Rogue Hearts

That statement made her think about her choice to stay in the city or not. Although she didn’t love New York, there were other reasons why she needed to stay.

“Don’t worry,” Mrs. Rusak said. “After you have the baby, you won’t be able to keep them away. Parents love grandkids too much for that. When is the baby due?”

“The beginning of next year,” Victoria said.

“Well, that gives me plenty of time to knit some winter suits for the little one. We don’t want him or her getting a cold in the winter New York weather.

“That sounds lovely. Thank you.”

“No problem at all. What do you want it to be? A boy or a girl?”

“Either one would be fine, as long as it is healthy. That’s all that really matters to me.”

“Yes, that’s the main thing. Good health. So many new parents take that for granted these days. All those technological advancements to choose great genes for your child and pick your perfect baby consume so many of my patients. All they should care about is having a strong and healthy baby.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” Victoria said. “Whatever it is, I know I can depend on Andrei to be there.” As she said the words, she realized they were truer than anything else. She’d only spent a few hours with his family, but she knew that Andrei would be there for her and their baby no matter what.

Chapter 19

Victoria

“We’re throwing you a baby shower!” Deedee said as soon as Victoria returned to work the following Monday after staying with Andrei’s family. Deedee and Rosalyn sat in her office as she walked in.

“She means she’s throwing one,” Rosalyn said. Her pout was obvious. “I’m just learning about this.”

She shut her office door quickly. “Shut up! I can count on one hand the people who know I’m pregnant. I don’t want anyone else to find out yet.”

Deedee fanned her away. “Nonsense. You act like you being pregnant is some kind of bad curse or something. You should be ecstatic to bring a new life into the world.”

“Give the girl a break, Deedee,” Rosalyn said. “It’s not like she’s been family planning or anything. This baby came out of nowhere. I’m sure they’d be all ‘Yay, baby life’ if they could.”

“I’m still throwing you a baby shower, and you can’t stop me. We have months to work out the details, but I’m getting this sucker ready.”

Victoria wasn’t ready to think about that far ahead just yet, so she switched topics by telling the girls about her weekend at Andrei’s family’s house. She described all the family members.

“Why in the hell are you still thinking about going to Chicago? That man is fine, girl, and his family sounds like they accept you. You need to know when to accept a good thing when it shows up like that.”

“Forget the family. He said he loved you?”

“Yeah. He did.”

“Do you love him?”

That was the question she’d been trying to answer over and over again without any final decision. It had been so hard to even consider loving someone so quickly, but it took going to his family’s place and meeting them to know for certain.

“I do. I love him, which is why I’m talking to Smith this afternoon.”

“And telling him what?” Deedee asked.

“I’m not going to Chicago. I’ve decided to stay here.”

“Thank God. I was hoping you weren’t going to do something so stupid as leave. Thought I was going to have to knock some sense into you.”

Victoria rubbed her belly. “You can try, but as a protective mother, I think I should warn you I’m not going down without a fight.”

“Good,” Deedee said.

Rosalyn nodded. “We wouldn’t expect anything less.”