Chapter Forty-two
Abigail-Ann
“Love will find a way through paths where wolves fear to prey.”
~ Lord Byron
T he bed jolted beneath me, pulling me awake. My first thought was that there had been an earthquake. But as I blinked through the haze of sleep, I saw Mikkel beside me, twisting and turning as he sat up.
“Good morning, amor ,” he said with a sleepy grin, his voice warm but oddly insistent as he reached for his glasses. “I was just about to wake you.”
I grabbed my phone from the nightstand, squinting at the screen to check the time. Four in the morning. “Why were you about to wake me?”
Mikkel’s eyes sparkled with excitement and urgency. “We’re going out.”
Still groggy, I rubbed my eyes. “At four am?”
He gave me a mischievous smile. “Yes. ”
Despite the ungodly hour, I forced myself to sit up, the drowsiness making my movements sluggish. “Alright, alright,” I muttered, pushing the covers off. “Let me get ready.”
The cold morning breeze rushed through the bathroom window as I showered, making me shiver. Twenty-five minutes later, we were both ready; me in a black sweater dress with my hair in a ponytail and light makeup, and Mikkel in a white sweatshirt and dark jeans.
“All set?”
I nodded, spritzing a bit of perfume and slipping on my bracelets. “Let’s go.”
We made our way down the stairs, and the sight of Valeria around the kitchen island startled me. Apparently, we weren’t the only ones awake at this hour.
“Good morning, Valeria!”
“Buenos días, Mamá , 132 ” we both said in unison.
“ Buenos días! 133 ” She looked up from her book and smiled at us. “Where are you lovebirds off to so early?”
Mikkel responded smoothly, “ Campo de aviación. 134 ”
Duolingo did not teach me that. I’m officially revoking my subscription.
“ ?Eres tan romántico! 135 ” she exclaimed. “Have fun.”
With a final nod from her, Mikkel and I left the penthouse. Sliding into the passenger seat, I asked, “Where exactly is out?”
He gave me a look that said, You know what I’m going to say, and I scoffed, rolling my eyes.
Nerves swirled in my stomach as I admired Mikkel’s adventurous spirit. The changing scenery fueled my anticipation until we arrived at an airfield, where a multi-colored helicopter stood against the dark sky, sparking my excitement.
I turned to Mikkel, eyes wide. “What’s… ha ppening?”
His grin was infectious as he turned to face me. “Number one on your bucket list.” Hiis voice brimmed with excitement. “You didn’t think I’d forget about the list, did you?”
With trembling hands, and teary eyes, I reached for my phone and read aloud the item: Helicopter ride BD.
“We’re going on a helicopter ride,” I whispered, still in awe.
Mikkel leaned closer, his thumb gently brushing away the tears that had spilled onto my cheeks. “Right before dawn, baby.”
I leaned into him, overwhelmed by his love and thoughtfulness. As we neared the waiting helicopter, the hum of the engines and the glow of zodiacal light surrounded us, creating a moment suspended in time.
Carlos from Manhattan Helicopter Tours greeted us as we boarded. Moments later, we were strapped in and the helicopter lifted off, the city below shrinking to a miniature version of itself.
“Are you okay?”
I turned to him, heart swelling. “I’m completely in awe. You always make my dreams come true.”
He leaned in and kissed me passionately, igniting a fire deep within.
The first rays of sunlight painted the horizon in shades of pink and gold, and I marveled at the beauty. As the sun climbed higher, he snapped a picture of me against the sky.
“Now we can print this,” he murmured, “and remember it was taken right before dawn.”
A thousand thoughts swirled in my mind, but one stood clear—I never wanted to leave his side.
As the city lights sharpened during our descent, the thud of the landing gear grounded me. The moment we stepped off the plane, dewy morning air wrapped around us, and Mikkel’s steady grip in my hand reminded me I was exactly where I belonged.
I turned to him, my voice soft. “With you, it’s like everything I’ve ever hoped for.”
His fingers tightened around mine. “I’ll make sure you always feel that way.”
“You already do. ”
Settling into the car, warmth bloomed in my chest. I snapped a picture—my hand resting on his cheek as he kissed me. With trembling fingers, I set it as my wallpaper, determined to hold onto the magic of this morning.
We stopped for breakfast at Balthazar, a cozy SoHo spot known for its French pastries and eggs Benedict. By the time we returned to the penthouse, exhaustion had settled deep in my bones.
