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Tears filled her eyes. She tightly held on to her son who, miraculously, wasn’t crying his lungs out. The little fellow merely yawned and didn’t seem to have a care in the world.
The same couldn’t be said about Baran. His dark eyes were glazed with pain.
“Stop looking at me like I’m going to die.” He sounded peeved.
No words. She had absolutely no words. Slowly she got back on her feet where she was immediately taken into a bear hug. Viking’s scent washed over her and she knew they were safe.
“Are you okay? Are you and the baby okay?” His hands ran over their son, looking for any evidence of an injury.
She nodded but couldn’t keep the tears at bay. The past twenty-four hours had been like a roller coaster ride, not knowing if she would ever be able to get off it. She had gone from the highest high to the lowest low.
Viking grabbed a pile of towels from the sink and pushed them onto Baran’s wound. After calling for medical help, he gently nudged her back into the wheelchair. Then he took their son from her and sat next to her.
He sounded haggard. “Never in my life…” He took a deep breath and continued, “never in my life have I been this scared. I think I died a thousand deaths when Baran let me know they had you. There I was, happier than ever, thinking I had all the time in the world to tell you how I feel, to raise our son together, when everything was just yanked away.
“Time is a strange thing. It slips through your fingers without you even noticing it. You think you have all the time in the world and live like today won’t be your last. I know I’ve always lived like that. After you, I never made any plans for the future again. I didn’t care. Nothing or no one would ever catch me off guard and hurt me again. Then, this morning, after I told you I knew why you’d left me all those years ago, I thought I’d have time to make it up to you. Guess there’s a reason why they say there’s no time like the present.” His finger gently brushed her cheek. “I love you, Elena Skarsgard. I love you more than my own life and my sanity. I always have, and always will. Will you be my wife, for real this time?”
Hot tears stung her eyes. “I do.”
This time when she said the words, they felt right.
“Don’t ever leave me again.”
“Never,” she whispered.
He was stuck with her for the rest of their lives.
EPILOGUE
ELENA
A month later
Elena watched over the industrious people in her backyard setting up the barbecue. Everyone was there. Baran, who was healing nicely, was basking in the sun next to the pool. Katya came by his chair every five minutes to ask if he needed anything, and he was totally milking the attention. Something the twins loved to point out.
Kristoff had gifted them with an enormous grill that could probably cook a complete cow. Sy and Yuri argued about who was the better barbecue master and should take the lead.
Other than that heated discussion, so far, the housewarming was a success. They had moved into a new home just a week ago and were now neighbors with the twins. Viking had liked the idea of living on the outskirts of San Fran, where they could have a vast patch of land all to themselves.
Elena took it all in as she swung in the swing on the back deck. Her son was asleep in the newly-decorated nursery, and her daughter was talking to Katya as they were setting the table. Viking had disappeared inside ten minutes ago. He was probably checking up on baby-proofing the place for the nth time.
She should get up and play hostess, but she just wanted to bask in her new home and new family she had found.
For the first time in ages, she felt content. Her heart expanded to an extent it almost felt it might grow right out of her chest. The sun felt amazing on her skin and she looked up into the clear blue sky. She liked to think her mom was looking down upon them and felt as happy as she did.
“Anything up there I need to worry about?”
She smiled at her husband, who appeared by her side. “I didn’t see a drone hovering around, if that’s what you mean.” Viking was taking the security of this place a little too serious for her liking.
He frowned. “Drones. Why haven’t I thought about that? I should get Damon on that.”
When he attempted to leave, she grabbed his hand and pulled him next to her on the swing.
Seeing as how big he was, he didn’t look all too comfortable on the wooden bench swing. When he tried to get back up, she swung her legs over his lap.
“Leave Damon alone. He’s already occupied with other stuff.” Right then, he was putting together an inflatable swimming pool.
“Nothing is more important than my family.”
