Page 73 of La Dolce Vita

"I said she loves you…"

"How the fuck did you know she's in Texas? You told me you didn't know where she went?" he asked.

Marietta bit down on her bottom lip. She looked unsure of her next choice of words so she didn't speak.

"You knew all along? Didn't you?"

"We have a friend. Someone who came up the way we did. But she didn't like living the hard street life. She wanted to save the world. She moved from Chicago to Texas. She opened a girls home. When Shae left you she called me for her information. She said she needed help. She thought Sharlene could help her."

"And you didn't tell me? You had me wasting weeks running around Vegas and Reno? You fucking knew?"

Marietta took a step back. "She didn't want you to know. I figured you'd give up in Reno and come home."

"It wasn't your fucking decision!" he shouted at her.

"Shae put your happiness over hers. Because all she’s ever known in her life is misery. She wanted to fix herself, first. I respect that.”

"No. You fed her insecurities, you helped her run from me. Not for respect. Because you're a meddling bitch that's jealous of her!"

"Fuck you!" Marietta gasped.

Carlo advanced on her. He opened his mouth to speak, and Marietta winced. She suffered an odd sensation beneath her navel. It felt as if something fluttered. Her hand went there, and she looked down in shock.

"What's wrong?" Carlo asked and his anger switched off immediately. "The baby?"

"Shhh!" she said.

Marietta closed her eyes. She held her breath, and she waited. Maybe she didn't feel it; maybe it was her imagination.

"What is it?" he asked.

"I think... wait... I think... yes... yes... it's the baby."

"What?" .

She grabbed Carlo's hand and put it to her stomach. After a few seconds, she felt the little one inside of her kick.

"Madonna!"Carlo exclaimed.

The baby kicked again.

"Is that... the little one?" he asked.

She laughed.

"Yeah! Feel her? Do you?" she asked.

He nodded that he did. "Make it do it again?"

"It's the first time she kicked. The very first time."

"She? Lorenzo says it's a boy?" Carlo asked.

"I'm the mother, and I know what I'm having. It's a girl."

"Make her do it again," Carlo smiled. He went to his knees. He held her hips and pressed the side of his face to her belly. She knew it was inappropriate, but inside her heart, she knew he needed that connection. Part of her knew he was right. She told Shae to run from him, encouraged her, because deep inside she was jealous. And that made her a cruel bitch. She stroked the top of Carlo's head. They fell silent and waited. Then her baby kicked a little hello for him. And it was stronger this time. Her child sent a warning to them both to break up the intimacy.

Carlo chuckled. He kissed Marietta's belly and laughed. His gaze lifted to hers.

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