by L. D. Davis
Reluctantly, he kissed my cheek and headed to the back door. I followed him but stayed inside. I watched as the three kids registered their uncle’s presence and ran to him. They stood in a cluster as he told them about their father. Clarice burst into tears, prompting Marco to pick her up and hug her. I had no idea what he said to her, but it seemed to calm her as she nodded her little head. He ruffled Carlo’s hair, shook Armano’s hand like he was a man, and they walked deeper into the yard.
I knew he couldn’t just drop that news and roll out, that they would all need some time together. With a sigh, I went to the kitchen table and dropped into a chair facing the sliding doors so I could watch them.
Celia entered a moment later. She hesitated at the threshold, looking directly at me for the first time since we got there. Straightening her shoulders, she came all the way in and leaned against a counter and watched the scene outside. I thought we would stay in complete silence, which would’ve been okay with me, but unfortunately, she was feeling chatty.
Her cool gaze glided over me, lingering long on my belly before meeting my eyes. “I hear you are having twins.”
“You have heard correctly.”
She eyed me with barely hidden disdain for another few seconds before turning back to the scene outside, where Marco was now playing with the kids. Her face softened. Before she could neutralize her expression, I saw longing there, a greediness for the man outside, my man.
I spoke in a low, ominous voice. I wanted her to know that I missed nothing. “Don’t get used to him being here. He isn’t here for you.”
With a smirk, she looked back at me. “You are worried.”
“Oh, I’m not worried, not where Marco is concerned. We’re stronger together now more than before, and you of all people will never shake the foundation we’re building. I am just trying to remind you that he isn’t here for you so that you don’t fuck it up for your kids. They love him, and he loves them. We want to be part of their lives, but you need to know your place, and it’s not with him. If you take this inch we’re giving you and try to stretch it into a mile, the only people you’re going to really hurt are your kids. You’ve already gotten more than you deserve. You got to come to America, you have your own nice house in a nice neighborhood, and your ex-husband is supporting you one hundred percent. Now it’s time for you to move on, find something else to do with your life instead of scheming, manipulating, and chasing after unavailable men.”
Just then, the kids and Marco came inside. He looked between us, worried, but I beamed at the kids and greeted them in Italian. They hung out in the kitchen for a couple minutes chatting before their mother sent them to wash up for dinner. Armano left only after Marco and I promised he could come visit Gav over the weekend. I stood up, ready to go. Marco did what he’d come for, so there was no need to linger.
“Is everything okay?” he asked, taking his place at my side, and putting an arm around my waist.
“Yes, absolutely. Celia and I were just talking about her going to school, or taking up a hobby, or something like that now that she’s here.”
I smiled at the other woman, daring her to disagree with me. She didn’t. Her voice was cool and prickly, but she forced a smile anyway.
“Yes. School, or a hobby, or something.”
Marco nodded. “That would be wise.”
I loved him more than ever in that moment because I knew that he knew it was more than what we said. He knew what was going on and was basically telling her in the shortest terms possible to mind the position she’d been given.
“We will be back Friday afternoon to get Armano, if that is okay with you,” he said.
She nodded.
“We should take the twins, too,” I suggested. “We’re going to have Daniel as well.”
I knew the mention of Daniel probably rubbed her the wrong way, but I had zero fucks to give about Celia.
“Good idea. It will be a zoo,” he warned.
“Well, you’ll be the zookeeper.”
He chuckled, and without hesitation, gave me a light kiss on the temple. My eyes remained locked with Celia’s as I relished in his touch. After confirming the weekend plans and saying goodbye to Clarice, Carlo, and Armano, we walked out hand in hand. Neither of us looked back.
Chapter Thirty-Five
For Independence Day weekend, we invited our families and friends to the cabin. It was our first real shindig to throw as a couple. I’d basically been antisocial for about a decade, so entertaining a large group of people—or wanting to be around a large group of people—was a new experience. It probably wasn’t a big deal to everyone else, but it was for me. I was excited about the gathering but dreaded it at the same time.
