How will you react to another member of the family, though?
It could derail the progress they’d made. Perhaps Anya would resent having a baby here, taking all the attention from her. Maybe Mikhail would panic and not know how to split up and share his love that much further.
No, that’s nonsense.Anya would adore having a child in the family. She had such a hidden maternal instinct, likely because she’d been motherless for so long.
Mikhail said he wanted to grow our family.He’d admitted it out loud, and I saw every day how he included his family and the members of his organization in his regard.
But how will they react? This will change everything right when things seem normal and sane.
I gave away my presence by sighing heavily.
It was sweet to watch these two act more like family, but I had to dispel this worry that I was intruding, that a baby on the way could be trouble.
“What are you doing, hiding back there?” Anya said. She patted the table and indicated I should join her again.
“I was just thinking,” I admitted, wishing I could at least have an idea of how to tell them both that I wouldn’t be the last one to enter this family. Mikhail got up and took more plates to the sink, vacating a chair for me to take.
“Me too,” Anya admitted. “I’ve been thinking more about whether I want to continue tutoring or if I’d like to attend an actual school for once.”
“I vote for trying it out, and then you can decide after a trial period,” I told her. They’d been debating it for a couple of days now. “Do what makes you happy,” I advised.
Because that was my new mantra. Screw the worry about what was right versus wrong. Forget the labels of what was good or bad in life. So long as we had a goal to be the best versions of ourselves that we could, then all would be well.
“Will you?” she asked.
I raised my brows. “Huh?
“Will you do what makes you happy?” she asked again.
“Like… am I going to start that telehealth consultation?” I shrugged. Now, in light of knowing I was pregnant, I wasn’t sure. “That was the plan,” I replied, since it technically was true.
Plans sure are changing now, though!
Anya smiled wider, almost cryptic about it.
“Iamhappy,” I told her. Choosing Mikhail and embracing our forbidden love had shown me the clearest path to happiness.
“How about now?” Mikhail asked behind me.
I spun on the stool, confused when he wasn’t there. He was, but too low.
Lowering my gaze to find him on one knee, holding up a ring box, I gasped in surprise.
“Is this… a proposal?” I asked as giddy glee and surprise streaked through me. I’d asked him that before, but this time, I felt like it was an unnecessary question.
“It is,” he replied. “I didn’t want to ask until I checked with Anya and got her approval.”
I smiled back at her as I set my hand on Mikhail’s shoulder. She beamed at me, cradling her chin in her hands as she set her elbows on the table.
“Dr. Donovon, will you marry me? Will you complete this family and be my wife?”
I laughed once in joy, secretly amused by his wording. Complete this family? Little did he know I was growing it, not wrapping it up.
“Yes!” Dropping toward him and landing in his embrace, I almost smacked the ring box out of his hand. The ring didn’t matter. The carat of the diamond wouldn’t persuade me. His love was all I needed to know that I was his partner, but being able to call him my husband would be a wonderful bonus.
As we kissed and Anya congratulated us, I fell under the magic of being so quintessentially happy that tears of joy leaked from myeyes. Mikhail helped me stand and didn’t delay in slipping the ring on my finger. I held my arm out to encourage Anya closer for a side hug, and it warmed my soul when I saw her smiling up at Mikhail as well.
“I will gladly be your wife,” I told him as I admired the ring, resting against him.
