Page 62 of Dimitri
"Does it console you to hear that I'm head over heels in love with you?" Their babies had been taken to the nursery where his family and hers were delighting themselves by watching over them. And he was finally alone with his wife. "And that there's nothing I can ever present you with, can ever be enough?" He had climbed into bed with her, and they were discreetly left alone. Brushing back tendrils of hair from her face, he cupped her chin. "I will of course be spending the rest of my life appreciating you for what you've given me."
"I would expect nothing less." She lifted a hand to touch his cheek. He had been true to his word. The promise to be there for her every step of the way had not been an idle one. He endured her varying moods. When she got bigger and was unable to find a comfortable place to sleep, he had been up with her, holding her until she fell asleep. He took care of her. Even when he had to be out on the farm, he would check in. She could not have asked for a better mate. And she was careful to never take it for granted.
*****
Those first few weeks were a blur of sleepless nights, quiet lullabies, and the constant shuffle of visitors bringing well-wishes and casseroles. Despite the exhaustion, there was a profound sense of rightness in their little family, moments when the world shrank to just the two of them and their babies, cocooned from everything outside. Every worry she'd harbored before the twins' arrival seemed less daunting now, softened by Dimitri's unwavering presence and the tiny hands that gripped her fingers with surprising strength.
There was no need to persuade her to take a leave of absence from work, she had arrived at that conclusion on her own. She wanted to be there for her babies for as long as possible. Dimitri was hinting at her giving up her job, but she was still contemplating. Right now, she was concentrating on the children and her husband.
Alvin and Elizabeth were enjoying the role of great grandparents and insisted on playing their roles. Ivanov called every other day to check in. As well as Alexei and Anastasia. They were planning on flying back to the states in December.
At one time, she had only her grandmother as family and her best friend Jessica, Allison marveled. Now, it was almost surreal to look around and realize how much her world had expanded. The warmth of a bustling household, the laughter echoing in the rooms, and the steady flow of support from both families gave her a sense of belonging she had never truly known before. In those quiet midnight hours, rocking her newborns, she often reflected on the journey that had brought her here andfound herself grateful beyond words for this unlikely, beautiful abundance of love.
"Hi." She looked up as her husband stepped into the nursery. "Adrian is finally asleep. Two weeks old and already trying to get his own way." She settled back against her husband's broad chest as he came up behind her.
"Has it been two weeks already?"
"Hmm." Her hands gripped his arms as she swung her gaze to her daughter. "Anya has been asleep for an hour, but your son was constantly fighting sleep. He finally went under a few minutes ago."
"They're the most beautiful babies in the world."
"Of course they are." She turned in his arms and linked her hands around his neck. "Have I told you how much I love you?"
"Not since this morning." He kissed her lightly. "But a man needs to hear it more than once."
"I agree." Her expression turned luminous. "I adore you, my husband."
"My wife, my heart, my everything." He whispered. Sweeping her into his arms, he carried her from the nursery into their bedroom to show her how much she meant to him.
The end… or not!
