“Fuck, what happened?”
The unmistakable sound of Giselle letting out an exhausted sigh hit my ear.“What happened?What happened?What happened was you.You getting me pregnant.And then pregnant again,” she shouted.“What are we going to do when we have another baby?And they all get sick at the same time?”
Something clunked, and then Carlo sounded further away.He must've put the phone down.“Here, give him to me.I'll clean him up.”Sounds of shuffling, walking, and crying—the babies and Giselle—filtered through the phone.
By this time, I'd taken the phone from Stefan and was sitting back in the seat.I looked over at him.His eyes held a mixture of sadness and sympathy in them.
I handed the phone back to him.
Stefan took it and ended the call.I guess I was kind of inadvertently eavesdropping on their private family crisis.“Maybe we should go back and help them?It sounds like the babies are still sick.”
Stefan grabbed my hand and brought it to his mouth.“They'll be fine.”He kissed it and set our hands down between us.“Nick and Eve are there to help if need be.”
I raised my eyebrows and said, “They're still outnumbered.”
Stefan gave me a sad smile.“They are.And they're lucky for it.And when they survive the stomach flu again, they'll realize how blessed they are.Again.”
I took a breath and squeezed his hand.“But we could help make it easier for them.How long does it take to refuel the plane?”
Stefan smiled and let go of my hand.His arm reached around me and pulled me in.“You have the biggest heart I've ever seen.”He kissed my temple.“But there's no fuckin' way I'm taking you back there during our honeymoon.”
I wanted to protest.I wanted to remind him that this wasn't a real honeymoon.I mean, the only reason the guy had married me was to save me from a horny old man.A scary, horny old man.
But something in me knew I'd disappoint him.Maybe even anger him—if I said any of that right now.And I didn't understand why he'd get mad.But I was pretty sure he would.
So—
I let it go and hoped the babies all got better quickly so their parents could get a break.
And so Giselle would stop crying.
We sat in silence while the driver—drove.There was a partition up between the front seat and here, but we could still see through that window and the side ones.I took a few minutes to look and see where exactly I was.
Rolling green hills surrounded us.There were trees, but not many of them.Not here anyway.And we seemed to have the small, narrow road all to ourselves.
“How much longer?”I asked just as a surprise yawn came over me.“Sorry.”I covered my mouth and looked up at him.
He grinned at me.“Don't apologize.You had an exhausting day.And night.”He placed his index finger under my chin and lifted.Then he kissed me.“It'll be a while yet.Close your eyes and get some sleep.”His arm pulled me closer to his warm body.
I shook my head and yawned again.“I just woke up.I won't be able to sleep again.”
He chuckled quietly, his chest jiggling me slightly.“Okay.Whatever you want, Francesca.”His lips touched my forehead.“Whatever you want.”
He shifted and used his hand to draw my head against his chest.
The silent lull of the car.
The steady beat of Stefan's heart against my ear.
His warmth seeping into me.
And it didn't take long until I passed right out.
5
Francesca
“We're here,” Stefan's low voice summoned from—somewhere.I was currently walking down the aisle on Nick's arm.Stefan's eyes had just caught sight of me—and I watched his expression change.
