“How's married life?”I could hear the smile in his voice.Asshole.
“Well, so far there's a lot more vomit in it than I imagined.”
My brother barked out a loud laugh.“We're sorry for that, man.You know kids.”He cleared his throat.“Just be grateful we haven't knocked on your door yet.Nick and I had to practically lasso these women.As soon as they found out you guys were ill, they were packed and ready to go help you.”
My jaw dropped, and I sharply said, “What?”
Carlo laughed again and explained.“Nick put his foot down.Don't worry.He informed them that a stomach virus was not a valid excuse to interrupt a honeymoon.”
I let out a weak laugh.“Thank him for me.Will you?”I loved my family.But that didn't mean I wanted them to join my honeymoon.I needed time alone with Francesca.The connection we'd had all those months ago was still there.I could feel it.We just needed to strengthen our bond.Hopefully, while having a lot of sex.
“I'll do that.And you can thank him yourself by bringing that new wife of yours into the fold.I'd thank you for that as well.”
I stood and walked toward the large window.“Not sure that'll happen anytime soon, Brother.”
A long silence followed.Finally, he asked, “I take it the wedding night didn't go off without a hitch?”
I shook my head even though he couldn't see me.“More hitches than you can count.And then the stomach flu hit us.”
I heard him sigh.“Double whammy.I hear ya.Well, you've got your work cut out for you.But it's nothing you can't handle.I saw the way that woman looks at you.She's in love.I've got no doubt.”Having my brother encourage me like that was exactly what I needed.“We're all real fuckin' happy for you.And Francesca.”He cleared his throat.“Happy you finally have her back.”
I knew everything he said was the truth.“That means a lot.Thanks,” I told him because it did.
“All right.I'll let you go back to your wife.Take care, Brother.”
I shut my phone off and headed back to the kitchen.Once there, I popped some ice cubes into the glasses of juice and pulled out the plate of ice pops from the freezer.After I had everything on a tray, I walked back to my room—I mean—our room.
I smiled at that thought.
I expected to see Francesa sitting up, wondering why I'd taken so long.
Instead, I found a completely passed out woman in my bed.
Christ.
She was beautiful.
Dark—semi dry—hair strewn underneath her head covering the white pillowcase beneath her.Her beautiful face still had gray tone to it, but it was still a lot better than earlier.I never knew someone's face could be green.
I thought about waking her so she could have something to drink.But she looked so peaceful, I hated to disturb her.She'd been up and down so many times to the bathroom in the last two days, I'd lost count.Resting was probably the best thing for her.At least that was what Eve always said.Sleep was when your body healed.That I knew for sure.
I carefully set the tray on the bedside table in case she woke up soon.
What I should do—was go downstairs and start on the pastina en brodo.But what I wanted to do was crawl in beside my wife and sleep.
Yes, I'd caught the horrible stomach flu, too.But it hadn't hit me nearly as hard.A few hours of aches and pains and bathroom visits—and then I felt better.
But—I'd been up for two days looking after my very sick wife.I caught sleep in between when I could.Even so, all that broken sleep didn't add up to much.
Maybe I’d put my feet up for five minutes.
And then I'd go downstairs and start her soup.
7
Francesca
Iwas in the middle of the loveliest dream.
