“We can make another one. Didn’t you want three?”
“Yes, two boys and a girl. But the boys were supposed to come first,” he grins.
“Well, our girl is going to be strong and fierce, so she will be able to take care of her baby brothers.”
“Strong and fierce like her mother,” he agrees, looking at me in the reflection of the mirror.
“We look good together,” he grins.
I turn in his arms and look up at him with so much love in my heart it’s overwhelming.
“You’re going to be the most incredible father,” I tell him.
“We are going to be the most incredible family,” He agrees, smiling warmly.
Downstairs, we hear commotion as guests begin to arrive.
He takes my hand and pulls me towards the door. “Come on, beautiful girl, let’s go have some fun.”
It’s an intimate baby shower. We wanted to invite people who mean a lot to us. This is one of two parties we’ll have. My parents didn’t want to come to the city, so the second one we’ll have at their home in the countryside.
Tonight is a Bratva party. The four Pakhans that make up his alliance, and their wives, are here tonight to celebrate with us.
The best part is that over the past months, we’ve been spending so much time together as a group while our husbands build their businesses, that all of us girls have become incredibly close. And that led to the men shifting their alliance to something more meaningful—a friendship.
Nestor, Benedikt, Emmanuil and Ardalion have become extended family, brothers to Kristopher.
Lara, Ulyana, Bella, Jess and I are practically inseparable, as they’ve been helping me set up the mansion and the baby room while Kris has been at work.
They are such incredible women, each of them strong in their own way, and each of them very special to me.
Jess pulls me into a hug, smiling beautifully. “Georgie, you look like a goddess in this dress. I can’t believe my brother chose it,” she laughs.
I step back and do a little twirl for her, enjoying the way the skirt flares out around me.
Lara and Bella bring over the pink virgin cocktails they made for the party, and we all walk out into the garden to see what the men are up to.
The balloon arch is my favorite. It’s where we plan to take photos later on in the evening.
The gift table is overflowing.
The food is divine.
Laughter fills the air, and as Kris slips his arm around my waist and pulls me close, I don’t remember a happier time in my life.
Emmanuil raises his glass. “Can I have everyone’s attention for a moment?” he says.
We all turn towards him.
“Does everyone have a drink?” he asks. We nod.
“Alright. Well, basically, I wanted to say that you guys have all become my family. These past few months have brought us closer together, and I value every single one of you. I can’t express my gratitude enough, and while I can go on about the things you’ve done for me, today is actually not about that at all. It’s about a little girl who is about to be born into a beautiful home with two amazing parents. Kris and Georgie, we are so excited for you two, for the joy and magic you are soon to experience. We can’t imagine two better-suited people to be together and create a family. Your little girl is going to be the luckiest girl on the planet. We can’t wait to meet her.” He raises his glass, and we all join him. “To a healthy, happy, beautiful little baby,” he says excitedly.
“Hear-hear,” the chorus goes around the room as our friends share their wishes for us.
Jess has been the most supportive friend I could ever ask for. Obviously, the fact that she is about to become an aunt adds to the joy of it all. She’s been spoiling me with far too many gifts, and the days I haven’t seen her, she’s made sure to call me on every one of them.
She and Emmanuil have already set aside a college fund for our little girl, which is the gift they present us with this evening at her baby shower.
