“Is it a good weird, though?” Nate asked.
I nodded without skipping a beat. “Yeah. Definitely.”
Alex waved me into a chair. “Have you got time for a drink with us before you head out? I know you said you have an early flight tomorrow.”
“Wow, that’s really in and out.” Nate winked at me. “It seems like you’re doing everything fast these days.”
I groaned. “Noteverything, but what can I say? I’m efficient. Don’t be jealous.”
He laughed. I dropped onto the couch and had a beer with them before saying my goodbyes. By the time I got back to the hotel, I was exhausted but happy. It had been good to see them.
Our family was generally close knit. Being so far away from them and not seeing them every day anymore had definitely been the biggest challenge about living so far away. I grabbed a quick shower and then climbed into bed, reaching for my phone without even thinking about it.
Eliza picked up on the second ring and I smiled at the sound of her voice, reminded of why I was okay with seeing so much less of my brothers. “Hello, husband.”
“Hi, Mrs. Westwood,” I said quietly. “I miss you. How are you feeling?”
“I’m okay. A little nauseated, but nothing I can’t handle,” she said lightly. “I can’t wait for you to get back, though. The castle feels different without you in it now.”
My heart tripped over itself as I leaned back against my pillows and closed my eyes. “I’ll behomesoon, baby.”
“Not soon enough,” she murmured. “Next time, I’m going with you.”
“That sounds good,” I said. “I know it’s only been a few days, but?—”
“It’s already too long?”
I chuckled. “Yeah. For sure.”
“Okay, well, come back to me,” she said. “I have a surprise for you when you get home.”
“A naughty surprise or a baby-related surprise?”
“Baby-related, but now that you mention it, maybe one of the other type as well.”
A soft groan rumbled through me. “I’m hurrying home as early as I can, okay? I love you.”
“I love you too,” she said like it was simplest, most natural thing in the world.
The strangest thing was that these days, it was. Eliza and I had put all the drama behind us and we were building something incredible together. Something I honestly couldn’t wait to get back to.
EPILOGUE
ELIZA
Ifound out very quickly that being heavily pregnant made something that used to be as simple as walking through a castle less casual and more strategic. Moving slowly down the corridor with one hand braced against the small of my back, I went in search of my husband.
The Westwoods had arrived a few days ago, a few of the brothers, their wives, and Jesse. It’d been surprisingly comfortable having them here. A few months ago, that would have been unimaginable, but time—and a lot of difficult conversations—had done their work.
Will and Jesse had taken those months to smooth over their relationship after everything that had happened, but now, they were thick as thieves again, meaning that Will had rarely been where I’d left him since his twin had arrived.
I reached the private sitting room just as another wave of voices and laughter rose from within, and I smiled as I stepped intobaby central.There were blankets and baskets, tiny clothes that made my heart do alarming things, and the two cutest babies in the world cooing on a playmat.
Kate and Jane sat near the fireplace, having turned this room into their base of operations and rarely leaving it. Kate grinnedwhen she saw me. “There you are. We were just talking about you.”
“That’s never a good sign,” I joked as I waddled into the room. “Were you talking about how very much I’ve come to resemble a whale?”
“No.” Jane smiled. “We were wondering if you’ve chosen a name yet, but now that you’ve mentioned it, how are you feeling?”
