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“We will. Enjoy your thing,” Benedikt says, then hangs up the call.

Benedikt and Nestor are getting on a lot better since he helped him rescue me. Nestor told me that he thought Benedikt would get bigheaded about it and hold it over him as a debt, but he didn’t. They became closer.

He’s like part of our family now. I’ll forever be grateful that he was willing to help, and Nestor is seeing their business and partnership in a different way. They’re friends now. Genuine friends.

Leticia is waiting at the front door when we arrive. She glances at her watch with a stern look on her face.

I grin and pull her into my arms. “Sorry, we’re late, Mom. It was all Nestor’s fault.” I wink at Nestor, and he shakes his head.

“It’s always Nestor’s fault,” Leticia huffs, shooting daggers at her son. “The roast is almost ruined because you can’t be here on time.”

“Mom, we’re three minutes late,” Nestor laughs, following her into the house.

Ulyana jumps up from the sofa and shouts, “Finally.” Except she’s taunting Nestor, rolling her eyes at her mother’s dramatics.

“I’m practically wasting away here, I’m so starving from the wait,” Ulyana says, clutching her stomach in agony and staggering across the living room.

She stops in front of me and grabs me in a big hug, then wraps her hands around my belly. “How is my favorite little boy in the whole entire world?” she asks, talking to my belly, not me.

“I’m also okay,” I grin.

“Pish posh,” she dismisses me with a wave. “I’m having a conversation with my nephew. Don’t interrupt. This is serious.”

I giggle and my tummy bounces. The baby kicks against Ulyana’s hand, and she screams in excitement. “I felt it,” she shouts.

These family dinners are some of my favorite moments. I had no idea how much I needed these people. Once strangers, now they are the glue that holds my heart together.

They are everything to me.

Nestor slips his hand over my leg beneath the table as I set my knife and fork down on my empty plate.

“You ate more than I did,” he teases. “Was he hungry?”

I hold my belly and groan. “I think he’s still hungry,” I laugh.

Leticia grabs my plate, ready to dish up some more. “Our growing boy already likes his grandmother’s cooking the best,” she says proudly.

“Oh, please, Leticia, I can’t possibly eat any more,” I laugh, stopping her.

“Fine, I’ll pack you a takeaway. It will be the perfect midnight snack.”

“That would be wonderful. I’ll kick Nestor out of bed and make him bring it to me at three in the morning.”

Ulyana giggles.

“Don’t laugh, she’s done it before, more than once.” He grins at me, wrapping his arm around my shoulder and pulling me close. “It’s practically abuse.”

“Punishment,” I agree, winking at him.

“Oh, get a room,” Ulyana complains.

“On that note, thank you for dinner, we are going to head home.” Nestor stands, pulling me to my feet.

“We can’t eat and run,” I say in horror, not wanting to offend Leticia.

“Oh, please, I’ve had enough of you two. Come back when my grandchild is born,” she teases. “Go home and rest, Lara, you need it.”

We say goodbye with lots of hugs and head back to our car.