by Angelo, Judy
“Scusi? What are you saying? Your fiancée, she is pregnant?”
Rome laughed. “No. That’s what I thought when she told me but it’s nothing like that. Before we met she applied to adopt a baby and she just got word that she’s been approved. Isn’t that great?”
Vittorio’s reaction was nothing like what Rome was expecting. He’d thought his father would be shocked and then curious, plying him with all kinds of questions, but silence? That, he wasn’t prepared for.
After a long while Rome frowned. “Are you still there?”
“I’m here,” came the answer but where he’d sounded relaxed and jovial before, Vittorio’s voice was now so tight he almost sounded angry. “You are not serious, I assume. You’re pulling my leg.”
“No, I’m not,” Rome said, his frown deepening. “I’m dead serious. Why? Is there a problem?”
“I’m surprised you would even ask that. Of course there’s a problem.” Now Vittorio wasn’t sounding ‘almost angry’. Rome knew that tone very well. When his voice started vibrating that meant he was pretty angry. “I had my reservations when you surprised us with this whirlwind engagement but now I'm one hundred percent sure it's a mistake. When a woman starts a relationship by keeping secrets from you that’s a bad sign. A terrible sign. A woman like that cannot be trusted.”
“What are you talking about? I would trust Arie with my life.” If it had been anybody else who’d made that remark he would have blasted him with all the force of his fury. He would not let anybody badmouth Arie and the only thing saving Vittorio right then was the fact that he held the position of 'father'.
“I wouldn’t recommend it,” Vittorio retorted. “Not after this trick she just pulled on you."
“It was not a trick. She’d been turned down. She had no idea they would then come back and offer the child to her.”
“When they did, she could have said no.” Vittorio’s response was abrupt and devoid of emotion.
“No, she could not.” Rome knew Arie and that was the last thing she could have done. Not after meeting the child. Not after falling in love with her.
“Rome, listen to me.” Vittorio’s voice was stern.” There’s something wrong with this picture. I don’t think you should trust this girl.”
“No, you listen, Papa. The baby doesn’t change anything-” Rome stopped abruptly as a soft knock sounded on the door and Iyana pushed her head in.
“Your meeting,” she whispered, tapping her watch. “You’ve only got four minutes.”
“Thank you.” He only mouthed the words and then he was scowling again, his attention focused on his father’s words.
“Before you marry her,” Vittorio was saying, “I need to meet her. I need to see what kind of woman you’re bringing into the family.”
“That’s not necessary,” Rome said, his voice just as firm. “I think you know you can trust me.”
“You, I can trust. It’s her that I’m worried about. Rome, I know you’re a man who makes his own decisions but just humor an old man. Before you walk down the aisle bring her to Italy. Let me see the woman who’s so mesmerized my son he can’t think straight.”
“Fine. If that’s what it will take to get you off my back, then you got it.” Rome gave a snort. “But you’re going to see you’re wrong. You’ll fall in love with Arie. Just watch.”
“That remains to be seen.” Vittorio’s voice was skeptical. “I just want to figure out if this Arie of yours has any more surprises up her sleeve.”
His tone made Rome realize there was no point in continuing the conversation. There was nothing he could say that would make his father change his mind. It was time to wrap this up before both of them got so riled up they ended up saying things they’d later regret.
“Listen, Dad. I’ve got to go. Time for my meeting.”
“All right, son. Let’s talk again tomorrow.”
The phone call ended on a civil note but several seconds after his father had hung up Rome just sat there, his forehead still furrowed in a frown. It was only when Iyana stuck her head in, this time with her face sporting a frown of her own, that he made any attempt to move.
Because, try as he might, he couldn’t shake the thought. What if there was some inkling of reason to what his father had said?
What if Arie held more secrets behind those brilliant blue eyes of hers?
CHAPTER THREE
“Isn’t this exciting? We’re going to get to see her.” Arie was grinning as she gazed over at Rome.
He gave her a quick glance and a slight smile. “I thought you saw her already.”
“I did, but she was only five months old then. Now she’s all of ten months old.” She sighed. “She’s such a big girl now. I can only imagine how much she’s changed.”
“Hmm.” That was Rome’s reply, a noncommittal response that had Arie tilting her head to get a better look at him.
She couldn’t put her finger on it but something was not quite right. As soon as she got the call that she could visit the baby she'd told him about it. He'd insisted on flying her there but since they'd set off he'd seemed preoccupied, even distant, and each time she’d started talking about the baby he’d either been nonresponsive or had changed the subject.
This was one of those non-responsive times.
It made it seem like he was totally uninterested in the conversation but she would try again. Maybe he had a lot on his mind. He might even be nervous about meeting Maya. That must be it. A case of nerves, plain and simple.
“Would you like to name the baby?” she asked, trying to draw him out.
“Hmm?” Rome almost sounded bored.
“Name her. Give her a middle name. I already gave her the name Maya so it would be nice if you chose her middle name.”
He shrugged. “Okay.”
Arie looked at him askance. “Okay? Is that all you have to say?”
He glanced at her. “What? You want the middle name right now?”
