“Excellent. Now, I have questions about these lemon curd donuts.”
“I’ll be right with you, Mrs. G,” Janey said, turning to me and continuing, “You sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah, I…” I gestured to the donut display. “I need to run an errand. I’m not sure how long I’ll be, but…wish me luck.”
Janey beamed. “You don’t need luck. Bring fritters, though…just in case.”
Ten minutes later, I was on the move again, carrying a pink box up Main Street toward the mill. I stopped twice to assure concerned citizens the baby was fine or to give today’s special. Honestly, I didn’t mind the distractions. It was better than worrying I’d get this wrong.
“Dexter! You sly devil you, charming us with treats! Thank you!” Layla exclaimed, jumping from her desk outside Cooper’s office.
I shook my head. “Actually, these aren’t for the mill. It’s a special delivery. I hate to bug you, but…where is he?”
Her eyes lit mischievously. “Big V? He’s in the lumber yard. Let me show you?—”
“I’ll find him. Thanks.”
The only way to the lumber yard was through the mill. That meant weaving in between forklifts, heavy machinery, and groups of loggers in hard hats and full gear. My uniform, box of donuts, and the lack of a hard hat drew attention. Okay by me. For once, I didn’t mind if Wood Hollow put me on blast. In fact, I was sort of hoping they would.
I found Viggo standing akimbo in his ubiquitous plaid shirt in front of a tree trunk the size of a large boat. The bark had been stripped and though I knew nothing about logging, my best guess was that he was working out where to begin.
Same here.
I stepped outside, clearing my throat to get Viggo’s attention. But he seemed to sense my presence. He pulled his protective glasses off and set them on a piece of equipment.
“Are you okay? Freya? The baby?”
“Yes, everyone is fine.” I pushed the box into his hands. “You don’t have to open it. I just needed currency to get in the door and donuts always work. You don’t have to share those, though. It’s a lot of fritters. Your favorite. I thought about adding the special, but it’s lemon meringue and I wasn’t sure you’d like the tartness. You tend to go for sweet somethings and—I’m talking too much, huh?”
Viggo tilted his head. “You do that sometimes.”
“Yeah, well…I’m nervous.”
“Don’t be. I was going to come by after work and apologize for last night. I could have handled it better, but I?—”
“Jag älskar dig,” I blurted.
He went perfectly still. “What?”
“It means I love you, doesn’t it?”
Viggo opened his mouth. “I…yes.”
“I looked it up. I didn’t have to…I knew, but I wanted to be sure. Then I listened to a native speaker say it on repeat for a few hours so I’d get it right, because I really, really want to get this right.”
“What are you?—”
“Jag älskar dig, Viggo. I love you.”
He set the donuts on the giant log and closed the distance, lifting my chin with his thumb. “Dex…”
“I do. And I know it’s bad timing and that I’m coming to you with more baggage than any sane person would want to take on, but I’m taking my shot here. See…I wanted to create a family that felt a little warmer than mine. I figured I could do it on my own, and if necessary, I will. But the thing is…you feel like family, like home, like everything I’d ever hoped for but wasn’t sure I’d find. Somehow, I found you, Viggo. Or you found me. And I love you so much, and there’s no one I’d rather grow old with. Just you.”
Viggo cradled my nape and pressed his lips to my forehead, my nose, my mouth. “Jag älskar dig.”
I smiled. “Me too, but…maybe you should think about it. This is a lot.I’ma lot, and I’m about to have a baby and that’s a lot and?—”
He shut me up with a quick, urgent kiss.
