Hey everyone! I'm back with another chapter for you! I apologize for the delay as I've been working on another story called the Good Samaritan (please go and read it if you haven't already) and felt I needed some time off from this story but I'm back now. Please REVIEW and let me know what you think of this chapter! God Bless.

-Vegter999

Note: Any non-English words in this chapter will be in Norwegian.

Chapter 3

Ruth's POV:

The next morning Erik and I headed to the office to meet with one of the members of the Afghan family that were applying for asylum. Naomi was to stay and watch the kids at the house and help Maryam and Jakob with their homeschooling assignments while we were away.

"Be good for your grandma" I admonished each of them, placing a kiss on each of their foreheads.

"Mommy" Annalise piped up.

"Yes sweetheart what is it?"

"I don't want you to go."

I recognized the signs of Annalise's separation anxiety that often overtook her when Erik and I went away. Her shyness often caused her to cling to the people who she felt comfortable with and saw on a daily basis, which included Erik and I.

I knelt down to her level.

"Daddy and I will be back before you know it."

"Promise you'll come back?"

"I promise."

"Pinky swear?" She held out her pinky finger to me.

I smiled affectionately.

"Pinky swear" I linked my pinky with hers. She then proceeded to throw her arms around my neck in a tight hug and I embraced her back.

I then kissed her cheek and whispered "I love you" before releasing her.

Erik and I waved goodbye as we got in the car and then Erik started the car and we were off.

I stared out the window as we headed down the road, getting lost in my thoughts.

"What are you thinking?" Erik broke the silence.

I gazed over at him and replied "I'm worried about Annalise. Do you think she'll be alright?"

He reached over and took my hand, keeping one hand on the steering wheel.

"She'll be fine. She has to learn to deal with us leaving. We're not always gonna be around to be there for her."

"I know" I sighed. "But I still worry."

"Well that's natural. You're her mother, of course you're going to worry."

He turned and looked me in the eye and said seriously "Ruth everything will be fine."

I gave what I hoped was a convincing grin and kissed him on the cheek as he kept his eyes on the road.

"Thank you for your reassurance my love."

He squeezed my hand.

"Anytime."

We soon pulled into the office parking lot and Erik parked in his usual spot. We strolled towards the building hand in hand.

"I remember when I first came here" I said, recalling that day so many years ago. How much things had changed.

We both greeted the familiar face of Edith the receptionist as we entered the building.

"Good morning you two!" she called, waving at us.

"Good morning Edith" we replied in unison as we passed by.

The client, whom I had learned was named Azeem, was waiting for us outside of Eriks office. He was about average height with tanned skin and eyes the color of coffee beans. His dark hair was cropped short and he wore jeans and a dark navy blue shirt under a jacket.

He stood up and I introduced myself and then Erik in Persian. He shook Erik's hand warmly but did not shake mine.

I however was not offended as I knew it was the custom for conservative Muslim men to not shake hands with a woman who was not a wife, a daughter, or other close female relative.

"Please have a seat" Erik said, gesturing to two seats in front of his desk.

I repeated the message in Persian and Azeem took the seat on the left while I took the seat on the right.

Erik reached into his briefcase and pulled out a Manila file and opened it, quickly scanning the contents.

He glanced up at Azeem and I.

"It says here you have eight in your family is that correct?" he addressed Azeem.

I quickly translated Eriks question to Azeem.

Azeem replied that that was indeed correct.

Erik then proceeded to question Azeem about why he felt he and his family needed asylum and then, through me, explained what the process would look like for being granted asylum in the state of Norway.

Azeem remained cooperative and understanding through the discussion and promised to comply with whatever was needed from him.

When we were done, Azeem shook Eriks hand and bid him farewell in Persian before he nodded slightly at me politely and exited the room.
Erik came around the desk and slipped an arm around my waist.

"Well done" he smiled at me.

"Thank you. It was nice to be able to use my Persian again" I said, placing my hands on his chest.

"Did I tell you I love you very much?"

"Only yesterday and the day before that and the day before that and the day before..."

Erik cut off my talking by pressing his lips to mine.

I gently pulled away.

"Erik! Not in the office where everyone can see us!" I chastised him, though with a hint of a smile in my voice.

With a glint in his eyes he strolled towards the windows and pulled the blinds down.

He turned to me, grinning mischievously.

"Better?"

"You are insatiable" I giggled.

I practically squealed as he pulled me towards him, pressing a passionate kiss to my lips.

"I love you very much Erik Anderson" I whispered, grinning.

Before he could reply a knock came at the door.

He sighed and called "Kom inn." (Come in)

Johann quickly poked his head in.

"Hey Boss why are the blinds down?" he practically bellowed in his usual loud voice.

Erik leant against his desk, rolling his eyes at his employee's utter lack of awareness of his volume.

"Er det noe du ønsket Johann?" (Is there something you wanted Johann?)

"Oh yeah there's a man that wants to see you. He's waiting in the lobby."

Erik frowned.

"I don't recall having appointments with anyone else today. What's his name?"

"He didn't give a name. He only said that he was very anxious to see you."

"That's strange" I remarked.

"Should I have Edith send him up?" Johann asked.

Erik thought for a moment.

"I suppose I can give him a few minutes. I'll call Edith myself."

Erik picked up his office phone and called Edith's desk.

"Yeah Edith. It's Erik, please send him up to my office" he said, before placing the phone back down.

He then turned to Johann.

"Thanks Johann. You can go back to work."

"Ok Boss!"

Erik and I both cringed at his loudness as he exited the room. Erik shook his head and rubbed his forehead.

"I swear one day he's gonna drive me so mad that I'm just gonna fire him."

"You always say that" I smiled.

"I mean it."

"Oh come on Erik" I affectionately placed my arm around his shoulder and messed with the collar of his suit. "Johann is a good lawyer and a loyal employee. So he has some annoying habits, but doesn't everyone?"

Erik gazed at me thoughtfully.

"You're right my love."

A knock came at the door and Erik called for the person to come in.

A man entered the room. He had a dark hair and a face that was oddly similar to Erik's.

Erik stiffened immediately and stood ramrod straight.

"Hello little brother" the man said.

Erik breathed out only one word furiously.

"Magnus."

Wow this chapter was hard to get through but I did it by the grace of God! Please REVIEW and let me know what you guys thought of this chapter. God Bless.