Chapter 40

Ana

“This is it. This is the one.”

“You sure about that? You’ve only said that about the last four yachts, Cas.”

“No, it’s this one for sure. We’ll take her,” Cas says, nodding at the man showing us around the Barcelona harbor.

We’re finally on our honeymoon, and Cas has me shopping for yachts of all things.

I guess his dream of us sailing out to sea will finally become a reality.

“Cas, you do know I have no intention of raising our baby on a boat, right?” I murmur as I link arms with him, taking easy strides back to the harbor’s office building to sign the paperwork for our new yacht.

He kisses the top of my head.

“I’m well aware of that, cuore mio,” he says, smiling, “but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a yacht. I want to teach baby Andreas how to sail and fish, just like I did as a child, after all.”

My insides are glowing at the very thought of Cas and our child impatiently watching a line, waiting for a fish to bite, whilst I recline on the top deck in the sun.

The yacht we’ve just purchased has a top deck. It’s much larger and more expensive than the one Cas had envisioned us buying in his alternate reality, I’m sure.

“What if baby Andreas doesn’t like sailing or fishing, my love?” I ask teasingly.

Cas give me a look of mock horror.

“Don’t say such evil things, Ana!”

Once Cas signs the paperwork, we stroll hand in hand along the promenade until eventually, we stop to sit close to the sea edge on the seemingly endless stretch of sand that makes up Barcelona beach.

I remove my sandals; sighing contentedly as I wiggle my toes in the wet sand and feel the waves just tickle my skin.

“You like it here,” Cas observes.

He’s right. I adore Barcelona.

“I never got to travel much, given my circumstances.”

“We’ll have to rectify that when the baby is born. Our baby will be the most cultured infant, whether the baby likes it or not!”

We both laugh. The sun is just beginning to dip below the horizon; it paints everything in luscious red and copper tones. It’s gorgeous.

I notice Cas staring at my stomach after a while; it makes me blush.

“What are you staring at?” I demand.

He gives me a fond smile.

“You’re beginning to show, Ana.”

“Or maybe I just had a very big lunch.”

“Well, you are eating for two,” Cas counters. “But you’re definitely starting to show, regardless.”

“You sure you don’t want to know if it’s a boy or a girl? It would be so much easier to organize everything if we knew…”

Cas waves a dismissive hand.

“The not knowing is part of the excitement!”

“I’m fairly certain I’ve had just about enough excitement these past few years. I’d love nothing more than to settle down and enjoy a nice, quiet life.”

Cas rolls his eyes at me.

“You sound like an old woman.”

I make a face.

“Well, I will be twenty-two this year.”

“Ugh, that’s so ancient. At least that makes me an old man, too.”

We’re both silent for a while, content to watch early-evening swimmers and the last of the sun bathers collect their belongings and leave the beach.

“Maria for a girl, still?” Cas murmurs eventually.

I kiss him gently.

“Always. I’ve been set on it for years, even when I thought you were dead.”

“And what about for a boy?”

I look up at the sky as I think about it.

“Jacob, maybe?”

“No way. Too biblical for my liking. Pass.”

“Dean?”

“Better, but it’s not right.”

“Samuel?”

“Pass.”

“Ralph?”

Cas lets out a noise of disbelief. “Ralph? Are you serious? Hard pass!”

I pretend to consider my next answer.

“You know, the more I think on it, Yuri sounds like a nice—”

“Don’t you dare.”

I let out a burst of laughter at the look on his face.

“Guess we’re stuck with Mario, then.”

Cas knocks into my shoulder. “Let’s just call it a work in progress.”

I turn around to face him.

“Well, what about you? What would you want to name your son?”

“I suppose it’s sheer nepotism if I say Caspian, isn’t it?”

I pretend to be horrified.

“Handling one of you is hard enough—don’t give me two of you!”

“Okay, okay, you win. Cas is out. Then how about…”

I’m fairly certain Cas pauses purely for dramatic effect. I honor him by clucking my tongue impatiently.

“Ben?” he finally suggests.

I think on his answer. It’s so simple a name, not tied to either the Russian mob or the Italian mafia—it’s perfect.

I feel a foolish grin creep up my face, which Cas returns.

“I think I like it. Baby Benji. Yeah, I like it. Let’s go with that.”

“So, Ben or Maria?”

“Deal. “I hold out my hand.

Cas shakes it, then pulls me in to place a kiss on my lips. “Deal.”

With one final look at the dying sun, Cas stands up and helps me to my feet.

“You hungry yet?”

I shake my head. “Big lunch, remember?”

“Ah, yeah, Ben and/or Maria’s twin. I forgot.”

I swat his arm. “Let’s just go for a drive for a while?”

Cas’ eyes light up.

“I fucking love you, you know.”

We wander back along the promenade to the sea-facing hotel we’re staying at; Cas ushers the valet over to request his car be brought round.

“I still can’t believe you managed to find another ’69 Spider in Barcelona. I don’t know how you do it.”

“I’m just very serious about my cars.”

“So, who’s more important—me or the car?”

Cas looks as if he’s been shot.

“You hurt me, Mrs. Andreas. We all know it’s the car every time.”

“Careful, or I’m filing for divorce.”

“Ah, but then, what would the past few years have been for, only for you to unceremoniously divorce me?” Cas asks as the valet brings the car round.

He opens the door to let me into the passenger side before sitting in the driver’s seat. Ever the gentleman.

“You’ll have your cars to console you, so I’m sure you’ll be fine.”

We continue bantering like this as Cas drives out of the city, leaving the bustle and lights behind.

“Nico found this car for me, actually,” he eventually remarks.

“He really has nothing else to do while on bed rest, does he?” I laugh.

“The boredom is killing him more than the bullet to his chest ever could, apparently.”

I smile, thinking about Cas’ brother and how close to death he had been. All for me and Cas.

“I’m glad he’s recovering well.”

Cas gives me a sidelong glance. “It helps that he has the hots for the nurse checking up on him at home.”

“Of course.”

There’s a pause.

“You father genuinely seems to be excited about our baby.”

I frown slightly. “I’d never have imagined a baby would bring our families together. I thought my dad was incapable of emotion. I guess miracles really do happen.”

“I think the bravery your mother showed when she called the ceasefire brought him back to his senses.”

“He’s fucking lucky mama loves him.”

“I know the feeling.”

I look at Cas and smile warmly. “I love you so much, Casbear.”

He chuckles. “Haven’t heard that one in a while, Ana.”

“It’s a bit childish, to be honest.”

“Just a little.”

“And it’s nowhere near as beautiful as cuore mio.”

“Guess you’ll have to come up with another name for me, then. And I love you, too.”

Cas pulls the car up to the side of the road, then turns and runs a hand through my hair, kissing me passionately.

“Don’t ever leave me, Cas,” I whisper. “You’re my heart, after all.”

He gives me a beautiful smile, his olive eyes gleaming in the night as he looks at me.

“And you’re mine.”