| |
Dante
––––––––
Bethany nuzzles into my neck as she comes awake. “Morning.”
I chuckle. “It’s only four in the morning, but I guess technically it’s morning.”
“Hmm, sorry. I can’t believe I slept so long. How do you wake up so quickly?”
“It’s because of you. You get too far away, even half asleep I don’t like it.”
Shaking her head, her forehead wrinkles as she tries to sit up. That seems to make it worse, then suddenly she’s pushing me away to roll off the bed and running for the bathroom. I’m right behind her as she bends over and vomits into the toilet. What the hell? Then I blink, and it clicks. I thought I noticed changes in her body, only they were so small I wondered if I was imagining them.
She keeps retching even though her stomach is empty. I grab a washcloth and run it under cold water and don’t squeeze all the water out. Wrapping a hand around her stomach, I hold her against me as I press the washcloth against the back of her neck. Bethany sags against me. She takes the washcloth and rubs it along her neck and over her face. Then presses her face into my chest.
“What the hell is the matter with me?” She moans.
I go still. She doesn’t know? Aren’t women supposed to know? It wipes the smile off my face—maybe I’m wrong. Gingerly she moves toward the vanity. I watch her brush her teeth and run water over her face. “Can toothpaste go bad? It tastes awful.”
There isn’t a whole lot of thought as I pick her up and take her back to bed. Although dawn is beginning to stream in around the blinds, I turn on the bedside table lamp. “Bethany, sweetheart, is there any chance you might be pregnant?”
She starts to shake her head then stops. I watch as she starts thinking. “I—but I... shit. A few times I didn’t realize I missed a pill in Spain, but I doubled up the way the doctor said. No, I—no, that’s crazy. Dante, stop smiling, you’re scaring me.”
I can’t stop smiling. I try, but my smile isn’t going anywhere. “There’s nothing to be scared of, this is fucking awesome, Bethany. A baby, our baby.” Her hand goes out and she’s shaking her head. Pulling her close, I kiss her forehead. Despite my joy I get she’s freaked. “I’m going down to the corner to get a pregnancy test. Do you have a preference?” She’s still shaking her head. “Ten minutes, I’ll be right back.”
Excitement has me dressing fast. When I come out she’s still sitting where I left her with a dazed expression on her beautiful face. A twinge of concern hits me. Is she really not happy? If she’s not, what will that mean to us?
***
Bethany
––––––––
Pregnant? A baby? I flash to the expression on Dante’s face when he said the word. Radiant as if someone had turned on a five-hundred-watt lightbulb inside him. I could feel him trembling with excitement—a baby, our baby. Oh please let it be a boy. A tiny Dante with dimples and big brown eyes. Stop, stop it, this is the worst possible time for me to get pregnant. After one day of work am I going to quit? Since I was young I vowed I would be the stay-at-home mom I longed to have. Yet I worked so hard for my qualifications; to walk away from it for the next ten to fifteen years is painful to even consider.
Then there’s the fact we’ve only been living together for six weeks. Okay, it’s been awesome, not a single real argument, just a few laughing and teasing squabbles over minor things where we learned our likes and dislikes and then moved on. But a baby is huge, ginormous. It will change everything.
I blink and Dante’s in front of me. He’s somber now, a huge change from when he left. “Bethany, I got a few different ones. Do you want to...”
My stomach drops as he hands me the small bag. I take it and manage to make it into the bathroom. He tries to follow me in. I shake my head. “I can’t do this with you in here.”
With a sigh he nods. “Bethany.” His hand catches mine. He presses it against his lips. “I’m right here. Whatever happens, we’ll get through it together. Whatever it is you want.” The last word is choked out of him. I understand what he’s saying, what he’s fearing.
“No, don’t think that. Because I’m not. I think this couldn’t come at a worse time, but I would never, could never do that to us.” His relief has him holding me so tight I can barely breathe. He catches himself, then lets me go with a small kiss to my forehead.
I close the door and lean against it. If this is a nightmare, I’m good to wake up any moment now. A deep breath, then another, and I’m still here. Damn it. Opening the bag, I look at the two tests; both of them have a reputation for being accurate. The early detection one with a wider test strip is the one I open.
Done, I set the test on the holder it came with then wash my hands. I open the door to find Dante inches away. I nod at the test. “It says three minutes. I can’t look, you do it.”
I’m pacing the room, my thoughts so chaotic I can’t focus on just one. A beeping yanks me back toward Dante. He looks down at the test, then at the instructions, then up at me. He doesn’t even have to say it. His face tells me everything. With one step he pulls me into his arms. “I know you’re scared, but this is amazing, the best thing to happen to me besides you.”
