by Lucia Black
She looked at herself in the bathroom mirror and put a hand to her stomach. She was twenty-eight years old. She wasn’t too young. Not at all.
She heard her husband outside the bathroom. Her feet wouldn’t move. They were anchored to the tile floor like they’d been cemented in. “Alessandro?” she called. She waited a moment, and when there was no response, she tried again. “Alessandro, can you come here?” Her voice didn’t have any strength to it. It was all breathy and shaky. Which seemed like an extreme reaction, but these two little pink lines changed everything. Everything.
Alessandro poked his head through the bathroom door. “Is everything okay?”
“I don’t know.” That wasn’t true. She knew everything would be okay eventually, but right now, she wasn’t sure how she felt. There were too many emotions rushing through her.
Alessandro was at her side immediately and taking the pregnancy test from her hand. She watched him look at the two little pink lines. She watched his eyebrows knit together as he put together what they meant. Then she watched his face in the mirror as it opened up with wonder and amazement and excitement. He dropped the pregnancy test on the counter and hugged her so hard she couldn’t breathe.
“Oh my god, you’re pregnant?” He spun her to face him and kissed her. “We’re going to have a baby.” He kissed her again. “I’m going to be a father.” His happy glow dulled when he realized Lorna wasn’t celebrating. He cupped her jaw and swiped a thumb over her cheek. “Are you okay?”
She opened and closed her mouth a few times, searching for the words. “I don’t know?” she said finally. Her life so far had only been her own. She hadn’t been responsible for anyone else, not even a younger sibling. There was so much she didn’t know.
She’d all but taken over for her father while he recovered from his heart attack, and the doctors monitored him to make sure he didn’t have another one. She couldn’t leave him out to dry like this. She couldn’t suddenly tell him to find someone else to run things because she got pregnant.
Alessandro’s voice cut through her thoughts. “What’s wrong?” He cradled her face gently, concern written across his features.
“Am I ready? I mean . . . it’s scary.”
He smiled softly at her. “You’re going to be a wonderful mother.” He sounded certain, but Lorna wasn’t sure. She shook her head, and he smirked. “And even if you’re not, I’ll be a fabulous father and make up for it.” That got her to smile. He hugged her again. “Whatever you’re worried about, we’ll work through it.”
“I know.” And she did. She knew he wouldn’t let her worry about anything. He would take care of her and their baby, and be the best father, the best husband, the best person he could be for them.
He held her tighter. The scent of his cologne wrapped her in a warmth and comfort that she knew she couldn’t find anywhere else. “Do you want to tell me why you aren’t jumping up and down rejoicing the opportunity to carry my progeny?” She could hear the smirk in his voice.
She smiled and nudged him. “I’m happy—in shock, but I’m happy . . . I’m just a little nervous too. Like, how do I still run things for dad after the baby is born?”
Alessandro leaned on the sink. “First of all, like I said, I’ll be such a good father it’ll make up for whatever insignificant flaws you think you have as a mother.” He ignored the face she made at him. “Second of all, didn’t you tell everyone that you would form an alliance with Giovanni without marrying him? When it comes to the business side, I’m pretty sure he’ll help you out whenever you need him. All you have to do is ask.”
Lorna hated to admit how much that made sense. “That’s actually not a bad idea.”
He set his hands under his chin and blinked his eyelashes at her. “I know you didn’t marry me for my brains, but I am more than just a pretty face.”
She laughed. She felt a little better. “If you say so,” she teased.
He led her out of the bathroom. “We’ll buy a house. Big house, big yard. Lots of room to run around.” He held out his hand to paint the picture against the backdrop of their apartment. “And dogs. Can we get dogs?” He looked at her hopefully, somewhat resembling a puppy himself.
Lorna rolled her eyes. “We’re having a whole human baby and you want a dog?”
Alessandro put a hand over his heart in mock offense. “For the baby to play with. I don’t want our baby to be lonely.”
“I thought you were going to be the world’s greatest dad.” Lorna sat down on the edge of the bed.
Alessandro plopped down next to her. “Oh, I am. It’s just healthy for babies to grow up with pets.”
