by Helen Cooper
“No way?” Sophie frowned.
“My mom told me.” Max smiled. “Apparently she’s head over heels in love.”
“Joseph is in Africa, right?”
“Yes.” Max smiled. “He’s working for a diamond mine that a friend of mine owns in South Africa.”
“So at least we know it’s not him.” She laughed.
“Thank God.”
“So maybe this guy could be the one?” Sophie looked at him hopefully.
“Let’s hope so. I’m going to have him checked out to make sure that everything is kosher though.” He kissed her lips. “But right now, I want to concentrate on the fact that you are my one and only beautiful wife.”
“Am I?” She grinned at him and he licked her lips. “I better not find out that there are others.”
“You are the one and only in my life, Sophie. Without you life would not be worth living.”
Sophie held his hand to her heart and stared into his eyes. “Max, I love you for the man that you are, strong, kind, calm, loving. I love you for protecting me, for loving Jacob, for adoring Winter. You are the man that every woman deserves. I thank you for taking care of Alexis. What you did for her that night is beyond words. I am happy to be married to a man that will go out of his way to love and care for others. I am happy to have given my heart to the man who owns my soul.”
Max touched her stomach and rubbed it. “Winter could have no better mother, Sophie. I could have no better wife. Ella could have no better friend. God made our two souls as one. There is no me without you, Sophie. There is no good in me without your love, there is no strength in me without your heart.”
“Oh Max.” Sophie stared at the man that she adored and she knew that finally, after everything they had been through, they had their new beginning.
“I hope you don’t mind that I am going to devour you tonight.” Max grinned.
“Only tonight?” Sophie raised an eyebrow.
“You want more?” He grinned.
“I think you signed on to devour me tonight, tomorrow night and every other night as long as we both shall live.”
“Well I guess I did sign on for that.”
“Max, what are you doing?” she squealed as she felt his hands running up her leg.
“There’s nothing to say I can’t start right now, is there?” He grinned as he his fingers found the garter on her thigh. “I’m going to have fun pulling this off with my teeth.”
“What, now?” She looked at him with wide eyes.
“If you want.” He grinned and licked his lips.
“Oh Maxwell Van Harkel, I love you.”
“I love you too, Mrs. Van Harkel.”
Epilogue
“Is it funny that I think Winter and Jacob look alike?” Sophie laughed as she played with the babies in the grass. “I really think they have the same smile.”
“They get it from their mother.” Max smiled at her as he poured the wine and put food on their plates for the picnic.
“Even though I’m not Jacob’s birth mother?” She cocked her head and smiled at him.
“Well, you know I’m not his birth father.” Max laughed. “The court made me take the paternity test remember, when we filed for adoption.”
“I know, dear.” She grinned at him. “It’s just funny how alike they look. They even have the same mannerisms.”
“That’s because Winter does everything Jacob does.”
“She does love her big brother, doesn’t she?” Sophie smiled.
“Almost as much as he loves her.” Max reached over and played with Sophie’s hair. “And almost as much as I love you.”
“But no one could love as much as I love you.” She smiled at him.
“I’m just happy that we all love each other as much as we all do.” He kissed her cheek.
“I would have loved him if he was yours as well.” She looked at her son and felt her heart expand with tenderness. “I can’t even imagine a life without Jacob.”
“You would have loved the child I made with Alexis just as much?” He raised an eyebrow at her.
“Yes.” She looked at him with a sweet smile. “I love all of you, Max, and that includes your sordid past. I would have loved Jacob no matter what.”
“I know, my love. I know.” Max stared at his wife as she stared at their children and he felt his heart expand. “We’re really lucky, you know.”
“I know.” She tickled Jacob and he giggled up at her. “We have two wonderful healthy children, enough money to raise them and we have each other. I can’t believe how lucky we are.”
“It does feel like a dream sometimes.” He handed her a sandwich.
“A dream that would be made even better if you changed their diapers sometimes.” Sophie laughed and Max groaned.
“Life’s not perfect, my love.”
“Near perfect is good enough for me.” She picked Winter up and passed her to Max. He held her carefully and stared down at his daughter with love in his eyes.
“I can’t believe she is one already.”
“I know.” Sophie picked Jacob up as he laughed.
“Momma, tickle, tickle.” He rolled around in her lap.
“Jake honey, you have to eat lunch first.”
“No, tickle.” He laughed up at her and she bent down and buried her face in his stomach and blew raspberries on it as he laughed in delight. Max and Winter stared at them with big smiles. Sophie sat up again and looked at Jacob in the eye.
“Now you have to eat, Jake.”
“Yes, Momma.” He sighed and reached his little grubby hands for a sandwich.
“Good boy, Jake.” Max smiled at his son as he nibbled on an egg sandwich.
“Oh Daddy.” Jake rolled his eyes and Sophie and Max laughed.
“Ella’s coming up tomorrow.” Sophie smiled at Max. “She got into law school.”
“I heard. I think she’ll make a good lawyer.”
“Me too.” Sophie grinned. “I’d rather it be her than me though.”
“Well, now you have your bachelors you can do whatever you want.” Max leaned over and kissed her again. “Congratulations once again, my love.”
