Page 77 of Forgotten Vows

This time, I knew better. I knew to fight to make it happen, too.

32

RAISA

That night, Ivan was the most doting and compassionate father. He carried Lev upstairs. He helped him take a bath and get dressed. After he helped him into bed to hopefully sleep off this stomach bug, he lay with him.

I stood at the door to the bedroom, watching him cuddle our son. After the ups and downs of the roller coaster of emotions I experienced earlier, this was just what I needed.

A calm, quiet night of just the three of us.

A chance to witness how deeply Ivan loved our son.

A way to relax and realize how much better of a mother I was when I had support and backup. At first, it felt like a threat and challenge to share Lev with Ivan, but now it was a blessing I’d never take for granted.

We made a team. And we would fight as a team.

As I watched Ivan comfort Lev as he fell asleep, I sighed heavily.

“What’s that for?” he asked.

I shrugged, smiling slightly. “I didn’t realize that I could fall in love with you any more than I already was.”

He met and held my gaze until a slow grin spread over his lips. “Is that right?”

I nodded. I would never tire of seeing him interact with Lev like this. Tears threatened at how I’d deprived him of so many other things with Lev, all those baby and toddler years.

“You’re about to cry.” He slowly stood to come to me despite me shaking my head.

“I’m sad you missed so many things with him from before.”

He took my hand and led me out of the room. Closing the door most of the way so we could still hear him from our room, he smiled at me. Once he framed my face, he kissed me deeply. Tenderly. My heart was going to burst.

“I am sad, too. But I understand that you wanted to protect him how you thought was best.”

I sniffled and nodded. “And I’m sad that you went to such a believable extreme to make me assume you were done with me.”

He kissed me softly. “I willneverbe done with you.”

“I love you,” I whispered.

“I know.”

I smirked at his cockiness.

“I love you, too, Raisa. And I want you to have faith in our diplomatic plan.”

“I will.”

He guided me toward the lounge, where we sat and relaxed together. If he kept up that gentle caress of his fingers over my arm, I’d doze off right here.

“Raisa?”

“Hmm?”

“Did you seriously think that Luka would’ve ordered us to split up back then?”

I sighed. “I just didn’t know. I was more afraid of my father’s wrath.”