Now that it’s real and I know without a doubt, an odd peace comes over me followed by euphoric happiness that fills every cell in my body. I wrap my arms around his neck, squeezing him tight. “I want a boy and two more like him.”
Dante laughs. “I was thinking three girls. There are more than enough boys in this family. It will be good for her to have Che and Alicia’s baby to play with.”
“Hm, no, I’m definitely thinking I want a miniature of you. With dimples and big brown eyes and your smile. I might be willing to have a girl, but only after I get my boy.”
“Oh, you might be willing? We’ll have to see. How soon can you put a wedding together? Is two weeks enough time? We can go down and get the license tomorrow. Maybe have Che and Alicia host to soothe their concern over us getting married so soon.”
What? “Married? Are you crazy? We can’t get married.”
“Oh, we’re getting married, and a month is as long as I’m willing to wait.” He sets me down on the bed, then leans over to open his bedside table. I’m too stunned to speak when he opens the small box. It’s enormous, a huge ruby surrounded by a halo of diamonds. Holy crap, even the diamonds around it are big. “I bought this in Madrid. And I’ve been counting down the days until I could give it to you. I knew you’d say it was too soon, but it didn’t feel too soon. What does it matter if we wait a year from now or ten years from now? I’m not letting you go, and that’s never going to change.”
Madrid? “You’re nuts. This ring is nuts.” Is this real?
“No, I’m not. I finally have everything I ever wanted in you. I’ll be damned if I let you get away.”
“I don’t want to get away. You are where I want to be; wherever you are is all that matters.”
I press my lips tight as he slides the ring on my finger. A little sigh comes out of him when the ring is settled. “Vegas?” he asks, hopefully.
Laughing, I pull him down for a kiss. “Alicia will kill us if we do Vegas. I loved Alicia and Cesare’s wedding on your boat. I’ll talk to Alicia.” Dante’s alarm goes off, and the blinds set on a timer open. We both blink as we realize the time. I lay my head on his chest. “How are we supposed to act like it’s any other day when it’s totally not?”
“We’ll call it practice for when the baby comes. We need to go in today, because tomorrow we go see the doctor and make sure everything is good and do the vitamins and all the other fun stuff.”
“You think we’ll be able to get into a doctor in a day?”
“Oh yeah, don’t worry. I have Alicia’s doctor in my phone already. Che was adamant. She’s a smart lady, she’ll get you in. Come on, celebratory shower together?”
“Yes, please.”
***
Dante
––––––––
My ring is on her finger, my baby is inside her, and I’m not dreaming. Best fucking day ever.
I can’t wipe the smile off my face as we go in for breakfast. “Claudine, Bethany is pregnant.”
Claudine is as happy as I am; her hug is tight for me and gentle for Bethany. “I’m so happy for you both.”
“Dante, we should wait to tell people.”
“Why?” Her forehead wrinkles. “Hey, don’t think like that.” I pull her into my arms. “You only don’t tell people who you wouldn’t also tell if something did happen. If, god forbid, something happens, Claudine, Alicia, Che, they are our family and they need to know for the good and the bad.”
She looks to Claudine. “Is he ever wrong? Am I ever going to get a chance to be right?”
“Very soon, he’ll let you be right all you want. Especially when the tears happen for no reason.”
No doubt, Bethany will probably be able to get another five cats out of me if she asks for it.
“So you want to tell Cesare and Alicia right away?”
Hell, yes. “I’m not going to be able keep my mouth shut for long.”
“How about we crash them for dinner tonight and tell them then?”
“Works for me. I’ll invite Enzo and hopefully Sheila will be ‘busy.’” We all know she isn’t busy; she doesn’t like us, or maybe she’s figured out we don’t like her. “Damn, I just realized, we can’t get married in two weeks. It’s bad form to get married before Enzo and Sheila, since they set their date before us. They aren’t getting married for another six weeks, then they’re going to be gone for another two weeks for their honeymoon.” I don’t want to wait that long. “Claudine—”
“Don’t even think about it, you were right the first time. As much as you don’t like Sheila, a woman’s wedding day is special to her. You and Bethany getting married before them, so close to their day, steals her thunder. She’ll make Enzo’s life hell over it.”
Bethany’s eyes dim. I’m an asshole for being happy she’s disappointed. While she was calling me crazy, I worried she really meant she didn’t want to get married. “This is better, we can take our time to make everything perfect.”
I want to argue, but I think of what Claudine just said: Bethany deserves to have the best wedding day I can give her. “Fine. But the day after they’re back, that’s the day.”
“That’s the day. Promise.”
My phone goes off, Charlie is downstairs. “I have to go, have a good day. Don’t spend all of it on your feet. Call me on your lunch break.”
“Yes, Dante, whatever you say, Dante.”
