“I didn’t have a choice. I finally figured out it’s not just me who belongs to you. You belong to me too, and I have to take care of you the same way you care for me.”
His smile sends my tummy into a dozen summersaults. “I’m glad you finally figured that out. I was too afraid to tell you for fear you’d use it against me.” Leaning his head against mine. “If you want to work part-time, I’ll support you. I want you to be happy. Not just here at home with the kids and me.”
“I love you so much,” I whisper, as I begin to undo his shirt. “I’m pregnant. I don’t need a test to know. And I think waiting until the kids are teenagers and don’t want anything to do with us is the right time to go back to work. Or maybe I won’t, and just help you and Charlie in the bookstore.”
He leans down and kisses my stomach. “I knew you were. Whatever you want, piccolina. Anything you want, it’s yours.”
“Just you, Tony. All I want is you. Now make love to me, please.”
20
Christy
Tony looks up from the pregnancy test. His blue eyes are churning with emotion as he pulls me to him. “Thank you,” he whispers against my cheek as his hand goes over my stomach. “I can’t wait to be here for everything.”
Nodding, I kiss his cheek. “I was packing. I had clothes in my hand, and my s
uitcases were out. Until I thought of what might happen if I lost the baby. All I could think was how badly it would hurt you and me. You would ask me to try again with the proof we could get pregnant, but I wasn’t sure I could go through it again not even for you.”
His hold is tight. “To go through it all alone. You are braver than you think you are.” A hand traces down my cheek. “I’m in awe you came back on your own. Knowing what you would come back to, you did it anyway.”
“I would do anything for you.” I run my hand down his chest, all mine.
“What’s the light I see in your eyes about?”
I can’t hold my smile any longer. “You haven’t been with anyone else since I first left.”
He stiffens, then smiles. “Luca and his big mouth.” I nod. “I couldn’t. I tried, god, did I try. I knew you weren’t coming back. I would have to find you and drag you back kicking and screaming. And fuck I was so angry. You loved me. How could you do it?”
A sigh from the bottom of his lungs escapes him. His eyes darken. “After four nights of no sleep, I wound up at Lisa’s as my last hope. She told me what I already knew. She didn’t know where you were. If I hadn’t picked up your trail, I wasn’t going to. Punch drunk on a lack of sleep, I took what she offered. I stayed drunk, and the women kept coming. I hated every one of them, and you, and in the end me.”
Leaning against him, I hug him tight. “After I sobered, up every time I tried, I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I’d given in and had two different people looking for you; neither one could find you. I told myself to give up. Only I couldn’t. It didn’t matter how far away you were or how long you were gone. I belonged to you because you belonged to me, and no other woman could ever make me feel what you do. So I finally gave in and called a man that could supposedly find anyone. It took him a while, but he did find you.”
“I’m glad you didn’t give up. I’m sorry for being jealous. I don’t have the right to be. I never doubted your loyalty. I don’t now.”
“Hm, we’ll forget about Lillian for this conversation.”
I blush, “Watching her touching you—”
His kiss ends all thought of Lillian and all the other things that don’t matter.
***
Christy
“Mommy, you’re a princess,” Rosie sighs.
As I look in the mirror, I agree. Tony was explicit in his instructions to the dressmaker. I wasn’t certain anyone would be able to deliver on everything he wanted. She managed to nail it all in one beautiful dress.
Rosie gasps, and I turn to find Regina carrying a glittering diamond and emerald tiara. “Holy crap,” I exhale.
“I know, right? These Sabatini men. Apparently, a tiara is our wedding gift as a part of their tradition started with their grandmother. We’re going from being a mafia princess to being their queen.” Regina helps me put it on.
Do not cry, no crying today. I sternly order myself as I look in the mirror. It’s hard, though.
“Okay, Rosie. You get a tiara today too. This was your grandmother’s.” Regina bends down to put on a pretty elegant diamond tiara.
“Mommy, now I’m a princess!” Rosie exclaims as she runs to the mirror.