Page 79 of The Maverick (WaterFyre Rising #7)

Another month later

Vanessa

We’d returned from our honeymoon in Maui last week, but no one attacked us this time. We’d spent most of our time on the private beach and flying to nearby islands.

Today, I was supposed to be resting, but I was too excited. Attikus was out celebrating with his friends and gamers they had flown into town. These gamers had a huge role in promoting WaterFyre Rising, especially the day President Collins and Madeline Claude-Collins died.

The gamers saw and heard everything that was recorded.

They also saw the faces and names of The Trogyn members, information about the Claude family, and all those who had worked for them, including royalty, supreme court judges, governors, senators, police chiefs, CIA agents, FBI agents, doctors, celebrities, athletes, Nobel Peace prize winners, lawyers, priests, and so on.

My husband and his friends wanted the world to know The Trogyn weren’t made of thugs but ofrespected people whom society revered and trusted.

The shame game was played that day. The WaterFyre Rising reached an audience beyond the boys’ expectations.

Its excitement was unstoppable. People were already asking if there would be more games in that world.

These billionaires had sprinkled details about the crime organization into the game, leaving breadcrumbs for them to find the treasure. For those who found the treasure, they could enter portals that enabled them to play other games.

I glanced at the time on my phone. Attikus would be home in an hour, and I had something to show him. Smiling, I wrapped two abstract paintings I’d finished last night without him knowing. I never imagined I could love a man this much and have it returned the same.

Attikus didn’t use a cane anymore. He’d retired it to the safe room, where his precious family items were stored. He’d also bought a property adjacent to the museum. Grayson was designing a few options for Attikus to review.

I blushed thinking about the exhibitroom where he planned to host the Paintings of Passion .

Nobody would know that abstract art was created by two lovers having fun.

We’d added more to the paintings after the fact, but the first layer had started with passion, love, and laughter.

The artist for the collection wasWhistler L.

Pad—a wonderful blend of Whistler and Lily Pad.

Attikus saved one abstract passion painting for his office. That artwork portrayed him posing for me on the chaise. I made it so we could hang it in our home and not have to answer questions from friends or family.

Once the gifts were wrapped, I set them aside and misted the three terrariums I created two days ago. One was for Attikus to take to work, one for Joseph’s office, and another for Agnes. They were now living together.

Attikus had a lot of plants in his office, and he’d already set up the third greenhouse for me.

My plant business was growing. I’d taken up the retail space next to the gallery for my plant collection and hired five new people.

Two of them were my mom’s friends from prison—Sheila Brown and Josephine Smith.

They were released with Attikus’s help and also received monetary compensation from the city.

I set the terrariums aside, sat down, and gulped a glass of cold water. I would’ve made some fresh spring rolls and Vietnamese crêpes for him, but I was exhausted, so I’d ordered from Saigon Bistro, and my mom delivered my order to me. She worked part-time at the restaurant to help her friend Hope.

M? didn’t need to work, but she wanted to.

The city had awarded me ten million dollars for wrongfully imprisoning my mother and getting her killed during the rescue.

Even though it was another body impersonating my mom’s, the city didn’t know that.

But my mom donated a portion to a women’s shelter and children’s charity.

M? , Mom Gigi, Ellen, and Agnes started the Lunch Lady Club Program, which helped fund healthy foods for children across the country.

The programs worked with farms willing to provide children with fresh fruits and vegetables. I was so proud of her.

My mom, Mom Gigi, Ellen, and Agnes held their Lunch Lady Club meetings at Saigon Bistro, like how the Smart A.S.S. had our Chill and Chat gatherings at my art gallery. The power of friendship and women working together was something we wanted to continue for generations to come.

The garage door opened, and nerves stirred inside me. My husband was home. I would’ve gone to the door to greet him like I usually did, but I was too tired.

Attikus entered the kitchen, whistling a lovely tune as he kicked off his shoes on the mat and looked at me.

“Where is my Lily Pad?”

“Right here waiting for you.” I smiled.

He approached,gave me a kiss, and studied me. “You look exhausted. What did you do today?”

I told him what I’d done today.

“No wonder you’re tired.” He glanced at the terrariums. “These are gorgeous. Joseph and Agnes will be thrilled.” He looked into his terrarium. “You know my office now looks like a rainforest, right?”

“Yup, and so does mine.” I beamed with pride. “All the wonderful plants and flowers are promoting positive energy and producing healthy air for us.”

“Do you want three more greenhouses to play with?”

