Page 47 of A Treasure To Keep

He and I sit at the island, sipping on our wine, laughing as we talk about El and her quirks. I never thought I’d see a couple more in love than Alessandro and Luci. El and Andrea give them a run for their money. I can only hope that someday I can have what they do. In an ideal world, I’d have it with them.

Chapter 50

El

Icontinue holding Gia as she sleeps, sucking even though her pacifier has fallen out of her mouth. I can’t deny how much I crave a baby, even though I love Andrea more than words can express and would never give him up for anything. I always assumed I’d be a mother one day, and I can’t fully accept that it won’t happen with Andrea’s DNA. Would he be okay with getting a donor? Would I be okay raising a baby without his DNA? Would adoption be a better option? I want the whole experience, though. I want the positive pregnancy test; I want to carry the baby, I want to feel a baby kick. Most importantly, I want to experience holding my baby the moment they are born. Even if my baby were covered in goo. Does that make me selfish?

Luci comes into her and Alessandro’s bedroom, surprised that I’m still holding Gia. “Hey. Are you okay?”

How do I answer that?

“I can’t get over how fucking cute she is. I don’t want to put her down. We need to catch up, though, the two of us. Let’s gograb something to drink downstairs.” I set Gia gently down in her bassinet and turn to Luci, walking us down to the kitchen.

Luci sets the baby monitor on the kitchen table while I make both of us whiskey sours, a.k.a my favorite drink. When I set her drink in front of her, she looks at the glass but doesn’t pick it up as she chews on her lip. Then it hits me: she’s breastfeeding.

“Oh shit. I’m sorry, babe. I forgot that you can’t drink right now. No worries, I’ll drink enough for both of us.” I take both glasses in my hand, shimmying my shoulders playfully. To be honest, I would shamelessly drink both of these.

“Thank you. I’m blessed that breastfeeding came naturally to me. I’d hate to have to pump and dump. I could save it if she gets cradle cap or I want to give her a breast milk bath, but—” Luci stops babbling the second I set my hand on top of hers. Our little people pleaser. One of her best and worst traits.

“Luci. Babe. Don’t worry about it. I could use the second drink. Serious time, though. How are you doing?” I take a sip of my drink, pausing when the dam breaks. I never noticed how green her hazel eyes are when she’s sad. Probably because I always bring the life to the party when we’re together. OMG, that’s not why we’re here, El. Friend. We’re here to be the best friend she’s ever had.

“Regardless of how amazing Quinn and Enzo were during labor, the fact is Alessandro missed Gia’s birth. He fought to find us for half of my pregnancy, needing to be with me and Gia when she was born, and someone took that away from us. And I know Gia won’t remember this, but I’ll remember Alessandro missing at least part of her life. And now he’s downstairs, fighting for his life as we wait around for something to happen.” She falls apart, hiding her face in her hands as her shoulders shake when she cries.

I walk around the island, grabbing her while she cries on my dress. I’ll need to get this dry-cleaned. Girl! Not the right time tothink about this. “Oh, Luci. For once, I’ll stop babbling because I’m a thousand percent certain nothing I say can make it better. I’m always here for you. Please, please, please don’t ever forget that.”

She snuffles, swiping at the tears that have fallen down her face. “I know. That’s why you’re such a good friend. Can we talk about something else? I’m emotionally exhausted with my mind constantly worrying about Alessandro.”

I’ve been waiting for this moment for months. Thank GOD she brought it up first . . . kind of.

Luci’s eyes show immediate regret when she notices the mischievous smile on my face. I don’t give her any opening to take it back before I blurt everything out. “Girl! What’s the deal with Elio? You married him! Seriously? Also! What happened to him? Marco said Alessandro made his disappear, but how? Where? In what method? I can’t think of a single word in this story that’s logical. The drama is real. And that’s coming from me, the queen of drama.”