Sophie laughed and kissed him back, trying not to crush her daughter. “I’m perfectly happy being a mom and making my crafts.” She smiled at him.
“That’s good to hear.” He laughed. “Because I think it would be hard going to law school with three kids.”
“Tell me about it.” Sophie laughed and let Jake rub her belly.
“Momma having another baby,” he squealed. “Me, Winter and boom boom.”
“Boom boom?” Max laughed.
Sophie sighed and laughed. “He got it from a cartoon.”
Jacob stood up and ran around giggling. “Momma having a boom boom.”
“Jake, please sit down and finish eating.” Max looked at his son with a stern face and tried to hold back his grin.
“Daddy having a boom boom.” Jake kept running and eventually sat down next to his dad and kissed Winter on the cheek. “I love Winter,” he said proudly and Sophie and Max looked at each other with happiness and joy. They had finally made themselves a happy family and neither of them could be happier.
**
“I can’t believe you guys moved to Winterside.” Ella grinned as she helped Sophie put away the children’s toys. She couldn’t quite believe how messy one child could make a room. “You guys must have bought out the local toy store,” she exclaimed as she put away what seemed like the fiftieth toy truck of the day.
“You know I’ve always loved it here.” Sophie smiled at her friend, happy to see her so happy. And then she laughed. “I think Max bought shares in Toys “R” Us. I’ve never seen so many toys in my life.”
“Yes. I think you loved it more than I did.” Ella laughed. “We should take a train ride with the kids this weekend for old time’s sake. That way Jacob can see what a real train is like so he can make the appropriate noises when he plays trains the next time
.”
“That would be awesome.” Sophie nodded her head. “And I’m sure Max will love it when he starts screaming ‘choo choo’ early in the morning.” She laughed and then paused and looked at her friend. “I’m so sad you’re leaving, Ella. I’m really going to miss you.”
“I’m only going to California, it’s not so far away.” Ella smiled and ran her fingers through her now long again blonde hair. Her eyes sparkled and she looked like a new woman. “This is going to be good for me. It’s the change I need.”
“It’s just that Los Angeles seems like a planet away.” Sophie sighed. “But what an adventure. UCLA law school. That will be so awesome.”
“I think so.” Ella nodded. “A real adventure and a way to find myself away from all the craziness of the city.”
“I’m really excited and proud of you Ella.” Sophie’s voice was earnest. “You are going to be amazing.”
“Thanks Soph.” Ella grinned and tried to hold in her sadness at leaving her best friend. She decided to change the subject before they both got overemotional. “But oh my gosh, did you hear about Alexis?”
Sophie laughed and nodded her head. “Yes and I can’t believe it.”
“Associate editor at Paris Vogue,” they both said at the same time and laughed.
“Who would have guessed it?” Sophie exclaimed.
“Not me.” Ella grinned. “But hey, at least you know she will be in Europe for a long time.”
“Yes.” Sophie turned to her friend. “Though I’m not concerned about her anymore. She sent me a long letter apologizing. She’s clean now. She regrets a lot of things that she did.”
“As she should!” Ella exclaimed.
“It was really Frank’s fault.” Sophie grimaced. “The things he did to her.”
“You can’t really blame, Frank.” Ella’s tone of voice changed. “He never loved her, she was like a fatal attraction kind of woman.”
Sophie paused and looked at her best friend and sister-in-law. “I don’t know the whole story between Alexis and Frank but he has a lot to answer for.”
“I don’t know that anyone ever really got his side of the story though.” Ella’s voice was tense and she turned around.
Sophie sighed and changed the subject. She didn’t want to think about the past. “So are you ever going to introduce Max and I to Mr. Wonderful?”
Ella turned towards her and sighed. “I didn’t really want to say anything but we broke up.”
“Oh no.” Sophie grabbed her friend’s arm. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” She smiled. “It wouldn’t have worked out long-term anyway.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” Ella grinned. “I’ve got my perfect niece and nephew, a wonderful brother and the best friend a girl could ask for in my life. When the time is right, I’ll meet my Prince Charming.”
“Oh Ella.” Sophie grabbed her friend and hugged her. “I love you so much.”
“I love you too.” They stood there and held each other letting their emotions flow freely.
“Momma’s having a boom boom.” Jacob ran up to them and joined the hug making them both laugh.
“You know you’re my favorite nephew, Jacob?” Ella picked him up and kissed his cheeks.
“Yes, Auntie,” he squealed with delight.
“I love you, Jakey.” She swung him around and they both giggled. Sophie watched them with happiness and went to go and check on Winter in her room. Max was sitting in the room writing.
“Max?” She walked up to him. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes.” He beamed at her and stood up, placing his pad and pen down on the chair. “I was just writing.”
“Oh?”
“Being in here with Winter makes me feel creative.”
“That’s great.” She smiled at him tenderly.
“She looks like you.” Max stared into Sophie’s eyes. “She has your eyes, your hair, your smile, your perfect little nose.”
“But she clings to you more than anyone else.” Sophie laughed. “She’s definitely a daddy’s girl.”
