Page 127 of Now and Forever

“Yes, darling. The only reason I didn’t fall on my ass was because I was already sitting down.”

We both laugh.

“I told you as soon as I met you that you’re the best thing that could’ve happened to Eric.”

“And your son is the best thing that could’ve happened to me,” I insist.

Sonia nods her head. She agrees.

“That son of mine, as pigheaded and bossy as he is, was so lucky to find you. And I can’t even tell you about Flyn. You’re perfect for them. By the way, Jurgen tells me you’re a wonderful motocross rider. I’d like to come see you someday. When will you sign up for a race?”

I shrug my shoulders. I still don’t want Eric to find out.

“When I do, I’ll let you know. And thank you for the bike. It’s great!”

“At the risk of the earful I’ll be hearing when Eric finds out and how angry he’ll be with me, I’m happy to know you’re having a great time. I’m sure Hannah is smiling down on seeing her beloved bike given new life and being well looked after in your house.”

My house.Those words sound so good. After the last argument, Eric hasn’t referred to the house as “his house” again, and now Sonia’s doing the same thing. Moved, I give her a kiss.

“You already know, if your son throws me out when he finds out, I’ll be needing a room.”

“You can have the whole house, darling.”

“Thank you. That’s good to know.”

We both laugh, and Eric comes up to us.

“What are the two most important women in my life planning?”

Sonia gives him a kiss on the cheek. “Knowing you, darling, nothing you’d like,” she jokes as she walks away.

Eric looks at her, taken aback; then he lays his striking eyes on me. Shrugging my shoulders, I respond in an angelic voice, “I don’t know what she’s talking about.” To change the subject, I whisper, “Frida told me they’re putting together another private party at the Nacht.”

My love smiles and brings his mouth close to mine. “Yes, baby.”

We walk to the table, and Eric gallantly pulls out a chair for me. He kisses my bare shoulder. He takes a seat across from me, right beside my father and Flyn.

Suddenly, my sister, who is sitting next to me, whispers, “Babe, can I ask you a question?”

“You can ask fifty,” I answer.

Raquel looks surreptitiously to her left and comes close to me. “I’m lost with all these knives and forks and nuisances. The silverware, how do you use it? Outside in or inside out?”

I understand her perfectly. I learned the protocol at business dinners. In our house, like in the vast majority of homes in the world, we just use one knife and one fork for every meal. “Outside in.”

I quickly observe how my sister shows my father, and he nods, relieved. They’re so cute!

“And which is my bread?”

I look at the rolls in front of us.

“The one on the left.”

Raquel smiles again. Eric sees it all happen and gives me a knowing look, and I go cross-eyed. His laughter touches my soul just as the look on my face seems to touch his heart.

Later that night, after a wonderful evening during which they sing “Happy Birthday” and give me lovely gifts, we return home, all of us delighted and exhausted. Sonia is an amazing party organizer, and she made that clear tonight.

Everyone lies down, and Eric and I walk to our room and shut the door. Without turning on the lights, we look at each other. The glow of the streetlamp that comes in through the window is the only light that lets us see each other’s faces. Unable to go another second without touching him, I lovingly wrap my arms around his neck.

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