“Is that so?” She couldn’t help but smile at him. He was really so excited, and it bordered on contagious. “Did you grow up with pets?”
“God, no. There were six of us. Two sets of twins. Pets were never an option growing up.” He slapped his leg suddenly, face bright. “We should paint the nursery a really nice gray. It goes with everything. I’ll build a crib and we can paint it white and have one of those little mobiles . . .” He spun one finger around in a circle to indicate the movement.
Lorna lifted her chin. “Wait, you’re going to build the crib? Have you ever built anything before?”
His smile landed on her lips. “No, but I want to try.”
She laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Okay, and when you can’t, we’ll just use mine from when I was a baby. I think my mom kept all that stuff.” Her mother was sentimental like that. She kept all of Lorna’s old drawings from elementary school and photo albums full of trivial moments that became important because they were captured. She wondered if she would be the same.
Alessandro flopped onto his back and ran his hands through his hair. “Oh my god.”
“What?” Lorna leaned over him.
A big grin spread across his face. “My mom is gonna freak out.”
Lorna dropped her head on her husband’s chest with a groan. Yes, she would freak out. Tessa was pregnant too, and ever since she’d announced it, his mother had gone off the deep end. Gianna Moretti wanted grandchildren so badly she’d already started naming them. And while Agnes was a perfectly lovely name, Lorna didn’t like it. “You have to tell her,” she said into a mouthful of shirt.
Alessandro ran his hand through her hair and let out a dramatic sigh. “Fine, but you have to tell yours.”
She lifted her head. “Fine.” She knew her mother wouldn’t freak out and hug her hard enough to crack her ribs. She might get a little misty-eyed and pull out Lorna’s baby pictures, but she wouldn’t overreact. Talking about telling people made it real, and she rolled over onto her back with her hands on her stomach. She didn’t feel any different. She couldn’t feel a baby in there. But the two little pink lines in the bathroom told her there was one. And honestly, that was kind of exciting.
“If it’s a boy, we name him Alessandro.” Alessandro sounded confident.
Lorna blew hair through her lips. “No.” As if. “You’re so full of yourself.” She didn’t turn her head to see him pouting, but she could feel it. She flung her arm over his chest. “Cut that out.”
He scoffed, then held her hand and twisted the wedding ring on her finger. “If it’s a girl, we can name her Florence.” The edge of a laugh hung on the words.
She made a disgusted sound in the back of her throat. “Is that one that your mother came up with?”
“I don’t know, I was just thinking it would be one she’d pick,” he admitted.
She really loved when he played with her wedding ring. She really just loved her wedding ring. “Well, I don’t think my great-aunt Florence wouldn’t be amused.”
“Oops.” He cringed. “What do you want to name the baby?” he asked.
“I don’t know, but not any of your mother’s suggestions.” Lorna turned her head to face her him.
He scooted closer on the bed to kiss her. “It doesn’t matter what we name it. I’m just happy to have a baby with you.” He
covered her hands on her stomach with one of his. She smiled.
They had a lot to be proud of. They’d built their little family. They’d been through a lot together, and they’d fought for each other. Fought to be together. Not bad for two kids that started off throwing insults and snowballs on the playground.
Fear and the unknown aside, she was happy too. She was happy there were two little pink lines. They were in it together, and that was all that mattered.
The End.
Want to read how Lorna and Alessandro got their start?
Click HERE to get Mafia Princess now!
Not interested in reading the past but want to find out more about the brothers?
Click here to check out Mafia Possession now!
(Hint: This is Luca and Caroline’s story)
Also by Lucia Black
The Moretti Mafia Series:
Mafia Princess (Prequel Novella)
Mafia Prince (Standalone Novel)
Mafia Possession (Standalone Novel)
Their First Lady Series:
American Scandal (Book One)
Campaign Promises (Book Two)
Capital Lies (Book Three)
Or snag the completed omnibus here:
Books 1-3 Combined!
About the Author
Lucia Black is the contemporary pen name for a fantasy author that avoids social media like the plague and loves tacos. As an author of unconventional romance, she loves exploring the many ways a girl can fall in love. If you want to keep up with her books, give her a follow here on Amazon.
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