Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 100332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
I ignored her comment and carried the tray down to the table under the pergola. Sara was much more relaxed this pregnancy. Everything had gone without a hiccup so far. As if to prove Sara’s point, Ambra rushed over to her the moment she spotted her and raised her arms. Sara lifted Ambra on her hip. The sight of Sara, heavily pregnant, carrying our daughter left my heart full in a way I had never thought possible.
A honk announced the arrival of a car. Romero waved out of the window of his Alfa Romeo. Behind him, Flavio pulled up in Romero’s Jeep. “Couldn’t fit into the Alfa?” I shouted, amused.
The back door opened, and Inessa climbed out, blowing out a breath. “Alea and I hardly fit in there. It’s tiny!”
“It’s vintage,” Romero said firmly as he got out. Liliana laughed as she appeared on the passenger side.
“So vintage that I had to ride the Jeep instead of my sportscar in case the old thing breaks down, and I’ll have to give them a ride.”
Romero shook his head. “Where did I go wrong? I thought you’d appreciate vintage cars?”
Flavio gave me a look, and I chuckled.
Ambra pointed at her grandparents. “Dad, there!” I took her from Sara and carried her over to her grandparents.
“You have legs, you know?” I told her with a smile. I didn’t mind carrying her. I’d definitely miss it the moment she was too old to be carried by me.
“I’m too exhausted. Papa Ryan chased me.”
I chuckled again. “You poor thing.” I kissed her temple before I handed her over to Romero, who smiled brightly. “Do you want to sit in my car?”
She beamed and nodded, causing him to smile proudly. Liliana kissed Ambra’s cheek before she headed over to Sara and hugged her, then touched her belly. “Not long now, I can tell.”
“Not today. We got steaks from the best butcher in New York, and I intend to eat one,” Flavio said.
Liliana sent him a scathing look, and Inessa tossed one of her sandals that she’d slipped off at him. He dodged it barely.
“I’m not giving birth today,” Sara said with conviction. Liliana’s face told me she wasn’t so sure. “And if I’m wrong and go into labor, you can just finish your steak. It’ll probably take some time, and I can’t eat rare meat anyway.”
I touched her shoulder. “I told you we don’t have to eat steak.”
“It’s okay. We have so many sides. I won’t go hungry.”
“I’ll cook one steak well done for you,” Dad rumbled.
I gave him a surprised look.
“What happened with ‘well done is an insult to the cow. She died once, let her death be worth it’?” Primo asked after he’d clapped hands with Flavio.
Mom’s death glare caused him to shrug.
Two hours later, we all settled around the table with steaks on our plates. Even Sara had a piece of well-done meat in front of her. Dad watched her closely as she took a bite.
“It’s good,” she said, surprised.
He nodded with a hint of pride in his eyes. Bacon gave me puppy dog eyes from his spot by my feet. “Sorry, bud.”
He’d never begged for food until Ambra had started solids and discovered the perks of feeding Bacon. It was why he wasn’t allowed to go to her high chair, even if Ambra tried to attract him with a piece of sausage.
We ate in silence for a while, simply savoring the delicious food, when Sara made a small sound, a mix of a groan and a sigh.
I glanced her way. She held her belly, her face tight.
“Labor?” Liliana asked with a knowing smile.
Sara rolled her eyes. “Why are you always right with this?”
“Motherly instinct?”
“At least you waited until I’m almost done,” Flavio said.
“I’m not usually a stabby person, but you risk a lot right now,” Sara said, her hand around her steak knife chalk white from the grip. “I think I’ll just walk the pain away.”
I grabbed her hand. “Not again. I can’t handle a repeat performance.”
Sara gave me an amused look.
“Seriously, honey, not again. Have some pity.”
Sara released a sigh. “All right, then let’s go to the hospital.”
“Thank you,” I said, relieved.
“I’ll grab your hospital bag,” Liliana said as I led Sara to my truck.
Thirty minutes later, I stared at Sara, holding our newborn daughter, Alessia, in her arms on the passenger seat of my truck. We were parked on the side of the road with Romero’s car right behind us.
I stood behind Liliana, who knelt in the open passenger door and helped clean up our daughter while Romero was talking to the doc on the phone.
“See, a walk to the old oak tree wouldn’t have been a bad idea,” Sara said with an exhausted but teasing smile.
I shook my head. Liliana moved away so I could take her place and cut through the umbilical cord. “I don’t know how you can find humor in this.” I cut through the cord and put my hand on Alessia’s small back.