Chapter 41
Nine days later…
The delighted shrieks of the twins’ laughter filled Max’s living room as they played with their Christmas presents. He sat on the couch, sipping a mug of steaming coffee while he watched them drive their remote-controlled unicorns in bumper cars around the floor. They’d rammed most of the furniture in the beginning, but it hadn’t taken long for them to get the hang of the controls. Now, they zoomed in and out of table legs and around chairs, racing each other to an imaginary finish line.
Margot sank onto the cushion beside him and propped her chin on his shoulder. “Those are brilliant. Where did you find them?”
“Online. Actually, Esther found them. I’d mentioned wanting to get the girls something interactive when I talked to Asher last week. She overheard and started googling. I swear, her research skills rival his.”
Margot chuckled. “It makes them a good match.”
“It does. Anyway, she found those, and I could hear her laughter from across the room. She showed them to Asher first and all he said was, ‘Christ almighty.’ She didn’t even need to tell me what they were after that. I knew they’d be perfect.”
“He’s never going to live down the unicorn thing.”
“Nope. Especially since the things he crafted from that suit probably would have saved his life if events hadn’t happened the way they did.”
She hummed. “Speaking of perfect gifts… here.” She brought a small box around, holding it in front of him.
Curiosity drew his eyebrows together. “You already gave me presents.”
“I know. But this one is extra special.”
Max took the box and glanced at her. Anticipation shone in her eyes. “Okay?” He gave it a shake. The box was light, but it didn’t make any noise.
Margot rolled her eyes. “Don’t try to guess. Just open it.”
Chuckling, he pulled the bow off. “Every day, I swear, I’m reminded where Em gets her impulsivity and impatience.”
“I won’t deny that,” she said with a chuckle.
Still smiling, he lifted the lid.
His entire body stilled, and the smile fell off his face. Eyes growing round, his gaze darted to hers, then back to the box. With shaking fingers, he lifted the white strips from the tissue paper. “Are—are these what I think they are?”
A beautiful, radiant smile spread over her face. “Yes. In probably early September, we’ll be a family of five.”
Heart thumping so hard it rattled his ribs, Max stared at the two pink lines on the test strips. He’d hoped for this. They’d done little to stop it from happening. But there had still been a piece of him that doubted it would happen. Especially so quickly.
He dropped the box into his lap and framed her face between his hands to press a swift kiss to her lips. When he pulled back, happiness bubbled out on rich laughter. “Oh my God! If it never happened, I’d have been ecstatic just to be a dad to Em and Lily. This is just icing on the cake.” He kissed her again. “I love you, woman.”
Still beaming, she laid her hands over his, holding his gaze. “I love you too.”
After another quick, fierce kiss, he let her go. She wasn’t the only one with an unexpected gift.
Shifting on the couch, he buried a hand in his pocket.
“What are you doing?” Margot gave him a curious frown.
“I’ve been carrying this around for close to a week, trying to find the right time to give it to you. Now seems like a great time.” Pulling his hand out, he opened his palm, revealing the delicate diamond and pearl ring.
She gasped.
“The pearls are for the girls. It’s their birthstone. I’m not just committing to you. I know you’re a package deal, and I wanted to honor that.”
“Oh, Max.” She let her hand fall. “It’s beautiful.”
“Will you marry me, Margot?”
The little squeal she let out and the ear-to-ear grin were the only warnings he received before she launched herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck. He curled his fist around the ring and held her close.
“Is that a yes?” he asked with a soft laugh.
She cradled his face. “What do you think?”
He grinned. “Well, I think a New Year’s Eve wedding sounds amazing.”
“Me too.”
The next instant, she melded their mouths together in a kiss that curled his toes.
With a soft moan, he eased back. “You should probably put this on before I forget it’s in my hand and we end up tearing the couch apart to find it.” He opened his hand, showing her the ring.
Laughing, she held up her fingers.
Max slipped it over her knuckle, then kissed the back of her hand. “Thank you for showing me that anything is possible. Even dreams I thought were long dead.”
“I think we showed that to each other.” Leaning forward, she nestled against his chest.
He wrapped an arm around her, content to hold her as the girls ran around, still racing their cars.
This was better than his dream had ever been.
Thank you for reading Max's Mission ! I hope you loved it! This marks the end of the Wagner Brigade series.