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Danny sat in the back of the car with me, his labored movements informing me that Von had taken too much blood. He leaned heavily on the door, his arm around my back to give the baby and me a steady pull. I was too keyed up to be normal, my eyes like saucers. My leg was unable to stay in one place as Von drove us to the mansion.
“Calm down,” Danny ordered. “I’m pulling as much as I can, but it won’t do any good if you don’t work with me, here.” He made a show of taking in a deep breath. “It’s okay. If the doctor told you to go home, then it’s safe.”
“I’m trying. My mind’s going a mile a minute.”
“We need to finish baby-proofing the mansion,” Von spoke up from the front seat. “We did our room and Mariang’s, sure, but what about the rest of the place? It’s a deathtrap for September and little Mariang Junior.”
“I can help with that after I get some food in me,” Danny offered. “I was thinking we should go through your stuff and ours to see what duplicates we have that we don’t need. I mean, September will be out of the bassinet long before our baby’s born. No use in having two.”
Von glanced in the rearview mirror at his surprisingly cooperative brother. “Um, yeah. That’s a brilliant idea, Danny. October got loads of stuff from the baby shower.”
“You’re sure Mariang doesn’t want a baby shower?” I asked Danny.
“Most of her friends were overseas when she was healthy enough to have a social life. She hasn’t been well enough for friends in ages. There’s no one to invite.”
“But she loves parties. Seems like she gets the raw end of the deal on this.”
Danny’s arm tightened around me, his affection for me blooming as my concern for Mariang grew. “She’s getting a wedding; that's plenty celebration for her. Two weddings, actually. One for mum in London, and one in Terraway for the kingdom.”
The corners of my mouth pulled down. “I don’t like the idea of her being in Terraway. Or my little niece or nephew, for that matter.”
“It’s expected. You and Mariang are queens to them. The heads of all the nations will turn out to pay their respects.”
“What about Sama? What about the threat of war that’s always hanging over everyone’s heads? What about the famines that are only just starting to lift? You’ve gotta know it’s not safe for her down there.”
“Kabayo’s volunteered to play host for us, though that wasn’t without debate. Everyone wants a piece of the shiny new thing. He’s been pretty accommodating so far.” He waved his hand. “But don’t worry about that. It won’t happen until well after the babies are born. Plus, we’ll have to present our children to the people, so we’ll do the wedding ceremony plus presenting our babies at the same time.”
“I’m not taking September to Terraway,” I ruled.
“I love that you think you have a choice in it.”
“I’m not joking, Danny. I’ve been starved, beaten, locked in a prison, molested and nearly drowned there. Not to mention the whole zombie army thing that happened on Kabayo’s land. You don’t need the parent of the year award to know that’s not where a child should be.”
“Those things happened because I wasn’t there to protect you.” Danny’s arm tightened around me. It was sweet, but not quite enough to fend off the Mermen I still winced at the thought of. “I’ll keep her safe. It’ll be one day.”
“One day where Sama has us right where he wants us. Ceremony isn’t worth all that. It’s just not.”
Danny frowned as Von pulled into the mansion. “I’ll speak with Ezra about it.”
Ezra met us in the driveway, running out to help extract me from the car. “Darling, are you alright? Danny told me they were releasing you. How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine. The guys are starved, though.”
“Lynna’s already taken care of that. In the house, boys.”
Danny and Von didn’t run ahead, but each took one of my hands as we walked toward the house, knowing I was going to be about five minutes away from going into labor for the next month without the contact.
The second we stepped over the threshold of the mansion, Von shot up the stairs, leaving me confused next to Danny.
“Boston!” Danny called through the house. When Boston came bounding up from the basement with Mariang, Danny said, “I hope you’re full, because I need to eat now. You have to take over pulling for her.” Danny explained to everyone what they’d discovered, sending Ezra off into the next room to call for reinforcements.
It was all a lot of fuss, but I reminded myself that as much as I didn’t want to be a pain, every day that kept September inside of me was another day for her to grow stronger and develop healthier organs. Mariang laced her fingers through mine and led me to the living room with Boston, where she moved the ottoman under my feet and covered me with a chenille throw from the arm of the white leather couch. It was a steep flip from her being the helpless one to letting her rub my swollen ankles with her strong hands. I saw a fire in her eyes that grew every day since her dip in the healing waters. She was a fighter, and had hated every moment she could barely make it through before collapsing. Now she had a chance to participate in life, to help instead of be helped, and she didn’t miss an opportunity to love on me when I was the one who needed to take it slow.
Boston brought down his tablet and turned on a sports movie for us to watch, pulling Mariang up to sit on his other side, so the three of us could cuddle. Everything was hushed and low-key, which was sweet. I didn’t know how long it would last, but I liked it. I don’t know at what point the Vandershots and the Manauls became family to me, but I didn’t question the gift that was always there when I needed it.
