Page 85 of Nobody's Girl

Sofia looked at him. “Could we go find some details on available properties?  I really do love this area.”

“Of course.”

They strolled hand-in-hand, finding some realtors.  At a small café, black coffee in front of them, Ivo smoked a rare cigar whilst Sofia looked through the details. She made a face. “Some are okay – at least in the pictures, but nothing is standing out.”

“We’ll find more, baby.”

Sofia pushed the papers away and took up her cup. “How much of your childhood did you spend here?”

“Quite a long time.  I was born here, and Mom would insist on me spending holidays here.  I always felt more Italian than American, you know?”

Sofia nodded. “I know, and I’d like the kids to feel that too. Not that they’re American, little French brats.”

Ivo grinned and leaned over, putting his hand on her belly. “And maybe we’ll have the next one here.”

Sofia smiled. “With any luck, she’ll have been conceived here this very week.”

“She?”

“I feel it in my bones we’re going to have a girl next, but I don’t mind ether way.” She chewed her lip. “Maybe I should get a couple of pregnancy tests.”

Ivo stroked her hair. “You know, we have all the time in the world.”

“I know, but I just feel like we may have made a baby.”

“Do you have nausea, or any signs?” Ivo was surprised and Sofia grinned ruefully.

“Maybe it is just wishful thinking.”

Ivo kissed her. “We could get the tests, but don’t get down if they’re negative.”

Sofia leaned her forehead against his. “I won’t, I promise.  Besides, the amount of fucking we’ve done this week, how could I not be?”

Ivo chuckled. “It’s certainly been a marathon. You’ve exhausted this old man.”

“Oh, ha ha.”

Later, on the car ride home, Ivo took her hand and brought it to his lips. “I love you, Sofia Amory Zacca.”

She placed her palm against his cheek. “As I love you, Mr. Zacca, and when we get home, I’m going show you how much.”

Ivo chuckled and there was merriment in his eyes that she didn’t quite understand. “What are you up to?”

He opened his green eyes wide. “What do you mean>”

“You have mischief written all over your face.”

“No idea what you mean.”

It was only when she stepped into their villa and she was assaulted by a cacophony of cheering and sound that she understood.  He had been planning a surprise party all alone, and now her entire family was there, their friends, and of course, their sons, who came running up to her, throwing themselves on their mother. “Mama, Mama!”

Close to tears, she scooped them up into her arms, showering them with kisses, while her eyes shined at her husband. “You had this planned all this time?”

“Like a military operation,” Ivo grinned, taking the twins from her so she could hug Peony who stood shyly by waiting. Peony’s mother, Clemence was next, then Desiree, and Walter, Ivo’s movie star father kissed her cheeks and smiled at her. Penn and their friends from Venice, Elli and Indio Navaro, Maceo and Ori Bartoli had come as well as more of their Parisian friends.  When Sofia saw Jonas, she did burst into tears and the step-siblings hugged for a long moment, before she greeted his kids and his wife, Callie.  Callie nodded at Ivo.