Finally, he broke the silence.
“You remind me a lot of my Maria.”
His voice was broken, and my stomach twisted. “She was just like you. Sweet, beautiful, and so gentle.”
“I look at you, and all I see is my Angel,” he whispered, his fingers lingering over the frame. I saw that it was a photo of a woman. I guessed it was Maria.
“I’m sorry,” I muttered, looking at my lap.
“It’s not your fault.” Lyov opened the drawer and removed another picture. He handed it to me. It looked like a sonogram.
“We were having a princess too,” he said, pointing at the baby.
“I know,” I said softly. My fingers traced the picture. My heart was in agony for his loss.
Lyov handed me the photo frame. “This is my wife.”
This is my wife.
Not was. Even after so many years, Maria was still his wife.
Looking at the picture, I saw that Alessio had her eyes. “She is beautiful.”
“The most beautiful,” he agreed with a small chuckle.
“I’m sorry for your loss. Maria and your daughter didn’t deserve that. You didn’t deserve to go through that pain. My heart aches for your loss,” I admitted truthfully. “But maybe they are in a better place right now. I’m sure they’re watching over us.”
“Are they?” he asked brokenly, staring at the picture.
“They are Angels.”
A tear fell on the photo, and I quickly realized that Lyov was crying. “Your Maria loved you a lot. I don’t think she would have wanted you to punish yourself like this. She would have wanted you to be happy. Honour her memories by living and remembering her with a smile. I’m sure she would have wanted that for you.”
Silence fell upon us. I grew nervous and started to play with the hem of my dress. After some time, he finally spoke. “You sound so much like her.”
When I didn’t know how to reply to this, I stood up. Just then, the little princess moved. Maybe it was meant to be. Maybe it was fate, but in that moment, I knew what I had to do.
I bent down and took Lyov’s hand. His head snapped up, and he stared at me in surprise.
Taking his hand, I placed it over my stomach just where the baby was dancing.
He sucked in a harsh breath, and his face crumpled up as tears streamed down his cheeks. The photo fell in his lap as he brought his other fist to his mouth.
It reminded me of Alessio. There were so many similarities between father and son. I was just seeing it for the first time.
Lyov was just another broken man.
Princess landed a hard kick at my side, and I winced. “She is strong,” Lyov mumbled. There was a ghost smile on his lips.
“Just like her papa.” I laughed.
“And her mother.”
I never expected him to say that, but my heart flipped, and I smiled. “Thank you,” I whispered as our princess continued to move.
“Lyov, I know you don’t really like me, but this little princess here, she needs her grandfather,” I started. “You never got a chance to meet your princess, but please, don’t turn away from this one. She is just as precious.”
She moved again, punching right into Lyov’s palm. Looked like she agreed.
“You can be a part of her life if you want. I will never stop you. Please, don’t run away from this, from her,” I added.
Lyov didn’t answer, and after some time, the baby stopped moving. His hand fell away, and he stared at the pictures on his lap.
I waited for his reply. When he didn’t, I closed my eyes as a wave of sadness washed over me. I stepped back and started to leave when his voice stopped me.
“I would like that.”
My heart stuttered, and I pressed a hand against my stomach. Did you hear that, Princess?
“I never got a chance to hold my princess. But I want to hold this one.”
His words were confirmation enough. “I think she would like that, too.”
Chapter 16
I walked out of the room, leaving Lyov alone with his thoughts. He would be okay. This little princess just gave us all hope.
Alessio was leaning against the wall. As soon as I walked out of the room, he pulled me in his arms.
I sobbed in his chest. “He’s going to be okay, Alessio.”
Alessio didn’t say anything. He just let me cry. When my tears finally dried, I placed a kiss in the middle of his chest, right over his beating heart.
“Can we go to the creek?” I asked, pulling away.
He smiled. “Let’s go.”
We walked down the stairs, and I waved at Maddie. She waved back and went into the kitchen.
Our walk to the creek was slow. We took our sweet time, our hands intertwined. No words were spoken. It wasn’t needed. The silence was enough. It was comfortable. It was us.
When we arrived at the creek, I settled on a rock, my feet in the water. Alessio stood behind me, his hands on my shoulders.