Yvonne regaled Mackenzie with the story of how she’d flown out to Abu Algar on a daring mission to bring her children’s father back to the States.

“I met this amazing woman who let me wear a designer gown and shoes—she even did my hair and makeup before I left!”

Yvonne mentally sent good karma out to Iman, hoping that, at that exact moment, she was fielding offers from celebrities for her work. If anyone deserved it, it was her.

“When I got there, it was incredible, unlike anything I’d ever seen. Zadid certainly didn’t do the place justice when he talked about it. I found him walking toward a balcony, so I cornered him and showed him the sonogram and the bump.”

Mackenzie slurped at her mimosa, the small pitcher practically empty.

“I thought he was excited, but suddenly, I see a ring on his finger. The man is engaged! His fiancée saunters up, then, wrapping herself around him like some kind of slithering snake. I couldn’t get out of there fast enough.”

Mackenzie stared at her for a moment.

“So, what did you do?” she asked.

Yvonne shrugged. The fact that Mackenzie didn’t really react to that part of the story threw Yvonne off. To her, it was one of the most shocking and devastating of all.

“I hightailed it out of there after telling him he has a choice to make: me and the babies or that woman. Since he didn’t come after me, I can only assume that I wasn’t the chosen one in this situation.”

Yvonne gazed balefully into her empty water glass, feeling just as empty as the cup itself. She’d also thought she’d get a more shocked reaction from her friend at his betrayal, but Mackenzie just took it in stride. Perhaps, compared to the triplet news, nothing else was nearly as surprising.

Yvonne could understand that.

“Yvonne, Zadid is a good man. I know he is, and so do you, even if you’re feeling hurt. He’s going to do the right thing in the end, I’m sure of it. Until then, you need to stop wallowing in your own self-pity and rejoin the land of the living. You’re not doing yourself any good by crying into your soup.”

Yvonne looked up from her water with a grumpy face.

“I thought we were having waffles.”

Mackenzie rolled her eyes.

“You know what I mean,” she said, just as their food arrived.

After a few minutes of quiet eating, Mackenzie spoke again.

“Wow, Yvonne. I’ve never seen anyone wolf down food like that. Your babies clearly have a favorite food.”

“Mmm,” Yvonne agreed, stabbing her fork into one more piece of waffle before taking a glorious, syrup-filled bite. The dough was slightly crunchy on the outside and soft as a cloud inside. It was absolutely perfect, and Yvonne figured she could eat waffles for the rest of her life and never feel a pang of guilt about it.

They sat there for another hour, chatting about work and Mackenzie’s latest argument with Kyle—a silly, pointless spat—which Yvonne tried her best not to laugh at. As they were walking out, Yvonne reached for Mackenzie’s car keys.

“What? I’m fine, Yvonne! I’ve had plenty of time to sober up.”

“I’m not trusting the welfare of my babies to that. Hand ‘em over.”

“Fair enough. You’re the mom.”

Yvonne felt a tingle at the name. She hadn’t considered calling herself “mom” yet. It was a funny sensation, but not an unwelcome one.

Sliding into the driver’s seat, she scooted the chair back to suit her longer legs, waiting for Mackenzie to buckle up before she drove back to her apartment. It was a quick drive, and they didn’t have much else to say as she pulled up to the curb.

“Monday looms,” Yvonne said, stepping out of the car so Mackenzie could drive home.

“Yeah, can’t wait. Although I have a feeling things will be looking up soon.”

“I like your optimism,” Yvonne said with a chuckle.

“You know me, the eternal optimist,” Mackenzie replied, hugging her friend tight. “You guys are going to be just fine. I know it.”

“At least one of us does,” Yvonne quipped. “You sure you’re okay to drive?”

“Yeah, I’m good. I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”

“Okay,” Yvonne said, waving her off.

She took the elevator back up to her apartment, noticing that the babies were quiet as they absorbed the delicious waffles she had munched on earlier. As she stuck her key in the door and turned it, she realized the door was already unlocked.

Had she forgotten to lock it?

Opening the door, her eyes widened at the sight before her.

The entire apartment was covered with Christmas décor—from the wreath on her balcony door to a large, decorated tree by her fireplace. The fire had been lit and was glowing in the cloudy light of midday. Atop the tree stood the beautiful crystal angel, reflecting the firelight around the room.

Yvonne took all that in before her eyes landed on the most stunning decoration of all. Zadid stood in the center of her living room, dressed in the same outfit he had worn on their one date together. His eyes searched hers as she walked in slowly, absorbing what was happening.

“Yvonne,” he murmured, his voice music to her ears.

She approached him, the questions running through her mind overwhelming her. She picked the easiest one from the list.

“How did you get in?”

His lip twitched as he reached his hands around her arms, gently cradling them as he gazed into her eyes, drinking in the sight of her. While her heart was singing, she didn’t dare yet hope that this meant what she thought it did.

