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 got it. Carrying my child must be hard for her, a constant reminder of what happened. I admired her strength and dreaded how much more of it she would have to gather to get through a pregnancy and years of raising the child.
“She wants to keep it. It’s just a lot to take in,” Liliana explained, then she followed her daughter.
I wasn’t sure what to do. I wanted to go after her but knew my presence was unwelcome. Sara didn’t need my consolation.
“What do you have in mind? What next?” I asked instead.
“Everything is planned for Sara’s wedding to Paolo in six weeks. We would like to keep the date.”
“And just switch the groom,” I said.
Romero nodded. “It’s not ideal.”
“Fuck, it’s a shit show. Everything that has happened. But if this helps Sara, I’ll even wear Paolo’s suit. I don’t care. My feelings won’t be hurt by this.”
“Paolo’s suit would be three sizes too small for you,” Flavio muttered.
“Many people know what happened even though Luca made it very clear that he disapproves of gossip making the rounds,” Romero said.
“People will gossip no matter what. Eventually, they’ll move on,” I said. “I’ll shut up whoever I overhear saying something.”
“Good.”
“I realize I’m not the son-in-law you wanted, but I’ll do everything I can to be a good husband for Sara.”
Flavio scoffed but didn’t say anything.
Did he think I didn’t know I was the wrong man for Sara for more reasons than I cared to admit?
“It’s not you, it’s about circumstances.” Romero approached me and touched my shoulder, surprising me with the move. “I think Sara wants to protect her honor and the unborn child. She doesn’t really want a husband.”
I smiled bitterly. “I know this marriage will be on paper only. I don’t expect Sara to act like a wife.”
If Romero worried that I might want to consummate the marriage, he didn’t need to. I would never touch Sara again unless she wanted me to, and the chances of that happening were nil.
“That’s good. We should make the announcement as soon as possible.”
“Let me talk to my parents first, so they won’t find out through the gossip mill, and then you can pick a time and place where you want to announce it.”
I left without talking to Sara again. Everything felt surreal. My life had turned upside down. I needed to talk to someone. Primo had left for a mission soon after I’d left home, and this wasn’t a topic I wanted to discuss over the phone. I considered going to Amo, but he had a lot on his plate with Cressida.
When I pulled up the driveway to my parents’ house, I felt a sense of relief. I parked in the driveway and was immediately greeted by Bacon. He was almost deaf, a fate many white dogs shared. When I had to work too much, my parents took care of him, and I never took him into the city with me. I rarely slept there anyway, and if I did, I slept in one of the rooms the Famiglia had for soldiers from out of town. What would happen now that I was going to marry Sara? I would have to look for a place for us, but I wasn’t sure if I could take Bacon with me. He needed company, and here, he always had plenty. After I’d petted him and the four dogs belonging to my parents that were allowed to roam free, I walked toward the front door. Mom was already waiting in the doorway. She was in gym clothes, and her sweaty hair was in a messy bun atop her head.
The moment she saw my face, she came out to meet me. She touched my cheek and tilted her head back to look at me. “What happened?”
“I’m fine,” I said automatically. I didn’t want her to worry about me. I could take care of myself. “Only hungry.”
I walked inside, followed by Mom. She still regarded me with worry as she put everything for a sandwich on the table. I sat on the bench and grabbed two slices of bread.
She watched me prepare and eat two BLTs in silence but never took her eyes off me as she leaned against the kitchen island.
“I’ll marry Sara,” I said after I’d taken a swig of water.
Mom’s eyes widened, and she sank down on the chair across from me. “That’s why they wanted to see you?”
“They didn’t talk me into marriage. I was the one who suggested it when I found out that Sara is pregnant.”
Mom leaned back in her chair. Her lips parted, but no words left her mouth for at least a minute. “Okay.” She blinked. “Wow. That’s not what I expected.”
She pushed to her feet and began pacing the kitchen, rubbing her forehead as if she could feel a headache coming. “This is a lot to take in for the both of you. How is Sara handling it?”