Page 75 of Dark Christmas
She snorts out a laugh, rolling her eyes. “Yeah, all two millimeters of it.”
All the same, we both glance out at the light dusting—there’s something so peaceful about it. I sip my wine and lean back on the couch, noticing again how she’s sticking with sparkling water.
We sit curled up together, watching the fire, the soft glow of the Christmas tree bathing the room in warmth. Everything about this feels right; it’s a moment I never thought I’d have but now don’t ever want to lose. I look at her, her head resting on my chest. “I love you,” I say quietly.
She tilts her head up, eyes soft, and whispers, “I love you, too.”
Then, suddenly her eyes light up, like something just clicked. She shifts in my arms, her face serious but excited. “Melor, there’s something I need to tell you.”
I sit up a little straighter, the tightness in my chest back again. “What is it?” I ask. I’m bracing for something that could ruin this peace. I hate admitting it, but I can’t shake the feeling.
She gives me a soft smile, one that doesn’t quite ease the tension inside me. “I want to tell you, but... it’s better if I show you.”
Before I can respond, she’s off the couch, rushing out of the room.
When she returns, she’s holding a small gift, her eyes sparkling with something I can’t quite place. She sits back down next to me, pressing the wrapped box into my hands, her expression nervous but excited.
“This moment with you is perfect,” she says softly, “but there’s something that could make it even better.”
My heart skips a beat. How the hell is that possible? I glance down at the gift, then back at her. “What is it?”
She bites her lip. “I wanted to wait until tomorrow morning, but there’s no way I can.”
I raise an eyebrow, curiosity gnawing away at me. I can tell by the way her hands are shaking that it’s something big. Slowly, I begin to peel back the wrapping paper, my eyes flicking to hers every second. Whatever this is, it’s got her on edge, and now, I’m right there with her.
I tear the wrapping paper away, revealing a small, simple box. At first, it doesn’t register. Then I see it—the pregnancy test, with a little pink plus sign staring back at me.
I hold it in my hands, still as a stone, the reality of it slowly sinking in.
A baby.
The silence stretches between us, thick and heavy. I can feel her eyes on me, waiting. Finally, she breaks the quiet, her voice shaky.
“Say something, anything. Even if you’re upset.” She’s rambling, clearly nervous. “I know things are happening fast between us, and a baby wasn’t in the plan, but I’m happy. I really am. And I think you’d be a great dad, but if you don’t want to be involved, I get it. I can—”
I turn to her, stopping her words with a kiss, deep and full of everything I can’t quite say yet. She melts against me, her body trembling slightly. I pull away slowly, my forehead resting against hers, my hand still clutching the test.
“It’s the best news I’ve ever gotten,” I whisper.
Her eyes fill with tears, her lower lip trembling. “Really?”
I nod, wiping away one of the tears that escapes down her cheek. “I love you, Amelia. I’m not going anywhere.”
She smiles, and it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. “I love you, too.”
I kiss her again, then pull back, grinning. “Let’s head upstairs and celebrate the news properly.”
Epilogue I
AMELIA
Istand in my chambers, my hand resting on the swell of my belly.
It’s been three months since the duke was killed in battle, since I learned I was carrying his child.
The baby is growing, big and strong, and though the thought of becoming a mother fills me with joy, it’s overshadowed by the unrelenting grief of losing my love. My heart aches for him more and more each day. It feels as though the castle itself is mourning his absence—cold and empty, despite its grandeur.
A sharp knock at the door pulls me from my reverie. I already know who it is before I answer.