Page 149 of Charity's Redemption

I knew the guys, but their families… I’d only seen them at Josh’s funeral, and even then, I wasn’t introduced to them.

“Max, I’ve got this casserole. Where do you want it?” A beautiful woman with long chestnut-colored hair hanging down her back in waves said as she balanced a glass baking dish in one hand and a baby in the other arm.

“Right here is fine,” Luca said, pointing to a space on the large table set up buffet style.

“Here, take her, would you?”

She leaned the baby towards Luca, who gave her an incredulous look, but plucked the baby from her arms.

“This little girl has kept me up all night, fussing and restless.” The woman stretched her back and groaned, then placed the casserole on the table.

“Caterina, I have things to do.”

She tossed her hands in the air. “It’s just for a moment, eh? You can handle that, I do it all day.”

Caterina, Gavino’s wife, stepped out of the dining room as I watched Luca hold this tiny baby in his muscular arms.

He stared down at her while the kitchen bustled with life, dishes clanking together, and the chef telling his helpers what to do next as though this were a four-course meal, and we were at a five-star restaurant.

“I never thought I’d see the day where a woman can boss you around, and so easily too.”

Luca smiled, keeping his gaze on the baby. “I’d do anything for my family, Charity. I thought you’d see that by now.”

I sauntered towards him, my fingertips brushing against his forearms, and saw what he saw. “She’s pretty, isn’t she?”

“She is.”

I pulled in air into my lungs and waited for the blow. “Did you ever want children?”

Luca ran his finger over her thick hair as she slept, sucking on a pacifier. “I’ve never thought about it.” He glanced up at me. “It's not even worth thinking about, right?”

He knew it wasn’t possible for me anymore. He paid for the surgery, and supported me through it in his own way.

“Right.” I hung my head. “But that doesn’t mean it’s not something you desire.”

“If it means having a family that you aren’t a part of, then no.” He bobbed his arm as the baby stirred. “I don’t want a family of my own if they aren’t a product of you.”

My heart broke in two, and for the first time in my life, I regretted my irreversible decision. “I’m sorry.”

Luca tapped his finger under my chin and lifted my gaze towards his. “There isn’t anything to be sorry about. We knew, and we supported you then, as we do now.”

A small smile crept on my face, then faltered as Max came over. “I didn’t even know Caterina had the baby, yet. Where have we been?”

He held his tattooed hands out towards Luca, who shuffled the sleeping child in his arms.

“I’m going to run a daycare, just so I can see this everyday.”

Max scoffed. “Hard pass.”

Luca ran his hands down his black pants. “I’ve got things to do.” He wrapped his hand around the nape of my neck and kissed my forehead. “Don’t think about it,amore. We’re happy where we are.”

He pulled back and dipped his head down to catch my downcast gaze. “Okay?”

I nodded, then followed Max outside and sat beside him across from my parents while the kids screamed on the swing-set.

“Do you want to hold her?” Max asked me and Nico spoke to my father about this new hacking group.

I hesitated.

---