Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 92254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92254 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
“Arsen, if you get rid of the secret passageways, I’ll fucking divorce you.”
I stare at her for a beat and laugh. “You mean it too.”
“I absolutely will. The passages stay.”
“Even if that means Roman’s going to find them one day?”
“I hope he does. Him and his siblings.” She collapses back into my arms. “I don’t even want to think about getting pregnant yet, though.”
“We still have time for that.”
“No, we keep the passages and we turn that wing into a new private residence. You know, for the kids. A study, a library. Make it really nice. Maybe three bedrooms?”
“Five,” I counter, squeezing her ass. “Plenty of space for five.”
“I’ll meet you at four and reserve the right to stop after two.”
“We’ll see about that.” I kiss her shoulder and run my hand down her back. She shivers at my touch. “You really want to fill up that part of the house with kids? Your mother’s going to love that.”
“God, she’s really going to. They’re obsessed with Roman. Imagine what they’ll be like if we have more?”
That’s not hard to picture. Her parents are insane for the grandson. I pretend to complain about it, but the truth is I’m happy Roman will have more people that are crazy for him.
“Maybe a little too obsessed. Think we’ll have to make space for them too?”
“Don’t even put that out into the universe. Mom would move in here in a second just to be closer to Roman. As if she doesn’t show up whenever she wants already.” She stretches out her toes and snuggles in tighter. “Seriously. Lots of kids. What do you think?”
I close my eyes and picture a big family. It never really occurred to me before, but Roman’s such a joy. Why stop with him? Why not fill this place with laughter again? Drown out the bad memories.
Replace the ghosts with life and joy.
“I love it. And I love you.” I pull her tight against me.
Right as Roman starts fussing.
“Shit,” Lena says with a sigh. She stretches and snatches the monitor from the nightstand. “That was short. Barely got an hour.”
“I’ll get him.” I gently extract myself from her. She looks at me, beautiful and naked, as I pull on clothes.
“Are you sure?” She yawns and burrows under the covers. “I could totally get up.”
“You really look like you’re going to.” I bend down to kiss her one more time. “Stay in bed a little while. I’ll handle the kid.”
“Yes, sir, right away, sir.” She yanks the blankets over her head. “Wake me up later.”
I smile at the little lump of my wife.
Yeah, making the future better is the only way to fix the past.
I can finally make that happen.