Page 84 of The Nanny and the Mafia Don
I tilt my head to look at him and smile. “I’d tell you I love children.”
“Good, because I want to fill our house with kids. Our kids. Emmanuel has always wanted brothers and sisters.” His hand comes to rest on my stomach. “As long as you’re open to it.”
I think about it. About having a baby with Basili, imagining a child with his dark eyes. A brother for Emmanuel. About building the family I was never allowed to have.
“I’d like that,” I tell him. “I want all of that. With you.”
“Hmmmm. We should probably practice then.” He kisses me, deep and thorough. “You know, practice makes perfect.”
And that’s exactly how we spent the rest of our honeymoon. Practicing.
We returned home two days later, sun-kissed and blissfully exhausted. The helicopter touches down on the rooftop, just as Emmanuel appears in his bedroom window, excitement written across his face
By the time we make it inside, he’s waiting at the top of the stairs to greet us.
“You’re back!” He signs, not running to Basili as I expect. Instead, he launches himself at me, wrapping his arms around my waist.
“Oh!” I squeak in surprise, glancing at Basili with an apologetic smile. Hugging him tightly. “I missed you, too, sweetheart.”
Stepping back, he sighs, “Did you have fun? Maria said honeymoons are supposed to be special.”
“We had tons of fun,” Basili tells him, grinning at me, a grin that makes me blush. “What did you do while we were gone?”
“Good!” He signs feverishly. “We made cookies. And I beat my high score on my new game! But I’m glad you’re home.”
Later that night, after dinner and stories and Emmanuel’s protests about bedtime, I find him still awake in his castle bed, a book open on his lap, but his eyes distant.
“Can’t sleep?” I ask from the doorway.
He shakes his head, setting the book down, sighing, “Chloe? You’re really staying, right? Forever?”
My heart squeezes. Even after everything, he still needs reassurance. Crossing the room, I sit on the edge of his bed, extending my hand to show him the karat solitaire that graces my ring finger.
“See this?” Moving my hand, letting the diamond catch the soft glow from the dragon’s nightlight. “This means I’m staying forever. Officially.”
“Promise?” He asks in a low voice.
“I promise. Forever and always.”
The End?