When Von came back down the stairs, he was winded. “Don’t move. I want this to be perfect.” He shoved the sandwich he’d grabbed from the kitchen into his mouth in four enormous bites, choking it down before fiddling with his phone so he could cast The Way You Look Tonight on the stereo system. Frank Sinatra sang throughout the house, making me feel cozy and loved.
“What’s going on, babe?” I asked with a lazy smile.
It was then I realized that Von was sweating. “I love you. That’s what’s going on.” The air gusted out of my lungs when he sank down on one knee before me. The bold look in his eyes was painted with small brushes of insecurity. My heart thudded unevenly when Von Vandershot presented me with a very specific small, square box.
“Von? What is this?” I asked cautiously.
“The best gift of your life.”
“A unicorn?” I guessed, feigning excitement as my voice cracked. My palms were clammy, and though I wanted to make light of the situation, I gulped at the big ramifications of what might be inside that velvet box.
“Ollie gave me his blessing when I first got back and asked him for your hand. I went out and bought this that very day.”
“You actually bought me a unicorn?” I don’t know why I was doing shtick. I think I was in shock. I guess part of me still thought Von wanted to marry me in theory, not with the actual preparation of going to a store and picking out a legit ring.
My brain started to stutter as I took in the sight of Von on bended knee before me. He’d asked me to marry him just about every day since we’d gotten back together, but none of those proposals had felt like this – raw and real, demanding an actual answer.
“I’ll buy you a unicorn another day, darling. Today, I’m offering you a ring.”
“Dad!” Mariang shouted through the house like a madwoman. Her eyes were on the box, and she looked like she might rocket off the couch. Her hands had stilled on her cheeks, framing her shocked face. “Danny, Lynna! Get in here now! Hurry!”
Ezra and Danny bolted into the living room. Danny had his knife drawn, ready to fend off an attack. Ezra’s fists were clenched, chest puffed as he stood protectively in front of Lynna, who trotted in behind him. “What is it?”
Mariang stood, jumping up on the balls of her feet and pointing to the black box Von still hadn’t actually opened or handed over. “It’s happening! It’s finally happening!”
Danny’s shoulders deflated when the promise of a monster fight was gone. He sheathed his knife and crossed his arms over his chest, holding his post in the archway. Boston shot up off the couch to give Von and me some space for our moment.
Mariang flew into Danny’s arms so they could watch together. Boston got out his phone and videotaped it for his family back in London. Ezra gave Lynna his handkerchief, since she was already tearing up.
I just sat on the couch with my cheeks burning and my mouth wide open like a fish.
Von looked up at me from his place on the floor, closed box presented like an offering. His words came out slow, with patience and promise that reminded me why Von was my best friend. “October Grace, November Peach, will you marry me now, and in every life after this one?”
I was frozen on the spot, wanting, but unsure how to form whole words, though I knew I needed just the one. Then Von gently opened the box, blinding me with the ring that was just like Von – a little too much. “Holy iceberg, Batman! Are you serious?” I blasted, before I remembered the whole thing was being taped.
Mariang and Lynna let out incoherent bleats of incredulity, letting me know I wasn’t overreacting. Mariang couldn’t help herself, and let out a thunderstruck, “Is that real?”
Von frowned, examining the overlarge square-cut diamond in a white gold setting, to make sure the jeweler hadn’t replaced the gem with a Ring Pop or something. “Of course it’s real. It’s supposed to be three months’ wages. Did you really think I’d skimp on the thing that she’ll look at every day? My love is as real as this diamond.” His eyes locked in on mine. “It’s supposed to remind you of how much I adore you. My love for you is grand. No point in pretending we’re average.”
In true Von fashion, everything was always more than I expected.
“Von, it’s too much,” I protested, though I couldn’t take my eyes off the sparkle. It was too perfect. Too clean. Too shiny. Entirely too much. I’d never owned real jewelry before. It was like going from training wheels on a kid’s bike to a motorcycle overnight.
I gazed into his eyes, seeing the insecurity poking through his flourish. I could feel him crashing, wondering if he’d somehow picked the wrong ring, which wasn’t the case. My fear was that he’d picked the wrong girl – not good enough to be seen wearing something so giant and amazing. “Please, darling,” he whispered in earnest. “Marry me.”
It was only when I worked out a barely audible croak of “yes” that I realized my face was wet.
I felt horrible when Von gusted out a breath of relief. I’d put him on hold for too long, but never again. We were going to be a family, the two of us, and then the three. Von slid the ring on my finger, my eyes panicking at the thing that was clearly too nice for me, too beautiful, too adult.
Then it hit me: I was an adult. I don’t know how all the grownup choices snuck up on me, but somehow I’d gone from “kid” and “Bait” to a woman with a fiancé and a baby on the way. Von was still on his knee, hugging my belly and promising both of us details of the incredible life he was determined to provide.
And darn it, I began to believe in the magic he lavished on us.