It's been two months now since I got engaged. Liam had to go back to London and I remained here so that I can finish all there's to wind up before I join him in Montana for our wedding. We haven't planned the wedding day as of yet, but we're in no hurry.

Today I'm finally finalizing my resignation at UCLA, and none of my colleagues believe when I say that I'm quitting my job and probably leave California for good. Honestly, I don't believe it myself sometimes.

After stuffing my things inside the car, I make my way towards Dr. Snape's office. She's been away for the funeral of some relative of hers, and I was beginning to think that I may leave without saying goodbye to her.

But destiny is on my side today.

"Look who's found her way back?" she snaps in that sassy voice of hers.

She's Scottish, and I enjoy making fun of her charming accent.

"Yes, ma'am. Here I am." I smile widely.

"And I thought you'd be as slim as a needle from all the emotional turmoil."

"I told you the emotional turmoil is over, and now you're losing you're most loyal patient," I say, and the laughter fills the office. "How are you, doctor? I'm very sorry for your loss."

"Thank you, Kira." Pale gray eyes stare at me with clear mirth. "So, you're doing fine now, right? Come on, take a seat."

"I think so." I slump into a leather sofa across from her wing chair. "I've stopped having nightmares, and I have a feeling that it's really over."

She smiles, her wrinkles showing faintly as a pride of age. "That's because the memory gap is now restored."

Glasses off her eyes, she sits cross-legged, her plump figure wrapped in a floral blazer and black palazzo pants. She has black hair mixed with gray somehow.

"I still can't believe what a fantasy story you've told me." She laughs indulgently. "Do you realize that's phenomenal?"

"So, you want to write a thesis about it or something?" I tease, and we keep the conversation for almost half of an hour, mainly talking about my improvements and how I truly feel after all the reveals.

Frankly, I feel healed.

Around twelve in the afternoon I find my way back home after a small grocery shopping. It's my new home in Malibu, and I'm slowly getting a hang of it. I moved in last month, and I'm in love with everything inside.

I thank Amelia and Sam for their help throughout the moving process.

Speaking of Samantha Ford, it's been over twelve hours and I can't reach her phone. I'm beginning to worry because she never turns her phone off. After placing my groceries in the kitchen, I make another call to Sam with my eyes on the ocean view through the window.

Still unavailable.

Indisposed, I decide to call someone that I'm missing with every fiber of my being. My heart trots at the same wild pace whenever I'm about to hear Liam's voice. It takes several rings and finally his voice goes on.

"Hey, baby. I'm very sorry that I hardly had time to call you last night. Things have been very hectic this week," Liam says coolly.

"It's okay. I just missed your voice," I whisper gently, needing more than just his voice.

"Me too, and you are constantly in my mind, Kira, believe me. Do you want us to video chat? Maybe this will ease the longing I'm feeling inside "

"Of course. Are you alone?" I ask.

He hums a yes.

"I'm still in the office and alone. Or maybe not? I mean, Malik has just shown up when I don't actually need him." He sounds accusing, and I can imagine each one of their faces as they eye each other right now. "Did you forget that we had a meeting today? He's talking to Malik.

God, I miss the two of them.

"Professor, please marry him quickly, huh?" Malik yells from a distance, and I grin broadly at the sound of his voice. "He's been so grumpy lately, looking for any opportunity to fly over there in the name of business."

"Shut up," Liam hisses in a low voice, and I start laughing heartily. "Don't listen to him, he's lying," he says to me.

"But I think it's cute, unless you're not really that desperate to see me as I do you, Mr. Darcy," I cajole him while taking a seat on a barstool.

"You know I absolutely do so, my love," Liam replies. "You have no idea how much I miss you that I keep counting days in my calendar," he adds, followed by, "Get out of here, Malik. We can have dinner later."

I laugh again.

"Can I talk to him?" I beg.

"Of course," Liam answers, laughing at whatever the Arab has just blurted. "Let me call you in a few seconds," he suggests, and I comply without fretting.

I smile from ear to ear as I fix my posture to find a perfect angle. Sometimes you may not wish to learn how you look like on the screen when making these kinds of calls. When the screen flashes I'm ready for it.

Swiping the receiver, Malik's face pops on the screen. "Hi, Malik." I wave my hand, and his bright grin is infectious.

"Professor," he mutters gleefully, his big gray eyes wide and bright. "What did you do to your skin, huh?"

"What's wrong with my skin? Is it dry? Do I have pimples?" I tease, and his diabolic laugh is my reward.

I figure they're in their office that looks like it's built high in the sky.

"Hell no. You're glowing, Professor," he remarks. "Being engaged is nice, huh? Look at this one, I bet he can't even sleep at night thinking of when you'd join him in this freezing London."

"Aren't you done talking?" Liam snarls, and it's always his worst mistake doing that to Malik, because it's a ticket for more mischief.

"I could do it forever, you know," says Malik, provoking him.

I cackle in silence, watching their bromance.

"I need to talk to my future wife, so get off my chair," Liam says.

"See? Very grumpy!" Malik rolls his eyes while facing the screen of their phone. "Okay, professor. I'll see you in Montana, I guess?"

"Okay. So you're finally going home?" I ask, because he's been dodging doing that for over a week now.

I heard his father has called for him, and it's been driving him insane.

