Page 7 of Family Matters

“Yes, I have nine, including Liam.” Brian smiled softly as the two of them stepped into the dining-room “Well, probably way more than that. I'm a father, uncle, big brother, or friend to many.” He turned to the woman, who, with a friendly smile on her face, waved to those gathered around the table. “I'm not sure what Margaret told you but if it is what I think it is it's not true. Liam is happy and you are welcome to come see him anytime you want.”

Imogene gasped as she toured the table, hugging everyone. “Of course Liam is happy with you! Why would I believe he's not? Well, Marge is his mother, and mothers see things in a different light. She is worried, because her son grew up in a safe environment. I'm just the aunt who spoils him rotten.” The woman flashed her teeth in a small grin.

Suddenly, Martino clutched one hand on his stomach, his face contorted in pain. “I’m sick.” He was barely able to articulate. “And my stomach hurts.”

“I’m driving you to the clinic.” Liam left his place and went behind the redhead’s chair, rubbing his back. “Everything is going to be alright.”

“We are going with you.” Gabriele and Nicola flanked Martino and helped him stand. “Can you walk? If not, we’ll carry you to the car.”

Luca, who by then watched the scene incapable to react in any way, inhaled sharply, tightly pressing his lips together. “I’ll go with you and call Donna Lucrezia on the way to the clinic.” He spoke in a raspy voice as he left the chair. “You are driving.” The man gave the keys of his car to Gabriele, who took it without a word.

Imogene’s soft hand on his shoulder made Brian shrug off the numbness that took over him when he saw Martino’s pale face and his hand convulsively clenching over his swollen belly. Don Giovanni’s specter also appeared in the corner of the room, staring at the librarian, who felt the worry radiating from his direction like little arrows sticking into his flesh.

Like always, Bart sensed Brian’s distress; giving him a kiss on his cheek, he assured his husband everything will be fine and told him to go to the clinic. Martino needed him more than ever, the young man needed the physical presence and words of encouragement of the one who was like a father to him over the past two and a half years.

Imogene offered Bart and the children another warm, affectionate smile, then followed Brian to his car and, without a word, got into the passenger’s seat. The librarian acknowledged her with a nod, grateful that she was accompanying him. The small talk the two of them would engage in on the way to the clinic would serve as a good distraction from his worries and concerns.

For a few minutes, silence overtook the inside of the car, but, just when it started to become uncomfortable, Brian cleared his throat and started to tell Imogene about the humiliation and mistreatment Liam endured from his mother and her family. The sooner, the better, he said to himself, feeling a pang in his chest at the thought of the pain his words were causing the woman next to him.

As Brian’s story progressed, Imogene’s expression changed from disbelief to shock, then to a mix of anger and disappointment. She knew that her asshole brother-in-law didn’t love Liam at all, and neither did the two brats he fathered, but didn’t expect her sister Margaret to treat her firstborn in such a cold, heartless manner.

Imogene knew Brian very well; he was intelligent, generous, caring, compassionate, incapable of lying or committing other acts of dishonesty. She doubted he changed for the worse in the almost twenty years passed since they graduated, and had no reason not to believe his words. Knowing Liam like she did, Imogene suspected what he told his father was only the tip of the iceberg.

Brian’s voice telling her they reached the destination brought Imogene back to reality, and she climbed down the car, following the man into the clinic. The lady at the reception recognized Brian, and, after informing him Martino was sent straight to the delivery room, she pointed to one of the private waiting areas.

The black-haired man with beautiful, gray eyes, whose name, Imogene found out, was Luca, greeted the two, throwing himself in Brian’s arms and clinging to his coat, while Liam hugged his aunt tightly. The librarian ran his fingers through the hair of the man in his arms, whispering comforting words in his ear.

Imogene looked around the room, and noticed it was full; quite a few young men around Liam’s age and a couple of teenage boys joined her nephew and the other two who brought the redhead to the clinic. One or two were standing, because all the chairs were taken, all of them talking in low, worried voices.

A curly-haired, blond youth raised his head and, when he saw Imogene, stood, offering her his seat with a bright smile. Her first impulse was to refuse, but, for some reason, she sensed that not accepting it would bring sadness in those sky-blue, peaceful eyes. With a bright smile on his face, the blond headed to where Brian, surrounded by Liam, Luca, and the two who accompanied the redhead at the clinic stood.

Imogene looked in that direction and noticed that Luca, the pregnant youth’s life partner, was less stressed and more confident since the father of her nephew took him in his arms.He had the same calming effect on people back when we were in high school, she found herself thinking, a weak smile on her lips.

Taking a walk down the memory lane, Imogene remembered when she had a huge crush on Brian, and was about to confess it to him. Life, however, had other plans foreach of them, and now, looking at Brian in the middle of those young men and teen boys, soothing them, giving them strength and hope. She was more than happy with how things turned out.

“To the lucky father, congratulations, your baby was born about a minute ago.” The voice of a nurse made everyone, Imogene included, turn around. “He is a healthy, tiny, cute little boy.” The woman continued, trying to keep a professional tone.

“Congratulations, papa.” Liam patted Luca on the shoulder, grinning. “The juice, iced tea, and sodas are on you, right? Better be, because you have a lot of thirsty men to keep hydrated.”

The young man’s words were met with cheers by the others. Brian patiently waited for them to finish expressing their joy and excitement, then, putting his hands on Luca’s arms, looked him in the eyes. “I’m happy for you, I can’t tell you how much. You already demonstrated you are the husband Martino needs, and I’m absolutely sure you’ll be the most loving father for your baby boy and for the children who will come.”

Luca brought Brian’s hands to his lips. “Grazie.”

It was only one word, but it has all the man’s gratitude and love in it.

CHAPTER 6

“Your firstborn is hard-working, intelligent, and with an iron will.” After a few seconds of silence, Luca continued in a slightly amused voice. “He may win against me one day.”

“Thank you, he really is all those things.” Brian’s eyes were shining with paternal affection. “And you are the best fighter I ever know, if he beats you one day. I know he'll be alright.” The man cast a mischievous look in the other one’s direction. “Don't worry you can still beat me, big brother.”

Luca blushed a deep shade of pink. “Go…” he mumbled in Sicilian, but the smirk on the librarian’s face made him swallow hard and let the sentence go unfinished.

Brian chuckled “Oh we will, later. As my dear Bart always reminds us, that is teamwork.”

“Is that a promise...Sir?” Luca lowered his head, so the librarian couldn’t see the lust and need simmering in them.

“Mmm hmm.” Brian hummed. “That's if a certain someone doesn't kick my ass too hard.” He continued on a half-playful, half-warning tone.

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