Page 142 of Jump on Three

“Did I make you cry?” I asked.

He choked out a laugh. “I have to admit, you did. I hadn’t been expecting that.” He came to me, standing between my legs, and cupped one side of my face in his big, warm palm. “You don’t have to worry about superstitions. I am irrevocably yours, my angel.”

Taking a step back, he dropped to his knees, holding a small, black velvet box he flipped open to reveal a narrow platinum band.

“Will you marry me, Evelyn?”

I sucked in a breath. “You truly did surprise me.”

I was looking at the band. It was plain, without diamonds or gaudy details. I bet when I asked, he would tell me he’d researched what kind of rings people with sensory issues liked.

“I’ve never been one to wear rings.” I slipped it out of the box and onto my finger. It fit well, but I noticed it there. I hoped I would forget I was wearing it since I never wanted to take it off. “Thank you. I like this one very much.”

Ivan’s forehead knocked against my knees. “Angel, Evelyn, you haven’t said yes.”

“Oh.” I slid my fingers through his hair, tugging to lift his head again. “Of course I’ll marry you. I love you, and I like you, and I want to be with you. Always.”

He stood up and gathered me in his arms. I felt his tears on my skin. Mine burned the backs of my eyes. I had known for some time we were going to spend forever side by side, but this…this was official. It meant he agreed without reservation.

He wanted me and the beautiful, unique, magical life we were going to create together.

Epilogue Two

Ivan

Five Years Later

Leonid sat down at my dining room table. In the ten years since I’d seen him in person, he’d aged twenty. When I was a child, I’d thought he was like Atlas, with shoulders strong enough to hold up the entire world. But in our time apart, he’d shriveled. Now, he just looked like a tired old man.

“The house is nice,” he gruffed. “Your wife keeps it well.”

I raised a brow. “Evelyn does not keep our house. As I’m sure my mother has told you, my wife is a professional technical translator. She is the more successful of the two of us, and her time is precious. If our house is well kept, it’s because of the cleaning service we hire.”

He did not bow his head. Leonid would never do something so beneath him, but he did nod and look around my dining room once more.

“This isn’t the kind of life you grew up in,” he said.

“No. I never wanted to repeat my childhood. Evelyn and I are equal, and our children are the most important things in our lives.”

“My children have always been important to me.”

I blew out a puff of air. “More important than your ego? The past decade says otherwise.”

He opened his hands, palms facing the ceiling. “I set my ego aside and allowed your mother and siblings to visit you.”

My mouth opened and closed. “You knew?”

“Of course I knew. You think I don’t keep track of my own family?”

“It’s been ten years, Papa. You wrote me off ten years ago. Why would I think you knew anything about me until recently?”

He waved my question away. “We can’t do anything about the past. I’m here now to meet my granddaughters and get to know my daughter-in-law. Would you allow this?”

Taking a deep breath, I told myself to stay calm. I had not expected a big, tearful reunion with my father. His showing up at my house was his apology, and I never thought I would see the day. It had taken Evelyn giving birth to our twin daughters, Mila and Raya, for him to wake up and see the years flying by.

I would not live with regret. If my father wanted to be a grandfather to my girls, he could, but not without stipulations.

“I will allow this, but I must say this first.” I held up a finger. “You will respect my wife in every way.” Another finger. “This is my home, and you have no say in how I run it.” A third finger. “If I think you’re harming my girls, you will be out of here. Do you agree?”

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