Page 129 of Roman

EPILOGUE - ROMAN

THREE AND A HALF YEARS LATER

The evening sky was a mixed canvas of yellows, pinks, and purples. The scent of flowers, grapes, and soil permeated the air. I sat at the table, looking across at Nonna. She was holding her favorite girl in the world. My daughter, Gemma Lynn, was snuggled in Nonna’s arms, gazing up at her in fascination. Barely a month old, she was rarely out of someone’s arms. Her birth had been fraught with peril, and for a short time, it appeared we would never get to have her, but thanks to the miracle of modern medicine and a fabulous doctor, she was with us, happy, healthy, and loved.

On my knees, my son turned to me, his eyes so like his mother’s, confused. “Gemmy not talk much.”

I laughed and ruffled his hair. “She will, my boy. Then you’ll be begging me to tell her to be quiet.”

He pursed his lips, which made me grin. He had Effie’s eyes, but he was me. Right down to the stubbornness factor. That was what was keeping him up way past his bedtime, because there was going to be a fire tonight. Which meant marshmallows. His favorite thing. He would sit on my lap, and we would slowly spin the stick around until the marshmallow was puffed and golden. And then no matter how many times I told him to go slowly, he would stuff it into his mouth and yelp at the heat, then do it all over again.

Stubborn.

Just like me.

Effie made me a father. Nicholas Robert Costas made me a daddy. His birth unlocked the final piece of my heart. As a child, I had never known the joy of play. Of laughter. Once my mother died, my father ended that. Only when he was out of the house did laughter ring out. Yet underneath the rare times of happiness lay the awareness of how fleeting it was, so I never embraced it.

With Nicholas, it came in abundance. I loved everything to do with him. Feeding, changing, burping. Playing. Watching him grow. Everything he did fascinated me. When Effie told me she was pregnant again, my joy knew no bounds. The love I had for my children was all-consuming, never-ending, and without condition.

More than ever, I was grateful for walking away from the life I’d been forced to live. Told so often I had no choice that I believed it. Until Effie entered my life. Until I realized change could happen.

And I embraced it.

My wife came outside, carrying a tray. I began to get up, but she shook her head. “It is not heavy, Roman,” she admonished me. “I’m fine. Stop worrying.”

She sat down, the tray holding the treats for when the fire was ready. Nicholas eyed the tray, his little fingers already reaching. Effie smiled and handed him a marshmallow, pressing a kiss to his head. “Only one until we roast them.”

“’K,” he agreed happily, leaning back into my chest. I dropped a fast kiss to his head, running my hand over his dark curls.

“You look tired,” I observed, speaking calmly. Whether she wanted it or not, I still worried over my wife. The birth of our daughter had almost cost me her as well. She lost a great deal of blood, and it took her a long time to recover. I wasn’t sure she totally had, but she refused to admit her discomfort at times.

“A little,” she admitted.

“How about a day in bed tomorrow? Nonna and I have the kids.”

“How about we see how I feel?”

Nicholas lifted his marshmallow, pretending to offer me a bite. I, in turn, pretended I would take one, and he tore it away, laughing. I chuckled at his antics, Effie joining me.

“How about you both go out, leave the babies with me,” Nonna suggested. “Have a picnic, some alone time.”

I looked at Effie, seeing her hesitation along with her excitement at the idea.

“Perfect,” I replied. “I’ll arrange it. We’ll leave after the bambini are down for their afternoon nap.”

“Stay the night,” Nonna hummed. “I can handle two little ones.” She chuckled. “Connor will help.”

Connor, the boy who once stole from me, was now a trusted assistant. He loved coming to the house and playing big brother. His sister was happy, still in med school, and making him proud. I paid for all her tuition as a thank-you for a job well done. Connor had a knack for problem-solving, and he handled a lot at the hotel and casino for Aldo and me.

“Good idea.” I glanced at Effie. “Okay, Little Tiger? You want to spend some time alone with me?”

She smiled, the light reflecting in her eyes from the lanterns flickering around us. “Yes.”

I winked. “Great.”

I chuckled to myself as I typed a text to Connor. Alone time for us probably meant a nice early dinner and some snuggles. It was too soon after Gemma’s birth, and until I had a vasectomy, I wasn’t going to risk my wife. We had two healthy children, and above all else, Effie was safe. That was all that mattered to me. We had our family, and we were content.

Effie was, and would always be, the center of my universe. She brought joy and love to my life. She was the light that lifted the darkness and the person who made me whole.