Page 116 of Married With Malice

“Sadie’s in labor?” Anni is already beside herself with excitement.

I take her hand. “Let’s get ready to meet our little niece or nephew.”

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ANNALISA

Her name is Margaret Brianna Connelly.

Margaret is Peggy’s full name. Brianna was selected to honor Cale and Luca’s father, Brian. She’s a seven pound, three ounce miracle born with wisps of her mother’s bright red hair and she’s captured her Daddy’s heart before she takes her first breath.

Cale is so busy being awestruck by his tiny, swaddled daughter that he doesn’t even notice when we walk into the room. She was born just after eleven p.m. last night and we were only allowed to peek in on her for a few minutes before a nurse chased us out and told us to come back in the morning.

We’re back and we’ve brought Peggy with us. Cale sits in a chair with the baby in his arms. Sadie, looking exhausted but luminous, waves from the bed.

“Oh, my precious girl,” Peggy says and to everyone’s shock, she’s sobbing as she runs to Sadie’s side.

Cale finally looks up and even though there are tired shadows under his eyes, there’s so much wholesome pride in his face it would be impossible to guess his former ruthless reputation.

We stopped by the gift shop to buy balloons and a pink teddy bear. There’s already an overflow of gifts taking up space on a narrow countertop and I fit in our offerings as best I can while Peggy hugs and kisses Sadie and examines her for damage.

“Haven’t you eaten anything today?” She roots around in a giant quilted tote and pulls out a pair of wrapped banana bread loaves that we baked first thing in the morning.

“First, meet your namesake,” Sadie insists and signals to Cale to bring the baby closer.

Baby Margaret yawns and opens her eyes. Right now her eyes are blue but I wonder if they will turn green like the eyes of her father. And her uncle.

Peggy needs to be persuaded to hold the baby. She tries to sniff away her emotional tears as she stares down into the face of Sadie and Cale’s daughter so we do her a favor and just pretend not to notice.

Luca gives his brother’s back a pat of affection and hands him a small duffel bag with a change of clothes. Sadie and Margaret will be here for another night and there’s no way Cale is going to leave his wife and baby girl for a second. We can take care of the ranch.

Gus stops by to fuss over the baby and deliver a wardrobe of tiny Halloween costumes. She’s not there for long before receiving a call about a Labrador that swallowed a salt shaker and needs emergency surgery.

I’ve already held the baby twice and Luca is the only one in the room who hasn’t held her at all. Sadie points this out and demands an immediate remedy.

“Go on, Uncle Luca.” I nudge his shoulder.

Cale vacates his chair and pretty much shoves Luca into it. He gently takes tiny Margaret from her mother’s arms and carefully hands her over.

The sight of Luca holding a newborn baby jolts my ovaries awake. They are now ready to party. I snap a photo with my phone.

Cale backs away to watch his brother meet his daughter. He ends up leaning against the wall beside me. Over on the bed, Peggy is feeding slices of banana bread to Sadie and then fluffing the pillows.

I inch closer to Cale and we watch Luca bond with his niece. She flexes a tiny hand and when she grips his finger he smiles.

Cale notices my proximity and gestures to his brother. “Know what? The only other baby I’ve ever held was him.”

He’s not a man who parts with his emotions easily. But I can hear the sentiment in his voice and detect his look of distress.

Cale is fiercely devoted to the little brother he’s spent his life protecting. And he blames himself for the predicament Luca is now in.

This is something I understand all too well, an unshakeable sense of responsibility for a beloved sibling you would gladly sacrifice your future for.

I keep my volume low to ensure we’re the only two people in this room who can hear. “I’ll help him, Cale. I won’t give up until he’s out of this mess. I promise.”

He doesn’t move, doesn’t even nod. I’m sure he thinks my promise is a futile one but I believe that together, Luca and I will find a way.

Margaret falls asleep in Luca’s arms. Sadie and Cale look as if they could use some serious rest as well. Peggy comes to this conclusion first and announces that the time has come for us to leave. She tracks down a hospital nurse and demands a portable cot for Cale. No one dares to argue with Peggy.

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