That Saturday was a beautiful day. Temperatures peaked at eighty-five degrees and a mild breeze came off the water. We held our festivities outdoors, with music, and a ton of food. The smoke wafting off the grill Wes manned smelled incredible. The yard was decorated in red, white, and blue, even though many of our guests were technically citizens of Italy. The kids ran wild, hocked up on sunshine and sugary juice. Sofia, Laura, and Lucia hung out by the water, laughing and whispering, and occasionally chasing away one of the little boys who tried to torment them. They let my almost-youngest sister Paris join them, even though she probably barely knew what was being said.
Under a canopy, Massimo and Tessa lounged in Adirondack chairs, watching their children play. He’d had some complications after his surgery, but he got through them. He looked better, and his hair was growing in a little bit. I was sure he wanted to get up and go play with his kids, but he also seemed just as happy to sit back and watch. After all, six months ago he wasn’t sure he would still be around to do that.
Adam, Celeste, Hadley, and her family were in attendance, as well as Brody and Aiko Herrington, and several of Marco’s employees and their families.
I found myself alone for the first time in a couple hours, off to the side and watching all the activity. Marco joined me a few minutes later, standing behind me with his arms over my shoulders and his head bent close to mine.
I relaxed into him, knowing he would support my weight. “This is very nice.”
“Everyone seems to be having a wonderful time.”
“But I can’t wait for them all to go home or go do something else so we can go to bed,” I whispered.
He chuckled. “I was about to get excited, but all you really want from me is a back rub and snacks.”
I blinked innocently. “Are you good for anything else?”
“Apparently not.”
I had a list of things he was good at, and I was ready to tell him right there in our back yard amongst our dozens of guests. However, my mom approached before I could get started.
“Sorry to interrupt, but we’re low on ice.”
Marco frowned. “Already? I guess I didn’t buy enough.”
“I can go get more.”
“I think we can use some more of those tortilla chips, too.” He released me to reach for his wallet, but Mom held up her hand.
“I got it. Lydia, why not come with me? I don’t know where anything is around here.”
“That is a good idea,” Marco agreed, rubbing my lower back exactly where it always ached.
After a trip to the bathroom, we left for the store. The closest one, a little convenience store, was a little less than ten minutes away. My mom was driving unusually slow but it was probably because she was so unfamiliar with the area. I stayed in the car while she went inside, but she came out moments later empty handed and looking disappointed.
“They’re all out. Where else can we go?”
“There’s a Walgreens a couple miles down the road.”
When she came out of the Walgreens ten minutes later, it was with the same result. At the third store, when she came out without ice, I lost confidence that we would find any anywhere.
“It’s a holiday weekend,” I reminded her. “And a warm holiday weekend. I don’t think we’re
going to find any.”
“We really need it. There wasn’t much left in the coolers.”
I gave her an epic side-eye, but kept my mouth shut as she pulled out of the parking lot. Five stores later, I was over it.
“Mom! It’s over. Forget it. You’re not going to find any damn ice!”
She sighed heavily. “I guess you’re right. Maybe one more store?”
“Mother, please. No one is going to die from drinking a warm soda. Besides, we can always put drinks in the lake to cool them off, or, I don’t know, in the refrigerator? That appliance in the kitchen that keeps food and drinks cold?”
She huffed and rolled her eyes. “Fine.”
We were almost back home when she snapped her fingers. “I forgot the damn chips.”
If I could’ve hurled myself out of the car, I would have. Instead, I let my head hit the window with a thump.
By the time we approached the driveway, we’d been gone for more than an hour, all for some damn ice and tortilla chips. It probably wasn’t as big of a deal as I was making it, but I was irritated that she took me away from my first real party on such a dumb errand.
“Looks like more people came,” she said thoughtfully.
