Page 122 of Thorns of Love

“What that?” he asked, that determined look that reminded me so much of his father, staring at the unfamiliar device. “That mine.”

I rolled my eyes. “Astor, that’s not yours. It’s in Mommy’s bathroom. It’s Mommy’s.”

He watched me pensively, contemplating my words. “Papa’s bathroom too. That Papa’s.”

I shook my head. If I said it was daddy’s, he’d reverse it. “You’re too smart for your own good,” I muttered. He didn’t seem impressed, his attention still on the pregnancy test. I didn’t want to throw it away. First, I’d take a picture and send it to Illias. Maybe it’d bring him home faster.

He and my brothers had some business in L.A. to tend to. It had only been two days, but I hated sleeping without him next to me.

Anushka giggled and I turned to find my daughter’s face white as a ghost. She applied a shitton of concealer. A chuckle tore from my throat. “Anushka, you’re supposed to use just a tiny bit, not the entire tube on your face.”

Her toothy grin flashed. My two babies might be twins but they were like night and day. Even at his tender age of three, Astor could be overwhelming. A force to be reckoned with. Much like his father. Anushka, while definitely not meek, worked in a slightly different way. She observed until she was ready to pounce like a wrecking ball to achieve her goal.

Neither boded well for our peace in the future.

Yet, I wouldn’t change it for anything. It was our family. Our children. Our happiness.

I pulled both of my babies into a hug. “Mama loves you so much,” I murmured. It was something I said to my children every day. My brothers told me every day. They didn’t hear it every day, but they made sure I didn’t feel neglected like they had. It made a difference in my life. I’d be sure to make an even bigger difference in our children’s lives.

“Should we take a picture to send Papa?” I asked. “He’s missing us and it’ll make him happy. Maybe he’ll hurry home?”

Astor and Anushka eagerly nodded and I snapped the photo in the next breath. You never knew when children would change their mind. Anushka’s dark curls framed her face and those blue eyes hid her strength while Astor’s dark eyes hid the little mischievous devil of his soul under his light blonde hair that made him appear like an angel.

Typing in my husband’s number, I sent off the photo of his children with a simple message. *We miss you.*

The pregnancy test could wait. For now.

Beep.The reply was instant.

MY MAN:I miss my prince and princess too. Thank you for the photo. Now send me a photo of my world.

I grinned, lifting my eyes to the twins. “How about one more photo for Papa? He wants one with Mama in the picture.”

They both rushed over and I grabbed the pregnancy test. If he wanted his world, this was it - pink lines, twins and I. “Everyone say selfie,” I announced.

The twins mumbled something that was nothing like ‘selfie’ but I snapped the picture, then studied the photo. The same face stared back at me, yet so different. Maybe it was all in my head, but happiness stared back at me. My cheeks were flushed. My eyes shone.

I was at peace.

Sending off the picture to the love of my life, I shifted towards the sink. “Okay my beautiful Anushka. Let’s clean up your face. Mama wants to kiss your cheeks, not foundation.”

She giggled, looking behind me.

A pair of strong arms came around my waist and I squealed in surprise.

“Hello, Mama.” The scent of citrus and sandalwood drifted around me and I twirled around, coming face-to-face with my husband.

“You’re home,” I exclaimed, my lips widening into a large smile.

Illias’ eyes were warm on our little family. “Right on time too,” he murmured, his warm mouth skimming over my skin. The twins pushed their little bodies between us, but my husband didn’t let me go. Instead, he lifted Anushka while I lifted Astor up and the four of us stood in the middle of our bathroom. Together.

He pressed his free hand to my belly, our eyes drowning in each other. Stars shone in his dark as night eyes, trapping us in our own universe.

“I am such a lucky man.” Our noses brushed together. “The luckiest man alive.”

“You made me the luckiest woman alive,” I rasped.

This man had taken me on a journey that I wouldn’t have missed for all of the treasures in the world. It was a different kind of chaos - the one born out of love.