scared out of his mind that I hated him and would soon grow to resent him. At one point, he even thought I might abort the baby and leave him to get back together with the ex-boyfriend he’d had to run off in the very beginning.”
My eyebrows went up. “He didn’t mind about the baby?”
“Quite the opposite. He was thrilled to become a father. Of course, we’d planned to start a family after marrying, but he never balked when it happened much sooner than we’d anticipated. He was just worried that it would prevent me from living the life I wanted to live. Or the life he thought I wanted to live.”
“And have you lived the one you wanted?”
Her face took on a dreamy quality. “Far beyond anything I could have hoped for. When you’re young, you talk about all these grand adventures you want to have and you make all these fantastical plans. But in the end, it’s all about being with the person you can’t imagine living the next day without. As you get older, you realize how little value so many of the things you once prized really have.
“When I’ve wanted to travel, Enzo and I have traveled. When I’ve needed an adventure, he’s always managed to surprise me. I’ve never felt tied down or trapped. At the end of the day, all I’ve ever needed is his love. And when I found out I was pregnant with Nico, I just realized the baby was an extension of our love. I was never scared after that.”
I felt my face crumple. “That’s the problem. I don’t know that Nico loves me. And I don’t know that I can be happy the rest of my life thinking that he only stayed because it was ‘the right thing to do.’ I want my child to feel loved, not a burden of obligation.”
She reached over and placed her hand on top of mine. “Give him a chance, Lexi. I’ve sensed something in him ever since you arrived. You’ve changed him. He’s been growing into a better man because of you. We all see it. And I never thought I would live long enough to see Nico lose his mind over a woman.”
Could she be right? Had I carved my name into his heart, as he had with mine?
Something was between us.
But was it something that could stand the test of time—and the test of children, for the matter? Was it strong enough to last?
“Even if he reacts poorly to this news, as so many of them do because men are morons,” she continued, huffing, “don’t give up on him. God save him, he’s like a babe in the woods when it comes to nurturing an actual relationship. Of all my children, Nico was the least prepared for marriage, and then he got thrust into it headfirst. He’d never even been a boyfriend before he met you. And you may not agree, but I think he’s done remarkably well with it. Much better than I’d predicted. Why not see if this can’t turn into the real thing?”
I was already blaming the pregnancy hormones for making me tear up again. I’d wanted to turn this into the real thing long before I’d learned of the pregnancy. And I needed to know if Nico felt the same way before I told him about the baby.
“Why have you never told anyone that story about the surprise pregnancy?”
Val’s expression turned sheepish. “Truthfully? Because in the grand scheme of things, it was just a detail. Enzo and I knew we were going to be together for the rest of our lives before I got pregnant, so the timeline ultimately became insignificant. And we never wanted our children to ever doubt how much their parents love each other. If each of them finds a love like ours, that’ll be enough for me.”
I bumped her shoulder with mine. “You’re just saying all of this because you’re desperate to become a grandmother.”
She burst into laughter. “I cannot deny that. I’ve had baby fever for the last ten years.” Her face sobered. “But I’m more concerned about my son’s happiness. And yours. I would love to have you as a permanent daughter-in-law.”
Der’mo. Shit. More tears.
“You’ve really got to stop saying such nice things,” I blustered, blowing my nose into the rumpled tissue.
She squeezed my shoulder. “Ah, cara. That is only the beginning. So many more emotions to come, I assure you. But no matter what comes next, I promise you that