Page 25 of Remember That Time

I grinned and pressed my head to her thin shoulder, hugging her arm. "Thanks,Nonna."

She was the best.

Henry had plated the pastries. He brought that and a carafe of orange juice and several glasses into the living room, setting them on the table. "Eat quickly before the kids discover them."

I poured myself a small glass of juice, tried to find the plainest pastry I could, and then sat back on the couch. I really wasn't feeling it so I set everything on the small end table and just sat and watched the others eat.

It was kind of nice being here with my family. Between our work schedules, our social schedules, and distance, we didn't really get to spend all that much time together anymore.

I missed it.

"Whenever you're ready,Niptino."

Damn.

I cleared my throat loudly as I stood, gaining everyone's attention. "So, I have an announcement to make. I hope you'll think it's a happy announcement. I do." I pressed my hand to my abdomen, swallowing tightly before saying, "I'm pregnant."

The silence that followed my statement made my stomach swirl.

"You're pregnant, son?" my mother finally asked.

I nodded. "About three months."

"Who is the father?" she asked.

I knew that question was coming.

"Where is the father?" Frank snapped as he jumped to his feet. His hands clenched into fists. "Why isn't he here to give us this news along with you?"

"Francesco, lower your tone," my father ordered. "There is no call for shouting at your brother."

Frank flushed and instantly sat down. "Sorry."

This was the question I didn't want to answer, but I knew I had to say something. "I'm not ready to discuss the father yet." Maybe never. "I will be a single father for now."

My mother's gaze softened, but there was a twinge of sadness in her eyes. "Is this what you want, Gianni?"

I smiled for real as I glanced down at my slightly rounded stomach. The baby bump was barely visible. "I thought about it a lot after I found out I was pregnant." The smile was still on my face when I looked up at her. "This is what I want, Mama."

I was scared to death, but I wanted this baby.

That was the only truth I had to hold onto at the moment. Maybe one day I'd figure out who my baby's father was and we could take things from there, but that day was not today.

"Are you planning on dropping out of school?" my father asked.

"I'm going to take a year off," I admitted. "I figure that is long enough to have this kid and get used to being a parent."

I didn't understand the laughter.

"I assume you still want to live in the city?" Father continued. "You are more than welcome to live at home, you know."

"I actually haven't decided that part. I'm still getting used to the whole being pregnant thing."

"Why don't you stay at home until you decide what you want to do?"

I nodded. "That would probably be for the best."

Once I took that year off from medical school, I couldn't stay in the apartment I shared with Tony. I'd have to move somewhere else. Home with my family seemed like a good place to start thinking about the rest of my life.

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