Page 35

TRISTAN

THREE YEARS LATER

“Don’t wake your mom up,” I tell Ellie as she and I are quietly making our way around the bedroom.

Lia is pregnant again. Something we weren’t sure we wanted, but in the end, we let nature take its course, and here we are.

We haven’t found out the gender, but I’m convinced it’s a boy based on her morning sickness being much worse this time.

We haven’t told the people of Haldonia yet, but Ellie and our friends know.

“Tired?” Her head tilts to the side.

“Yeah, Mama’s tired. Come on.”

She puts her small hand in mine, and together we toddle down the long hallway to the dining room. Parker and Shannon are already there, laughing. When they see us, Parker bends at his knees and holds his hands out.

“Ellie, good morning!”

Her small hand lets go of mine, and she runs to where he is, letting him pick her up easily. “Park!”

She can’t say Parker yet, but she makes her presence known all the time. “Lia is still asleep,” I say, glancing over to Shannon. “Let her. She’s been tired lately. I’m gonna take Ellie with me.” I look up at Kate. “Can you rearrange my schedule?”

“Will do.” She grins down at Ellie. “Wanna go get some breakfast?”

My daughter nods with all the enthusiasm of a child who knows she’s about to get sugary cereal, and there’s nothing her parents can do about it.

“I’m going to go check on Lia, and then I’ll be right back,” I tell them after we finish most of our coffee and breakfast. Getting up from the table, I walk through the palace but stop at the sitting room.

Lia is standing there, looking at a picture of my mother.

Quietly I walk in. “Are you okay?” I whisper, putting my arms around the stomach that’s growing faster this time.

“Yeah,” she sighs. “I just wonder. Would she have liked me?”

My throat tightens slightly. “She would love you just as much as I do.”

Her body sinks into mine, and right here in this moment, the kid who wondered if he’d ever find love after the one person who gave it unconditionally was gone, knows without a doubt he’s found it. Love. Pure, simple, and everything he’s dreamed of.

In fact, we’ve rebuilt a country on it.