Luci closes her eyes, groaning at the topic I brought up. She’s the one who asked for a change of topic without any guidelines. “I should have continued crying about Alessandro being unconscious. Maybe I will have that drink. I guess someone should know the complete truth. As you know, Elio was my boyfriend in high school until things went too far, and Nonno made him break up with me. Fast forward to being at Elio’s house after running off with my family the night I found out I was pregnant. Everyone kept pressuring me to marry Elio. I had no idea if Alessandro was even searching for me. One day, I was especially emotional and defeated. Before I knew it, the paperwork was in front of me, and I was being handed a pen. I was virtually on autopilot. I blame it on the croissants Nonna bribed me with, ultimately, getting me down to the kitchen. When I woke up in the morning, I assumed it was all a dreamuntil I saw the gold band on my finger. When it comes to Elio, I have no idea what’s going on. Alessandro said, in his words, that Elio Amato doesn’t exist anymore. When I was leaving the hospital, I saw someone who I am almost certain was him, except with darker hair. Trust me, I have as many questions about that as you do. Questions I’m sure Alessandro will never answer. You’re right, though. The logical part of this story went out the window months ago.”

Screw any tea I’ve ever heard, this is the best thing anyone has ever told me. “Girl! That's a story you’d find in a book or movie, which we both know how much we love movies. Still. Alessandro is dramatic, and we both know that. He hunted you down after being gone for five months. To top it off, he shot you and put you in the hospital. By accident, of course. Knowing him, he threatened Elio, and instead of being the hard-ass he normally is, he told Elio that if he became a new person, he could live. That’s Alessandro for you. I’ll admit, it’s a stupid theory. Maybe he’s spent too much time around Marco and his caveman ass.”

“That’s extremely far-fetched, El. But so has every detail of the last year.” That’s a wild, yet obscenely correct statement.

“We’ve both had eventful years, girl. On the other hand, we have so much excitement waiting for us. You have perfect little Gia, and I’ll have Andrea for the rest of my life. Oh! Did I tell you we have a date? Almost. It will be next calendar year in September. Give or take. We don’t have an official date. Or a location. Or a caterer or florist. Pretty much, we have an estimated date and a dress. You know, the important things. While Andrea and I are figuring out those details, we can figure out a time to go bridesmaid dress shopping . . . miss maid of honor.” I give her my best ‘Please, say yes!’ Megawatt smile and wait for a response.

Luci’s mouth drops open, and her eyes get wide, blinking twice before she responds. “Seriously, El? Of course, I will beyour maid of honor. I assumed you asked James, and that’s why you hadn’t brought it up.”

Is she serious? Maybe I haven’t proved enough that she’s my best friend. What best friend assumes she won’t be a maid of honor? Apparently, mine. “Uhhhhh. No, girl. You’ll be my maid of honor. You’ll need to keep Alessandro off you. If we’re picking out a dress, we need to make sure we don’t need to alter it for another baby bump.”

“El, my lady parts hurt. The last thing I’m thinking about is another baby. Also, my focus right now is making sure Alessandro survives the shooting and can meet Gia.” No matter how hard Luci tries, she can’t hide the tears in her eyes. I place my hand on her arm, sending my for once silent support her way. The last thing she needs is an ‘Are you okay?’ question that will end up breaking the dam. Instead, I change the subject, babbling incessantly about Andrea and my adventure in the movie theater, and that young kid catching us.

We’re laughing hysterically about Alessandro saying they don’t need swaddles because they have fuzzy sofa blankets when the baby monitor picks up Gia’s hungry fussing. We take the opportunity to get ready for bed. The moment we climb into bed, a normal thing for sleepovers with friends, it hits me. I gave her sex advice that I’m sure was acted out here. Internally, I contemplate whether I want to know the answers to these questions. Eventually, my curiosity wins.

“Luci.”

“Yeah?”

“Is this where Gia was conceived?”

She groans hesitantly, contemplating whether she’s going to answer. Eventually, she does. “Most likely.”

Interesting. Next question. The weirder question.

“Is this where you ate Alessandro’s ass?” Not like I can judge; I’m the one who told her how to do that at her bachelorette party. Or the closest thing we could get to one.