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Somehow, that’s better than anything he could’ve put into words.
* * *
Konstantin accompanies me home at the end of the day.
“Your hubby is trapped in meetings,” Konstantin says. “You’re stuck with me.”
After the excitement and then immediate emotional nosedive of this morning, I’m too drained to have an opinion. We ride home in silence and I head straight to the kitchen for a quick bite to eat before turning in for the night.
The kitchen is spotlessly clean with a single light above the sink on for illumination. But it’s enough for me to see a massive pastry box on the counter.
With a familiar little logo stamped onto the brown cardboard.
The Gingerbread House.
“No way…” I breathe.
I lift the lid cautiously, like it’s a time capsule. A window straight into the past.
Sitting inside are a baker’s dozen of assorted doughnuts and pastries. I lean in and breathe deep. I can almost hear the tinkle of Clara’s laugh. The cackle she made when jelly squirted out of my doughnut and dripped down my chin.
There’s no note on the box, but I don’t need one. I know who left this for me.
And that’s why it terrifies me the way it does.
After today, I feel powerful. I feel capable. I feel strong.
But I’m not sure I’ll ever be strong enough to avoid falling in love with my husband.
53
MISHA
I stare unblinking at the dark screen of the scanner monitor, remembering the last time I stood in this exact same position.
I’d tried to leave, but Maksim had wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me forward.“You’re going to be here one day, waiting to see a life you’ve helped create.”
I shook him off with a roll of my eyes.“The whole point of you having kids is that I don’t have to.”
“You’ll change your mind one day.”
Per usual, Maksim was right. Years later, here I am, waiting for an ultrasound tech to show me my child.
Paige walks into the room timidly. When she notices me standing there, she settles. “Why aren’t we in a hospital?”
“I brought the hospital to you,” I say just as Dr. Simone Mathers walks in.
She is in street clothes, but there’s a stethoscope looped around her neck. She smiles at both of us, lingering on Paige. “Mr. and Mrs. Orlov, are you both ready?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” Paige says with a nervous chuckle. “Has Misha told you about my… medical history?”
Simone gives her a soft smile. “He has. He also mentioned that you’re a little nervous about this pregnancy. I’m here to put your mind at ease.”
Paige crosses her arms low over her stomach. Almost like she’s trying to protect the baby.
The doctor gently leads her towards the exam table. “When you’re ready, you can lie back on the table. I’m going to do a simple scan—the baby won’t be bothered by it at all—and then we can figure out how things are going in there.”
Paige gingerly sits on the table and lays back. Once she’s ready, Simone lifts the hem of her shirt and spreads the ultrasound jelly across Paige’s stomach with practiced hands. Paige blows out a deep breath and firmly grips her pendant. It doesn’t look like she’s planning on letting it go anytime soon.