“Good girl.”
––––––––
I’m still grinning like a maniac as I hang up with the doctor’s office, the appointment set for eight tomorrow. Damn, my face is starting to hurt, but I can’t stop.
I’m on the internet reading everything I can find on pregnancy, like I have been all morning, when Che knocks on my door before opening it. I click out of the window fast.
“I thought your porn days at the office were over. I got lunch, come on over to my office.”
I grab my cell phone. I still haven’t gotten a call from Bethany. “Shut up, it’s not porn. What are you and Alicia doing tonight?”
Sitting down, I open my spaghetti carbonara. “Nothing much, you and Bethany want to come over for dinner?”
“Yeah, sounds good. We have some news. Let me text Enzo and see if he can come.” I send the text.
“You two are getting married already?”
“I can’t say, I’m not trying to upset her right now.”
Che drops his food. “She’s pregnant?” How the fuck could he know? “Are you serious? Jesus, Dante, you don’t waste any time.” He’s looking as dazed as Bethany did this morning.
“I know it’s soon, but I couldn’t be happier. It’s the best fucking thing that’s happened to me aside from Bethany.”
The dazed expression disappears, replaced by a grin as big as mine. Then he’s up and I’m enveloped in a bear hug. “It’s awesome. I’m happy for you both.”
“Thanks.” He lets me go and we both collapse into our chairs, happily bemused. “We’re getting married. I wanted it to happen tomorrow, but with Enzo and Sheila’s wedding...” Our eyes meet; neither one of us is happy about Enzo and Sheila, only we know there isn’t a damn thing we can do to stop it. “I told Bethany, the day after Enzo is back from his honeymoon, we’re doing it. Claudine said something about a wedding day being special. It slowed my roll a little. I don’t want her to have any regrets or feel like I shortchanged her because it’s the only wedding day she’ll have.”
“Oh yeah, man, I started out the same way. I begged Alicia to do Vegas but I gave in. Then as I watched her getting into it, the way her face lit up at the dresses and cakes and flowers, all of that stuff, there’s nothing I wouldn’t have done to keep her happy. Whatever you do, don’t say ‘Anything you want, whatever makes you happy.’ Even if you don’t care, try and pay attention and pick the one you think she wants. If it isn’t, let her tell you it’s wrong, then apologize and agree with her. Also, Bethany is a lot like Alicia, don’t let her see the price tags. Get a wedding planner and make sure she doesn’t give the prices of things. Alicia picked the ugliest damn place settings because it was cheaper. She didn’t like it at all, she was just freaked by how much everything cost.”
No way will Bethany get a look at price tags. She’s getting whatever the hell she wants, fuck the cost. “Thanks for the heads up, I was the same on Vegas. I was thinking of handing Bethany a credit card and telling her whatever she wanted she got. But yeah, I can see her freaking out about costs. You should have seen her eyes when I pulled out her ring.”
His eyes go wide. “You already had a ring?”
I go red then shrug. “Yeah, I got it in Madrid. I knew it was her, no question. Then I saw the ring, it’s almost as gorgeous as she is. A Burmese ruby, nine carats, with a halo of diamonds. it fits her to perfection by the way. Only once I had the ring, I started thinking too much. I worried everyone would say it was too soon. I figured I’d give it a year then lock her down. Now I don’t care if anyone thinks it’s too soon. I’m going to feel the same way whether it’s six months or six decades from now.”
“I don’t doubt it. Even while I fought what I felt for Alicia, I knew it was because once I had her I’d never let her go. I wasn’t sure if I was ready, could be what she deserved.”
Nodding, I laugh. “Bethany is as much of a pain in the ass as I am. We’re exactly what we both deserve. The last six weeks have been smooth as ice; sometimes I wonder when the other shoe is going to drop and she’s going to do something to annoy me or vice versa, but so far nothing. I mean, it’s only six weeks, but if we were going to have problems I would think they’d have shown up by now.”
“That’s awesome, but don’t get smug or too complacent. Nothing is guaranteed to hurt your relationship faster. I did, started taking how good we were for granted. Alicia checked my ass fast, and I’m glad she did.”
“Noted. I can’t see Bethany letting me get away with anything, but I’ll try not to go there in the first place. Tomorrow I’ll be out of the office to get Bethany to the doctor. How soon before we know if it’s a girl?”
Che laughs. “A few more months.”
***
Bethany
––––––––
“Alicia, I have to get back to work. My lunch is over in two minutes and I still need to call Dante.”
“You can’t go yet, it’s still sinking in. How far along do you think you are? When are you going to the doctor? I have the best OB/GYN in the city, I’ll text you her number. Oh god, I hope it’s a girl so she and Sophia can play together.”
