Page 16 of His Valentine
“Then it will be a damn expensive trip,” I say. I sneak in another kiss. “But yes. My promise will stand.”
“These are really thoughtful gifts,” Lena says. “Thank you. This means the world to me.”
“Hold on. There’s one more.”
“More? Magnus, no, this is more than enough. You don’t have to—”
But then Lena stops mid-sentence, her eyes widening as I get down on one knee in front of her. When I pull out the engagement ring from my pocket, her eyes glisten with tears.
“I love you, Lena,” I say. “I started falling for you the moment I saw you in that hotel lounge, and my feelings for you have done nothing but deepen ever since. We may have spent the last six months apart, but you’ve been in my heart the entire time. Marry me, Lena. Be my wife. Make me the luckiest man in the universe.”
“Yes,” Lena gasps. She laughs and wipes away the tears that have spilled down her cheeks. “It would make me so happy to marry you. I love you, too.”
Three months later—amonth after Lena and I get married at City Hall—she gives birth to our sweet little baby girl. We name her Violet, but Lena makes me agree that if our little girl wants to go by another name when she’s older, we have to let her pick something else. I grumble a little about the idea of her going by any other name, but in the end, I agree.
We spend that first day in a lovestruck daze, barely able to do anything besides stare in awe at our little swaddled babe. When Vivian and Gene stop by with flowers and food, I finally realize how hungry I am, and after fixing up a plate for Lena, I make a plate for myself and sit down to eat. Lena’s mom is holding the baby, and Gene is standing by Vivian’s side, the two of them looking so proud they practically radiate light.
“She really is something, isn’t she?” says Gene.
“She really is,” says Vivian.
I look over at Lena and see her watching her mom and Gene with our baby. When Lena’s eyes drift over to me, the smile on her face is one of pure happiness.
Chapter Seven
Epilogue –Lena
5 Years Later
“Can we go on the rollercoaster, Mom?Please?” Violet asks, looking at me with pleading eyes.
I look up at the ride and suck in a breath. “Um…your dad can take you on it, sweetie.”
“Yeah, the boys can’t go on it, anyway,” says Magnus. He shoots me a smile and says, “Meet up with you after?”
“Sounds good,” I say, and take the twins’ hands.
Jackson and Noah are disappointed at first that they don’t get to go on the rollercoaster with their sister, but as soon as I tell them they get to pick out whatever kind of snack they want, they become consumed with that instead. At three years old, they know exactly what they like and don’t like, and theyloveto debate about it with each other.
This time, though, miraculously, they’re both craving the same thing. The three of us head over to get an order of freshly made donut holes to share.
“Mmm,” moans Noah dramatically. “Soyummy.”
I laugh and wipe a smudge of powdered sugar from the side of his mouth, but another one reappears as soon as he takes another bite.
“I’m gonna eat themall, Mom,” says Jackson, grabbing another donut hole.
“You better not, mister,” I tell him.
Ten minutes later, Magnus and Violet join us, Violet talking a million miles a minute about how fun and scary the rollercoaster was. She doesn’t even care that her brothers have only left her one little donut hole.
“I’m glad you had fun on the ride, sweetie,” I say, laying a kiss on my daughter’s temple. “Hey, while we’re all sitting here, let me take a photo to send to Grandma and Grandpa, okay?”
I get my phone out and hold it out in front of us, the five of us squeezing together to fit into the frame. It takes some effort and lots of laughter, but somehow we manage it. Then I send the photo off to my mom, along with a quick update about what we’ve been up to today. Less than a minute later, my mom replies,So fun! Love you guys.
Then a second text arrives from her:Gene insists you eat another round of donuts for him.
I laugh and put my phone away. My mom and Gene got married three years ago; the ceremony took place in my mom’s backyard and the reception took place in Gene’s. The two of them keep saying they’re going to sell one of the houses, but they still haven’t agreed on which one.