Royal Maid's Awakening - Chapter 20
Fourteen months later…
When Hannah woke up in bed, she knew she was alone. And that it was day outside. The sun was high and she felt the warm breeze coming through the open French doors on her bare skin. It was the same bed where they’d made love for the first time. The same hotel.
She no longer felt that old wound of Lukas’s abandonment because he was already coming back through the door, arms laden with fresh pastries, coffee, fruit and flowers.
The man was an impossible romantic. In the past year everything had changed. Hannah’s world had opened up in ways she’d never imagined it could.
She’d gone back to the States with Lukas to help him pack up his life there, and had taken up a new job working for his company as a logistics advisor. It turned out she had a real talent for administration and logistics, and she’d been so in demand after helping him to transition back into Santanger that she’d set up her own company.
They’d had a small private wedding twelve months ago, and after the ceremony they’d gone up to the lighthouse and honoured all those they’d loved and lost.
Grief was an ever-present wound, but it didn’t hurt as much anymore. Or hold them back from moving on.
This morning, they were celebrating their first wedding anniversary and Hannah watched Lukas put down the array of things on a table and say, ‘I have something I want to tell you.’
He came over to the bed, and pulled the sheet back, unashamedly ogling her naked body. She slapped his hand away and said, ‘Not now. First I have to tell you something.’
He came down beside her and looked at her. She took his hand and placed it onto her belly. He looked down, and then up, face going pale. She nodded, her vision blurring a little. She said, ‘It’s early days, but all going well…we’ll be a family in about seven months…’
Some colour came back into Lukas’s face. His eyes shone. Hannah could see nothing but love and gratitude and joy. He said, ‘We’re already a family, more of a family than I ever could have hoped for…and this…a little girl with her mother’s eyes and her mother’s brave spirit will be more than I’d ever imagined.’
Hannah pulled Lukas over her. ‘I’m imagining a little boy, with his father’s eyes and hair and his father’s brave heart—’
Lukas shook his head and then said, ‘Maybe we’ll have twins, one of each.’
Hannah laughed—the joyful sound burbling up out of her and loud enough to make people down in the square look up and smile. Lukas was about to kiss her when she pulled back and said a little breathlessly, ‘Wait, what were you going to tell me?’
He pretended to think for a long moment and then he looked down at her, eyes still shining with emotion. ‘Just that I love you.’
Hannah smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck. ‘I love you too.’
And about seven months later, Lukas’s prophecy came true. Twins, a boy and a girl, bringing them endless love and endless joy. Forever.
If you loved this story, then look out for Abby Green's fabulous linked duet Princess Brides for Royal Brothers —also set in the royal island kingdom of Santanger: