Page 27 of Sapphire Queen
Chapter 19
Sitting at the kitchen table, Sarifena watched the tiny human she had fallen in love with eating. It’d been three days since they both lost their parent, well parents in his case. Emersyn had helped her gather everything to make his room age-appropriate. It astonished her how fast her sisters had worked to get furniture and decorations together.
Amalee had sent over some toys and clothes, saying she couldn’t wait to see the toddler that had taken her heart. Sarifena smiled, everything about him made her heart full of joy.
“How’s our boy today?”
Sarifena smile at Heath’s words. He’d also been staying in her quarters since everything happened. Alex had warmed up to him, allowing Heath to hold him or play with him when she needed to shower or have a moment to herself.
“Good. He still isn’t saying anything. Is that normal?”
“Medically, there is nothing wrong with him. Children start speaking around his age, and the trauma of what happened may be causing his silence. Do not fret, my love.” Heath pressed a kiss to her lips, “He will speak when he is ready.”
“I just worry.”
“The way you are with him makes me fall in love with you more every day. Have you spoken with Onika?”
“Yes. She said everything is planned. Mother’s funeral will be in two days. I still can’t believe she’s gone.”
Heath pulled a chair next to her and sat down. “I know, Sari. It’s not something we ever imagined happening.”
Sarifena still felt numb when she thought about her mother. But Heath and Alex helped ease the pain. Heath had confided his pain to her about when his own mother died. He was still a boy himself, but there was a part of him that would never heal from her loss. He knew precisely what Sarifena was feeling, and he wished he could erase her heartache.
“Rory called me, she was worried about me. I told her about Onika being my sister… it just slipped out. I hope Onika can forgive me. I know she wanted to tell Rory and Amalee together.”
“She’ll forgive you. You’re under a lot of pressure right now. Stop beating yourself up for mistakes.”
“Would you like to go to the beach with us?”
Sarifena smiled, “I wanted to let some of my energy out. It stopped raining.”
“Perhaps that’s because you stopped crying at night.” Heath’s eyebrow raised.
“What?”
“Don’t play coy with me, Sarifena. I am sharing your bed now. Just because you think I’m sleeping doesn’t mean I am.”
“Why didn’t you say something?”
“Because I knew you needed to cry.”
“Was that why your arm always seems to tighten around my waist?”
“Yes,” he popped a piece of fruit in his mouth, “let’s go get changed so you can show this young man your beautiful magic.”
Sarifena changed into a two-piece swimsuit and hurried to gather Alex some toys and a towel. Heath had already changed them both into swim trunks and was waiting for her on the back porch.
“God, you’re beautiful.”
Sarifena couldn’t stop the grin spreading across her face. Alex was propped on Heaths' hip, wearing a pair of red trunks. His swim diaper peeked out from beneath the material, making Sarifena smile. Alex had on a hat and the cutest pair of sunglasses, making him look like a movie star. Heath was wearing blue trunks, a matching hat, and sunglasses as well.
“Speak for yourself. You two are damn cute.”
“Come on, let’s go before I embarrass myself in front of the lad.”
Sarifena’s laugh sent shock waves straight to his groin. Even though they were sleeping in the same bed, they were only sleeping. He knew she needed time to process everything happening, but that didn’t stop him from wanting her.
He sat Alex down on the sand and spread out a blanket. Alex toddled with Sarifena towards the water’s edge, holding her hand. Heath couldn’t see ever giving him up. Even though it’d only been a few days, he knew he wanted Sarifena and Alex forever. When the time was right, he’d asked her to marry him and adopt the orphaned boy.
