“He’ll say yes,” Daphne tells her. “He’s practically jumping out of his skin to slip that ring on your finger.”
“I’ll talk to him.” Bianca smiles, still resting her hand on her stomach. “I’m sick of hiding the pregnancy.”
“You may be hiding it from your parents, but we all kind of knew,” I say.
“Your tits alone give it away.” Daphne laughs.
Bianca’s eyes widen as her head tips downward toward her breasts. “They’re freakishly large.”
“Everything is supersized when you’re pregnant. Just wait. Those babies aren’t done growing, and neither is your ass.” Delilah smirks. “Lucio loved my pregnant body.”
“Again, TMI,” Gigi announces with her eyebrows drawn together and her fingers busy on her phone.
All the talk of pregnancy has my mind reeling and a small part of my chest aching to understand what they experienced. The feeling of a baby moving inside my body. The moment you first hold your baby in your arms, knowing you created a small human.
So many things I missed out on after losing Mitchell. Years of my life gone, but not wasted. I’d met Angelo because of those years spent alone. Having a baby with Mitchell would’ve been hard. He was barely home, and even when he wasn’t deployed, he was constantly busy with work and prepping for the next mission. I would’ve been essentially a single mother, and I don’t know how I would’ve handled his death with a little one to look after. I was barely able to look after myself, let alone another person who would’ve depended on me for everything.
A small sliver of me is jealous of these women. They never experienced the complete anguish of losing the man they loved, but they knew the joy of having a baby. I’m not sure they really understood how very blessed they were. I wasn’t cursed, but my life had never taken an easy path.
18
Angelo
“This is the shit, man,” Mike says to Leo as he fills his plate with food. “Dad used to take us to the Cubs games when we were young, and the seats were great, but nothing like this.”
The Diamond Suites are indeed the shit. I’m not sure I could ever sit in the cheap seats again after experiencing something like as over the top as this. There are flat-screen televisions, comfy chairs, air conditioning, and an unlimited supply of food and drinks. What more can a guy ask for to enjoy a baseball game?
“The parents are missing out on a great night,” Thomas says as he stands next to Mike, eyeing the food.
“You know Dad. He has to see the Cubs, and between him and Uncle Santino, they’re going to make our kids Cubs fans too.”
“Or at least die trying.” Thomas laughs.
The Gallo family obsession with the Cubs runs deep. They cheered the team since their childhood and even without a World Series win, they kept the faith.
“They’re in a suite there too,” Leo announces. “The hotel chain has suites at both stadiums for our high-class clientele and business partners.”
“Holy fuck. That has to cost a fortune,” I say as I walk up behind Tilly and wrap my arms around her waist, placing my hands on her stomach. “Are you okay, baby?”
She tips her head to the side, resting her forehead against my cheek. “I’m fine.”
I know she’s not. She’s quiet, and Tilly’s rarely quiet. She’s usually so full of life and so talkative, sometimes my ears start to ring, but I’m not complaining. I like my woman chatty, and I love her happy more than anything.
I hold her tighter, resting my face in the crook of her neck. “Something’s eating you.”
She exhales. “No, I’m good.”
The exhale gave it away. Something’s on her mind, but she isn’t in the sharing mood. Whatever it is, I want to set it right and make my girl happy, but now isn’t the place. And until she’s ready to tell me what’s wrong, I can’t force her to speak.
“Tilly, want a glass of wine?” Daphne asks as she pulls the cork out of a bottle of white.
“I’d love one,” Tilly says, giving my hands a quick pat, which is like giving me the brush-off.
I let her go but watch her closely. Tilly’s face brightens as she grabs the wine and speaks quietly with my sister.
“What’s wrong?” Joe asks as I stand in the middle of the room, staring at my wife.
I shrug. “I don’t know. She’s off today.”
