Shit.
She comes over and takes Giancarlo from Gabriela.
“I’m going to take him to the bathroom and we’ll meet you both downstairs.” She says as she grins at us.
After they leave, I pull Gabriela closer to me.
“Thank you for helping me with Carlo. No one’s been able to sooth him after he wakes up crying.”
“You’re welcome. He’s such a great little boy, it broke my heart to hear him crying.”
“He’s had a rough seven months.”
“Fiorella said you both lost his mamà?”
I nod and take her hand, leading her to my room to talk. If she’s going to be in our lives, she should know what Carlo’s dealing with. She sits on my bed as I sit next to her. I keep hold of her hand.
“Seven months ago, Faith was coming to Lake Renegade to tell me about Giancarlo. Wait. Let me back up a little more. I dated Faith three years ago. I never knew she was pregnant, I don’t take chances with anyone. So when we broke up, I never would’ve thought she’d show up with my kid. But she did. When she was on her way, she got into a car accident. Giancarlo was with her, but he wasn’t hurt. But Faith…there was nothing they could do for her. So she spent the last hours she had with him and with me. Before she passed, she told me about what happened. And I forgave her for keeping him from me. I get whyshe did it, but there was another man who thought Carlo was his. But the shit part is he was abusive and he’s never tried to find him.”
“I don’t want to sound insensitive?—”
“You’re wondering if Giancarlo’s mine?”
She nods. “I mean I think he looks just like you, but…”
“It’s okay, I wondered too. In fact everyone did. But we did a DNA test and he’s mine. I didn’t know how he would deal with losing Faith. But he’s really good with me. Faith told me that Carlo never called the other guy papà. But he’s been calling me that from the first day.”
“It’s like he knew you were his papà.”
I smile. “That’s what I thought too. So I do worry that he’ll come and cause trouble. But you know who my family is and what we do. So at the same time, I’m not worried. But I wanted you to know about Faith. She was a really nice person. And she didn’t leave me because she hated me, she just couldn’t deal with the women that try to come around. But I don’t want you to worry about that. There’s no one I’m with…except you. I want to be with you.”
Gabriela frowns at me. “Why me? You don’t even know me.”
“My son chose you. The way he acts with you, he’s never acted around anyone else. And when I first met you, I just knew. I knew I wanted to get to know you, to be with you.”
“But I’m not staying here for good. I’m going back home eventually.”
I frown. “I’ll convince you that this is where you belong. Here with me and with Giancarlo.”
“And what if I can’t deal with the women?”
“You’re strong and I know you can. I promise you, I’d never cheat on you with anyone. And if any woman says I am? She’s lying. I can also say that if I cheated on anyone? My mamà would kick my ass. She’d never be okay with me cheating on a woman.”
Gabriela laughs. “I believe that. And yes. I want to see where this goes with you. I do feel that you’re someone I want to be with. And like you, I’ve never really felt that before.”
I lean in and kiss her again. This is becoming my favorite thing to do.
“Whoa. Okay. Time to go. Carlo told mamà you two are fish. When she asked him what he was talking about, he made a kissy face. So your secret is out. Now let’s go. We have a hockey game to get to.” Fiorella says as she pushes us out of my room.
When we get downstairs, my mamà has the biggest smile on her face. I laugh and shake my head.
CHAPTER SIX
Gabriela
Last week’s hockey game was a lot of fun. We did get to meet the Redhawks team and Gianluca didn’t let go of my hand the entire time. Spending time with Gianluca and Giancarlo means everything to me. That little boy is incredible. Even after losing his mamà, he’s such a terrific kid.
Giancarlo woke up crying again last week and he asked me to hold him. Luca stayed with us the whole time. It made me feel like we were our own little family. And for the first time since arriving here, I felt like I was home. After we got him settled and back to sleep, I stayed with Gianluca in his room. He didn’t push me to do anything and I love that. He just held me and I fell asleep wrapped in his arms.