“Ah, you’re going with Sophia? I love it. I changed my mind, I want a mini-Dante.” My phone beeps. “That’s Dante, I have to go.” I hang up without any guilt—I warned her. “Hi, honey, I’m so sorry I haven’t called you. I took lunch a little late, then Alicia wouldn’t let me off the phone.”
“It’s fine. I was just worried. How is today going? You got to at least get lunch.”
“So much better. I love Dr. Murphy, Harriet, she knows her shit and she has everything running like it’s been going for months. We’re busy but it’s not crazy like yesterday.”
“Good, I’m glad. I’ll let you go. Five thirty tonight?”
“Yep.”
“See you then.”
“Bye.” I bite my tongue as I hang up. I almost said it. Why didn’t I? Why hasn’t he? This morning I was waiting for the words. Everything else he said and did was perfect, including this ridiculous ass ring he bought less than three weeks after the day he met me. Running a finger over the halo of diamonds, I sigh. He does love me, I know he does. I’m being silly for feeling hurt he hasn’t said the words. Don’t look for problems where there aren’t any, Bethany. Stop it.
***
Bethany
––––––––
When the limo pulls up I’m at first excited at the idea of Enzo joining us, then my happiness dims. I hope Sheila isn’t coming. She is such a bitch. I cannot for the life of me understand what the hell Enzo is doing picking her, unless he’s trying to make sure he doesn’t fall in love with the woman he marries. Dante said Enzo’s holding firm on the whole not marrying for love thing. All Enzo cares about is his wife wants three children and is willing to have them in the first five years of their marriage. Sheila even took a medical exam to ensure she could have children. The whole thing freaked me out a little, and I admitted it to Dante. All Dante said was, it was the solder’s brain in him at work. When I told my therapist, she told me to give Enzo her card. My therapist is hilarious. Boy, do we have a lot to discuss this week.
Dante gets out and his expression is clear, Sheila is in the car. Dang it, this was supposed to be a happy family celebration night. His arm goes around me to hug me close, as he whispers in my ear. “Sorry, Enzo said she was excited to come.”
“Not your fault. It’s too bad I’m done with alcohol for a while.”
“I’ll drink enough for the both of us. She has the most annoying fake laugh.”
I slide into the backseat. “Hey, Enzo, hello Sheila. I’m glad you guys could join us tonight.”
Enzo smiles wide. “I’m already pretty sure I know what it is, but I don’t want to miss anything.”
“Look at you in your nurse outfit. How cute you are. I was telling Enzo how great it is you working— Oh my god, your ring is huge.” I’m a bitch for loving the jealousy that flashes across her face. My eyes go to her ring, a nothing to sneeze at but kind of boring three-carat round solitaire diamond.
“I knew it. You guys aren’t wasting any time.” Enzo laughs.
“Actually, since Alicia and Che already know, in addition to getting married, Bethany is pregnant.”
Enzo’s eyes go big, and Sheila goes white. “Are you serious? I’m so happy for you guys. This is great, all of our kids are going to grow up together.”
“That’s what Dante is saying about wanting a girl to go with baby Sophia, but I’m wanting a boy.”
“Sophia?” both men say in stereo.
“Sophia was our grandmother’s name. I like it better than Che’s idea of Loretta.”
“Me too. Loretta is a fifty-year-old lady who chain smokes and calls everybody dear. But I wasn’t going to say anything. I’m thankful Alicia has better taste than Che.” Dante laughs.
Eyes wide, I look up at Dante. “I love the name Loretta.” Dante’s forehead crinkles as he goes red. I can’t hold the expression for long. “I’m kidding. I hate it too.”
“You think you’re so funny.”
“I’m hilarious.” I laugh as I lean into him.
“Congratulations,” Sheila says a few decibels louder than all of us, even though she looks like she’s sucking on a lemon.
Dante’s eyes meet mine in question. We both avoid looking at Enzo. I mouth a thank-you, but no one else says anything until we get to the house.
The minute I step out of the car Alicia has me in a bear hug as she squeals in happiness. I hug her back, we’re laughing and talking over each other then somehow we’re crying. Dante pulls me away from Alicia and Cesare has his arms around her.
What feels like an hour later, we’re in the family room on the couch with Matteo upset because me and Alicia are still loud and crying and talking over each other. Alicia is adamant Dante and I have to move out to the ’burbs and is telling Cesare to look for houses around them tomorrow, and I’m telling her it’s not happening. After a little while Cesare takes Matteo and the three guys leave to go put Matteo down for bed.
We’re all sitting down for dinner, and Alicia is listing the benefits of living in the ’burbs. Dante is wondering if he should take his paternity leave when the baby comes or wait for me to go off maternity leave then take his, and I love him even more to hear him ask the question.