“Well, no, but you could at least sound interested. It’s like I’m nagging you or something.”
“Your words, not mine.”
“So I’m nagging you? Talking about little Maya is nagging?” She gave him the full focus of her glare. “Come, be honest with me. Are you sure you’re up to this adoption? Because, if not, nobody’s holding a gun to your head. You can always back out.”
He threw her a frosty glance. “Don’t even go there.”
“But I have to. You’ve been acting so weird, I don’t know what to think. I…” She lifted her hand, almost in a pleading gesture, then she dropped it back onto her lap. “I’m sorry, Rome. I didn’t mean to upset you. It’s just that you’ve been so cool lately, I don’t know what to think.”
She glanced over at him, expecting him to defend himself, but he said nothing. She saw when he drew in a breath then let it out. She saw his brows knit as if in deep concentration but still, he said nothing.
Finally, despite the fear that gripped her heart, she decided to ask the questions that would determine the course of the rest of her life. She swallowed. “Rome,” she said, her voice low and tight, “do you want out? Are you having second thoughts? Do you want to call off the wedding?”
It was that question that finally got a rise out of him.
She saw when he gripped the armrest between them and his jaw clenched. “Arie,” he said, his voice hard as flint, “don’t ever ask me a question like that again. That’s bull and you know it.”
“But I have to know,” she threw back at him. “I need to know how you feel. You’re not talking. And in the last couple of days you’ve been so weird.”
Rome glanced at Arie then away again but in that quick second she could see the depth of emotion in his eyes. When he spoke his voice was low and firm. “No matter what, Arie, always know this. I love you and there is nothing that will make me walk away from you.”
And those words were so simply spoken, but with such conviction, that she could no longer doubt that they were true.
Her lips softened in a tremulous smile and she reached out to lay a hand on Rome’s shoulder. “And I love you,” she said softly. “I love you so much.”
He looked at her again and this time, to her relief, he was smiling. “I have the perfect name for our little girl.”
Arie’s eyes widened. “You do? But I just asked you about it. You haven’t had much time to think.”
He shook his head. “I don’t need to. I want to name her after a very special lady in my life.”
“Oh? Who?”
“My grandmother, my nonna. Her name is Agnesia Ismirelda Belaflore Milano.
Arie looked at him askance. “And you want to name Maya…which one?”
Please, God, don’t let him say Agnesia. The fact was, Arie didn’t like any of the names, but how could she tell Rome that, after she’d jumped on him for not seeming enthusiastic about giving Maya a name?
“Agnesia,” he said and gave her a proud grin.
Arie almost fell back in her seat. Never gonna happen. There was no way she was going to name her daughter Agnesia. How could she break it to him? She sucked in her breath. She would just have to be brutal. It was the best way. “Rome,” she said with a shake of her head, “I’m sorry but I’m going to have to go back on my word. You are not naming our baby Agnesia.”
Instead of the protest she’d expected Rome burst out laughing. “Got you, didn’t I? Come on, Arie. Give me some credit. I wouldn’t be so sadistic as to saddle a twenty-first century kid with a name like Agnesia.”
That made Arie sink into her seat in relief. “Whew! Thank goodness you were only kidding.” Then she punched him on the leg. “And don’t do that again.”
He chuckled. “Oh, come on, honey. A guy can have some fun.” Then as he sobered he said, “But I do want to use one of those names.”
Arie’s grin disappeared. “You do?” It was going to be Ismirelda. She just knew it.
“I’d like to name her Bella. You know, from Belaflore.” He gave her a gentle smile. “I know she’s going to be bella, just like her mommy.”
That made Arie’s heart melt. “Aaw, that’s so sweet.” She leaned over to touch her lips to Rome’s cheek. “Thanks, honey.”
The mood lightened, for the rest of the journey Rome and Arie exchanged light banter, with Arie teasing him about diaper-changing duty and Rome throwing it right back at her. On the outside she was laughing and gay but inside she was nervous as heck. Soon she would have Maya in her arms and she didn’t know what to expect.
What if the baby didn’t like her? What if she cried? What if she refused to even come to her? And, even worse, what if the baby sensed that she knew next to nothing about being a mother?
She glanced at the man sitting beside her. And what about Rome? What did he know about being a father? And then the thought made her smile. Rome would make a wonderful father. She just knew it. She could imagine him holding Maya to his chest, rocking her to sleep, humming soft lullabies as she drifted off into slumber.
Surprisingly, it was that thought that finally put her at ease and for the rest of the journey she was her normal self. With Rome by her side she was sure everything would work out just fine.
And it did. When they finally arrived and Arie walked into the reception lounge of the orphanage Rome was holding her hand, and when the associate escorted them down the hallway to the nursery he was with her every step of the way.
But when they walked in and she saw the nurse holding Maya all dressed in pink, Arie slipped her hand from his, her heart thumping, an involuntary smile on her lips. She was finally seeing her baby again.
And she was beautiful.
