They shared a look before turning back to me with matching grins. “Sorry big bro, it’s top secret.”
I’d seen that silent exchange a million times before. “We both know that you’re going to tell me, so hurry up and make it quick.”
“Nope, that is not a thing that we know.” Zedd shook his head, looking serious.
I narrowed my eyes at them, then said, patiently; “Tell me now, or I’ll make you work the night shift downtown for the next month.”
“It was nothing, just teasing Ana.” Drex hedged to which I quickly replied, “About what?”
“We’ve always wanted a sister.” He shrugged as if that was all. But how would that tease Anastasia?
“And how sister-in-laws were even better because they spout nephews and nieces,” Zedd grinned and rapidly began wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. He really didn’t need to, I got it.
They were pestering her about marriage and starting a family. My stomach clenched with sudden nerves.
If only they’d known how close I was to proposing. I’d wanted to months ago, but she wasn’t ready then. I’d bought a ring when I’d taken her shopping for the first time. Before she ran away before she even found out about her biological family. I’d seen the perfect ring in a storefront window.
I’d been too excited to resist. It was Anastasia in every way, elegant but understated. I knew her affliction to fashion and jewellery, hell I’d only seen her wear makeup a handful of times. She’d not been what I’d expected when I first picked her up from the cemetery.
She was so much more, more perfect than anything I could’ve ever envisioned.
With all this happening, it hadn’t been the right time. But soon...
Six months later…
I tiptoed down the stairs, heels in hand, just to avoid my overprotective fiancé. I made the grave mistake of treading on the second to last step. A loud squeak erupted and simultaneously I groaned.
“Ah ah ah, where do you think you’re going?”
“Dammit.” I couldn’t help but stamp my foot like a child at the sight of Nikolai strolling in from the living room. “I’m going to work.”
“No. You’re sick, you should be in bed.” His tone was inoffensive, but it irritated me anyway.
“I’m not sick anymore, I promise.” Despite how annoying it was, I still found his overprotective side sweet. He had nothing to worry about but it was nice that he cared so deeply. I had mistakenly indulged him the past few days but enough was enough.
Soon enough, I wouldn’t be able to work. I would be taking advantage of all the time I had left before Nik restricted me to the house. I wasn’t worried about when the time came, I knew he’d be able to handle the business without me.
I’d come to love my role in the family. It wasn’t long after we came home from my stint in Philadelphia that Kaleb decided to step down. He’d planned to do it gradually, to let me take a small amount of work off his plate.
I thought he’d been nervous about retirement, thinking that he would be bored. About three weeks after that phone call, he’d changed his mind, apparently, he was too busy loving his retirement to work. So Nikolai and I happily stepped in. Little did I know that It wouldn’t last very long, and that’s why I was trying to squeeze in as much work as possible before I finally told Nikolai that I was pregnant.
I admit I would be sad that I’d be giving it up, even just temporarily. But I could understand where Nik was coming from, between planning a wedding and growing a human baby, that wouldn’t leave much time or effort for work.
Which brought me back to the conversation at hand, “I have work to do, the Alesso’s aren’t going to give up that space to anyone but me.”
“I can handle that. You especially shouldn’t be travelling if you’re sick.”
“Nik, I’m fine. Plus you’ll be there.” I pressed a soft kiss to his lips before walking off to the kitchen. He followed me, probably with an award-winning pout. But I wouldn’t relent on this. Today, we would be flying out to Philadelphia, which is another reason I couldn’t stay home.
I didn’t usually mind the drive but when travelling with Drex and Zedd, flying was definitely the way to go. It had taken me all of thirty minutes to realise I never wanted to spend longer than thirty minutes stuck in a car with Nikolai’s brothers.
Men may have stepped into the car that day, but they rapidly morphed into whining teenage girls. I made Nikolai promise me, never again would I have to endure that torture.
Tonight we had reservations at a fancy restaurant, more for the occasion than the small portion sizes. I had been buzzing all week. I had my suspicions that Nikolai had been wanting this for a while, so I knew he was going to flip out.
7 months later...
“Is my favourite niece back home yet?” Zedd sing-songed down the phone line. I didn’t bother pointing out that Elise was his only niece, therefore automatically the favourite.
“Yes, she is. Finally.” Even as I said the words I still couldn’t believe it. We’d spent so much time in the hospital that I’d lost track of the minutes...hours...days. I was just glad that we were finally able to bring our baby girl home. No one could have predicted that Ana would go into labour nearly three weeks early.
I’d been on edge for so long. I hated the feeling of being helpless. After Ana gave birth, all I could do was sit and watch. I’d never felt so happy and scared at the same time. I had no idea what to do for either of them, all I could do was stay out of the way of the nurses and doctors. It was hard but I had to let them do what they did best. I had stayed, defying every hospital order, to be with
