Chapter 27
Raevu
I hoped Eva liked her surprise. Keeping it a secret had been difficult. I’d been almost bursting with it for weeks now.
Thank goodness for Hope. Eva and I could discuss Hope, and I could set aside thoughts about the secret and manage to once again avoid blurting it out. Well, the moment of truth was at hand. I’d find out now how she felt about surprises and secrets.
I’d picked a moment when I knew Linnea was with her, thinking that if I had someone I knew well there, the moment would be less awkward for me. I glanced around to make sure all was in order, as best it could be anyway. The excitement was palpable. I asked Geoffrey to open the door to Eva’s suite of rooms, and I let myself and our newly arrived guests through.
Bodies seemed to tumble through the doorway and spill into the room. Happy cries of Eva’s name sounded over and over as each person clamored for her attention. I couldn’t even find her in the bedlam I’d helped to create.
And then I did. She was a light of calm amidst the bubbling sea surrounding her. Tears streamed down her smiling face as she struggled to hug five boisterous, wiggly Earth children at once.
Her deep brown eyes linked with mine, she mouthed “thank you,” and turned her full attention back to the demands of her very own multitude. I went to stand by Linnea, who had backed out of the path of the stampede when the children had rushed for Eva.
“Are these the little ones you talked of?” she asked, wide-eyed. “Ivy’s kids? Laura’s Amber?”
I nodded and grinned briefly, proud to see the results of my planning and secret-keeping. “Who else could it be?”
Linnea shook her head slightly. “Yes, how silly of me. How long are they here to visit?”
“They are not visiting.” I leaned against the wall and continued to observe the happy chaos. “They’re here to live.”
“That’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard.” Linnea patted my arm. “Does Eva know that?”
I had to fight down another grin. “Not yet, but she will.”
She beamed. “Oh, I see. Where are their mothers?”
“T’ral and Baelon are bringing them down. We thought it’d be fun for the kids to get their hellos out of the way first. The adults are taking a more scenic route past their new quarters.”
Eva had managed to get the children all settled where they could each be touching her. She had the two boys snuggled up against each hip beside her on her chaise, the older girl leaning on her back with two little arms wrapped tightly around her neck, and the two younger girls of light and shadow leaning against each knee.
She had just managed to convince the boys that her tears were happy ones. Finally, when T’ral and Baelon arrived with Ivy and Laura, I noticed the disgruntled looks on Baelon’s and Laura’s faces. I wondered what was wrong, but it couldn’t have been terribly important because T’ral and Ivy just looked amused.
Eva stood up and rushed over to Ivy’s open arms. Ivy pushed Eva back to arm’s length and looked her up and down and said, “It worked? So quickly? You’re pregnant.”
I blinked very slowly, pushing off from the wall as I stared between them. What?
Eva’s startled gaze flew to me. “I haven’t had a chance to tell Raevu yet.”
I stood there in shock. She stared back, a guilty, worried look on her face. I blinked, and a slow grin spread across my face. I walked over to Eva, feeling the need to touch her. I reached down and trailed two fingers down her cheek. “You’re pregnant?”
She straightened her shoulders, lifted her chin, and nodded.
“Since when?”
“I found out the day Hope was born.” Her eyes shifted around in embarrassment at the admission.
“But that was almost three weeks ago,” I said. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I meant to. I planned it out, but then I’d fall asleep before you got to bed, or then we’d be busy…with other things. And what if I miscarried? Or what if it had been a false positive due to stress and exhaustion? We’ve been through so much lately. I wanted to make sure I was pregnant before I said anything to you.”
I wanted to interrupt her with more questions, but I saw she was struggling to explain, and I forced myself to nod in acknowledgment and keep listening.
“I kept waiting to talk to Ivy or Laura about my doubts and concerns, but I couldn’t get in touch with them. Now I know why.” Eva shrugged her shoulders. “It’s kind of ironic. I had decided today that I wasn’t going to wait any longer. I was going to make sure to tell you tonight. I swear. But Ivy kind of spoiled that surprise.” Eva laughed and brushed away a tear.
I was filled with emotion. I could have been very angry at her for hiding the truth, but I was coming to learn that some things were more important than the satisfaction of my expectations. Eva was more important.
I bent and wrapped my arms about Eva and swept her off her feet into a giddy turn. Since her face was conveniently close to mine, I kissed her softly. “Pregnant. That’s the best news I’ve ever heard.”
I carefully set her back on her feet. She was quickly swept away into Laura’s arms for a hug of hello and congratulations.
Baelon walked over and slapped me forcefully on the back. “Good job, nephew. Now, quit staring at her and let’s go tell everyone. Let’s see if the boys want to come with us.”
I looked back at my life mate briefly, and then went on with my uncle. I had two children and my new life mate that I loved more than life. I had been truly blessed by the gods.