“Do you want some wine?” I asked.
She waved her hand in response.
“Er … no.”
“Perhaps later?” I asked, one eyebrow cocked.
“Uh …”
“I’ll get you some food then. Craving anything in particular?”
“Uh … maybe some steamed rice rolls.” She turned to glance at me. “I think I can stomach that.”
“Alright,” I said and placed a kiss on her forehead. The moment I exited the room, I placed the order for the food, and then called Bianca.
It was a six-hour time difference to South Africa, but thankfully she picked up.
“Hey, Maxim,” she responded. It was 3am there.
“Bianca,” I said. “I’m sorry for the late call but I have to ask you something. What symptoms did you have when you got pregnant?”
Freya
“How far along are you?” he asked.
My heart stopped beating. For the longest time, I didn’t move. I waited for him to say something else but when he didn’t, I knew that my period of grace was up. I sat up, too afraid to meet his eyes.
“Uh …” I breathed. “About six weeks.”
The room went silent. And then he moved to sit next to me on the bed.
“Why is your head hanging?” he asked. “Why are you acting like you’ve committed a crime?”
I choked back tears. “I wasn’t careful. I’m so sorry.” I searched his gaze. “I was going to tell you. I was just waiting for the right time. I know it will change things, but I promise I will take care of everything.”
“Do you have so little faith in me?” he asked.
I raised my head.
He shook his head. “So your conclusion is that I am not going be happy with the inconvenience of having a child, the baby I created with you?”
My brain felt scrambled. “You’ve never …”
“Never what?” he asked, one eyebrow arching.
“You’ve never said anything about wanting…” I couldn’t complete my statement. I didn’t want to cry again, but the tears rolled down my face before I could stop them. “I’m sorry for crying, but it’s the hormones I swear. I’m so freaking out of balance.”
Maxim placed a leather box on the table.
I stilled and stared at it.
“Open it,” he urged softly.
I reached for the box with shaky hands. Taking a deep breath I pulled it open. Inside was the most beautiful diamond ring I’d ever seen. It sparkled like mad. Slowly, I looked up to Maxim’s waiting face.
“Marry me, Freya Federov.”
I opened my mouth but no words would come out.
“Yes,” I replied. “Yes, yes, yes, I will. With all of my heart.”
“Now we will make both our fathers happy.” He reached me then and pulled me into his arms. I held on tightly to him and never wanted to let go.
“I love you, Freya. I love you so much it fucking hurts when I think anything is wrong with you.”
“I feel exactly the same way,” I said, and pulled away to look into his eyes. “I can’t believe you’re finally mine.”
“And I am over the moon that you are pregnant with my child. I can’t wait to have a little red-headed Freya running around.”
I laughed. “Funny, I was thinking I couldn’t wait to have a little black-haired Maxim running around.”
“Well, how about we have both. As far as I am concerned we can have as many as you want to have, but I draw the line at sixteen.”
I laughed. “I want three.”
“I can live with that.”
Then he slipped the ring onto my finger and bending his head pressed his lips to mine. The kiss he gave to me was the sweetest and most soul stirring kiss I’d ever received from him.
Epilogue 2
Maxim
Three Months later
-I have loved you for a thousand years-
It was a grand church, the walls were grey with centuries of holy smoke. These ancient walls had witnessed hundreds of thousands of ceremonies and rituals. And here was another for it.
I stood facing the altar. The designer had decorated it with swags of greenery, baby’s breath and roses that had been flown in from France for their sweet scent.
Behind me the pews were full of pastel colored hats, dresses and suits. There was a buzz of excitement in the air. I turned slightly and looked at my father. His shoulders and his spine were straight. There was no smile on his face, but I knew he was proud of me.
This was his dream.
He nodded formally at me. I felt a pang of sadness that my mother was not there, but I told myself she would be watching from wherever she was. She was a good woman and chances were, she was in a good place.
My brother stood next to me. The day he and Bianca would leave for Africa for good was looming closer and closer. I was going to miss him like hell, but he had his dream to follow. The music changed. I was told not to turn around, to wait for my bride to arrive beside me, but I had never been one to follow custom.