Epilogue
Demyan
Six months later
“You need to calm down.” Eduard is still but I can tell my constant fidgeting is annoying him. “She is going to love it.”
One of the babies starts to cry and I wonder if it’s a bad omen.
Patricia’s voice comes up the stairs. Trying to distract Tamsin no doubt, so she doesn’t realise what’s actually happening.
As soon as Patricia appears at the top of the stairs she steps aside and Tamsin looks up, sees all of us standing here with balloons and streamers and tries to turn right back around just as we yell, “surprise!”
“Oh no, no, missy.” Patty grabs hold of Tamsin’s arm and steers her back towards the room. “This is your night.”
She takes a breath and walks into the room.
“Happy birthday,” I say, kissing the top of her head.
“I should have known mom was up to something when she insisted on seeing the progress of the studio.”
I kiss Patty on the cheek and thank her for getting Tamsin here.
Everyone takes turns wishing Tamsin a happy birthday, while Eduard looks at me with an expression that says “told ya so,” which I choose to ignore.
Soft music fills the room, and I watch as Tamsin circles it, making sure to speak to everyone.
She still moves like water. A stream that will always make its way back to me.
That’s what I love about her. We found a rhythm of our own, where she accepts me for who I am, and I respect her for who she is.
“She is a light, isn’t she?” Patricia says from beside me. “She is so much more than what her childhood laid out for her.” She turns to face me and I see tears welling in her eyes. “And now, with you by her side, she will conquer anything life throws at her.”
I offer her a napkin and she laughs as she takes it and dabs her eyes.
“You know, when you first sat across from me at the café, I saw your eyes and wondered if hers would be the same. Then she told me you were her foster mom but everything I’ve seen between you…
everything Tamsin has ever told me or said in front of me about you…
well, We choose our family, Patty, and I hope you’ll do me the honor of becoming an honorary member of mine. ”
Patricia laughs more heartily now.
“Tamsin has already threatened that I’m not allowed to propose to her yet, so—” I pull out a long velvet box and snap it open. “Patricia Kleine, will you give me your blessing to ask for your daughter’s hand in marriage, when she lets me?”
“Absolutely,” she says, her eyes jumping over the amber stones set in platinum as I pluck it from the box and fasten it around her wrist. “You know I was always team Federov, right from the beginning.”
I kiss her cheek. “I know,” I whisper in her ear. “And I appreciate it very much.”
Tamsin makes her way over to us with Kimmie and Natan. Their newborn nestled against her breast.
“We’re sorry to have to leave so soon,” Kimmie says to us. “This one has me up at all hours and I’m dead on my feet.”
“Go and rest,” Tamsin says, pecking a kiss on Kimmie’s cheek and softly stroking the baby's hair.
Natan nods his head at me and they make their way to the stairs.
“What’s that?” Tamsin says, taking her mother’s wrist and eyeing the bracelet.
“Just a little gift from your admirer,” she says, causing Tamsin to swing her eyes to me.
“What? I man can’t thank the woman who raised the best thing that ever happened to him?” I ask.
She rolls her eyes. “Sweet talker.”
I pull her against me and kiss her, swaying us slightly to the music.
“Thank you,” she says. “I know I’ve been grumpy about my birthday coming up, but you made it so special.”
“You don’t have to thank me,” I say. “I like making you feel good.”
She chuckles a little.
“About that,” she says quietly, and I pull away a little so I can see her face clearly. “All that making me feel good has had an unexpected effect.”
I frown and shake my head. “Whatever it is, I’ll sort it.”
She chuckles. “Well,” she looks around the room, her eyes landing on all the people who love her, and then back on me. “I’m pregnant.”