Chapter 71 New Home In Papeno
**Rosalie‘s POV
A little foot kicked me right in the rib cage as I finished slipping my shoes on in the morning.
“Oof,” I mumbled as I sat down on the edge of my bed to catch my breath.
“Are you all right?” Seraphine asked, an amused expression on her face. She was tidying the room, even though that wasn‘t her responsibility.
“Yes, I‘m fine,” I told her, laughing as I rubbed my belly. “This one sure knows how to find Mama‘s ribs, though.”
I sat there for a few minutes, feeling the baby kick, thanking the Moon Goddess that I was so blessed to have this wonderful child growing inside of me.
For a moment, I let my mind wander to Ethan. It was something I tried not to do. I tried not to think of him at all, if I could help it.
I could imagine him sitting next to me on the bed, his enormous, muscular hand engulfing my abdomen as he waited for the baby to kick his palm.
Would he smile? Would he laugh along with me at each little jab of the baby‘s foot?
I wasn‘t sure if Ethan would be like other fathers and marvel at the growth and milestones of his baby along the way, or if he would just look at the child as his heir and otherwise ignore this precious bundle of joy I was growing inside of me, even after I‘d given birth.
It didn‘t matter now. I would never know…
“Are you okay?” Seraphine asked, breaking me out of my trance.
“Yeah, I‘m fine.” I smiled at her and then added, “Just thinking about the baby.”
“Ro, what are you going to do about Mr. Soren‘s offer?” Seraphine asked me as I got ready to go downstairs and get some fresh air.
It had been in my mind for the past few days. I hadn‘t made a decision yet.
With Derek on this island, I had decided to leave as soon as I could, but where would I be able to go without money? Especially when I was pregnant.
“Seraphine,” I told her, “I‘ve been meaning to talk to you about that. Do you think I should take it?”
“I do, dear,” she said with a nod. “It‘s a good job for you to take, especially with the baby. You could raise your child and care for his home… Also, I am from Papeno too, remember?”
I nodded. I did remember that, and it was an important factor.
“It‘s just… I don‘t know him that well.”
“He seems like a good man. He takes care of his people.” She put her hand on my arm. “If I were you, I would take the job.
He had been kind to me, and I agreed with what Seraphine was saying. “But I‘m also worried that I can‘t do the
job right.”
“Have you done housework before?”
“Yes.”
know
“Yes.”
you taken care of
“Yes…”
I don‘t see a
right. There seemed to be no reason for me to turn down Soren‘s offer. I should give it
I needed to
***
down for dinner across from Soren, wearing a simple
said, but I could tell he was tired. He had been away from the house all day, and I had heard from Lola that he was
“Have you been working
about that,”
brought our food in and set it down in front of us, and I
remember the last time I had linguini with clam sauce. This
couldn‘t think of anything to say in response to that, so I took a bite, hiding
started talking again. “I love it! Really, I need
the chef already knew that,” Lola said, a twinkle in her eye as she filled Soren‘s wine glass. She looked at me
to me. “What are you two laughing at? You didn‘t just poison me, did you?” he asked in a silly voice, which let me know he was joking and trusted
I said, “This is a test
as he continued to look from Lola to me. “What are
with a smile. “Well, you‘ve passed my test. Now that you seem to like my cooking, I‘ve decided to take the
fell out of his hand. “At my house?
me?”
nodded. “If you would
one who was hiring! How did I end up being interviewed? But I like it!” His eyes were bright. “Yes, yes! Of course, I
my face heat
won‘t!” he amended hastily. “I know you, Ro.
it.”
all my heart.
be formal made him laugh even
so will your child. It‘s a great place. Besides, you
and met his eyes, those familiar eyes that were the same as Ethan‘s, yet so very different
I trust you,” I found myself
reached across the table and found my hand, patting
I know we haven‘t known each other that long, but you‘re like a breath
and a strange moment passed between
was so sweet, and I knew he was talking about the fact that we were getting along so
and that was great, because
might never be
had my baby, and that was all
***
to check it
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