach jumped up to take over setting off fireworks, and I settled myself on the blanket Nataliya had spread out. “Are you okay?” she asked. “You got a little misty-eyed there.”
I nodded. “I’m just…happy,” I said. She hummed in agreement, and we watched the first few smaller fireworks that were sent into the sky. “Where’s Elias?”
Nataliya giggled and gestured over to where our son had settled himself next to Zach’s daughter, Lacy. Matty was sitting on his other side. When we’d all gotten together for the first time a few months ago, Elias had been thrilled to reconnect with Matty . . . and he’d fallen head over heels in puppy love with Lacy. The little girl was older and tolerated him civilly enough, but it was plain to see that he was enamored with her. He sat beside her bravely, barely flinching at the loud pops and bangs of the fireworks as they went off overhead.
“I think she’s holding his hand,” Nataliya said. “She called him and Matty ‘the sweetest little brothers’ earlier.”
I snorted. Poor kid. “It probably wasn’t fun to be compared to a six-year-old.”
Nataliya shrugged. “I think he’s just glad she wants to spend time with him. Besides,” she said, leaning into me, “I think there’s a little girl in his class he’s got a crush on. Her name is Mia. Every time he mentions her, he turns bright red. It’s so cute.”
I chuckled. I’d heard the name “Mia” a time or two myself. Ah, young love. He had just turned ten; it was still adorable. Nataliya and I were going to enjoy teasing him.
We sat and watched as the fireworks display went on, but I knew the end was coming. “Drake said they wanted me to help with the finale,” I said, getting ready to stand.
“Wait,” Nataliya said. She passed a paper to me.
I looked down, but it was too dark to see what was on it. “I can’t?—”
“Go help out,” she said nonchalantly…which was as suspicious as a man walking around with a trench coat on. “Let me know what you think after, okay?”
“All…right.” She leaned forward and bused my cheek with a kiss, and I stood and made my way over to where Drake and Zach were holding torch lighters.
They handed me one of the lighters, and together, we set fire to the various wicks on the big box of fireworks. We rushed back to a safe distance as balls of fire shot off into the sky. Everyone’s eyes were drawn up; I could hear the soft oohs and ahhs behind me, but I was distracted by the paper Nataliya had handed me.
“Hey, give me a light,” I said to Drake, who pulled out his cell and turned on the flashlight. He aimed it at the paper in my hand, and my heart leapt into my throat.
It was an ultrasound. With Nataliya’s name across the top.
“Holy shit,” I said out loud. Drake slapped me on the back.
“Congrats, dude!” I barely heard him over the roar as the final burst of fireworks started.
I turned and scanned the crowd for Nataliya. She must have gone back inside. “Watch Elias for me?” I asked. “Make sure he doesn’t run off and elope with your daughter?”
Zach let out a flat laugh. “Ha ha. So funny, asshole.”
Drake slapped him on the back again. “We got him,” he said. “Go see your girl.”
I jogged up the lawn and slid the patio door open. Nataliya was leaning against the counter, smirking. “It took you long enough,” she said.
I held up the ultrasound. “Is this for real?”
She cocked her head. “Do you think I would fake something like that?” It wasn’t a question whether she could or not. We both knew that she could.
But I also knew that she’d never prank me about this. We’d had far too many conversations about the possibility of more kids. We’d gone as far as to get testing done to anticipate the risk of a new baby being affected by Loorer’s. Even if Elias had made a full recovery, it was a fear that lived in the back of both of our minds.
I smiled. “Really, sweetheart?”
Nataliya nodded. “Really, really.” I crossed the kitchen in two strides and grabbed her up, spinning her. Nataliya giggled against my neck. “Does this mean you’re happy?”
I set her back on her feet but didn’t let her go. Beneath the dazzling smile was a thread of apprehension. While I had never met Nataliya’s ex-husband and probably never would, I’d long since decided that if I ever did, I would punch the bastard in the face. She wasn’t gun-shy about a lot of things, but I could always tell when something opened the old wound that he’d made when he abandoned them.
I kissed her, long and deep, and she sighed into my mouth. “I’m so happy,” I murmured, sliding my hand over where she was still flat and tried to picture her round with our growing child. I couldn’t wait. “You’re amazing.”
She kissed me again. “I love you, Adrian.”
Looking into her deep, hazel eyes, it struck me that this was my actual life. That I was lucky enough to have found the woman of my dreams…even when I didn’t dare to dream about her myself. “I love you too, sweetheart,” I said. “I always will.”
