Page 92 of The Specialist

“Are you all right, my love?”

“I’m perfect.”

I chuckled. “Yes, you are.”

She leaned her head back on my chest, a catch in her voice when she spoke. “I love you, Egan.”

“I love you, my wife,” I murmured, loving being able to call her that. “Are you sure you are okay? You seem…distracted.” I had noticed her well up more than once. She had been emotional since we’d arrived on the island, often crying, which was unlike her. Typically, she was so strong. Geo had assured me it was normal, given what had occurred, when I spoke with him.

“She cries and sleeps a lot,” I confessed. “I am worried.”

“She is letting out the stress and worry,” he said. “Recovering from all the anxiety. I can arrange a counselor if she wants one. But give her a little time to adjust.”

“I’m good. So many changes,” she murmured, bringing me back to the present.

“I know. Good ones, though?” I asked.

“The best.” She covered my hands with hers. “And I have another one to add to the list.”

“Oh?” I asked. “A big one?”

She pressed my hand to her stomach. “Well, it’s pretty little right now, but that is going to change.”

It took me a minute before her words sank in. My body locked down, my mind going blank for an instant. I spun her in my arms. “Sofia?” I asked, my voice rough. “You—you are pregnant, iubirea mea? Now?”

“Yes. My birth control failed. I don’t know—”

I cut her off, kissing her hard, then pulling her into my arms. “I don’t care.” I recalled my grandmother’s words. “This is the best gift ever.”

“You’re happy?”

“Happy isn’t a big enough word.” I was also relieved. The crying and the sleeping made more sense. She was pregnant. With my child. Copilul meu. I was going to be a father.

I drew back, studying her face. “Are you happy, Sofia? I know children were in the future—”

She pressed a finger to my lips, cutting me off.

“Our future is now, Egan. We’re building our life now. I am thrilled.”

“And you are all right? The baby is okay? Were you…” I trailed off as a thought hit me. Sofia must have read my mind and seen the worry on my face because she was fast to reassure me.

“Yes, I was pregnant when I was taken. But the baby is fine. I am fine. I was crying for no reason again, and Raven asked me if there was a possibility that I was pregnant. I was stunned when I realized I was displaying so many symptoms and hadn’t noticed. With all the women here, there were a few pregnancy tests around, and I took one. When it said it was positive, Missy and Raven took me to the doctor everyone has used.”

I recalled her going to the mainland two days ago. She had said it was for wedding stuff, and I hadn’t suspected anything.

“The doctor said everything looked good. You can come for the ultrasound.”

“I will be there for everything.”

Her eyes shone in the moonlight. “I know.”

I dropped to my knees in the sand, spreading my hands over her stomach where our child grew. Still tiny, undetectable to my eye, but he or she was right under my hands. Safe and protected.

The way they would be their entire life.

I looked up at Sofia, tears filling my eyes and spilling down my cheeks. “Thank you, my love.”

She cupped my face. “Tati,” she whispered.