She was right. There were at least four more vehicles, and it looked like Kyle or Lily had gone somewhere and returned. Their car was parked at a stupid angle, forcing us to park at the back of the cabin on the grass. Marco came around to meet us, helping me out of the car.
He rested a hand on my belly automatically, something he seemed unaware of doing. “Where’s the ice?”
“We couldn’t find any,” I said, throwing my mother an angry glance.
“Sorry,” Mom said, but didn’t appear to be at all apologetic.
“It’s okay. We will make do.”
I glowered at him. “Wish you would’ve said that an hour ago.”
He chuckled and kissed my forehead. “Come on, cranky. Let us get back to our guests.”
I put my arm in his. The grass was a little more uneven back there, making walking a little more difficult for me. I leaned heavily on him, and he didn’t seem to mind. My mom walked ahead of us, suddenly in a hurry to return to the party. Figured.
“Who else came? I saw more cars.”
“Oh, just a few more people from work and that guy Sofia is seeing.” He said the last part with a scowl.
I giggled. “That guy’s name is Cedar.”
“I know his name,” he snapped. “Who names their child Cedar? And did I not tell her and all the other kids she isn’t allowed to date?”
“I’m sorry to break this to you, but Sofia isn’t a child.”
“She’s just a little girl!”
“She’s nineteen years old, Mangini.”
“Hmph.”
I laughed again. “You sound like an old man, you know that? Forty is around the corner, and you’re already a grumpy old man.”
He looked down at me with heat behind those blue eyes. “We’ll see how much of an old man I am tonight, Tesoro.”
I bit my bottom lip and suddenly wished everyone would go home so Marco and I could do some dirty things together.
As we neared the back of the house, I realized I didn’t hear the kids screaming. The music was still going, and I heard some voices, but it seemed pretty quiet for a party. Also, I didn’t see anyone down by the water like before, or over by the barn with the animals. In fact, I didn’t see anyone at all.
The instant we rounded the corner and came into full view of the back yard, a chorus of voices shouted “Surprise!”
Admittedly, they scared the shit out of me. I came to a complete stop, dropping my cane to put a hand over my heart. Almost every single person I knew was standing in front of a large tent that hadn’t been there when I’d left. When Elena rushed forward with her arms open wide, all I could do was stand there, gaping. Before I knew it, she was hugging me, and I was hugging her back, and then Matteo was there, kissing my cheeks, followed by Maria, Francesca, Martina, and Salina, who I was so happy to see in person again. I saw Giovanni, too, holding his daughter’s hand, and Francesca’s husband and their children, Martina’s spouse and their kids. Roberto, Andrea, and their baby boy waved to me, and a few of Marco’s cousins. Gavi, Mandy, and Cora came to me, hugging me and asking me if I was surprised.
As I was still processing everything, Marco led me through the crowd of his family and that was when I saw the “Congratulations” sign hanging on front of the tent. Inside I saw the aqua and dark coral decorations and a wicker chair on a dais surrounded by gifts big and small. Behind the chair was an arch made of coral and aqua balloons and white flowers. There was a table with a huge coral and aqua cake and two crawling baby figures on top, and every table under the tent had the same color scheme in the floral center pieces. There was so much more, but it was all just too much to take in. I was in such a state of shock, I again, could only stand there with my hands over my mouth.
“Surprise, Tesoro,” Marco murmured in my ear and kissed my temple.
I turned teary eyes on him accusingly. “You set me up!”
People laughed around us. My mom hugged me and announced, “There was ice in every one of those stores.” There was more laughter, even from me.
My sister came to me next, wrapping her arms around me and holding me tight.
“It was so hard to keep this secret from you,” she said just loud enough for me to hear. “You deserve this. All of this. I love you, Lydia.”
“I love you, too. Thank you so much.”
She pulled back, smiling. “It wasn’t just me. Everyone here knows what you’re having and had to keep it secret, and Sofia, Tessa, and Celeste put in a lot of work, but Marco worked harder than any of us.”
