“I did nothing, my darling. Stella’s gift to you, remember?”
My mind goes back to the day I met Hugo. It was less than twenty-four hours after that that he was carted off to jail. It seems impossible that it’s here. “But how?” I ask.
“I made the deal. Stella followed through with the purchase at cost. Nobody took a cut. It arrived at her house while I was locked up, but she didn’t want to show it to you because she thought it would hurt too much. Then when we got back together, she held onto it until she made sure we were married.”
Tears form in my eyes at the thought of all this. I dab at my nose with the back of my hand. I’m a mess when I get emotional Iike this. “That’s my Stella, always practical.”
I turn to my husband and see his eyes are filled with tears. “I had no idea when we met that you were anything other than a suave, fast-talking gentleman. Who knew you could be so emotional.”
He kisses my forehead. “You did this to me. You are entirely to blame.”
I laugh and take his hand, placing it on my abdomen. “I have a surprise for you too, Hugo.” I slide the palm of his hand lower until it rests below my navel. “Right there.”
Hugo’s words come out in spurts. “Are you? Are we... are you saying there’s a baby in there?”
“No,” I say and wait for the confusion to reach his face. “Babies. Plural. Two heartbeats.”
“Twins?”
I nod and start to sob while the tears he tried to hide fall down his cheeks. He pets my hair and whispers sweet words to me in French. Because, well, he legitimately speaks French and it’s lovely in my ears.
“I don’t know what you just said but I want you to know I’m so glad I waited for you. I’m happy our babies will have you as a father. Don’t you ever doubt yourself.”
He touches his forehead to mine and tells me, “Three years ago, I never would have believed it. But you made me see the good in me.”
Kissing his tears away, I ask him if he’s happy not living the life of luxury he used to know. “Are you sure you’re not going to miss rubbing elbows with all of the rich and famous all around the world?”
Hugo smoothes my hair down and confirms everything I already know about him. “I have never, ever, been a richer man than I am now, love. This is what I was made for.”