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“Don't tease me, Helena.”
“I'm well-behaved.” I played the saint.
“I know...” He leaned in and gave me a kiss that prolonged the contact between our lips, but he pulled away before I could reach for his tongue. “Let's get to the restaurant before we convince each other to change our route.”
“We can stay in a hotel and order room service. I don't even need to be served by a waiter...”
“Come on, Helena...” she insisted.
“Okay.”
Thomas opened the car door for me, and I settled into the back seat. While he went around the car to take the wheel, I put on my seat belt.
He drove back to Manhattan, and we stopped in front of a fancy building.
“Helena?” She held out her hand to help me down after handing the car key to a valet.
I held back my exclamations as we took the elevator to the top floor. The view was wonderful, allowing us to see the bay and the Statue of Liberty. The skyline was all lit up, and some aircraft were bright spots in the sky.
“How beautiful!”
“I'm glad you liked it.”
“You never cease to amaze me.”
“It's a sign that I've been doing a good job.”
“You are.”
“Please come with us.” The restaurant receptionist gestured for us to follow him.
“Where are we going?” I searched Thomas's eyes, curious.
“Hold on.”
We went up a side staircase to a small terrace where there was just a table set for two with decorations of green arrangements and candles. I had already experienced many moments with Thomas, but this one was special and seemed like the perfect opportunity to tell him that I was pregnant.
He pulled out a chair for me and waited for me to settle down before sitting down opposite me.
“I love this view,” he said, settling his napkin on his lap.
“You can't help but love it.”
“The only vision I like better is you.”
I felt embarrassed, and my cheeks burned, but I didn't say anything.
“Helena...”
Chapter forty-six
The ring weighed heavy in my pocket, and as I looked at her, beautiful, smiling, and a little flushed, with the beautiful view of the bay behind her shoulders. As well as a woman who loved my daughters as much as I did, I hoped that I would have Helena by my side to share the rest of my days with or enjoy everyone that I could because every second mattered.
When I called her name and it echoed, she looked at me and smiled. I could wait for the starter to be served, but I immediately wanted to ask her to be mine for the rest of our lives.
“I'd like to know...” I pulled the velvet box out of my pocket.
She stared at me, but before I could lift the ring and make the request, that was the question my heart was waiting most for the answer to. Diana appeared in my view, huffing and dodging the restaurant security guard who was trying to stop her.