“She just knows how much I adore her.” He laughed. “I could watch her all day and night, Sophie. I never knew my heart was capable of this much love.”
“I know.” She stroked his hair. “Our love is all consuming as parents.”
He pulled her towards him. “I swear that my life is the stuff of daydreams, Sophie.”
“But it’s real.” She pinched him. “See?”
“You’re incorrigible, you know that right?” He laughed at her and rubbed his arm.
“That’s why you love me.” She grinned and he pulled her towards him and held her tightly.
“You know, if you ever want that huge wedding, you just let me know.”
“I don’t need that Max. I never did.”
“I know.” He rubbed her back as he stared into her eyes. “I can’t believe how close we came to losing everything.”
“We would have found each other Max.” She spoke with a firm resolution. “I would have hunted you down, Maxwell Van Harkel. I will never let you go.”
“You better not.” He grinned. “I followed you, you know?”
“What?” She looked at him with wide eyes.
“When I left, I followed you, to make sure you were okay.”
“Oh Max.” She slipped her tongue into his mouth and they stood there kissing passionately.
“Ahem.” Ella cleared her throat at the door. “Sorry to interrupt but Jacob wants everyone to come to the living room.”
“Does he now?” Max grinned.
“Daddy, come.” Jacob came running into the room. “Come.” He pulled his father’s hand and then stared at his mom. “Come on Mom, bring Winter and boom boom.”
Ella burst out laughing. “I feel sorry for the new kid. She’s going to have to deal with boom boom for the rest of her life.”
Sophie grinned. “Or he.”
Max turned to her. “What, you found out the gender and didn’t tell me?”
“No Max.” She rubbed his arm. “I don’t know the babies gender as of yet.”
“Oh okay.” He grinned. “I was about to say. No secrets, remember?”
“Uhm, I think it’s you that’s not to keep any secrets from me any more.”
“Whatever.” He laughed.
“Momma and Daddy come,” Jacob called out from the hallway and they all worked to the living room.
“I’ll be right there.” Max turned back and went to get his notepad and guitar and took them with him to the living room and sat next to Sophie on the couch.
“Okay look.” Jacob danced around the room and started singing. “Gang gan style, gang gan style.” He sang and danced around the room giggling.
Max and Sophie stared at each other and laughed as their son danced around the room. Ella jumped up and joined him and the two of them giggled and did the moves to the famous song.
“What have you done to my family?” Max whispered in her ear.
“They’re crazy. Just like you.” She laughed and he tickled her. “Hey.” She laughed and rested her head on his shoulder.
“Momma, Daddy, join me and Auntie.” Jake ran up to them and batted his long eyelashes.
“He’s just as bossy as you.” Sophie rolled her eyes.
“Everyone sit down.” Max stood up. “Jake, sit down with Auntie and Mommy, I want to sing you a song I wrote.”
“Gang gan style.” Jake pouted.
“Not right now, honey.” Sophie picked him up and placed him on her lap and he wriggled trying to get off. “No Jake, sit still for a moment.” She kissed the top of his head. “Be good for Mommy?”
He sighed and looked at her. “Ok Momma.” He rested his head back and sucked his thumb. Ella came and sat down next to Sophie and looked at her brother.
“Oh God, my brother’s Jon Bon Jovi now.” She laughed.
“Ella, shut up.” He laughed. And strummed his guitar to tune it. He looked at his
family sitting on the couch and he smiled at them tenderly. “I never thought that I could be this happy, that I could love you all this much.” He paused. “And my beautiful Winter as well.”
“Winter is sleeping,” Jacob informed him as he sucked his thumb.
“I know and I want to keep it that way for now.” Max laughed. “I wrote this song to express my love for you all and I wanted to play it for you all.”
“Oh Max.” Sophie stared at him with adoration in her eyes.
“Please excuse me if I’m out of tune or emotional.” He looked into Sophie’s eyes and blew her a kiss before singing. He strummed his guitar and started playing and singing:
I’ve been blue, I’ve been sad, but I’ve never been down and out,
I’ve been to hell and back but the flames didn’t burn me,
The sun has blessed me with a woman who holds the key,
The key to my heart, my soul, and to everlasting happiness.
Life can’t burn me, can’t stop me, can’t hold me back
Because I love you, I love you, I love you
You’re the yin to my yang, the light to my bulb,
You’re my somebody.
I’ve been used, I’ve been abused, but I’ve never been down and out,
I’ve been to the ends of the earth and back and didn’t get lost,
The paths of fortune have blessed me with a woman who holds the key,
The key to my joy, my peace, and to my families wellbeing.
Life can’t burn me, can’t stop me, can’t hold me back
Because I love you, I love you, I love you
You’re the yin to my yang, the light to my bulb,
You’re my somebody
Max’s voice caught with emotion as he sang to Sophie and he was overwhelmed by the tears that rolled down her face. He put the guitar down and Sophie placed Jacob on Ella’s lap and ran into his arms. He bent down and kissed her tears away. “I love you, Sophie. I don’t know if those words can convey how much you mean to me, how important you are to me, but I want you to never forget how much I love you.”
“Max, you are my heart. Our family is my life.” She fell into his arms and they held each other tight.