Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 79898 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79898 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
“I love you, too,” I said softly.
In that moment, I knew I’d found the man I’d be with for the rest of my life.
And suddenly, I couldn’t wait.
Epilogue
Nico – Six Months Later
The plane sank lower and lower in the sky before touching down on the runway. The sound of screeching tires filled my ears and I winced, glad that Ada was back home at the condo – she was going through a phase where loud noises made her lose her little mind.
When my parents emerged from the small private jet, I waved. They both looked at me, exchanged a glance, and didn’t smile.
Fucking great, I thought. This is off to a perfect start.
Maybe it partially my fault – I hadn’t told my parents about Harper and Ada right away. I’d waited until things had settled, until Harper and Ada had moved into my condo.
Until I knew it would appear to the outside that I’d thought long and hard about the decision that in reality, had been the easiest choice I’d ever made.
Mother pulled me into a stiff hug. “Nikolai, you’re too thin,” she said, holding me. “You must eat.”
My father shook my hand.
“So, where is she?” Mother asked. “That woman who will have your child and take your money but not marry you?”
I groaned.
“Listen,” I said. “If you’re going to keep talking like that, you may as well get right back on that plane and go home. You’ll never meet your only grandchild, much less Harper. We love each other, and we’re a family now.”
My mother and father exchanged another glance.
They followed me to my SUV in silence, rode into Manhattan in silence, and took the elevator to my penthouse in silence.
As soon as they opened the door, though, my mother smiled broadly.
“What an adorable little girl,” she said. Ada was standing there, behind Harper’s legs, smiling shyly and blushing.
“Hello,” Harper said. “It’s very nice to meet you, Mrs. Ulrich. I’ve heard so much about you.”
My mother nodded at her – I could tell she was far more interested in Ada. With some difficulty, she squatted down.
“Hello, darling,” she said to Ada. “I’m your babushka.”
Ada bit her lip. With Harper’s encouragement, she walked over to my mother and gave her a hug.
Instantly, I couldn’t help but feel touched. Three generations of Ulrichs, all in the same room.
I never thought it would happen.
My father walked over to Harper and held out his hand. She smiled at him, and I saw some of his frosty façade begin to thaw.
“Hi,” Harper said. “It’s so nice to meet you,” she added. “I’m so glad that the two of you could come for a visit. Are you hungry? I’ve made a spread for dinner,” she said, leading my father into the dining room where the table was set with a variety of food.
“I’m not the best cook, but I took a class on Russian cuisine when Nico told me that you were coming,” Harper said. She flushed as she showed off the blinis and crepes that she’d made, along with a tray of smoked salmon, a roasted duck, and clotted cream with caviar.
To my immense surprise, my father smiled broadly.
“This looks wonderful,” he said. “Svetlana, come and see what the girl has done!”
“Harper,” I corrected. “Her name is Harper.”
My father shot me a look, then turned to Harper. “I am sorry,” he said in his thick Russian accent. “My manners, they are not the best.”
Harper smiled.
When my mother appeared, she was carrying Ada on her hip and the little girl was holding a brand-new doll.
“This is beautiful,” my mother said. She turned to me. “Where did you get this? You know how hard it is to find good Russian food in this city.”
“I made it,” Harper said, almost shyly.
My mother blinked at her, then eased into a smile. “My goodness,” she said. “Nikolai never mentioned that you were so talented.”
Harper giggled. “Thank you,” she said. “I was just telling your husband that I took a class – I wanted the two of you to feel right at home.”
My parents, Ada, and I sat down while Harper went into the kitchen and brought back a covered dish which she placed in front of Ada, who immediately began eating.
“She’s a picky little eater,” Harper explained, looking sheepish. “I had her try some of this, but she wanted her macaroni and cheese like always.”
I thought my parents would be the type who would have scolded Ada for not eating the adult food, and I was shocked when they both chuckled.
“You should have seen Nikolai as a child,” my mother said, shaking her head and still laughing. “He would not eat anything.”
“Only potatoes,” my father chimed in. He smiled at me.
“That’s right,” Harper said. She grinned at me. “He told me how his nanny used to make them for him when he got sick. He actually made them for me, back when Ada had bronchitis.”