“When you left before I could talk to you, I didn’t want to talk over the phone or through email, so I reached out to Mackenzie. She was more than accommodating. She even told me you keep an emergency key under your mat at all times, which allowed me access with plenty of time to decorate.”

She gazed around them in wonder. In spite of it being April, he had managed to create a mystical holiday wonderland in her apartment, and it felt as though they had jumped right back in time, to that beautiful night where all her dreams had come true.

Until they were crushed. By the man standing before her.

She took a step back.

“Okay, that explains one part of it. There’s quite a bit more that remains unanswered.”

He nodded.

“I understand your lack of trust. Will you sit with me and allow me a chance to explain?”

Yvonne nodded, sitting beside him in front of her cozy fireplace. All she had wanted, for so long, was an explanation. She wasn’t about to refuse one now!

Zadid took a deep breath before he began speaking.

“My engagement to Zelina was the result of an arranged marriage, made many years ago without my consent. It was in line with tradition—our families have always been close—but I never loved her, much to her chagrin. I ran off to America in an attempt to delay the marriage, among the other reasons that I told you about. I returned to Abu Algar because my brother insisted he needed help with his company, and I couldn’t deny him. He is my brother, after all. Once I got there, though, I was pressured to stay and marry, to be a good son for my family to be proud of.”

He glanced down at his hands, his thoughts pouring from him as he spoke. Yvonne listened with undivided attention.

“When I saw you at the party, I knew, in that moment, that I couldn’t possibly marry her. I had been played for a fool, and I realized my mistake too late. Yvonne, of course I choose you and the babies. You are the only woman I have ever loved, and will ever love. I just hope that you can forgive me for what I’ve done, the torture I’ve put you through, thinking you would have to raise our children alone. I would give anything to take it back.”

His eyes were beseeching as he reached for her hands, holding them tight as he spoke from his heart. She stared up at him, completely at a loss for words.

“Yvonne, that night we spent together was one of the best of my life. You showed me what a family here could be like. I wanted to surprise you with all of this because I wanted to show you what every Christmas could be like, for the rest of our lives. Something beautiful and magical, just like how you made it for me.”

He sat back and gestured toward the fireplace, where, to her delight, he had hung three tiny little stockings in between two larger ones—a stocking for each of their children.

He looked back at her, then, grasping her hands again as he searched for his answer in her eyes.

“What do you say, Yvonne? Do you think you could forgive me? Will you have me, if I promise to spend the rest of my life making up for the wrong that I have done?”

She stared at him for another moment before her tears began to fall, and she wept into her hands. After a moment, she looked up at him, seeing his crestfallen expression. She launched into his arms, holding him tight.

“Of course I forgive you, you ridiculous man! I love you. I’ve always loved you, since the moment I first laid eyes on you.”

The gorgeous Sheikh smiled from ear to ear, laughing as he stood and gently twirled her around the living room. She laughed with him, resting in the circle of his arms as they stood together, surrounded by a Christmas that would warm their hearts and lives forever. He gazed down at her with pure adoration.

“I love you, Yvonne.”

“It’s about time,” she said with another laugh.

“What do you mean? I’ve loved you since we started working together, too. I just didn’t want to lose you, so I held back.”

“Uh-huh. You know the company is dying without you, right?”

He nodded solemnly.

“I shouldn’t have left. I see that now. I’ve heard many stories about John’s terrible leadership, and I think I can buy my share back and take things over again. In fact, we’ve already started talking about it.”

Yvonne nodded.

“I don’t think the staff would be the only ones cheering about that. John seems to be quite miserable having to make major decisions.”

“He always was,” Zadid said, shifting her closer into his arms. “We’ll deal with that tomorrow. Until then, shall we celebrate our first Christmas with our babies?”

“I think it might technically be our second, all things considered,” she said with a small smile, just as the babies began shifting around in her belly. “Oof,” she grunted, her hand darting to her stomach.

“What’s wrong? Are you all right?” he asked, his face etched with worry.

She held up a hand.

“Yeah, I’m fine. There’s just a soccer match starting that I didn’t know about. Would you like to feel?”

They sat on the couch together, Yvonne placing Zadid’s hand on her belly to feel the kicking. When he did, his eyes lit up with wonder.

“Our babies are growing in there,” he breathed.

“Yes, they very much are,” Yvonne agreed, unable to stop smiling.

The feeling of relief that had washed over her was beyond anything she could express. It was heaven on earth, and as she sat with Zadid, enjoying their children together as a family, Yvonne realized that her Christmas wishes had finally, officially, come true.

“Did I mention that I love you?” Zadid said, kissing the tip of her nose as he continued to rest his hand on her squirming belly.

She kissed him, then, snuggling close as they enjoyed their bonus Christmas together.

“You may have mentioned it once or twice. Feel free to say it as often as possible though,” she said with a blissful sigh.

For the first time, Yvonne’s happiness knew no bounds, and she had a whole family, all to herself.

* * *