“Everyone, calm down.” She shook her head. “It’s not that serious, yet. I just have a few contractions. I’m sure they will just send me home if I go now.”
“They wouldn’t dare,” Zita declared hotly. “You are a Mariani now, and you’ll be treated with the respect you deserve. Otherwise, Renzo will have someone’s head. Besides, if Mamma says it’s time, then it’s time. You can trust her. She’s witnessed many births.”
Jada didn’t argue. Just seeing their reactions when she’d thought none of them accepted her brought tears to her eyes. By the time Renzo arrived, she resigned herself to be fussed over by this amazing family. Renzo, his gaze filled with worry and love, lifted her into his arms and carried her out to his car.
“I can walk, Renzo,” she’d told him.
“No,” was his simple answer, and she just let it go.
Within a short time, she found that all of them were right. The hospital arranged for a private birthing room, and the staff treated her as if she were royalty. Mrs. Mariani had called it as well. Her contractions went into overdrive, and within a few hours, they were less than five minutes apart along with her beginning to dilate. The pain threatened to take her sanity, but with Renzo constantly by her side, late that evening, she gave birth to a beautiful baby boy.
Jada lay back on the bed exhausted with her little one resting on her chest. She fell in and out of sleep, and the family gathered around her bed. Renzo’s gaze only left hers to take in the sight of his son, and she smiled when he whispered, “Thank you,” more than once.
She yawned and stroked his face. “You don’t have to say that. This was a joint effort—an enjoyable joint effort.”
His eyes darkened. “Agreed.”
Jada looked down at her sleeping baby, and when she yawned again, Renzo ran his family from the room. She sighed in contentment, listening to each of them toss out suggestions for naming the baby after them as they left. She’d never imagined such love would come from giving birth to a tiny person, but then again, maybe they hadn’t been as indifferent as they liked her to think.
“They seemed really excited,” she commented when she and Renzo were alone.
He sat next to the bed and took her hand in his. He raised it to his lips to kiss, and a chill raced down her spine. “They love you.”
“I never would have thought it a few months ago. I thought they wished I’d never come into your life, or at least that I was no more than whatever I could be used for. I’m sorry. I don’t mean to offend you.”
He leaned forward and kissed her lips then the top of their son’s head. A tiny fist found its way to the baby’s mouth, and he made small contented sounds of his own while he slept. Jada’s heart constricted. Her son looked so much like his daddy, from his head full of dark hair to his eyes and lips. From what she could see, the only contributions she’d made were his nose and his tinge of brown coloring.
“You haven’t offended me,” Renzo said. “I know my family can be a handful and that they tend to be single-minded with a drive to whatever it is they want. Beneath it all, they are like me. Family is everything. You haven’t had a lot of experience with it, but I promise you, we will be a happy one, and we will always be together.”
She nodded. “I think you’re right. Now, what are we going to name this little one?”
Renzo’s eyebrows went up, and she saw the look of alarm in his gaze. “I thought we agreed on Renzo, Jr.”
She had trouble suppressing her laugh. “I don’t remember that.”
“Jada.”
The laugh escaped. “You’re easy to tease. Yes, we agreed on Renzo, Jr.”
Panic left his expression, and his smile heated her insides despite exhaustion. “Good. Now we can discuss the date of our wedding.”
Jada affected a huge yawn. “Oh boy, birth takes it out of you. Just a little nap…” She shut her eyes and had to press her lips together to keep from smiling at the frustrated sound he made. When his lips touched her ear, she couldn’t help shivering.
“Rest well, cara mia, for you two are already mine, and soon I will make it official. Ti amo. I love you.”
Jada sank into a deep sleep, basking in the comfort of her man’s love and knowing she had a brand new—if demanding—family, a new baby, and a new life. Even with the challenges, nothing could be more perfect.
About The Author:
Tressie Lockwood has always loved books, and she enjoys writing about heroines who are overcoming the trials of life. She writes straight from her heart, reaching out to those who find it hard to be completely themselves no matter what anyone else thinks. She hopes her readers enjoy her stories. Visit Tressie on the web at www.tressielockwood.com or email [email protected].
Also By This Author:
Something Unexpected, Sugar and Spice Press
Hopelessly Devoted to You, Sugar and Spice Press
Juneau Heat, Amira Press
Unsuited, Amira Press
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Baby Mine Page 8
