382 Meeting ra (Winona)


    I wait inside the estate, trying to steady my nerves. Viktor''s mother, ra, is due any moment. From what Jayden''s told me, she''s not only a skilled midwife and herbalist, but the backbone of a massive family- twelve children, each with a distinct role on their farm To say I''m feelingpletely useless and intimidated is an understatement.


    But ra lives a lifestyle I''ve longed for. I''m hoping to learn a lot from her.


    Finally, a staff member enters the living area, guiding a tall,posed woman towards me. ra has a face softly lined with experience.


    Her hair tied back in a pony-tail, her expression warm yet focused. She''s dressed in a floral cotton dress. Her small handbag seems more practical than stylish, but there''s an aura about her-a quiet strength. "ra, it''s wonderful to meet you." I extend my hand, making sure not to give anything away to the staff member who brought her in. "I''m dying to pick your brains about wrangling these kids of mine." She takes my hand warmly, her grip both gentle and strong. "Nice to meet you, Winona," she says in a voice touched by a Hungarian ent. "Viktor has spoken highly of you and your family." "Thank you foring by. Firstly, I wanted to show you the cottage I''m setting up for the family. I''m wanting to establish a kitchen garden. I''m so d you coulde and help me design it." I keep my tone casual.


    ra nods knowingly, her expression giving nothing away to the staff nearby. "Of course. Lead the way. A garden is a great way to engage children."


    As we walk, we exchange small talk, keeping things light. I mention the size of the estate, and ra hums in appreciation.


    "It is a beautiful ce, but beauty alone does not make a home, hmm?" She nces at me with a littleN?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    smile.


    "Exactly," I agree, surprised by how easily she seems to understand. "That''s why I''m looking forward to moving into the cottage with the kids." "It sounds perfect."


    "But it is definitely not a cottage. But it''s understatedpared to the estate we''re in now. But I think a pce is understatedpared to that." She smiles. "I think it''s not the size, no? It''s how the ce feels."


    "Yes. The cottage feels like a family home albeit a veryrge one, but the estate feels like a museum."


    "I understand. My brood would be like...ah, I think you say, bull in a china shop?"


    Iugh. "My three older ones are like that. I can only imagine Henry when he is on the move. Jayden says you have twelve children? I mean, how?" I smile.


    "It was not easy, but there is strength in numbers," she says with a wink. "My older children took on roles


    as the younger ones grew. The six oldest are all adults now. So, there was a gap for a while."


    "It''s still amazing. I want to learn everything I can from you."


    We reach the cottage, and I open the door, motioning her inside. The cozy, freshly painted walls and the sparse but meaningful furniture I''ve cleaned up makes it feel lived in. ra walks in, ncing around with appreciation. "It is lovely," she says. "I see why you feel connected here. It is important, to have such a ce."


    "Thank you. I think Jayden and the kids are really going to enjoy it." I lead her to the small living area, where we both settle in. "Would you like something to drink?" "No thank you. Maybe afterwards."


    "I guess we should get to the real reason you''re here. Sorry but I need to be sure ofplete privacy. I''m not sure who I can trust here. Apart from Viktor, of course." "Winona," she begins gently, "I can assure you; you can trust me."


    I take a deep breath. "I took a home pregnancy test. It came up positive, but I need to be sure."


    ra nods calmly, her eyes meeting mine with an understanding that surprises me. "I can do a blood prick test, here and now."


    I feel my breath hitch slightly. Here and now? I hadn''t expected to face the truth this soon. "You... mean you can tell me right away?"


    She gestures to her handbag. "Yes. Just a small blood prick. It is not invasive, and we will know the result within moments." "That''s no ordinary purse is it?"


    She smiles. "No really." She gets out ancet and a strip. Then she puts ontex gloves.


    My heart thuds, and I force myself to take a deep breath. "I just, I mean, I didn''t know that was possible."


    ra reaches out, her voice gentle. "Only if you feel ready, Winona. There is no rush."


    "No," I say. "Let''s... let''s do it. I need to know for sure."


    ra reaches for my hand, her touch steady and warm. "It will just be a quick prick. A droplet of blood is all I need."


    I nod, squeezing my eyes shut as she pricks my finger, barely feeling anything over the panic rising inside


    1. me.


    "Just press on that finger for a minute to stop any bleeding." Her voice seems far away.


    She ces a drop of blood on the testing strip, and we sit in silence as my head spins with what I might be about to hear. What is it I want to hear? Finally, she looks at me,


    her gaze


    soft.


    "Are you ready to hear the result?"