“---and it’s time to have dinner,” Staffan interrupted Saffi hastily, realizing that she was telling them about the first time they had met and fearing that she would end up giving his family a play-by-play of exactly what happened between them that night. He drew Saffi towards him, but his warning look was completely lost on her. She was definitely in fangirl mode, and it was times like this he had a hard time remembering she was a conniving two-timing slut. At times like this, it was easy to fool himself into thinking she was the Saffi he had loved, the girl who always had stars in her eyes when she looked at him.
His entire family was still groaning in protest, including his parents. His own parents, for heaven’s sake, who were supposed to be more mature than his younger siblings!
“But it was just getting to the good part!” Edana grumbled as she went to sit at her place on the table.
“After dinner, can she finish the story?” Cairo demanded as he took his place next to his older sister. At nine and ten, the two were extremely close to each other, and their favorite thing to do in life was to boast to everyone that Staffan Aehrenthal was their big brother.
Saffi beamed, loving how receptive her audience was to listening to more of her fangirl experiences about Staffan, which of course was her favorite subject. Talking about fish was just a close second. As Staffan’s hand clasped hers, she said happily, “I would---”
“---be very tired,” Staffan ended the sentence for Saffi again, with a pointed look at the younger ones. “We just flew back here, remember? And we’ll need to fly back out because I’m in the middle of negotiating my next project.”
“Oh.”
Edana and Cairo looked more pitiful than puppies beaten on the sidewalk, but Staffan was unimpressed. Underneath their angelic facades, these two could be the devil’s imps and were extremely good manipulators.
Saffi’s heart went out to the two. “Let’s FaceTime when Staffan and I get back to the States. I promise we’ll continue the story.” At her words, the two quickly cheered up, and the speed with which they had recovered made Saffi blink in surprise and then laugh.
“What time would this call be?” Conrad asked as he pulled out a chair for his wife. Frowning, he added, “I might have a meeting I’m unable to cancel tomorrow.”
Staffan nearly rolled his eyes at the seriousness of his stepfather’s tone.
“Oh, yes, that’s with UNICEF, right?” Elvira squeezed her husband’s hand in silent thanks for his courtesy before graciously taking her seat.
Knowing what was expected of him, Staffan also pulled a chair out for Saffi. She was visibly startled and then looked at him with a glowing expression on her face.
Ah, f**k.
Saffi tiptoed and placed a shy kiss on Staffan’s cheek. “Thank you,” she whispered before taking her seat across the kids.
As she looked down, she missed the way Staffan’s parents exchanged smiles. But Staffan didn’t, and his insides clenched as he sat in between his father and Saffi. All of them were being fooled – just as he had been.
Yet even as the knowledge taunted him, Staffan couldn’t help but submit to a moment’s weakness. Pregnancy had given Saffi an inner glow, making her seem more feminine and womanly. Her softness was ethereal now, and it was sexy as hell. Just one glance from those blue eyes, the brush of their skins, all of it made him want to forget that Saffi had given herself to another man.
When Staffan reached for her hand under the table, Saffi couldn’t breathe, couldn’t talk – she just felt. She wanted to cry and right now, she didn’t think it was just because of hormones. Surrounded by the warmth of Staffan’s family, seeing how much his younger siblings resembled Staffan – it had made Saffi try to imagine what their baby would look like.
She squeezed Staffan’s hand even as she nodded several times to Edana and Cairo, who were both taking turns telling her about how Staffan’s last visit had caused a riot. “There were---” Edana paused, her forehead furrowing. She spoke the word in Swedish, giving her father an inquiring glance.
“Barricades,” Saffi translated with a smile.
All heads turned to her. “You speak Swedish?” Conrad exclaimed.
Saffi colored. “Just…enough. I wanted to surprise Staffan.”
“I was dutifully surprised,” Staffan said dryly even as he softly rubbed his thumb over her knuckles.
“I’m so happy you speak Swedish!” Cairo burst out. “There are so many more things I wanted to say but I couldn’t figure out how to say it in English.” He made a face at Elvira.
Elvira made a face back. “No. Rules are rules – you must practice your English if you are speaking to those who are not from here.”
“But Saffi is family,” Edana protested. “We already have to study English in school, Mama. I just don’t want to---”
“How about this instead,” Saffi interrupted. “You guys talk to me in English, I talk to you in Swedish – so that we all get to practice. Plus,” she added winsomely, “I know misery loves company. That way, we’re all miserably practicing together.”
There was a slight pause before the two children burst into laughter while Staffan’s parents grinned.
“Ingenuous – childishly so but ingenuous still,” Staffan couldn’t help but remark.
“You are such a delight, Saffi,” Elvira said with a happy sigh. “I hope you and Staffan can visit us again soon. But---” She hesitated. “Is flying frequently good for your…condition?”
“What condition?” Edana demanded, immediately picking up the change in the atmosphere.
“It’s fine, Mrs. Aeh---”
“Mama, please, my darling,” Elvira invited.
She flushed with pleasure. “Mama, it’s fine. I checked with my doctor. As long as I keep myself hydrated and I do my best to sleep during the flight then rest again when we land, it won’t be a problem.”
“Why are you checking with your doctor?” Cairo demanded.
Saffi faced the kids. “Because,” she confessed shyly but happily, “I’m having a baby.”
Staffan released her hand.
Saffi could feel him tensing beside her, and she knew all the memories had just flooded back, driving a wedge between them. Keeping her smile in place, she reached out and grabbed his hand, not letting go even if he was subtly trying to pull his hand away.
Gripping his hand on her lap, she told the kids, “I’m hoping you can all be there when I give birth. You could also help me choose a name for the baby.” She pretended to mull it over. “If it’s a boy, what do you say about Staffi?”