Stepping inside, we were greeted with warm smiles from Valeria and Manuel. Mikkel, still carrying the faint trace of a smile, grabbed some cherries from the fridge before turning to his parents. “So, what’s the plan for today?”
“Val and I have some business to handle, hijo , 136 ” Manuel replied.
Mikkel raised an eyebrow. “That’s why you came to New York? For business?”
Valeria smiled fondly. “Not exactly. We came because we missed you and Emilia, though she’s out of town. And, of course, to meet Abigail.”
I smiled, touched by her words. “That means a lot to hear. How long are you staying?”
“Five days. We’ll have to head back to California after that, because there’s always something waiting for us.”
I nodded. “I can only imagine.”
Valeria glanced at her phone, sighing softly. “Looks like our ride is downstairs, Manuel. Vámonos! 137 ”
Manuel stood, smiling. “Always in a hurry, mi vida , 138 ” he teased, his eyes filled with fondness as he turned to her.
Valeria walked over to Mikkel, placing a gentle kiss on his cheek.
“Have a good day, mis amores , 139 ” she said, before turning to me and kissing my cheek as well.
Manuel followed suit. “We’ll be back in a few hours.”
As the door closed behind them, a soft thud echoed, but the love lingered. Heading upstairs, I sighed, the exhaustion fading when I turned to him.
“Can you clear your schedule for a week?”
Without hesitation, Mikkel took my hand, his expression serious. “I’ll have it done tomorrow morning.”
I smiled softly. “You didn’t even ask why.”
He shrugged with a grin. “I don’t need to. You want me to clear my schedule? Done. No questions, no hesitation.”
I chuckled, feeling a rush of affection for him. “I want you to meet my dad.”
He paused, then nodded. “I’ll arrange the details with my flight crew.”
I grinned, knowing full well that whatever I needed, he would give it to me. “Next week. The Friday after your parents leave.”
Mikkel laughed, his joy infectious. “It’s a plan. But for now, let’s sleep.”
We woke to the glow of streetlights streaming through the windows. Stretching with a yawn, we shared a sleepy smile before slipping out of bed, showering, and heading downstairs.
“ Buenas Noches , 140 ” Valeria greeted us with a warm smile. “Did you aves del amor have a good rest?”
“Love birds,” Mikkel whispered, “ Aves del amor means lovebirds.”
Pink stained my cheeks as I replied, “We did. Thank you.”
Manuel looked up from the kitchen counter, his eyes perceptive. “I hope you’re ready for game night. We brought a few special games from home to show you, nuera . 141 ”
“Please tell me we have Dominó ?” Mikkel asked, excitement spreading through his eyes.
“We do. Get ready to lose, hijo , 142 ” his dad joked .
“In your dreams, Papá .”
We moved onto the rooftop deck, where a large table was set up with various board games, cards, and dice. His parents explained the rules of each game with enthusiasm, their love for these traditions evident in every word. A spread of snacks covered one corner of the table, from bowls of chips to plates of cookies and sandwiches.
The first game we played was Dominó , a traditional Dominican game similar to dominoes, but with unique twists that made it faster-paced and more competitive. We paired off into teams: Valeria and I against Mikkel and Manuel. To our surprise, we won two consecutive rounds, which had me grinning ear to ear.
“Didn’t expect that, did you?” I teased, feeling a small spark of pride.
But Mikkel just flashed me a confident grin. “Lady’s luck, mi reina , 143 ” he said with a playful smirk. “ Papá and I are winning the next round.”
Sure enough, they insisted on a best-of-five. We were determined, but they were relentless, with Manuel’s sharp strategy and Mikkel’s calculated moves. The next few rounds were a blur of fast plays and laughter, with every point feeling like a mini victory, even when it didn’t go our way. In the end, they took the win, but it felt like we’d had our fair share of triumphs too.
Next, we played La Vieja , a variation of tic-tac-toe played on a large board with colorful pieces. The simplicity of the game belied its strategic depth, and I found myself deeply engrossed, trying to outwit Mikkel’s father, who was a master at it. Seriously, the man never lost a game and if he did, he was determined to get the final win.
I could now see where Mikkel got his competitiveness from.
Finally, we gathered in the living room for El Juego de la Silla , a lively game of musical chairs that had us darting around, laughing breathlessly as we fought for the last seat. My breasts put me at a clear disadvantage, but the infectious joy kept us going. By the end, we were all panting, grinning, and completely spent.
I loved tonight and I loved bonding with his family.