Page 77 of Tears of Gold

I give him another squeeze. This can happen. I can make my past and my present create something so spectacular the future will be wonderful for us all. I just know I can.

Eighteen

“Wow.”

I collapse on the mattress next to Eli and snuggle into his side. My skin tingles with sweat and my heart thumps an erratic rhythm.

“Wow, indeed. Please tell me that’s good for the baby and we can do it every night.” His lips skim my forehead, his breath slightly uneven.

“I am sure that’s good for the baby.”

Sighing, I tug him into a tight embrace. “So, do you think the evening was a success?”

I sense his smile. “I think it was wonderful. Although you nearly made Miss Beesley cry when you gave her a glass of champagne and told her to sit down with us.”

“I love her. Seriously, I don’t know what I would do without her and her biscuits.”

“I know. I’m thinking of buying a biscuit factory just so we can keep you in supply.”

I chuckle and kiss his chest. “No need. I have my own factory. Beesley Biscuits.”

“You should copyright that.”

“I might. Now do you want your present?”

“Again? Faith, seriously, you know the fifteen-minute rule.”

I elbow him and then roll over, reaching under the bed where I’ve stashed the small white box. I’m all about the boxes today.

Scrambling up, I straddle his lap and hand it over. He takes it and then sits up with me still across him. I’m not going to lie, I watch his muscles ripple and it does dangerous things to my insides.

“So, I looked at everything Harvey Nics had on offer. I wanted something to show you that I would fight along with you. I know you think I’m still running but I’m trying my hardest not to. Talking isn’t easy for me. When you live for so long in silence, unable to speak because a crippling fear holds you in its grasp, the freedom of speech doesn’t always come easy.”

His eyes are on my face.

“But I couldn’t find anything. No watch, cufflinks, anything really that could show you what I need for you, for us.” I nod at the box. “Open it.”

With his gaze hooded he looks down at the slim box between us and lifts the lid. A smile stretches across his face as he pulls out the tiny white Babygro.

My note flutters out and lands between us.

My Eli.

Everything to fight for and nothing to lose.

With Faith.

And you.

Together we become three.

His eyes are bright, glistening, when he looks back up at me. “I’ve never wanted anything as much as I want you. But I need you to be happy, us to be happy.”

“And you want me to talk.”

He nods and swallows hard. “For the three of us.”

“I will try. I promise.”