AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yes.”
“I think you better get used to it. Mom is bossy.”
Emma’s laughter said she hadn’t taken offense at their son’s pronouncement.
“Your mother has always had a way of getting me to do as she wanted,” Konstantin told Mikhail conspiratorially.
“Not when it counted,” Emma said under her breath.
But he heard her. Konstantin gave her a look that he hoped conveyed his regret for their past.
She just shook her head and carried a tray laden with a pitcher of lemonade and glasses to the table. Konstantin noticed that though his cup matched the two glasses, Mikhail’s lemonade was served in a plastic cup that was sized for his smaller hands.
There were so many details in Emma’s home that showed she took their son’s needs into account in even the smallest of minutia.
Konstantin took a sip of his lemonade and was surprised at how perfect the flavor was. Not too sour. Not too sweet and the mint gave it a refreshing twist. “This is very good. You made it?” he asked Emma.
“Well, me and the lemonade juicer.”
“She used to squeeze all the lemons by hand,” Mikhail offered. “But it made her hand sore, so Mrs. Jensen bought her a juicer thing.”
“I thought you were the nanny, not the housekeeper?” Mikhail asked.
“I had some light housekeeping duties.”
“Like making juice?”
“And the beds. I used to help Mom make ’em. She said when I was a baby I helped too, keeping her company.”
The idea of the mother of his child doing such menial tasks for another did not sit well with Konstantin.
“I know that look on your face, Prince Konstantin, but normal people make beds and juice and clean up after themselves and others all the time. Working for the Jensens allowed me to finish school and stay with my son until he was old enough for preschool day care. It was good for both of us.”
“You have provided my son with a stable and good home life,” Konstantin said, once again feeling the weight of guilt at the knowledge that she should never have had to do that alone.
“Our son, and it was my privilege to care in every way for Mickey. It always will be.”
“Mom says being a mom is the most important and bestest job ever.”
“Best,” Emma corrected with a smile.
“Best,” Mikhail parroted.
For just a moment, Konstantin had no words. This little family was his, through no great feat of his own, or even one good choice after the one to date Emma. This amazing woman had made a future he never thought to have possible.
Marriage to a woman he genuinely wanted and parenting a son who was already a wonderful little human.
Something of what he was thinking must have shown on his face because Emma’s expression softened, but then she took a breath and her no-nonsense look came over her lovely features. “Mickey... Mikhail,” she stressed. “Do you remember when you asked about your dad the first time, and I said that when you got to meet him, you might want to move to be near him?”
Konstantin knew that Emma had not planned for that day to happen anytime soon.
“You mean me and you move, right, Mom?”
“Yes, of course. You aren’t going anywhere without me.” And that was said with rock-solid certainty along with a warning look toward Konstantin.
As if he would ever try to take Mikhail away from Emma. “It is my hope, Mikhail, that your mother will agree to marry me and we can build a family together, but even if she does not,” he said quickly when his son opened his mouth to speak and Emma looked ready to clobber Konstantin, “I am hopeful that you will both be willing to make your home in Seattle and Mirrus as I do.”
“Two places?” Mikhail asked, sounding confused. “You can have two houses? Is that real?” he asked his mother.
