Bending over me, he pressed his lips to my forehead. “Yes, my love, our son. And I promise you I will reunite you very soon. You just need to calm down so the doctors can check you over. Just a little while, Amy. He’s been waiting to meet you for so long.”
“How long?” I whispered
Softly, Alexis’ lips brushed against mine. “It’s been three weeks, my love.”
Three weeks? I had given birth three weeks ago? Tears fell down. I hadn’t been there for the first three weeks of my son’s life?
“What happened?”
“I’ll explain everything. Let’s get you checked over first.” Alexei kissed me again. It was like he couldn’t help himself. “Let me just make sure you are alright, and then I’ll explain it all.” He shuffled away, closing the door softly behind him, but not before I heard him let out a ragged sob of relief.
“He’s so small,”I whispered as I cradled the tiny bundle against my chest, right over my heart. The blanket covered him, and he was covered in tubes and wires, but I was actually holding my child, and he was beautiful.
“You’re not disappointed that he’s not a girl, then?” Hovering by my side, Alexei was smoothing my hair back from my face.
Ever since I had woken up, he didn’t seem to be able to stop touching me. I’d seen the fear in his eyes, like he expected me to fall back into my coma and not wake up this time. But honestly, I felt pretty good, considering. Being in a coma for three weeks had given me time to heal.
“No, of course not. I love him.” And I did. Every tiny movement my son made made my heart swell. I was completely mesmerised by him. “I just wish I had been awake to feed him.”
That had been one of the first things I had asked, but it was a firm no. The tubes did that for him, and even if they didn’t, my milk had dried up weeks ago. Still holding him was enough. Loving him was enough.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Alexei give a soft smile. “I can’t wait to get you both home, so I can look after you both properly.” I went still.
“You are going to come home, aren’t you, Amy?” he asked in a small, uncertain voice that didn’t sound like him at all.
I remained silent.
“Please don’t split our family up, Amy,” he begged.
Did he really think I wanted that? I’d always wanted to be his. “There’s so much we have to sort out,” I whispered.
For a second, he closed his eyes. His face is a mask of pain. “Please, my love, I’ll do anything.”
I believed him, or at least I wanted to, but there was a small part of me that wouldn’t let myself hope. He had let me down so many times before. Taking my hand, he brought it to his lips. “I haven’t left your side, Amy, and I won’t. Not ever again. You have to believe that.”
I nodded. “I know. I kept hearing you talk to me,” I said softly.
“Then you know I’m not going anywhere. I’ll do anything you ask, Amy. All I’m asking is that you give us a chance to be a family.”
I met his eyes unblinking. “I want that.”
“Why do I feel like there is a but coming in?”
I giggled and jostled the baby on my chest. “Because there is Alexei.There has to be a bit because you’ve let me down so many times before. I can’t let you into our lives if you are going to let Nikolai down as well.”
For a moment, he looked confused. “You want to name him Nikolai? After my grandfather?”
I gave a small shrug. Glancing down at my son and his wide, clear blue eyes. “If that’s alright with you? Nikolai, after your grandfather, and Michael after my father,” I added quietly.
“Nikolai Michael Petrovov.” Alexei’s face broke into a wide smile. “It’s the perfect name for him, and grandfather will be over the moon.”
“How is he?” I asked quietly. “I miss him.”
“Causing mayhem. He keeps threatening to break out of the home and come to see you himself.” The corner of Alexei’s lips twitched.
I returned his smile. “I can believe he would do it as well. Can you bring him to visit?”
It was strange, but I thought of that old man as if he were my own family.
