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“I liked that,” I said softly a little while later, my hand making soft whorls on his chest.
He laughed.
“It’s a good thing, because I was going to insist that you do that more often.”
“Insist?” I teased.
“Yes. It really should have been in our vows.” He raised the pitch of his voice to sound female. “The vows should have been, ‘I swear to honor and obey my husband, except in bed, where I will take charge and ride him like the horny stud that he is.’ ”
I swatted his chest.
“Obey? As if.” Then I ran for the bathroom, knowing my husband was right behind me. He caught me quickly, wrapping his arms around me and pressing his face into my neck.
“As if? Are you trying to provoke me, woman?”
“Yes,” I said, turning to face him. I put my arms around his neck, bringing him down for a kiss. “I am.”
Chapter 47
Antonio
“Remind me to buy you more bikinis,” I said, savoring the view. My wife was stretched out on a chaise beside me as we nibbled on lunch and drank more wine. The white and gold bikini I’d bought her was one of six or so. But I decided she needed more. The matching coverup was completely sheer, another good choice on my part.
The sun was getting lower in the sky, but it was still warm. I was pleasantly occupied watching Evie. Evie was reading, as usual.
“Business or pleasure?” I joked, watching her flip through pages on her new Kindle. She was an avid lover of paperbacks but was fascinated by the Kindle I’d bought her for the trip. She said it was like having a library at her fingertips.
She blushed slightly.
“It’s a romance novel.”
I cocked an eyebrow at her.
“Read me the naughty bits.”
She blushed more and flapped her hand at me.
“Tony!”
I grinned wolfishly and stood up.
“I’m going to cool off.”
She set her Kindle down and reached for a grape from the platter beside her. She stopped midway to popping it into her mouth. Her eyes got wide and she stood.
“Evie? What is it?”
“I think I’m going to throw up!”
She turned and ran to the bushes. I was right behind her. I heard her muttering and realized that she was apologizing to the hydrangeas.
I couldn’t help but smile.
“Are you okay, love?”
“I am so sorry. That never happens to me!”
“Too much wine, sweetheart?”
“I only had half a glass since we . . .”
“Since what?” I teased.
“Oh, you know.”
She stood up and rinsed her mouth with the water I handed her. She looked a little pale. I took her hand and led her back to the chaise.
“Rest. I will ask someone to get some ginger ale.”
I was smiling as I grabbed my phone and asked Giovanni to pick up the ginger ale and something else for me. He had just sent me pictures of the pig farm. Close-ups, minus the pigs, of course.
I forwarded them to Candy with a quick note about how excited we were to have their help with the ‘extensive renovation’ and how we hoped we would have indoor plumbing by next year.
“Feeling better?” I asked. Evie nodded.
“It was so weird. I feel fine now.”
“That’s good, sweetheart. Maybe we will have soup for dinner.”
She laughed.
“I think the staff would be crushed if we didn’t at least try to eat.”
“You’re probably right.”
I lay back and waited, all thoughts of jumping in the pool forgotten. It was quiet and serene here. I had a wonderful feeling in my chest. It took a little while before I realized what it was.
It was hope.
My phone dinged and I clicked on the messages.
Whatever you did, little brother, you are a genius.
I smiled and called him. It looked like Dad and Candy were heading south, after all. I told Vince I hoped they enjoyed Bolivia.
And I gave Evie the credit, of course.
A few minutes later, Giovanni arrived. He had a glass of ice and a can of soda. He poured it for Evie and then handed me a small brown paper bag.
“Thank you, my friend.”
He slapped my shoulder.
“I will be crossing all my fingers for you,” he said with a wink.
“What’s that?”
My inquisitive bride was sipping her ginger ale and looking up at me.
“Later, sweetheart. I’ll tell you a little later.”
Chapter 48
Antonio
Seven months later
I ran as fast as I could, the steaming package in my hand giving off nuclear levels of toxicity. I felt like a scientist handling a dangerous material.
Today, I was on diaper duty.
Well, it was four a.m., but that counted. I was letting my wife sleep. Between Auntie and me, we made sure Evie didn’t get overtaxed. The delivery had been hard. The last trimester had put her on bed rest. I’d waited on her hand and foot, but it had been an ordeal.
But she and our baby were healthy. And that was all that mattered. We’d named her after my mother, Catarina.
