I wanted so much to share the news about my coming promotion and Italy, but I didn’t want to add something else for him to think about. I didn’t know how I’d take care of a six-month-old baby while working full time. One of the benefits was that I spoke Italian. I smiled inside thinking about teaching my daughter both English and Italian, as I had learned. “The same way you’d do it without the baby.”
I didn’t dare tell Jude that I hadn’t cleared my plan with Mamma, since it literally just jumped in my head. I’d have to call her on my drive home and explain. I wasn’t worried though. She’d do anything to help me get Jude on board.
I was prepared to keep talking, trying to get him to agree when he said, “I’ll do it. You’ve made some good points. I have no idea where to go anyway. Maybe being with Mamma will help clear my brain.”
“Do you want to think about it overnight to be sure? The last thing I want is to pressure you only for you to change your mind.”
“No, I’ll do what you’re suggesting,” Jude said, his voice steady. “I hadn’t stop to consider that that in walking out on the baby, I rejected them as well.”
He hid his face in his hands and I couldn’t hold back anymore. I drew him into me and kissed the top of his head, then took his mouth, claiming it deeply with tongue and teeth and not coming up for air until we were both needed to. Peppering his face and neck, I said, “May I take you out to an early dinner?”
Jude surprised me when he asked, “What’s her name?”
“Well, I’d intended to have you name her with me, but the hospital wouldn’t discharge Gabby if the baby wasn’t named.” I paused, wondering if Jude would remember. “Her name is Isabella Jude Cattaneo.”
His hand went to his mouth and his eyes misted over. “You remembered when I told you about Queen Isabella of Castille.”
“Yes, I liked the name and the meaning behind it. A strong woman who rose to be a queen in a patriarchal society.”
“But Jude is a male name,” he countered, cheeks glowing pink.
“Not anymore,” I said. “It’s considered gender neutral. But it wouldn’t have mattered anyway.”
“Why?” he asked, taking the initiative and splaying his hand over my chest.
I picked up his hands and kissed across his knuckles. “If at the end, you walk away for good, I wanted a part of you with me. If you stay, her names will be a constant reminder of how much I adore you.”
Encircling his arms around my neck, he said, “I have an idea. Let’s leave this place and go to a nicer hotel with room service and a jacuzzi tub, then we’ll drive to Long Beach in the morning.” And then he remembered, “Oh we can’t. I forgot this was the middle of the week.”
I tightened his arms around me again and murmured, “I took tomorrow off.”
“You took offtwodays for me?” he commented, looking at me under lowered eyelashes.
“Yes, baby brat. Just for you,” I said and gave his rump a slap.
“I’ll start looking,” Jude said, his phone already open.
“I need to talk to Frank about something work related. I’ll be right back. My notes are in the truck.”
Jude gestured “okay” as he scrolled through his phone and I went down to my truck. Unlocking the door, I got in, not takingany chances that he could hear. But instead of calling Frank, I pressed the call button for Mamma. After three rings, she answered. “Ethan, how did it go?”
“Honestly, we were touch and go, but I suggested something without checking with you first when I became desperate.”
“Anything,figlio.”
“I’m sure Jude wants to be with me but he’s freaking about Isabella.”
“In what way?”
“All his life from childhood to the priesthood, he’s always come in second place. And he feels that me loving Isabella is like a competition.”
I visualized Mamma shaking her head furiously when she said, “That’s not right. You don’t love a partner less with a child. And oftentimes, the bond between parents is strengthened.”
“That’s where my plan comes in, Mamma. I suggested to Jude that since you have Isabella starting tomorrow and Gabby won’t be staying there…”
“You want Jude to spend time with Isabella in a home setting,” Mamma filled in for me. “And”—she continued and I just knew that her brain was working overtime— “just maybe I’ll need help with bottle feeding when I’m cooking or having to run a quick errand.”
“I knew you’d catch on. But would it be too much trouble having Isabella and a houseguest?”
