Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 25004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 125(@200wpm)___ 100(@250wpm)___ 83(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25004 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 125(@200wpm)___ 100(@250wpm)___ 83(@300wpm)
“Wouldn’t even let me touch the noodles. As if me being pregnant somehow made me infectious. Like, did he think everyone would get pregnant because I happened to do something? He said I was lucky even being allowed to sit in the kitchen.” She sends an arrow of disgust toward her brother’s back.
“I’ll go beat him up.” I rise, but Lucia catches me.
“You’d better not. Mom will be mad.”
“What’s Mom going to be mad about?” Enzo slides into a chair across from us, a steaming pile of pasta on his plate.
“Jase was going to fight Gio.”
Enzo looks me over. “I’d like to see it. Let me eat this first, though.” He shoves a forkful into his mouth. “Mm-hmm, good. Not as good as yours, Lucia, and I know you aren’t eating any, Jase, but still delicious. Have some bread.” He shoves a plate full of baguette slices in my direction.
“Wait here while I get you some food,” I tell my wife.
Enzo throws down his fork. “Is that a euphemism for fighting because I lied about food being more important. I definitely want to see which of you will win. Gio’s got some bulk on you, but you’re fast.”
“I’m not fighting.” I pause and cast a glance toward Lucia. “Unless you want me to.”
“No, I don’t want you to.”
Enzo grunts in disappointment. “Could’ve been fun. When are you popping that baby out?”
“Not soon enough,” Lucia declares.
“I still need to get you something to eat.”
“I come bearing gifts,” announces Bianca, sliding up to the table. She drops a plate of food in front of Lucia. “Obviously I didn’t bring anything for you.” The last is directed toward me.
“You’re never going to forgive him for getting sick after your oatmeal, are you?”
“Who gets sick over oatmeal, Lucia? No one. Only him.” Bianca points her index finger at me. I break off some bread and stuff it in my mouth.
“Don’t take it personally.” Enzo tries to cheer her up. “I made a protein shake for him, and he couldn’t drink that either.”
“No one can drink that stuff,” says Lucia. “It’s not fit for human consumption with all the chemicals in it.”
“How else will I get big and strong?” Enzo taps his biceps. “These aren’t made on trees.”
“This guy works in a lab, and he’s all muscles and no flab.” Bianca pokes a nail into my arm.
“Hey, no touching the merchandise.” Lucia scowls.
“I am Lucia’s property,” I remind them.
“Exactly. Oh!”
We all go on alert. “Are you having a contraction?”
“Did the baby kick?”
“Is it Gio’s food?”
“Is something going on?” Gio appears out of nowhere.
I slowly get to my feet. Lucia’s eyes are sparkling. The baby is coming.
“Your food made her sick,” Enzo says.
“I think it’s your face,” Bianca adds.
“It’s the baby,” Lucia says. “Our baby is coming.” I scoop her up. “Thank goodness for your arms.” She gives me a squeeze. “Or you wouldn’t be able to carry me.”
“It’s all the heavy lifting I do at the lab.”
“I thought it was because you carried me around for the last seven or so months.”
“That too.”
“I’m so happy.” Lucia’s smile is so big it stretches from ear to ear.
“Me too. Does it hurt much?”
“Not yet.”
“Let’s get you to the hospital and get the good stuff inside you so it doesn’t hurt you. I don’t want you being in pain.”
“Is that because you’re worried for me or for you?”
“Yes.”
She throws her head back and laughs. The sun is shining, Lucia’s boisterous family is buzzing around with excitement, and I’m carrying the love of my life into a van that will take us to the hospital where our baby will be born. Life does not get better than this.