Chapter 13
Anastasia
Cakes and birthday parties.
“Like this?” I ask, mixing the flour into the batter in an eight shape like Dorothy has shown me. She smiles and nods before going back to frosting the cupcakes we made earlier today. Once the cake is in the oven, everything is ready for Liam’s birthday party tonight. He is out at work with my dad, who has him overseeing the new buildings being made on the far left side of the city. He really seems to enjoy the work from how he talks so much about the buildings, and I don’t really understand a word he goes on about, but it’s cute. I smooth down my yellow pixie dress that falls to my knees, and Dorothy surprises me by placing her hand on my stomach for just a second.
“I’m excited to meet this little one. A grandchild is an honour, and thank you for giving it to me,” she softly tells me, placing her hand on my shoulder. “And for making my son so extremely happy and giving them all a home. I used to joke that they were like the Lost Boys from Peter Pan, and then they went off, finding a woman who looks just like Tinker Bell, didn’t they?”
I chuckle. “I never thought they were looking. I was more dropped on them.”
“No, they were looking, dear,” she tells me. “They just didn’t know it.”
“Do you think Liam will like everything?” I ask after placing the last layer of cake into the oven. We had made two, but one didn’t come out well, and Dorothy suggested we just make one more and use the other one to make cake pops covered in melted chocolate. This woman is so smart.
I look around our living room, which Dorothy, Skye and Phoebe helped me decorate with banners and balloons. A big pile of presents is on the coffee table in the corner, including a small handmade box from me. I covered it with the shiny stones Silver gives him, and miraculously he hasn’t noticed. I made sure to show Silver, and she dropped three shells in front of me one day last week. They were just the right size for me to finish the box off. I hope he likes it.
It’s an hour until Alex and Mason come home, and I shoot into the showers to clean up before Liam gets here. My parents, Skye, Phoebe, Estelle, Raine and her boyfriends and the twins turn up not long after, along with a few people from the village who he was close to, and we all wait for Liam. Dead on six o’ clock, he walks through the door, and we all shout surprise.
“Whoa, you didn’t have to do this for me,” he says, walking right to me and kissing me on the lips.
“It’s your birthday, of course we did,” I answer.
“And Ana wouldn’t take no for an answer,” Alex tells him, patting his shoulder. “Happy birthday, brother.”
“You’re looking old,” Mason teases, and Liam punches his arm gently. “But there is cake!”
Dorothy soon steals Liam away as someone puts light music on, and the room is full of people talking. Estelle stops near me, handing me a small glass of orange juice as she sips on some wine.
“Must be hard not to drink when everyone else is. How are you feeling?” she asks me.
“Tired but good overall,” I tell her. “Thank you for the drink. How are you?”
She seems to think on it for a moment. “It’s been hard to adjust to a new life, a new hospital with so many doctors, but they are so kind to me. I’m going to try and work in the maternity section as they have so many births here and so many children. It is quite amazing.”
“The island is amazing. Somehow it’s always warm and sunny, even when it rains, it’s not too bad,” I remind her. “I think the island itself has some kind of magic, because no way should Scotland be like his.”
“Agreed, but I’m not complaining. I get to go to the beach every day,” she laughs, and I join her.
“When I’ve had the baby, maybe I can join you at the hospital a few days a week? I don’t want to stop learning to help people and become a nurse,” I ask her. She places her hand on my arm. “You are always welcome at my side. I’m very proud of you.”
“That means a lot,” I softly reply. “I see you as a dear friend to me.”
“We don’t choose who is considered to be family. That’s the rule, right?” she says. “But if I could choose, I would pick you.”
“You’re going to make me cry,” I say with a laugh, hugging her tightly before letting go.
“What’s going to make you cry?” Liam asks, wrapping his arms around my waist from behind and resting his palms on my stomach.
“Never you mind, young boy,” Estelle tells him, winking at me before heading off to talk to someone else. I lean back on Liam’s chest, listening to the sound of our family enjoying their lives. We have peace…but it’s always there. She is always somewhere, waiting to crash it all, and at times like this, all I can do is enjoy the moment.
“I love you,” Liam whispers to me.
I turn my head and kiss one of the men I love so much. I’m not alone, and I never will be again.
Chapter 14
Anastasia
The baby effect.
Pulling down my top, it just springs back up as my baby bump resists it. I sigh, stripping off the last of my favourite tops and heading to the chest of drawers in our bedroom that is full of the maternity clothes I have avoided. I find a cute purple top with lace on the arms and chest, pulling that on, and it fits lovely. I turn to the side, admiring the cute baby bump I have now. I’m five months along, and every scan shows our baby is growing