Little Maya Bella soon-to-be Milano, all pink-faced and chubby with black curls peeping out from under her bonnet, was smiling and bouncing in the nurse’s arms and when she saw Arie approaching she showed no fear, only curiosity. Instead of turning away or crying at the approach of her visitor she bounced even harder, almost jumping out of the nurse’s arms. She was like no other ten-month-old Arie had ever seen. By this age most babies had developed a healthy fear of new faces, but not this one. Maya Bella was all smiles.
“My baby,” Arie whispered as she crept closer. “My pretty little baby.” There were tears in her eyes as she reached for her and her heart breathed a soft sigh of relief when the baby released her grip on the nurse’s neck and leaned over to fall into her outstretched arms.
And it felt so good.
It was the most wonderful feeling in the world to have Maya in her arms, to feel the soft cheeks pressed against hers and the tiny hands patting her face, exploring her eyes then the bridge of her nose then her lips. Maya was no longer a memory she’d clung to in the stillness of the night. She was real.
Arie lowered her face to plant a gentle kiss on top of the little girl’s head and as she did she was rewarded with the softly sweet fragrance of baby. Her smile widening, she turned with the baby in her arms and looked over at Rome who still hovered in the shadow of the associate. “Do you want to hold her?” she asked.
Rome looked curious and made to step forward but then he hesitated. “Do you think that’s a good idea? I might scare her.”
The nurse shook her head and gave him a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry,” she said. "She’s one of the most outgoing babies I know. Give it a try. Let’s see how she responds.”
She waved him over and he took a tentative step, his eyes never leaving the rosy-cheeked tot in Arie’s arms. When he saw that he hadn’t caused an explosion of tears he took another step and then he was right next to them, his face now soft and gentle, his eyes so full of wonder that Arie could not help but feel touched by the effect the baby was having on him.
“Here,” she said. “You can hold her.”
He began to shake his head but then the baby made all objections null and void. Taking the decision out of his hands she leaned over, fat little arms outstretched, leaving him with no alternative but to gather her into his arms.
And then he was snuggling her close to him, his eyes closed, looking for all the world like he’d found his heaven.
And that was when Arie knew it was going to be all right. Everything would work out just fine.
Because, if the look she’d seen in Rome’s eyes was anything to go by, he was already falling in love. And Arie wasn’t jealous at all.
***
“Maya Bella Milano.” As the words rolled off his tongue, Rome nodded. “Sounds good.”
He was talking to himself but it really didn’t matter. He was in a great mood. And who wouldn’t be, after meeting a cutie pie like little Maya?
He’d been surprised – no, shocked – when the baby came to him without so much as a second of hesitation. There was not an ounce of shyness in that little one. Just the opposite. She was the one who seemed to be dictating all the moves, her bubbly personality shining through as she alternated between Arie’s arms and his, keeping up a constant flow of baby babble.
Not that he understood a word of it, but where he’d started out apprehensive about meeting the child, he’d ended up actually enjoying the time he’d spent with her. He’d thought it would take some time to get used to her – it wasn’t like he was around babies all the time – but with Maya it almost felt like he’d known her all her little life.
It was weird but he’d had an immediate connection with her and when it was time to leave he almost couldn’t tear himself away.
And neither could Arie. She’d shed tears when it was time to go. “So when can I take her home?” she’d asked as she rocked Maya in her arms.
“It will be soon,” the agent said with a smile. “We have to move cautiously with this little one. We’ve already met with one hiccup in her processing and we want to make sure everything is clear before we move forward. You understand, don’t you?”
“Yes, I understand. We have to do what’s best for Maya.” But even as she nodded Arie was staring at the baby with eyes full of longing. “But how soon can I have her? Please make it soon.”<
br />
That got her a gentle laugh. “I know you’re anxious but give it some more time. Just a few more months. Promise.”
“Months.” Arie said the word like it was a lament.
That was when Rome stepped in. “The timing is reasonable, Arie. The agency needs to do its job. And besides,” he put an arm around her shoulder, “it will give you time to get yourself one hundred percent ready for the baby.”
Arie looked up at him, seeming to give his words some thought, and then she sighed. “I guess you’re right. I want to make sure everything’s perfect for Maya.”
And that was how he finally got to pry her away from the prize in her arms.
It was a pensive Arie who traveled back to New Orleans with him next day but when he took her home to Bayou House she gave him a brave smile. “I’ll be counting the days,” she said, “but at least I’ll be counting them with you.”
She couldn’t have known it but those words made him feel good. She was beginning to rely on him, drawing strength from his presence in her life, and that was exactly what he wanted. He would be there for Arie no matter what, and it seemed she was finally beginning to accept that. And he was glad.
When he drove out of the driveway Rome made the quick decision to swing by his office. It was almost five o’clock, pretty much the end of the workday, but he had a few loose ends to tie up and it wouldn’t hurt to get them out of the way so he could start fresh in the morning. He should be exhausted but instead he was feeling restless. He might as well burn up some of that extra energy clearing his desk.
By the time he navigated traffic and pulled up in front of the Belitalia office five o’clock was long gone. With the mood he was in, he didn’t mind at all.
Instead of taking the elevator he bounded up the stairs to the third floor then headed for the executive suite. When he saw Iyana standing in front of his office door he pulled up short. “Hey, you’re still here? I thought you’d be long gone.”