"Yeah, what a bummer!" He sighs, and I can tell how vexed he is with the idea of flying back to Saudi Arabia.

"It's gonna be fine, stop worrying," I assure him.

"I surely hope so. Thanks, Professor." He gives me a bittersweet smile.

We say our goodbyes, and at last I get ahold of my cowboy.

"How are you?" I ask softly, upon his ruffled disposition.

He looks tired, eyes pitiful as he looks at me though the phone.

"Let's get married in two weeks," he says simply.

I gasp. "In two weeks? That's very soon, Liam."

"I mean, I can't stand this distance anymore, Kira," he complains. "I hate it that you are miles away. I need you right here with me."

"Baby, it's only a month left," I say smoothly, as though I'm talking to a child. "Isn't that what we've planned?"

"I know, but--"

"I'm going to Montana next week," I announce, "because Eleanor and I have agreed to start the wedding preparation by then."

"You're going there?" He sounds surprised, and I love how his blue eyes glint when he's shocked.

"Yes, we talked yesterday," I answer and smile gently at him. "Look, my love, just keep calm and everything will work out. I miss you much more, but I know this is temporary. We'll have a lifetime together, I promise."

How I'm dying to be held tightly by him when I go to sleep at night.

"Okay, Kira. Another month full of torture," he rumbles his sarcasm and I laugh in response.

So cute. We talk for a little while before calling it a day.

I take a deep breath while rubbing the edge of my phone against my chin. I refuse to despair, even though it's been tough sleeping all alone at night ever since I sent Liam off in the airport.

Thinking of another matter at hand, I realize I've turned into a mother worrying about her three children. Liam and his tantrums is one thing, then Malik and his nervous breakdown, and now there's Sam and the hide-and-seek game.

Where the hell could she be?

I'm about to grab my car keys when the horn blares outside my gate. Glancing over, through the front window, I see Sam's Audi. Finally! I flounce out to give her the scold she deserves.

"Damn this car!" Sam blurts out some moment later. "I should just drag it to Top Gears and pull some cash!" she keeps rumbling and I'm now worried about her mental health.

Her physical state is already disturbing, needless the say the least. Her clothes look shabby and hair even so.

"Okay, what's going on?" I ask her, ignoring the fact that she's still wearing the same clothes she had the day before.

"Hi, Mom. Can I have coffee, please?" She grins at me. I roll my eyes, annoyed. "Alright, I know that look, and yes I had a little too much to drink." She dramatically raises her hands up in the air. "Now, can I have coffee, please? My head is playing a rock band, and my tummy is--"

"Where have you been?" I cut her short, my arms folded across my chest. "I've been calling you for the past twenty-four hours, and your phone's been off." I keep my interrogation, as she walks past me on her way in. "Sam?" I follow suit.

"Just give me some coffee first, and then you can nag me all you want," she says with a yawn.

Looking at her, I end up shaking my head piteously. I head to the kitchen and pull some instant coffee for her.

"I think I left my phone at Veronica's," Sam mutters, searching the pockets of her tight jeans. "Damn, I'm sure Jonathan has called until he turned red."

"You were with McClellan again?" I lash, frustrated. "I thought you're past that shit, Sam! So then why are you still doing this? Have you seen yourself in the mirror? Because you look like shit and I don't understand what's going on with you."

"You're not making me that delicious one?" she asks with eyes on the mug I'm handling, completely ignoring my vexation.

"No, you're going to have this instant one. In fact, you don't deserve anything nice today." I heavily place a mug on the countertop. "Were you partying?" I ask crisply.

"Yeah, I needed to blow off some steam," Sam answers.

"Did you knock anyone?" I snap, and she lifts her eyes innocently. "You did?" I feel so angry right now.

I'm done trying to monitor her like my daughter or something. She's a grown add woman and I shouldn't care on how she lives her life at this point.

"I didn't knock anyone, Kira, chill out," she says. "I told you I'm done with random sex and I mean it."

"Thank God." I sigh heavily.

A little silence prevails.

"I should've just thrown myself in your pool." I hear Sam muttering and her voice sounds low.

"Why?" I quiz gently.

She gazes up at me and replies, "I think I'm pregnant."

"

Sorry. What?" I respond automatically.

"Pregnant. I'm not sure, but I'm almost positive," Sam tells me and I don't know what to say. I'm puzzled. "It's crazy, isn't it? Me, Samantha, pregnant with a baby?" She laughs, mirthless.

"Do you have a PT?" I ask her.

"I bought one," she says softly, "but I was scared to take it." She walks over, gobbling a cinnamon roll she's fetched from one of the shopping bags.

"Hurry up, and do it as soon as you're done," I tell her.

"Sure." She looks scared, her eyes clouded with worry.

"What if it's positive?" I think out loud as though I'm the one with the situation. "Have you thought of that?"

"If it's positive," Sam says haltingly, "I guess I'll just scratch my head, scream out loud, and maybe stay puzzled for about thirty minutes. And in the end, I fucking don't know what I'll do."

_______________________________________

A/N

Thank you for reading this book until the End.

In case you're curious to see if there's a happily ever after or not for Kira and Liam, I'm delighted to announce that there's a sequel on their story.

Book 2 available in my profile, and completed.

THE WARMEST WINTER