I knew he was putting together the third one for me, but I figured I’d need more soon. I wanted to grow fruit trees all year round.

“Thank you!” I gripped his face. “How did you know I wanted that?”

“Because I’m the best husband out there.”

My heart was so full. “You are an amazing man.” I kissed him. “And I’m so lucky to be your wife.”

“I’m the luckiest man because I have a creative and naughty wife.”

Laughing, tears formed in my eyes. “Love is like a plant that can tolerate all kinds of weather—sun, rain, wind—to grow into something more. Our love is that versatile plant.”

He folded himself on the stool beside me and took my hands in his. “I’m like your bamboo or willow tree—extremely versatile. We can deal with anything that comes our way.”

“In a world of storms, I’m reminded that a blade of grass survives while a big tree collapses easily.

” I breathed. “The little things matter. Reading with you, sketching with you, cooking with you,walking in our yard,and listening to your silly plant jokes—all those things make my life worthwhile. So thank you for being the magical blessing in my life.”

His eyes warmed. “I love you more than you could ever know.” He reached for a tissue on the table and dabbed my eyes. “You’re crying a lot these days.”

I gestured to the two wrapped paintings on the table. “Those are for you. I made them.”

“You were supposed to rest today.”

“I was too excited. I’ll rest tomorrow.”

“That’s what you said yesterday.”

I rolled my eyes. “Just open the gift.”

He opened the gifts and stared at the baby pink and baby blue abstract paintings. I studied his face as a series of emotions washed over him. Appreciation, gratitude, wonder, and revelation.

He whipped his gaze at me. “You’re pregnant with twins?”

I nodded. “We’re gonna be parents!”

Attikus

I thought I was already a blessed man with Vanessa in my life, but this news made my life even more precious.

“Life is a painting, and I’m living a masterpiece now because of you.” I wrapped my arms around my wife, loving her and our babies. Joy radiated from me. I kissed the top of her head. “Is this why you’ve been tired?”

She nodded. “I didn’t want to tell you until I finished these paintings. They can go above the cribs.”

“How far along are you?”

“Just two months. The doctor did a blood test and confirmed the sex.”

I frowned. “I want to be at all the appointments with you from now on.”

“Yes, please!” She fell into my embrace.

“Let’s go to the living room.” I scooped her into my arms and lowered her to the couch.

She was carrying two babies inside her. I could only imagine the energy that took.

That explained her moodiness the past few weeks.

I assumed it was her menstrual cycle or working too much.

I hadn’t expected this, but I was grateful.

Smiling, she patted the seat beside her. “Do you want to have the baby shower at our place or somewhere else?”

“We can have it here. It’ll be more comfortable for you. We have plenty of room to host.” I placed a hand on her belly. “Hello, there, little ones. I’m your daddy.”

She laughed. “Anything interesting happen today besides playing video games?”

I sat back, pulling her close. “Detective Farmer called me.”

She stiffened, looking up at me. “What happened?”

“Nothing to worry about. He’s helping his detective friend in Boston investigate a murder. They found the suspect’s apartment, but he escaped. He had one of your paintings on his wall.”

Vanessa sat up. “What painting? Can you describe it?”

I pulled my phone from my pocket and showed her the picture of a rose with petals and thorns.

“That’s A Petal for Your Thoughts ,” she said. “He came into the shop a few times, asking if I had any bleeding hearts flower paintings. Seemed like a friendly man. He wore a red cap and dressed casually. We might still have some old recordings of him on video.”

“You’d make a brilliant detective. I’ll check out the recordings and give the detective what we have. If the Boston detective wants to speak to you, we can stop by when we visit my friend, Kain Kessler. He’s right outside of Boston.”

“Who is he?” she asked.

“A friend I met when I was undergoing physical therapy many years ago. He recently expanded his workout studio and invited me to visit. We haven’t had time to catch up for a while, but he purchased a copy of WaterFyre Rising and reached out.”

“I’d love to meet all your friends,” she said, snuggling into me.

I told her the boys and I wouldn’t retire the V.A.T.V. mission. If that mission needed us again, we’d be there. For now, the Vigilantes Against the Villains was a hobby. I continued telling her about my day when an adorable snore escaped her.

I glanced down and smiled at the beautiful woman in my arms. A surge of protectiveness and love overwhelmed me.

I loved my little family so much. I watched Vanessa for a long moment, imagining my life with her and our children.

She was everything my heart and soul needed, and I couldn’t wait to meet our babies.