Page 71 of A Seed Of Peril

“Yeah,” Dino said.

“Vincenzo Matteo Rosini.”

Their eyes fixated on me through this new, collective silence. I sensed their approval.

Dominic left his chair and walked over to me, placing his palm on my belly and leaning down toward me. I closed my eyes as he kissed my face.

“I like that.”

Vincenzo was a name of Italian origin and meant “to conquer.” Someone who was victorious. Matteo meant “gift of God.”

Our son was definitely a gift to our lives, just as Dominic was a gift to mine. I looked at my belly and smiled. Vincenzo needed me. I wasn’t going to fail him in my fight for this family, nor the fight to safely bring him into this world.

One foot forward. One day at a time.

Sunday, March 12, 2017

Having my family home,all together in celebration of this new life soon to come into the world, was truly a blessing.

They threw me an incredible baby shower. There were two cakes—one just for me and a larger for everyone else that came from our local bakery. The main cake was chocolate with baby blue frosting and had a tiny pair of white and baby blue colored shoes on top. Dominic allowed Bianca to head the party planning, and I thanked her for such a wonderful job.

She’d kept the party small with only me, Dominic, my brothers, and Katrina as guests. I made sure she understood how appreciative I was.

The food the guys cooked and prepared for the party was too much. Literally. We handed out leftovers to the staff and their families. It all gave way to a good nap when everything was said and done.

I finished applying my liquid foundation and switched to my powdered one, beginning to blend that onto my skin. And then, I added a touch of blush afterwards.

Staring at myself in the bathroom mirror, I wondered what Dominic was up to. As the baby shower wound down, he told me he had his own surprise for me that he wanted to personally hand deliver. He instructed me to meet him in the foyer in what was now ten minutes and to dress all fancy like we were going to some expensive and inclusive restaurant. With my makeup mostly put away, I picked up my tube of red lipstick, took off its cap, and contemplated wearing this color. I never could really pull off red lipstick, but it went with my dress.

I chose my maroon, contrast mesh V-neck with rouching at the waist. Reaching mid-thigh, it hugged and flattered me, the breathable fabric a plus. I was grateful for my ability to zip it up myself because I wanted this outfit to behissurprise.

I twisted the Flamenco red-labeled lipstick out of its tube and applied a light coating on my bottom lip to see if I liked it, quickly deciding on it. Rubbing my lips together, I dabbed tissue on them to blot away excess lipstick.

With my wet hair left to air dry, I fixed it again, threading my fingers through it and making sure it settled just right as I smiled seductively, like a woman up to mischief, but in reality, I was pleased with the hot, sexy mama staring back at me.

“Let’s do this,” I said to myself, my lips making a popping sound after once more rubbing them together. I turned off the bathroom light and headed out of our bedroom.

Catching sight of Vincenzo’s bedroom, I smiled at the handmade name plate hanging on the door. Dominic took the time to source its designer. On the letter V, a king’s crown dangled like it was hanging off its left side tip.

In his room were all his gifts—clothes, toys, furniture and a cherry wood toy box, along with some baby books and necessities like bath time accessories and diapers. Oh, the mountain of diapers. And wipes. My brothers pitched in and put together a gift basket full of toys for Vincenzo. Bianca was working on a baby quilt, but I wasn’t allowed to see it until it was finished.

Vincenzo moved and wriggled around, aggravating my already aching back, hips, and pelvis. I glanced down at my belly and rubbed my hand over it, telling him, “I love you kid, but you’re killing me today.” He kicked in response. I laughed as I walked the rest of the hall.

Entering the threshold of the foyer, I gasped.

So many red rose petals were on the floor, scattered far and wide, but it wasn’t too overwhelming. The lighting centered around the foyer, dimming the further out it shone. “Oh, my God,” I whispered, my hands fluttering up to my lips in a prayer-like gesture.

Moonlight Sonata played through our speakers. I walked around in awe, hanging out by the left staircase when I noticed Dominic stepping into the foyer. He took my breath away in his blood red suit with thin, black pinstripes, his hair slicked back. Holding a rose, he slowly took me in from head to toe, his heated gaze sweeping over my body like a caress.

“Wow,” he marveled seductively. My heart raced in anticipation as he walked toward me. The comforting scent of his cologne and click-clacking of his shoes tamed my butterflies. “You’re simply beautiful,amore mia.”

“So are you,” I admired, then cautiously asked, “What did I do?” I raised my brow.

Chuckling, Dominic handed me the rose. “Nothing. Happy birthday,Bellissima.” I held the rose, trimmed of its thorns, close to me as sweet nothings were whispered in my ear, all of it in Italian.

I turned my head toward him. “Where did you send everyone?”

He planted feather-light kisses under my ear. “Hotels.” His kisses trailed to my jaw.

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