جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 80

Sienna’s PovThe private jet touched down on a quiet airstrip just after noon. Cole had refused to tell me where we were going until the wheels left the ground. Even then he only smiled, took my hand, and said, “Somewhere the phones don’t work.”Ava pressed her face to the window the entire descent, eyes wide at the endless stretch of turquoise water. When the car finally stopped in front of a low, white villa perched above a private cove, she scrambled out before the engine died.No bodyguards followed. No assistants hovered with tablets. The only sound was the soft rush of waves and the distant cry of gulls.Cole carried our bags inside while Ava tore across the sand in her little yellow sundress. I stood on the terrace for a long moment, breathing air that smelled only of salt and hibiscus. For the first time in months, my shoulders dropped.We spent the afternoon building crooked sandcastles. Cole dug the moat while Ava directed the placement of every shell. I watched them—his big

Sienna’s PovThe reception spilled across the open lawn under strings of warm lights. Tables were simple, white linens, low arrangements of wildflowers. Laughter carried easily. Ava spun between the tables in her flower-girl dress, cheeks pink from cake and attention, while friends and family drifted from group to group with glasses of champagne.I stood near the edge of the dance floor, still catching my breath from the last round of congratulations, when the music shifted. The upbeat track faded. A soft, familiar piano line rose in its place.My pulse stuttered.Cole appeared at my side, hand extended. His tie was already loosened, the top button of his shirt undone. The look in his eyes was quiet and certain.“This one,” he said. “The night we met. We never finished it.”I placed my hand in his. He led me to the center of the floor as the first lyrics drifted through the speakers. The same song that had played in that crowded bar four years ago, when we had only known each other’s

Sienna’s PovEvery morning started almost the same way, Cole waking before everyone else to make coffee, me joining him a few minutes later while the house was still quiet, and Ava appearing last, dragging her favorite blanket behind her and asking what was for breakfast before she was fully awake. The simple routine quickly became my favorite part of the day.One Monday morning I walked into the kitchen and stopped halfway. The smell of coffee suddenly made my stomach turn, and I covered my mouth. Cole looked up immediately. “Sienna?” I turned toward the sink, telling him I was okay. He frowned, not buying it. “You don’t look okay.” I took a slow breath and said I’d just felt a little sick. He asked if he should call Priya, and I shook my head? I thought I’d just woken up hungry. He looked unconvinced, pointing out I’d never looked at coffee like it was the enemy before. I laughed and suggested maybe his coffee was just getting worse, and he placed a hand over his chest, wounded.

Sienna’s PovBy the end of the first week after we learned about the baby, I noticed something had changed. It wasn’t my appetite. It wasn’t the tiredness. It was Cole. He had become completely impossible.On Monday morning I reached for the laundry basket in the bedroom, and before I could lift it, a voice came from behind me. “Don’t.” I turned around. “Cole.” He walked over and gently took the basket from my hands. “I’ll do it.” I laughed, it was laundry. “It’s heavy.” “It weighs five pounds.” “Five pounds is still weight.” I folded my arms and pointed out I’d been carrying laundry since before I met him. “And now you don’t have to,” he said, already walking toward the door. I smiled to myself. “This is going to be a long nine months.” He looked back with a grin. “I certainly hope so.”The next day we stopped at the grocery store after work. I picked up a shopping basket while Cole pushed the cart, and everything went fine until I reached for a bag of potatoes. He appeared beside

Sienna’s PovI was woken up arrived with sunshine pouring through the bedroom curtains. I was standing in front of the mirror trying to decide what to wear when Cole walked in carrying two mugs.“Tea,” he said, handing one to me.“Thank you.”He watched me carefully. “How are you feeling today?”“I know that look.”“What look?”“The one where you’re deciding whether to ask ten more questions.”“I only had three.”I laughed. “I’m feeling fine.”“No dizziness?”“No.”“Nausea?”“A little.”“Tired?”“Always.”He nodded thoughtfully. “Priya said that’s normal.”“I remember. You repeated it four times.”He grinned. “I like being prepared.”I took a sip of tea. “You know today’s appointment isn’t an exam.”“I know.”“You don’t have to study.”“I still will.”I couldn’t help smiling. His excitement seemed to grow a little more every day.The drive to the clinic felt different — neither of us talked much, and every few minutes I caught Cole smiling to himself.“What?” I finally asked.“I’m try