Page 269 of Tangled up in You

But despite all of that, I hold no regrets for the life she gave me. And I owe it all to Aunt Ruby, who welcomed me with open arms when I was reunited with her after years in the foster care system. Through her unwavering love and guidance, I discovered who I truly was meant to be.

And as I lay here surrounded by love and warmth, basking in the embrace of my chosen family, I can't help but believe that fate played a role in bringing me back to the Eliasson brothers. But perhaps that is just a fairy tale, and the truth is far more complex and beautiful than I could ever imagine.

Reaching for my weathered tarot deck, I smiled as Aunt Ruby’s picture fluttered out onto my bed. She was always with me, with every turn of the card. The familiar weight of the deck grounds me in the present moment. I absently shuffled them, the soft rustle a soothing melody. Lost in the familiarity of it all, I laid the cards out before me, each flip revealing another pathway for my soul to explore.

The first card was the Empress, with her abundant curves and verdant surroundings. She exuded a sense of nurturing warmth that enveloped me in its embrace. I’d never understood nurturing until Ruby. It was something that hadn’t come naturally, but I felt I was getting better at it every day. The Empress confirmed that I had everything inside of me that I needed to be successful.

The next card was the Lovers. It often came to me, entwined in a dance of passion and intimacy. I’d never realized the love or profound connection we could share together as one.

Last, the Wheel of Fortune, its cyclical motion a reminder of the ever changing tides of fate. We were never promised tomorrow, one must take the opportunity today before it was too late.

I gathered the cards, grateful for their message, and tucked Aunt Ruby’s picture back in their confines where she could greet me once again on another day when her wisdom was needed.

I glanced at the end table and opened the drawer to see drug store box that had been there for eight days now. It was likely every one of my men had seen it and yet they were waiting on me to come to terms with what we already knew.

I picked it up and went into the bathroom, telling myself that it didn’t matter if there was one line or two. Life would go on, regardless of this little test, but I had to know the truth. We’d been disappointed once earlier on with a false positive. That’s why I was so reluctant to take the new test.

Once I’d followed the instructions, I left the test on the counter, not looking at the results window. I went about my regular activities, allowing the day to unfold with normalcy. I found myself immersed in a whirlwind of activity and introspection. Each passing moment seemed to carry with it a sense of anticipation, a tingling energy that whispered of untold adventures and challenges waiting just beyond the horizon.

With each passing hour, as the sun arced its way across the sky, I delved deeper into any and every activity that came across my mind. My closet was organized, the kitchen cabinets rearranged, much to the housekeeper’s irritation. I’d walked outside, skipped rocks in the pond, and even lost myself in the pages of my favorite romance author.

It was when the day was fading into dusk, the sun casting long shadows across the landscape, I stood from my perch in the garden. Marking the place of the fresh chapter, I closed my book and took a step toward what I knew was waiting for me inside on the bathroom counter.

With a heart full of hope and a spirit ablaze with determination, I went forward, ready to embrace whatever the future held in store, knowing that with the Eliasson brothers by my side, there was nothing we couldn't conquer, no dream too grand, no challenge too daunting.

I’d just entered our bedroom when I saw them, lurking in the shadows, their gazes intent on me. It was like that first night, all those days ago.

“I can explain,” I said at once. However, my breathless tone didn’t fool anyone, least of all Rafe, Marcel and Jude.

The moved in, surrounding me as they often did, like a predator with its prey.

“How long are you going to stew about this?” Marcel asked in a dark tone.

“I’m not stewing,” I protested, but the words died on my lips as Jude shook his head.

“It’s never good to lie, little moon,” he rasped, his hand caressing the side of my face before he dropped it to his side.

The emotion that had been welling up inside of me, burst like a damn. Tears sprang out of nowhere and I would have sworn my guys were horrified.

“Fuck, Jude,” Rafe snarled. “What did you do?”

Jude’s eyes went big as saucers. “Me? It was your idea to confront her like this. Marcel and I were content to let her tell us on her own.”

Marcel nodded. “That’s true. This was Rafe’s idea.”

They were like little boys trying to rat each other out, I couldn’t help it, a giggle escaped through the tears.

Rafe eyed me cautiously. “Does that mean you aren’t pissed at us? Shit, Luna, we just wanted you to know that you don’t have to go through things alone. I didn’t mean to make you cry.”

“Don’t you want the baby?” Jude asked gruffly, his hands coming to sit at my hips.

“Baby?” I managed to utter through my tears. “Are we really having a baby?”

Marcel smiled, a real smile, something I didn’t see very often. Leaning in, he rested his forehead against mine. “You’re going to be a mama, Luna.”

And that’s when the waterworks really began.

Rafe gathered me in his arms, his touch a comforting anchor amidst the whirlwind of emotions that swept through me. "Luna, we may not have planned for this, but we're all in this together. You're not alone," he murmured softly, his voice filled with a mix of tenderness and concern.

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