“No!” She reared back quickly and pointed at me. “That’s how we get in trouble like this.” Catching her breath, she pouted like she really wanted to finish what we were starting.
“As far as I’m concerned, it’s the best trouble there is to have.”
She sighed, relaxing against me again. “I just want to have the time and chance to learn who I am, too. Not only to be a mother and wife, but to finish school. To keep working with the others at the foundation.”
I stroked my hands down her back, not at all surprised about her concerns. They were valid. And I would do all I could to help her balance it all.
“You will. Misha and I, and everyone else. We will all pitch in so that your needs and wants will never be dismissed. I supportyou, Kalina. I won’t ever stop encouraging you to do all that you want to set your heart to accomplishing.”
“Even… with another baby on the way?” she asked with a sweet smile.
I nodded. “Especially with another baby on the way,” I replied.
“No matter what, I will always be ready to support you and help you reachallyour dreams,” I vowed, sealing it with a kiss.
“How about a dream of getting some sleep?” she joked.
“Oh, that’s a really good one to start with.” I rolled with her, holding her as I got us under the covers. Spooning her and keeping her close, I snuggled in with her and smiled at the soft press of her hair at my chin. “Starting… right now.”
She sighed happily and nestled against me, right where she belonged.
40
KALINA
One year later…
Evelyn blinked up at the lights on the Christmas tree as she woke up.
Choruses of ‘aw’ sounded through the spacious great room of the lodge.
And then as my infant daughter turned her head toward the Dubinin guard we’d hired to dress up for the holiday photos, she scrunched her little face.
And cried.
Nope. She wailed.
“Yep, I called it!” Misha said as he reached over to pick up his baby sister. “She hates Santa.”
“Santa!” Andre cheered from his spot of sitting on the floor and waiting his turn to get either a candy cane or a lump of pretend coal from Santa. Fidgeting and wiggling in place, he was trying so hard to sit still and be patient.
His obsession with being the center of attention was simply a lost cause at this rate. Surrounded by babies and toddlers, he had just come to terms that he wasn’t the only one to be doted on.
As if on cue, Evelyn’s cries kicked off Gracie’s. Gabriella and I had been pregnant just about the same time. However, we didn’t pull off the feat of going into labor the same day. Now, though, it seemed like Sadie and Raisa might attempt that by having due dates within the same week. Twin boys were on the way for Raisa and Ivan. Emil and Sadie were expected to have their first son. Even though most of us liked the surprise of the gender, it seemed smarter to plan ahead now with so many babies born into the family.
“Here, Mom,” Misha said as he handed me Evelyn.
I smiled, taking her and anticipating her needing to nurse. But I did have to smile and laugh at the chain reaction her crying had caused.
The other babies started crying. The toddlers started to fuss and tantrum. Misha and Lev tried to help calm them all.
And then there was Andre, sitting in the middle of the chaos and staring at “Santa” hopefully, eager to know if he had been a good boy or a naughty one.
Carrying Evelyn out of the room, I passed Alexsei as he tried to distract Nicky from grabbing Luka’s tie. The Mafia boss didn’t help, playing along and making a funny face each time Nicky yanked. Seeing Luka be such a family man was still the biggest surprise of all.
With just a look, Alexsei and I checked in with each other. In his glance, he was silently asking me if I wanted anything from him. If I needed anything.
As I smiled back at him, letting him know I was good, I relished how supportive he was in any and every situation. We really were partners, a team with Misha as the big brother too.
