Page 28 of Cherished By the BRATVA Grump

We drive past the gym on our way to Demyan’s so he can show it to me, including the space upstairs. He was right, this would be good for a studio.

“I can see what you’re thinking,” I say, a warning tone in my voice. “I already told you, don’t.”

“I wasn’t,” he counters and I raise a questioning eyebrow at him. “I was thinking about flooring.”

I roll my eyes on a huff of laughter.

“It would take a lot of work. But working on a cruise ship means I’ve got nothing to spend my money on, so I have quite a nice little chunk of savings to use.” I look around a little more, then, with my hands on my hips, I say, “I’ll consider it.”

“That’s all I would ever ask for.”

The rest of the drive to his place is spent discussing what part of the film I actually saw last night, which was only a little more than him, it turns out.

“You choose the film tonight,” I say.

“I had other ideas, but if you would like to watch a film first, I suppose I could make that happen.”

My core clenches at his words. I’m still aching a little from this morning, but that doesn’t stop my hormones from making me want to climb him like a tree.

“I think I could go with other ideas,” I say with a grin.

Epilogue

Demyan

Six months later

“You need to calm down.” Eduard is still but I can tell my constant fidgeting is annoying him. “She is going to love it.”

One of the babies starts to cry and I wonder if it’s a bad omen.

Patricia’s voice comes up the stairs. Trying to distract Tamsin no doubt, so she doesn’t realise what’s actually happening.

As soon as Patricia appears at the top of the stairs she steps aside and Tamsin looks up, sees all of us standing here with balloons and streamers and tries to turn right back around just as we yell, “surprise!”

“Oh no, no, missy.” Patty grabs hold of Tamsin’s arm and steers her back towards the room. “This is your night.”

She takes a breath and walks into the room.

“Happy birthday,” I say, kissing the top of her head.

“I should have known mom was up to something when she insisted on seeing the progress of the studio.”

I kiss Patty on the cheek and thank her for getting Tamsin here.

Everyone takes turns wishing Tamsin a happy birthday, while Eduard looks at me with an expression that says “told ya so,” which I choose to ignore.

Soft music fills the room, and I watch as Tamsin circles it, making sure to speak to everyone. She still moves like water. A stream that will always make its way back to me. That’s what I love about her. We found a rhythm of our own, where she accepts me for who I am, and I respect her for who she is.

“She is a light, isn’t she?” Patricia says from beside me. “She is so much more than what her childhood laid out for her.” She turns to face me and I see tears welling in her eyes. “And now, with you by her side, she will conquer anything life throws at her.”

I offer her a napkin and she laughs as she takes it and dabs her eyes.

“You know, when you first sat across from me at the café, I saw your eyes and wondered if hers would be the same. Then she told me you were her foster mom but everything I’ve seen between you… everything Tamsin has ever told me or said in front of me about you… well, We choose our family, Patty, and I hope you’ll do me the honor of becoming an honorary member of mine.”

Patricia laughs more heartily now.

“Tamsin has already threatened that I’m not allowed to propose to her yet, so—” I pull out a long velvet box and snap it open. “Patricia Kleine, will you give me your blessing to ask for your daughter’s hand in marriage, when she lets me?”