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“You also eat a lot of cheese…” he adds sheepishly.

“All right, got it, you bought a cheesemaker.”

“Actually, I invested in an Amish-run farm and that gets us all the best cheese and milk—most natural too. No preservatives.”

Another sigh.

“Continue.”

“I bought stocks in a few other companies, but nothing over the top, just baby toys and other baby products—Ihaveto make sure they don’t have any toxic substances in them,” he adds vehemently.

“Oh, Vlad…”

“Are you mad at me? Please say you’re not mad.”

He comes over to my side and drops to his knees in front of me. Placing a quick kiss to my bump, he lays his head on my stomach as he wraps his arms around me.

“I’m not mad. But you’ve gone overboard with this.”

“I know, but I need to make sure anything you consume is good for you and the baby.”

“I appreciate everything you do,” I murmur as I thread my fingers through his thick locks. “You’ll be the best dad.”

He lifts his head up, his eyes wide and hopeful.

“You think so?”

“Iknowit.”

Xanthiya Kuznetsova came wailinginto the world and into the waiting arms of her father. Classic Vlad, he would not let anyone else help with the birth—no, he got a midwife certificate to do it all himself.

Poor girl, she might have to wait until she’s seventy to date with such an overbearing father.

But one thing is for sure: she will be so loved, she will never have to wonder what love feels like.

THE END