Page 94 of Max's Mission

He covered her hand. “I’m glad.” Looking down, he lightly ran his thumb over her knuckles. “Again, I’m sorry for all I’ve done and the way I left. This time, I’ll say goodbye before I go.”

She smiled. “At least this time, we’ll know it’s just goodbye for now.”

His mouth tipped up. “Yeah. And that’s much better than I ever thought I’d get.”

Forty-One

Nine days later…

The delighted shrieks of the twins’ laughter filled Max’s living room as they played with their Christmas presents. He sat on the couch, sipping a mug of steaming coffee while he watched them drive their remote-controlled unicorns in bumper cars around the floor. They’d rammed most of the furniture in the beginning, but it hadn’t taken long for them to get the hang of the controls. Now, they zoomed in and out of table legs and around chairs, racing each other to an imaginary finish line.

Margot sank onto the cushion beside him and propped her chin on his shoulder. “Those are brilliant. Where did you find them?”

“Online. Actually, Esther found them. I’d mentioned wanting to get the girls something interactive when I talked to Asher last week. She overheard and started googling. I swear, her research skills rival his.”

Margot chuckled. “It makes them a good match.”

“It does. Anyway, she found those, and I could hear her laughter from across the room. She showed them to Asher firstand all he said was, ‘Christ almighty.’ She didn’t even need to tell me what they were after that. I knew they’d be perfect.”

“He’s never going to live down the unicorn thing.”

“Nope. Especially since the things he crafted from that suit probably would have saved his life if events hadn’t happened the way they did.”

She hummed. “Speaking of perfect gifts… here.” She brought a small box around, holding it in front of him.

Curiosity drew his eyebrows together. “You already gave me presents.”

“I know. But this one is extra special.”

Max took the box and glanced at her. Anticipation shone in her eyes. “Okay?” He gave it a shake. The box was light, but it didn’t make any noise.

Margot rolled her eyes. “Don’t try to guess. Just open it.”

Chuckling, he pulled the bow off. “Every day, I swear, I’m reminded where Em gets her impulsivity and impatience.”

“I won’t deny that,” she said with a chuckle.

Still smiling, he lifted the lid.

His entire body stilled, and the smile fell off his face. Eyes growing round, his gaze darted to hers, then back to the box. With shaking fingers, he lifted the white strips from the tissue paper. “Are—are these what I think they are?”

A beautiful, radiant smile spread over her face. “Yes. In probably early September, we’ll be a family of five.”

Heart thumping so hard it rattled his ribs, Max stared at the two pink lines on the test strips. He’d hoped for this. They’d done little to stop it from happening. But there had still been a piece of him that doubted it would happen. Especially so quickly.

He dropped the box into his lap and framed her face between his hands to press a swift kiss to her lips. When he pulled back, happiness bubbled out on rich laughter. “Oh my God! If it never happened, I’d have been ecstatic just to be a dad to Em and Lily.This is just icing on the cake.” He kissed her again. “I love you, woman.”

Still beaming, she laid her hands over his, holding his gaze. “I love you too.”

After another quick, fierce kiss, he let her go. She wasn’t the only one with an unexpected gift.

Shifting on the couch, he buried a hand in his pocket.

“What are you doing?” Margot gave him a curious frown.

“I’ve been carrying this around for close to a week, trying to find the right time to give it to you. Now seems like a great time.” Pulling his hand out, he opened his palm, revealing the delicate diamond and pearl ring.

She gasped.

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