A book on one of the shelves depresses with aclick, and I push on the shelf to reveal a small room. Eva gasps in surprise.
“You have a secret room hidden behind a bookshelf?” she asks, tugging excitedly on my arm. “I always wanted one of those!”
On impulse, I pull Eva close and kiss the top of her head before leading her into the room. She draws another sharp breath, and her hand slackens in mine as she looks around the room and the treasures passed down to me or that I’ve collected, including Fabergé eggs and other creations.
I reach for one in particular resting on blue velvet, a brooch in the shape of a rose, likeThe Scarlet Flower. But unlike in the tale, this one glimmers with rubies, emeralds, and diamonds.
Eva doesn’t take the brooch immediately. Instead, she stares at it, then at me.
“Take it,” I urge, extending my hand to her, the brooch on my palm.
“I don’t even want to touch it,” Eva confesses. “That’s worth way more than I am.”
“Not true. This is worth thirty-six thousand dollars, one of only eighty flowers and fruits made by Fabergé. You,” I gently shift her hair behind one ear and caress her cheek “are worth all of them and more.”
A flush creeps over Eva’s face and travels up to her ears.
“You are worth everything,” I murmur. I bend my head and kiss her soundly before resting my forehead against hers. “I would give this all up in a heartbeat, Eva, for you. This is yours. All of it, everything that’s mine, is yours if you want it.”
Eva freezes against me, then pulls slowly back, searching my eyes. “You can’t mean that,” she finally says, her voice barely above a whisper.
“I don’t say anything I don’t mean.” I tighten my grip on her uninjured shoulder and hold her gaze to make sure she’s listening, to make sure she understands how serious I am. “Like I told you in the hospital, I want you to stay with me, and not just for the children, but for me. For us. You can do whatever you want with the brooch, wear it, sell it, or never look at it again. You can sell everything in this room, and I won’t care because none of it matters without you here.”
Eva remains silent until her eyes glimmer, a tear spilling down her cheek. I brush it away with my thumb, but another takes its place.
“I realized how little everything means without your fire and your light and your laughter, Eva. Nothing matters as much without you by my side. Two months without you was agony. Please, be with me. Don’t just stay with me, butbewith me, whatever that means to you. Whatever it is, I’ll be happy as long as you’re here.”
“You mean,” Eva licks her lips, swallows, and stutters her next words. “L-like marriage?”
I nod. “If that’s what you want.”
“I…” She stops again, swallows again. “I guess we’ll have to talk about it.”
Taking her good hand in mine, I kiss her knuckles. “Is that a yes?”
Eva laughs. The sound is high and slightly wild, but I see happiness shining in her eyes, too. “Yes. That’s a yes, whatever we decide it looks like. And I’ll treasure the brooch forever. No way in hell am I selling it.”
I laugh, and Eva joins me before we share a deep kiss that leaves us both breathless. I’m tempted to do more, especially after our extended time apart, but the color is starting to fade from Eva’s face again. She looks like she might wilt at any moment.
“I love you.” I murmur the words, and they feel right the second they leave my mouth.
“I love you, too.”
At Eva’s words, something profound, something in the farthest reaches of who I am, clicks into place and settles. The knowledge of my love for Eva and her place in my life and heart takes up permanent residence deep in the marrow of my bones.
“How about a shower and sleep?” I ask.
Eva rolls her eyes. “That sounds heavenly. But I don’t know how I’m going to do anything with this.” She gestures with her head toward her sling-bound arm, then winces in pain.
“I’ll help you if you’d like.” I kiss her forehead again, running my hand over her silky hair.
Eva bites her lower lip, then nods. “Okay.”
Once in my bathroom, I turn on the shower until steam fogs up the glass, then help her remove her clothes before undressing myself. I wash her hair and her skin, careful to avoid the gashes and stitches, kissing the bruises gently as I help wash away the dried blood and pain from yesterday and all the days apart.
There is nothing sexual about it, only comfort for both of us, a pledge and confirmation of our feelings and the promise we’ve made to stay together.
I tuck Eva into our bed, stuffing pillows under her arm until she’s comfortable. Then I stay until she falls asleep.
