Page 112 of Toxic Salvation
“I will fill the positions with the best of the best,” he says. “Men and women who know what it takes to run hospitals and have sufficient knowledge of the health care system. I plan on returning St. Raphael’s to the trusted institution it used to be.”
Honestly, I’m getting teary-eyed just listening to Kovan talk. “Not that I’m not immensely grateful, Kovan… but you’ve got so much on your plate already. Why take this on, too?”
“Isn’t it obvious? I’m doing this for you.” He touches my cheek with his palm. “This hospital means everything to you and I’m not about to throw it to the wolves. I can’t appoint a hospital employee to the board, but I hope you know that you’re an unofficial member. You can make the decisions, allocate the funds, decide which department heads to fire and which department heads to keep.”
I’m shaking my head. “That’s too much power.”
“Get used to it,” he says flatly. “You wanted to be my partner. This is what it means.”
“Can you actually do this?”
“I just did.” He winks. “It’s a private hospital. And since my money is bankrolling it, no one can say a word. I’m the man in charge and you’re my right-hand woman.”
“Right-hand woman.” I smile. “I like the sound of that.”
I move into his arms, ready to celebrate right on his desk. But before our kiss can turn into the R-rated variety, the door to Kovan’s office opens and Luka walks in.
“Vesper, you’re home already!” he crows.
“Finished my shift early, sweetheart.” I peel myself out of Kovan’s arms and go to him. “How was school today?”
“Fine.” He shrugs. “Can we do something fun?”
“We sure can,” I assure him, running my fingers through his messy hair. “How about a movie tonight? We can make snacks.”
“But before that—” Kovan gestures for Luka to sit down. “—Vesper and I have something to tell you.”
He studies the two of us for a moment, his lips pursing before he plops onto the couch. “You’re going to have a baby.”
And here I thought I’d hidden my pregnancy pretty well. The only time I wore anything to highlight my pregnancy was when Luka wasn’t around. “How did you know?”
“I’m nine,” Luka reminds us indignantly. “I notice things.”
I exchange a glance with Kovan and drape one arm over Luka’s shoulders. “How do you feel about that?”
“I don’t know,” he admits. “Will everything change?”
“I mean, there’ll be lots of noise and lots of dirty diapers and lots of chaos,” I say. “So yes, that part will change. But as for our relationship with you, no, nothing will change.”
A tentative little smile appears at the corners of Luka’s mouth. “So, I’ll have a cousin?”
“Actually, I was hoping you’d think of this baby more as your brother,” I say with as much caution as I can.
Luka’s face lights up with excitement. “You’re having a boy?”
“I’m having a boy,” I confirm.
Luka throws his arms around me and hugs me tight. “I’m going to be a big brother,” he murmurs into my chest.
I hold him against me and meet Kovan’s gaze over Luka’s head. There’s something tender there. It fills me with warmth.
This is what family feels like.
It’s hard to be worried about anything right now. Even the idea of Ihor seems more distant, a problem for another day.
“There’s just one thing,” Kovan says, kneeling down in front of Luka and me. “You can’t mention a thing about this pregnancy to your mom, Luka. Is that clear?”
He looks offended that Kovan would even mention it. “I won’t, I promise.”
