TRACY
Victoria froze. Avoiding the wrath of Jack Storm wasn't as easy as she thought it was going to be. Tracy was actually feeling a bit sorry for her friend.
Victoria took a breath and turned to face the proverbial music. “Jack…hey, babe. I—”
“Upstairs!”
“But, Jack, I only went to the rest—”
“Victoria, upstairs!”
His voice boomed loud enough to cause baby Jack to startle. Tracy lifted him from the floor and swaddled him in her arms.
Wisely, Victoria stood without a word and walked out of the family room. Before following her out, Jack turned to Tracy and asked, “Will you put Jack to bed for me?”
“Yes, sir, Auntie Tracy will put him to bed,” she cooed down at the little spitting image of his father.
“Thanks,” he said as he left the room.
“Luca, you won't let him kill her will you?” Tracy chuckled. “You’ll save her right?”
“I don't interfere with marital conflicts. Besides, I’m more worried about Jack. Victoria is a force.”
“Um-mm, Jack is gonna shake the shit outta her,” Tammy said, shaking her head.
“That man can shake anything on me that he wants,” Beverly chimed.
Tracy’s eyes narrowed at Tammy’s mother. From the moment that Tracy arrived, Beverly had allowed the most inappropriate things to fly from her mouth. Tracy didn't like her, but it wasn't her place to like or dislike her friend’s mother.
“Oh my God. Luca, can you get someone to take her home,” Tammy grumbled.
“Unfortunately, she has to stay for a while.”
“What?!”
“There are some loose ends from the restaurant, and they saw her. She’s safer here.”
“Excuse me. Iamin the room,” Beverly interjected.
“On that note…I’m gonna go put the baby to bed.” Tracy stood and left the room. That conversation had nothing to do with her.
She entered the Storm’s massive halls and headed to the nursery. Unfortunately, it was connected to Jack and Victoria’s bedroom, and Jack’s booming voice could be heard clear through the wall.
Tracy backed out of the nursery and took Jack Jr. to the guest suite that had been assigned to her. She sat on the sofa and peered down at the bundle in her arms. Little Jack Storm was a gorgeous child. His striking blue eyes were a severe, but beautiful contrast to his ink black hair. Jack and Victoria had made beautiful children.
Soon, Tracy would have a child of her own, and she wondered if he or she would look like her or Francis. It certainly didn't matter to her. All she wanted was a healthy baby. And even though a pregnancy wasn't exactly in her life plan, she already loved her child with her whole heart.
The buzz of Tracy’s cell phone broke through the silence. She fished it out of the pocket of her cardigan and was excited when she saw that Francis was calling her. Earlier, when she was rushed out of her own house with no word from Francis, she was terrified that something had happened to him or someone else in her extended family. Only when Jack had assured her that everyone was okay did she relax.
“Francis…hello,” Tracy greeted softly.
“Ciao, cara. How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine, Francis. You know you ask me that at least ten times a day?”
“I do?”
Tracy could hear the smile in his voice. “You do,” she confirmed with her own smile. “Besides, don't pretend that you don't already know everything there is to know about me already.”
