Page 119 of Crowned

I smile when I hear it. “Perfect. I think it suits her. Kira.”

Konstantin stands at the end of the bed, folds his arms and raises an eyebrow at me. “Three daughters? You have given us three daughters? Now we are outnumbered. We will all be sent mad by their tricks and schemes.” But he’s smiling as he says it.

I smile back, exhausted but happy. “Oh, I hope so.”

Having daughters makes me think about my mother and how I wish I still have her with me. I talk toBabulyaseveral times a week on the phone and she tells me stories about Mom when she was small and how happy Mom was when I was born. It makes me feel connected to the parts of my family that I love.

But it’s still not enough.

One morning when I’ve put Kira and Mila down for their naps and Viktoria is at kindergarten, I go in search of my men.

“It’sBabulya’sseventieth birthday today,” I tell them, when I’ve found them in the lounge. “I will be calling her soon, but I wanted to ask you all something first.”

My heart starts beating wildly.

Will they say no?

Or will they feel they have to say yes?

“I want to askBabulyato come and live with us.”

All three men stare at me in silence.

Then Kirill bursts out laughing. “That crafty witch? We will all be at her mercy.”

“Even more women of your bloodline in the house? God help us all.” But Konstantin is smiling as he says it.

I give him a half shrug and smile. “You love the women of my bloodline. We keep you on your toes. But seriously, if you hate the idea, I’ll forget about it. It’s just that there is that extra building connected to the rest of the house that would make a perfect self-contained annex, and it isn’t being used.”

“Whatever will make you happy,solnyshko,” Elyah tells me. “And I am speaking for all of us.”

I glance from one man to the next, and they seem relaxed and sincere. “If you’re all sure? Well, I’ll go and make the call.”

I kiss all three of my husbands and practically dance down the corridor as I go in search of my phone. A moment later, I dial her number in America.

“Babulya, happy birthday!” I talk to her for a few minutes and promise to send her a video of the girls later with Viktoria saying happy birthday to her great-grandma. “I wanted to ask you something. What do you think about coming to London to live with us?”

“Me?”Babulyasounds baffled by the question.

“Yes, you.”

A long silence stretches and I wince, waiting for her reply.

“I think it is a good idea. Someone has to keep an eye on those men in your life so that they behave.”

“Oh, they’ve learned how to behave. Don’t you worry about that.”

“Hmmph. We will see.”

I’m grinning as I put my phone down, and I text my men the news.

Lilia:Babulya says she will come and live with us.

Elyah:I am so happy for you solnyshko.

Kirill:God help us all.

Konstantin:At least there is one decent relative the four of us can scrape together.

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