“It’s okay,” I mumble. “I’m not hiding it any longer.”
She pulls away from me. “But you were hiding it originally?”
I nod. “I was worried about miscarrying, and didn’t want to tell Leo unless I was sure the pregnancy would stick. I thought he’d been through enough, and I didn’t want to give him good news, and then yank it back.”
She smiles sympathetically. “I understand that. I had a miscarriage before Leo’s father was born. It was incredibly difficult to stay calm through the pregnancy with him. I was so scared the same thing would happen. Whenever you’re feeling exceptionally anxious, you reach out to me, okay?”
“And me,” Gianna pipes up. When my eyes meet hers, I see the sadness blanketing her face. “Not many people know this, but I’ve had two miscarriages.”
“What?” I breathe. “When? Why didn’t you tell me yesterday? I’m so sorry, Gia.”
She looks to her husband, Travis, who nods reassuringly. “Two years ago, and around four years ago. It was so emotionally traumatizing that we decided we’d be happy with being a family of three. And I didn’t bring it up yesterday because that would have been adding salt to the wound. I was supporting you, and telling you my story would have made it all about me.”
Walking to Gianna, I pull her into a hug. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for you during those times.”
She nods as she sniffles. “It’s okay. I can understand what your mind has worked up now, and I think it’s helped me see things youmay have felt all those years ago when things ended with Leo. But I’m glad you’re back in both of our lives now.”
I smile as I step back. “Me too.”
Nonna grins triumphantly. “See? This is good.The Eagle Has Landedworked its magic.”
“How do you figure?” Dom asks.
“Look around the room, Dominic.” Nonna points at each couple, including her son and daughter-in-law. “Ten years ago, none of you were happy. You may have been in a relationship, but it didn’t fulfill you as your partner does now. Gossip articles were an odd choice for pushing you in the right direction, but it worked. I get to watch my favorite grandchildren be happy, and all of my great-grandchildren grow up in the town that I love. What a life I’ve lived of one hundred years.”
“You’re not one hundred, Nonna,” Luca says. “Not even close.”
“Eh,” she says, waving her hand in dismissal. “Semantics. I don’t do math.”
“Explains why she always asks me if Carson is going to middle school yet,” Gianna whispers. “He’s six. Middle school is in five years.”
I snort as G links her arm with mine. She walks me back to Leo, who looks adoringly at me. “Brought your baby mama back to you.”
“Thanks,” he replies, pulling me into his arms again.
“Will you all be mad at your grandmother for long?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “Doubtful. We all know Nonna. She’s not a malicious person. I believe her when she says she provided a detail or the headline, and her friend ran with it. I’m glad she had a purpose after my grandfather passed away, but I’m also glad that we’re all married now, so hopefully the articles are few and far between.”
“We aren’t married, Leo,” I remind him.
“Eh,” he says, mimicking his grandmother with her wave. “Semantics.”
Three hours later, after an amazing brunch at Leo’s parents’ house, we’re back at my apartment. I’m suddenly melancholy, assuming Leo will leave to go back to his house, but he surprises me again. “Where are your suitcases?”
“In my closet?” I reply, confused. I follow him into my closet, then watch as he grabs handfuls of clothes on the hangers, tossing them onto the bed. “What are you doing?”
“Moving you out of here. Grab a suitcase, and go fill up whatever clothes Oliver and Violet need. I’ve already asked Alex to bring over some boxes so we can take all of the toys back to my house.”
I stare at him incredulously. “Moving me out of here?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Were you going to bother asking me?”
He stops, giving me a big grin. It’s a grin I’ve seen so many times in my life. It shows a dimple in his right cheek, and his eyes sparkle with mirth. “My Ella. My love. My Ladybug. I’m packing up your shit, because youaremoving in with me, so we can raise all three ofourkids in the same house. Now please, go pack. I’ve got a surprise in the backyard for Oliver.”
He spanks me softly, making me squeal, then laughs as he turns around to continue loading things into the first suitcase. I turn to walk out the door, saying, “You really have a way with words.”
