SIX MONTHS LATER, on a blistering hot day in Manhattan, Eleanora gave birth to an eight-pound boy.
Marco laughed joyfully and kissed her forehead before walking to the end of the birthing table to see his son. “My mother always said big babies ran in our family.”
“I wish you had told me that before we got involved.”
The doctor laughed. “There is some genetics to this, but no one can really predict what combination of people will produce a big baby.”
“And for all we know, big babies run in your family too.”
“I’ll ask my mom.”
“Oh, did she and your dad get here?”
The nurse walked over with his son, cleaned up and wrapped in a blanket. He saw the scrunched-up face and tears filled his eyes. He walked back to Eleanora. “And here he is.”
Her face filled with awe as she took their son. “Oh, my goodness. Robert?”
Marco winced. “Too formal.”
“Oh, my goodness, Toby?”
“Too much like a kid’s toy.”
“Oh, my goodness, Antonio...” Her voice trailed off hopefully.
“You’d think in nine months we’d have decided on a name.”
Having removed his gloves and washed his hands, the doctor walked to the top of the bed. He shook Marco’s hand. “Congratulations.” He caught Eleanora’s gaze. “And to you. We’ll see you next baby.”
Eleanora said, “Yes. Thank you for everything, you’ve been wonderful, Gabe.”
Marco blinked. He glanced at the doctor’s name tag, Gabriel Montgomery. They’d talked about Gabriella as a name if the baby was a girl. But they’d never thought of Gabriel for a boy.
He rolled it around in his head. He could see little Gabe Pearson at six catching a baseball, at eight learning to skateboard, at sixteen taking shifts as a waiter in the Grand York’s restaurant to learn the family business from the ground up.
The doctor slapped Marco on the shoulder before he walked out of the room.
Marco leaned down to touch his son’s soft cheek. “What do you think of Gabriel?”
“Our doctor?”
“No. Other version of Gabriella.”
She inhaled a small gasp. “Your mom’s name but for a boy?”
“Gabriel when he takes the reins of the company and Gabe when he’s a kid and with family.”
She laughed. “I think it’s perfect.”
He kissed her forehead. “So do I.” He leaned back enough that he could take the baby from her arms. “Welcome to the world, Gabriel Pearson.”
Look out for the next story in the A Five-Star Family Reunion trilogy
Christmas with His Ballerina
by Jessica Gilmore.
Coming soon!
And if you enjoyed this story, check out these other great reads from Susan Meier
His Majesty’s Forbidden Fling
The Single Dad’s Italian Invitation
Reunited Under the Mistletoe
All available now!
Keep reading for an excerpt from Christmas with His Ballerina by Jessica Gilmore.