Page 56 of Cayden

“The only reason, I am not berating you.” Tucking his fingers under her chin, he scanned her face. Tendrils of hairs had escaped the neat and tidy ponytail. Brushing the strands away, he leaned in to kiss her on the lips. “Trying to get the taste of my brother’s kiss off what’s mine.”

Her arms came around his neck and to his consternation, she buried her face in his neck and burst into tears.

“Baby.” Gathering her close, he rubbed his hands up and down her back.

“I am sorry,” she whispered.

“Don’t be.”

“I am just more than a little emotional.” Easing out of his arms, she stared at him. “I was so scared, Cayden. Before they started the procedure, I kept thinking that I was going to be faced with them telling me that I had lost my babies.

I had gotten so accustomed to losing – the miscarriages, the empty feeling had become so much a part of me that I had embraced it.”

He wiped her cheeks with his thumbs gently. “And now we have four babies – Caleb is still a little bit out of it, but he’s going to make it.”

Her lips trembled as she nodded. “I love you. I know you never approved of…”

He laid his finger on her lips and shook his head. “I have so much making up to do. I took you for granted and for the first month or so, I was an ass. I intend to make it right.” His eyes glowed as he continued to stare at her.

“You have given me so much and as long as I live, I will always be grateful to you.” He brushed his lips on hers. “You’re my life and I want you to know that.”

“The feeling is mutual.” She whispered tremulously.

*****

“Aren’t you even a bit tired?” Alberto asked his wife gently as she wandered around the girl’s room, touching this and rearranging that. “I thought I would find you up here.”

She lifted shining eyes to him as she cradled a very large and fluffy pink bear. “I always wanted a daughter.”

“I know.” Moving forward, he came up behind her and wrapped his hands around her waist. “You wanted to continue trying for one, until the doctor warned you that having another child would prove to be detrimental to your health and most certainly fatal.”

He kissed the top of her head. They had arrived home and opened a bottle of Caruso Expression and toasted the birth of the babies. The staff had been waiting to hear the news and had broken into wild hoops of relief and delight.

“Now, we have two granddaughters.” Her eyes moistened as she looked around the room. “I was so against the marriage at first and even after. I did not think she was good enough for our son.”

“She has proven herself to be the perfect one for him.”

“She has made him so happy. I never thought I would see the day when Cayden would settle down.”

Stepping from behind her, he took the bear she was giving a death hug and put it back where it belonged. The room was large and befitting a princess. Or two princesses for that matter. The next generation of Caruso’s, he thought whimsically.

“The house will be filled with the sounds of little feet running around and chaos is going to rein.” His gray eyes twinkled as he turned to look at her. “My dear, are you prepared for it?”

Marianne laughed, sliding her hand through his arm as they both stared at the two cots. “More than prepared. I am looking forward to the chaos. I can not wait to hold them in my arms, read them bedtime stories.” Her expression sobered. “We are going to have to start interviewing nannies.

Appropriate ones. I know Blair will want to be hands-on when it comes to the children, but she will need help. Four babies!” She let out a shaky laugh and leaned against him. “They are going to be spoiled rotten.”

He rubbed his cheek against her hair. “We still have little Caleb to think about.” He reminded her.

“He is going to be simply fine. I predict that little boy is going to race past his more healthy siblings.”

Chapter 14

Alberto had called it. Chaos reigned in the usually staid and proper Caruso household. Blair and the babies were discharged after several thorough examinations after a week. She was still sore after the surgery and C-section but had recovered very quickly.

Her husband had not left her side, taking the week off and spending it there with her even despite her protests.

“I can work from here, can’t I?” He had brushed away the argument with that mild rejoinder. “This is where I should be.”

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