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Just as the quiet begins to settle, my phone buzzes. Of course it does. Only one person would dare interrupt this moment.

“You can’t avoid him forever. He’s probably camped outside right now, waiting to come and meet him,” Maria laughs.

“Fine,” I sigh, swiping the screen and pointing the phone at a sleeping Antonio.

“He’s so freaking cute!” Valerio’s voice rings through the speaker. “Oh my God, he’s got hair—a freaking gorgeous baby.”

“Valerio,” my wife and I say at the same time.

“Oh, sorry. Dammit—I’m going to have to start being PG,” he laughs softly. “You did good, Maria. You did so good.”

I turn the phone to Maria, and she smiles through her exhaustion. “Thank you, Valerio. I presume you’re already in the waiting room?”

“Been here for almost three hours,” he says, beaming. “I’ll come up just now—need to grab my gift from the car first.”

Before we can say anything else, he hangs up. Maria and I exchange a smile. Aside from us, Valerio has been the most excited for Antonio to arrive.

“You hear that, son? Your crazy uncle is on his way up,” I coo at Antonio, who is now fast asleep in my arms.

“And we love him all the same,” Maria chuckles. “Antonio is already so loved.”

He is.

The future we never thought we’d have—right here in our arms.

The proof that love—real love—can rise from ashes.

Our son.

Antonio Daniele Davacalli.

EPILOGUE

MARIA

Istare at the ceiling, my heart sitting completely in my stomach. I’ve been feeling off the last few days. My mood has been horrendous, and I’ve been overly emotional about everything. Antonio fell over last week, and you would’ve thought the world was ending with the way I cried, convinced he was in the worst pain imaginable.

I glance at my husband, sleeping soundly beside me. The tension in his features has completely melted away, and he’s finally found rest. The sound of the waves is a beautiful backdrop to our sleep.

“Could I be…” I whisper to myself. “No. We just started trying again.”

But there’s only one way to know for sure.

I peel myself out of bed, the soft sheets cool against my skin as I slip into the quiet of the morning. The sun hasn’t even risen yet, but I can’t sleep any longer. My heart is pounding in my chest as I tiptoe to the bathroom, careful not to wake Matteo. I don’t want him to know I’m taking the test—no point in giving him false hope.

I close the door gently behind me and head to the drawers beneath the mirror. I take the box out and stare at it for a moment. The last time I took one of these, our lives looked a whole lot different than they do now.

“Okay, let’s see.” I walk over to the toilet, slip my shorts down, and get on with it. I tell myself not to overthink it—just take it one step at a time.

Everything I’ve been feeling lately—the dizziness, the nausea, the strange cravings—has been leading me to this moment. But still, I’m nervous. What if it’s negative? How will I handle that disappointment? I love having Antonio, but I would really love to give him a sibling—like I had.

As the minutes tick by, I stare at the test in my hand, my heart pounding in my ears. The wait feels like an eternity.

I close my eyes and wait for the beep to alert me that it’s done. I brace myself for whatever I’m about to see on that tiny screen. I peel one eye open, slowly, cautiously, and…

Pregnant.

It’s positive. I blink, unsure if I’m seeing it right. My hands tremble as I stare at the word in bold, clear writing. I can’t believe it…