Dark Love (The Two Sides of Me Book 3) (39 page)

“Mom, hey it’s ok, shush.” I pat her back in an attempt to comfort her but it’s no use she’s over the moon at the prospect of being a grandma again. She was heartsick when Sage and Kevin decided not to have any more children.

“I’m just so happy for you, how did this happen? I mean I know how it happened but how did it
happen
happen
?”

“I don’t know, Mom, it’s a miracle.” Dad peels her arms from my shoulders before kissing me on the cheek with tear filled eyes.

“Congratulations, sweetheart. I’m so happy for you.” He turns to Evan “For you both.” Evan nods slowly, lazily closing and opening his eyes while he leans back elbows on the arms of the chair, fingers forming a steeple looking proud and even a little smug.

“There is more,” he says and I shrug at my dad.

“Have a seat, Dad, he’s right, there’s more.” My dad narrows his eyes trying unsuccessfully to figure out what’s going on but eventually he returns to his seat. Sage is more alert now. Her curiosity is peaked. She reaches around Kevin to pat my hand.

“Good work sis, congratulations,” she says softly. Of all the people in the world, no one knows how much I suffered after my attack and the years that followed more than my mother and Sage. No one knows how insanely important this miracle is, well no one other than Evan.

“Thanks, it’s crazy.”

“That’s an understatement, I can’t believe it.”

“Well you're really not gonna believe this next part then.”

“Hurry up then, don’t keep us waiting, what is it? How much more could there possibly be?”

“One more.” Evan says but no one catches his hint so I expand on his cryptic answer.

“Twins.” The smile on my face spreads so wide it hurts. Mom’s hands fly to cover her face and I think I hear Kevin choke on his water.

“Twins?!” Sage shrieks.

“Yup, there are two of ‘
em.”

Collapsing against the back of her chair she puffs out, “Oh my God, no fucking way!”

“Sage! Language!” Mom can’t stand swearing and the ‘F’ word is her most hated curse, even after the shock of a lifetime learning we are having not one but two babies she’s still relentless about correcting us.

“Sorry, mom.” I say for Sage, she’s not really paying attention to mom. I have always been the one with the potty mouth, but today I’m apologizing for Sage. The fallout from the bomb we’ve just detonated is still settling when two waitresses come through the door carrying trays of drinks. Somehow my husband has learned everyone’s preferred alcoholic beverage and the waitresses slide through the room delivering them all to the correct person. They are followed by two waiters who arrange appetizers on either end of the table and then like magic all four of them are gone.

I look at the drink before me turning it and frowning. Martinis are my standard drink when I go out but this does not look like a martini, it doesn’t look like any drink I’ve ever seen. “What
is
this?”

“A mocktail, it’s iced green tea elixir with ginger and lemon.”

“Mocktail, huh? Never heard of it.”

“Try it.” I hesitantly take a sip ready to scrunch up my face in distaste but it’s not bad, in fact, it’s really good. Of course it is, he knows things about me I haven’t even figured out yet.

“How did you know what everybody drinks?”

“Research.”

“How did you know I’d like this?” I hold up the glass with a sprig of mint sticking out the top.

“Ginger.”

“Oh…” memories of that first morning in Italy when Cecelia made me ginger tea and a hard-boiled egg to settle my morning sickness return. Everyone is chatting among themselves about our news and their surprise at Evan knowing what drink they prefer so they don’t hear when I ask him if everyone knows about Cecelia’s death.

“Gabriella and Simone know, of course, but I don’t know about your family.”

“Ok, I’ll tell them, I want them to come to her funeral. They all loved her when they visited Italy for Christmas. I’m sure they would want to go.

“All right, before we leave we can tell them about it.” I smile a small sad smile.

“Thank you for understanding.”

“Understanding what, baby?”

“That I need to lay her to rest properly.”

“Of course, and you are right she deserves that. I was thinking in a business manner instead of emotionally. I hate that she is gone, I thought if we avoided the ceremonial part of it maybe it would be easier.”

“Nothing is going to make it easier but we have to do it, we have to say goodbye.” His hand moves to absently touch the cross that lies against his skin under his suit, it’s always there he never takes it off, it’s a part of him. I don’t even notice anymore.

“Where did your cross come from, did someone special give it to you?”

“Yes. It was Cecelia. She was always trying to find ways to protect me.” I reach under the table and squeeze his knee.

“I’m glad she did. She must have known there were better days to come for you.”

“Yes, she must have.” Our serious moment is over when Simone taps his knife against his water goblet drawing everyone’s attention to him.

“I wanted to propose a toast to Evan and Mia.” He slides his chair out and stands while everyone holds up their glass

“I don’t know two people more deserving of happiness than the two of you. I haven’t known either of you for long but one thing was blatantly obvious the second I laid eyes on you together. You have a big love, a true and lasting love, the kind that is able to withstand some of life’s most difficult hardships and you both still come out on the other side glowing and better than before. To a long life together full of one blessing after another.” Everyone raises their glass to toast.

“Thank you, Simone, that was beautiful.” I sniff and Evan hands me his handkerchief. “Don’t worry everything makes me cry lately.” I say when a worry line creases his forehead and he looks to Evan who nods.

“She is not exaggerating about that.”

“Oh hush.” I swat at him. Simone doesn’t sit after his toast like I expect him to though. When everyone has settled he begins to speak again.

“Now I’d like to make a little announcement of my own. I’ve been assured that this will not steal any thunder from Evan and Mia’s big announcement, I don’t think anything could ever top that!”

