Page 62 of Deadly Don's Baby Contract

"Fine with me," I say, looking at Franco.

"Yeah. I think it would be great if our boys' godmother was there to witness them coming into the world." He looks at her.

It takes her a moment to catch up.

"What!?" She looks caught off guard, and her eyes fill with tears. "You want me to ..."

"Yes." Franco and I say in unison.

"If you want to?" I ask.

"Yes, sis. Only if you want to. We know that it's a tremendous..."

"Yes. Of course. I'd love to." She says, turning to dab the tears away. She turns back and hugs Franco and then me.

Dr. Lowenstein and the nurses return with a couple of orderlies, and they wheel me away with Giulia and Franco in tow.

***

Franco and I are each holding a baby. He's completely besotted, and so am I.

"We haven't even decided on names," he says.

"We've got time, but I was thinking that you could name one, and I'd name one," I offer.

"I'd like to name one of them after my father... and my brother...if that's ok?" he stutters.

"After Marco?" I say thrown.

"He's my big brother, and I'd like to mend fences, but only if you're okay with that," he says.

"I'm ok with it. In fact, I think that's a wonderful idea."

His smile is all the thanks I need.

"And that little one?" he says, inclining his head toward the bundle sucking his fist in my arms.

"I'd like to name him after the man who gave me a real life. The man I want to grow old alongside." His eyes fill with tears, and he doesn't bother to blink them away.

The Wedding

Aria

Tuscany

I stand and take in my reflection in the full-length mirror in the preparation room of the church. Giulia is running around, making sure that everything is running according to schedule. Guests have flown in from around the world to attend the wedding. Our parents are sitting up front enamored with their grandchildren and with the past forgotten.

That's the magic of love and children. They promise new beginnings and new roads. Surprisingly, the old men are each more enchanted with the other's namesake than their own. Convinced we need to switch the boys' names.

Franco's nonna Louisa made the trip all the way from Sicily just to be here, and everyone fell over themselves to keep the family matriarch happy.

The smell of fresh-cut grass and rain fills the church as the guests file in and make their way to their places. I haven't seen my husband in 24 hours, and I already ache for him. The lavender bushes outside have filled the air in and around us with their sweet scent.

I look at myself again, and a wonderful calm and joy overtake me.

Even though I know it's silly, I still worry that he'll change his mind and run away or something bad will happen. "Why is it so hard to trust happiness? To just be present and enjoy what is?"

Giulia comes in dressed in the classic cut, flowing azure blue maid of honor dress she had made in Paris.

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