But the worry still persists.
“Is she ready yet, Mama?”
I tug on the spike, making sure that it’s secure in the ground before I nod, Niko’s smile bright in the fading sunlight. “Seemslike it. You want to turn on the fan?” He runs beside me, eagerly pressing the button and backing off so he can watch as it fills with air.
It’s identical to the other five, but you wouldn’t know it from looking at him. He’s talked my ear off the whole time we’ve been in the yard, telling me all about each one, and what they think about the others in the yard.
Apparently, this one is named Ana, and she doesn’t play well with the others.
Andrei waits patiently until it’s standing at attention. It’s a little lopsided, but otherwise it’s a bright and cheery addition to the yard. We just need to wait for snow to complete the look. Only when Niko’s giggling to himself does Andrei crouch down.
“Why don’t you go get cleaned up while I talk to your mama?” he tells him. The anxiety comes back before Niko is even up the stairs, tightening my stomach. “We’ll join you in a bit. Then you can introduce me to your new dino armada.”
I want to call Niko back and keep him glued to my side so that Andrei doesn’t say anything untoward about our new lawn decorations. He was kind enough when I painted the door, even though I’m sure he would’ve picked virtually any other color, but what if this crosses a line that I didn’t know existed?
“Please tell me these are the only ones you bought.”
He sounds resigned, and the tension in my spine notches even tighter.
“The store only had six, so,” I shrug. “I was only going to get two, but then Niko asked if the others were going to miss theirfriends. And he’s only going to be little once, you know? So, we bought all of them.”
He nods, rolling his neck.
“Thank fuck. Were they a pain to get set up?”
He doesn’t look mad. He looks more curious than anything else. “It wasn’t that bad. They’re short, so I didn’t have to work too hard to get them secure. Why?”
“I, uh, might have bought a blow-up T. rex from a store across town.” He looks like he’s awaiting a scolding, and I almost laugh. “And I was hoping you could help me set it up after he goes to bed on Christmas Eve so we can tell him that Santa brought it. But if you’ve already bought one, I’ll need to return it. And if I have to deal with another store before the new year, I’m going to get arrested for assault.”
Unable to help myself, I laugh. I fall out of my crouch, laughing as I sit on the cold ground.
“Well, if you do, I’ll make sure to pay your bail.”
“If you would, I’d appreciate it. I really don’t want to miss Christmas.”
God, Andrei’s sweet. He’s such a good husband. He’s incredible with Niko. And I’m so glad that I get to keep him. Because every time I think I can’t love this man more, he does something like this. He’s so thoughtful and caring that I feel like I’m going to melt.
I love him. I love the way he loves Niko. I love the way he waltzed into our lives and didn’t give us a choice but to let him love and take care of us.
He sits next to me, pulling me into his arms until my laughter dies down.
“I love you,” I say as I rest my head against his chest.
“I love you too,zolotse.”
His heartbeat is steady under my ear, echoing my own as it sings for him.
“I have to tell you something,” I admit, trying to focus on his heart until it drowns out my anxiety.
“What’s that?”
“My period’s late.”
He freezes, arms squeezing tighter as he cages me against him. “What?”
“I picked up a few pregnancy tests. But I wanted to tell you before I took them.”
We haven’t talked about having more kids. I’d like more, eventually, and he’s never even blinked when it comes to taking care of Niko, but I don’t know how he’d feel about having onenow. We haven’t been married long. And so many things are still up in the air as far as his work goes, but still.
