“Okay.” Hanna nodded, sitting down on Steven’s expensive black chair. There was a small crackle from the speakers before a slight hum started, signaling the recording was working.
“Hanna…” Diana’s voice was thin, like a leaf on the wind. Hearing it transported her back to a time when she was a daughter, not a mother. “I’m not sure how this works anymore. I’ve recorded a message for your wedding, but so many people have children before they get married. Either way, I want to tell you how proud I am of you.” There was a pause, followed by soft murmuring. She could imagine Claire helping Diana to drink some water. “Congratulations, my beautiful girl, on having a child of your own. I know you’ll make a great mother, like you were the best daughter. I’m only sorry I can’t be there to hold my grandchild in my arms, and to reassure you whenever you start second guessing yourself.” There was another pause, and this time Hanna could feel the tears start to pour down her face. She didn’t bother to wipe them away; there were too many, and she needed to let them out. “If I had to give you one piece of advice as one mother to another, it would be to savor everything. Being a mother isn’t easy, but every moment is a gift, and it’s been my privilege to watch you grow up into the amazing girl you are today. Make sure you take the time to enjoy being a mother. Play, sing, and dance with your child. Don’t let time steal these precious moments away from you.” Hanna was openly sobbing, her body wrapped in Claire’s arms. “I love you so much, Hanna; you and my grandchild. I’ll always be here, in your memories and your heart.”
The white noise of the recording faded away to nothing, and Hanna reached out her hand, wanting to stop the CD before it progressed to the next section. She was going to listen to them all—she needed to—but first she had to take some time to assimilate the miracle of hearing her dead mother’s voice.
“Thank you,” she whispered into Claire’s shoulders as the older woman held her tightly. “I’m so grateful you gave this to me.”
Claire said nothing, reaching out a ha
nd to wipe the tears from Hanna’s cheeks. Her light blue eyes were soft and kind, and Hanna could see the love spilling out of them. She was so lucky to have had a loving mother, and now a caring surrogate. She was determined to look after Matty the way they’d both taken care of her.
RICHARD RETURNED LATER that afternoon, carrying a tired Matty in his arms. Steven trailed behind them, his whole demeanor wracked with exhaustion. Hanna had cleaned up her face, having listened to the recordings twice before putting the CD back in its box. She planned to take them back home when they flew back to New York.
Laying Matty down on the sofa, Richard pulled his tiny shoes from his feet and unzipped his bulky jacket. Hanna reached out to cup her son’s cheeks, cold and rosy from the London wind. Matty giggled at her touch, as he tried to fight against the fatigue claiming his body.
“Did Daddy wear you out?” she asked. Richard laughed, as he pulled her into an embrace.
“Matty wore us out, that’s for sure,” he said, running his lips across her neck. She reacted automatically, her body firing up in response to his touch. “But I’m hoping he’ll sleep well tonight.”
She didn’t fail to catch the unspoken hint behind his words. It made her smile.
They fed him early, bathing him and putting him in a clean set of pajamas. Steven and Claire had created a nursery on the second floor, and it was filled with toys they had given Matty for Christmas. The three of them sat on the soft carpet, building towers with large plastic bricks. Hanna and Richard raced to see who could build the tallest, and when they fell down Matty clapped with pleasure. By seven, he was all but keeling over, his eyelids heavy with the sleep he was trying to fight.
Hanna read The Grinch, making Matty laugh with her silly voices and funny expressions. When she reached the final lines, Richard joined in, his timbre deep and playful. She wanted to run into his arms and kiss the hell out of him.
“He’s almost asleep,” she whispered. Matty was curled up into his usual ball, his thumb firmly latched between his lips. “He looks so peaceful when he’s dozing.”
“He’s perfect,” Richard agreed. “We should definitely make some more of those.”
Her heart beat faster. They’d talked about their future at couples’ therapy, and discussed trying for more children at some point. Knowing she was already thirty, and Richard thirty-three, made her feel a little more concerned. If they wanted a big family—and they both agreed they did—eventually they’d need to make some decisions.
“We definitely should.”
He pulled her back against him, until her spine was molded into his chest. Curling his arms around her waist he dipped his head until his lips brushed against her neck, sucking gently against her skin.
“How about we practice tonight?”
“Mmmm,” Hanna agreed, her eyes squeezed tightly shut as he continued to caress her. “We’ve been practicing a lot, haven’t we?”
“You think we’re ready for the match?” She could feel him smile against her neck.
“I’m ready.”
“I want to make you a permanent signing to my team first.” Richard loosened his hold on her waist, spinning her around to face him. He reached out and cupped her jaw, his fingers caressing the skin behind her ear. “After that we can talk about adding to the offense.”
Hanna laughed. “You’re confusing me with all these analogies here. Are we talking about our family or a football team?”
Richard inclined his head toward hers, capturing her lips between his own. Wrapping his hand around the back of her neck, he pulled her closer, his tongue snaking a hot trail of fire across her mouth.
“I’m not talking about football, Hanna,” he murmured, moving a hand down to cup her behind, his fingers digging into her skin. “I’m talking about us.”
“Us?” She ran her lips along the firm line of his jaw, capturing his earlobe between her teeth, sucking it enough to make him moan.
“I want you to marry me.” He could hardly get the words out between his sighs. “I want you to be Mrs. Richard Larsen, and for Matty to have a whole team of brothers and sisters.”
It was Hanna’s turn to smile, and she pulled back to catch his eye. “You forgot the getting on one knee bit. Not to mention the ring.”
“I have a ring.” Richard’s protest was fast. “I was saving it for the right moment.”