Page 29 of Deadly Vows

Talia eagerly accepted the cup of hot coffee I gave her after I kissed her on the forehead. “Oh,” Talia murmured in surprise, placing her hand on her belly. “The baby is awake,” she laughed.

“My son is a morning person?” I teased.

“Mydaughterdefinitely is,“ Talia smirked. Grabbing my hand, she placed it on her belly. I waited in anticipation to feel the baby move.

“Wow,” I whispered as Talia’s belly moved like a wave beneath my hand. “That was incredible,” I murmured against her lips, kissing her firmly.

“Can I feel?” Maxim asked.

“I want to feel the baby too!” Sasha whined.

“You can both feel the baby,” Talia smiled. They placed their hands on her belly until they felt the baby move. Their eyes went wide with surprise.

“I can feel her!” Sasha squealed, her blonde pigtails bouncing up and down from her excitement.

“That was weird,” Maxim grimaced.

I couldn’t help but laugh. Somehow, despite all my wrongs, I was blessed with these three. Myfamily.

“Everyone sit,” I ordered. “The pancakes are ready.”

They hurried to sit at the table. I placed a plate of pancakes in front of each of them and watched them dig in.

“Mmm, these are so good,” Talia complimented around a mouthful.

“The kids helped. I think that was the special ingredient,” I smiled.

I took my plate and sat at the table, joining them in light chatter while we ate.

After breakfast, we decided to take the kids out for the day. Talia suggested bowling, and Sasha and Maxim enthusiastically cheered. We piled into the car, and Dimitri drove us to the nearest bowling alley.

The bowling alley was bustling with activity, with pins crashing and children’s laughter filling the air. The bright lights and vibrant colors added to the fun and excitement. Talia insisted we use the rental shoes, but there was no way I was putting my feet in used shoes. Instead, I bought each of us newshoes from the retail store in the corner of the alley. I also purchased new bowling balls and matching bags.

Sasha and Maxim were eager to get started, and even Talia seemed more animated than usual. Dimitri isn’t a bowling fan but couldn’t say no to the children after they begged him to play, too.

As we played, I marveled at the ease with which we slipped into this family dynamic. Sasha and Maxim competed to see who could knock down the most pins, their laughter echoing through the alley. Talia cheered them on, her movements graceful despite her growing belly, her face alight with joy. Dimitri did his best to curb the string of Russian curses he spewed each time he threw a gutter ball.

“Your turn, Uncle Aleksandr,” Maxim called, handing me my blue bowling ball.

I took the ball, settling its weight in my hand. I rolled it down the lane, knocking down all but one pin. The kids cheered, and Talia gave me an approving nod.

After a few games, we decided to take a break and get pizza. The kids chattered excitedly about their scores, and Talia leaned into me with a contented smile.

The pizza parlor attached to the bowling alley was lively, filled with the tantalizing aroma of melting cheese and fresh-baked dough. We found a table near the window, and the kids immediately debated which toppings to choose. Maxim wanted pepperoni, while Sasha insisted on mushrooms and olives. Ultimately, we compromised and ordered a large pizza with half pepperoni and half veggie.

As we waited for our food, I watched the kids color on their placemats, their concentration intense. Talia reached across the table and took my hand, her touch sending a warm shiver down my spine.

“You’re good with them, Talia,” Dimitri stated, nodding at the children.

“They’re the best. They make it very easy to love them,” she replied.

I looked at her and the children, my heart full of love. “They deserve the best,” I chimed in. “You all do.”

“And you give it to us,” she assured, her hand resting on her belly. “All of us.”

The pizza arrived, a steaming masterpiece that made the kids’ eyes widen with delight. Maxim devoured his slices with gusto while Sasha carefully picked off the olives and set them aside. Talia laughed, and the sound was music to my ears.

“Uncle Aleksandr, can we do this every week?” Sasha asked between bites, her eyes hopeful.

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