“Here here!” My dad calls out. “Gabriella has agreed to marry me.” He looks down at Gabby with adoration and she reaches up to lace her fingers with his.

“Oh! Hey! Did you know about this? Of course you did, how could you not tell me?” I fire at Evan

“They wanted it to be a surprise.” He shrugs. I hop up too quickly and of course, Evan has anticipated this, he stands with me steadying me on my bare feet before letting me go.

“Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” I rush around the table and lean down to hug Gabby while the rest of the party congratulates them and raises their glasses in another toast.

“I’m so happy for you, Gabby! Do you have a ring?”

“Mmhm.” She holds out her left hand and on her finger is the most beautiful pink diamond I’ve ever seen.

“It’s pink!” I gasp

“Yes, he was going for something different.” I take her hand in mine and examine it closer.

“He did a wonderful job, it’s breathtaking!” I turn to Simone.

“Congratulations Simone, welcome to the family, you sure you’re ready for this?” He locks eyes with Gabriella.

“Absolutely, I’ve never wanted anything more.” Aw crap, more tears I dab them away with the handkerchief still in my hand and return to my seat. The main course is served by the ever efficient staff but I’m not able to eat much. My appetite is still out of whack so I sit back and pick at my food and watch our families get to know each other.

“Have you chosen a date for the wedding?” My sister asks Gabriella

“Not yet, we wanted to get through Evan and Mia’s wedding and the birth of the babies first. Sometime next year probably.” Next year…in just one year Evan and I will have had a wedding, a honeymoon, and two babies, it doesn’t seem possible.

“Do you want dessert, baby?” Evan interrupts my day dreaming and I look down at my pathetic attempt at eating dinner.

“No, I’ve wasted enough food today, I think.”

“I noticed. Is there anything else that sounds good? I can have the chef make you anything.”

“No, it’s fine, another mocktail sounds good though.” His face brightens.

“So I have found you a new favorite drink?”

“For the next seven months at least, after that I may need a couple shots of tequila to handle mothering twins.”

“You will not be needing tequila.” His face contorts in disgust. “You will be fine. You will have a lot of help from your family, and I will be there every step of the way changing diapers, feeding them, walking the halls of the house to quiet them.”

“Yes, and we aren’t moving here for nothing! I can’t wait to get my hands on my nieces or nephews!” Gabby chimes in boisterously, I think she’s had a couple drinks too many.

“I know, but you can’t be there all the time, I don’t expect you to. And you have to get back to work, Evan, so tequila it is!”

“I can do whatever I want, I have a perfectly capable staff of people to run things here, I can work from home and I will not allow anyone but family to be a part of raising my children.” He says this with his ‘end of conversation’ tone. Hmm, I had no idea about his plans to work from home, maybe we need to sit down and have a talk about the future.

“That’s news to me, good news of course, tequila doesn’t really agree with me anyway.”

“Of course it doesn’t, no self-respecting wife of mine would drink tequila.” I glance around the table to be sure nobody is drinking a margarita. H
e seems to have quite an aversion to that particular alcohol.

“No one is drinking it, Mia, I would never be so rude.” I give him a sideways glance of doubt and he shakes his head at me.

“You don’t give me much credit, Mrs. Lawson.”

“Sorry, I call it how I see it.” One corner of his mouth lifts in a small smirk and as always it’s followed with a wink that sets my heart on fire.

“And that is exactly why I adore you, baby.”

Later that night after I’ve peeled the most expensive and uncomfortable piece of jewelry from my neck and abandoned my dress for cotton pajamas, I curl up alone and wait for Evan to come to bed. The party lasted until after midnight and my eyes are so heavy. I’m not sure I’ll last until he finishes talking with Isaac. After a night full of happiness and celebration it was difficult telling my family about Cecelia’s death and her funeral. They were, of course, gracious and more than willing to attend.

The funeral is tomorrow or today now that it’s past twelve and Evan and Isaac are wrapping up last minute details. I made most of the arrangements but when I ran into a couple of snags, Isaac took over. I have our clothes hung out and ready for mass so we will be able to sleep in late, if he ever comes to bed at all. I worry about his grieving process. I know it’s different for everyone but Evan doesn’t seem to be grieving at all. He is all business when he discusses anything to do with Cecelia. His Aunt Sophia was his surrogate mother but even she didn’t spend as many years with him as Cecelia did. She cooked for him, kept his house clean and organized. She knew how to do everything in the very specific particular way he liked things to be done.
She was there when he brought Cameron home to raise her and she treated her like family because Evan cared for her. She was there when he was a horrible monster leading an army of evil killers, she watched and prayed for him to find another way. She prayed for a miracle and knowing what a pure loving soul she was God answered her prayer in the most unusual way, a brain tumor and a fatal car accident followed by comas and an insane personality disorder.

Around four a.m., I finally feel the mattress dip behind me. Evan curls around my body pulling me close to spoon against my back. I open my eyes and look around seeing only the soft light of the lamp casting shadows on the walls of our bedroom. I listen to his breathing for a long time before it becomes regular and peaceful. When I’m sure he’s asleep I close my eyes again and join him. My alarm doesn’t go off until ten a.m. on purpose, I knew he would come to bed late and I could sleep all day so ten seemed reasonable when the funeral doesn’t start until three. Neither of us have moved a muscle in six hours and I feel the stiffness when I reach for my phone to shut off the alarm.