I looked over at my boyfriend, who was gazing at me adoringly. “I can’t believe you managed to keep this from me.”
“It was not easy,” he said with a chuckle.
I hugged more people as Marco slowly led me to the dais. Once we reached it, Lily and Sofia came up and each grabbed a hold of two huge balloons that had been floating on opposite sides of the platform. Sofia gave one to Marco, and Lily gave one to me before turning to the crowd that was busy finding their seats. Lily spoke and Sofia translated for her family.
“As you all know, Lydia and Marco don’t know what they’re having yet. Don’t spoil it!” She turned to us and handed us both a plastic pointy object that looked a mini ice pick. “It’s time to find out the genders of your babies!”
She and Sofia scurried off the stage. There were a lot of phones and cameras out to record the event.
I giggled. “Oh my god, I’m so nervous.”
Marco made a face between a grimace and a smile. “Me, too.”
Lily gestured for us to get on with it as she held up her phone.
“On the count of three,” I said.
“Uno. Due. Tre.”
Leaning back and away from the balloon and blinking as if it were going to blow up in my face, I jabbed at it and it burst with a smaller noise than I expected. Blue confetti fluttered all around me. With a squeal, I looked to Marco, who was surrounded by pink confetti. We stared at each other open mouthed for a few seconds.
“A boy,” he said breathlessly.
I wrinkled my nose. “Another girl.”
He laughed loudly, heartily, as he took me into his arms. We stood there embracing and laughing as everyone clapped and cheered.
When we pulled away from each other, I started to sit in the chair, but Marco stopped me with a gentle touch.
“Just a minute,” he murmured, holding my left hand.
Still holding on to me, Marco Mangini kneeled in the pink and blue confetti in front of me. My eyes opened wider than ever, and my heart raced. Cat whistles and excitement seemed to roll through the guests like waves in the ocean.
“Lydia, the first time I met you, you were so mean. So damn mean, and I thought, ‘I’m going to marry this cantankerous woman someday.’ You have a dirty
mouth, and a wickedly sharp tongue, and you are absolutely the most stubborn person I have ever encountered in my entire life. Also, sometimes you snore, and you steal the blanket and you sound horrible when you sing in the shower. But you are beautiful, witty, and smart. You are a wonderful and perfect mother, and you are so strong. Life has not always been kind to you, but somehow you have walked through fire after fire and have come out stronger every time. Despite how much you have been hurt in the past, and how afraid you have been to love, you do it anyway, with the biggest, bravest heart I know. You leave me in awe every day. It would be an honor and privilege to be your husband if you will have me.”
I didn’t see where the ring came from, but suddenly there it was in his hand, diamonds sparkling, and the metal gleaming. My hand in his shook, my whole body shook. I was barely aware of all the people watching us. I only had eyes for Marco Mangini, this man who loved me despite how hard I made it for him to do so. He loved me and he wanted me forever.
With tears falling down my cheeks, I nodded, sniffled, and croaked out the one word he needed to hear. “Yes.”
The cool band slipped perfectly over my finger as people cheered around us. He kissed my hand before standing up. I took his face in my hands as he lowered his head. There in front of everyone, my parents and his, and everyone we knew, we kissed, and kissed. And kissed.
And kissed…
The party went on deep into the night, even after all the little kids were asleep, and Marco and I bid our goodnights. Many of our family and friends stayed outside in the cool night, talking softly, laughing, drinking, eating, and dancing. I was exhausted as we entered the house together, but also too excited to sleep.
There were several teenagers spread out across the living room, listening to music, playing video games, and chatting. Shawna, Elena, and my mom were in the kitchen cleaning. My mom and Shawna didn’t know Italian and Elena didn’t speak or understand English well at all, but somehow, they were all communicating with each other. Massimo and his twin Maria sat in my favorite spot in front of the windows, heads close together, talking a mile per minute.
