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She giggled. "Your baby! And it's only one thing I wanted—not the only thing."
"If it helps, I was in pain." He smiled and kissed her hand. "But I wanted you to realize that our love was not just on a physical plain. I wanted to tell you how I felt that night in the garage, and the other night too, but I was afraid you wouldn't believe me. I wanted to make you love me, for being me, Nick Leonetti."
"Oh Nick." she sighed happily, kissed him hotly.
He finally had to push her away to explain more. "Mama planned a spaghetti party, first, and my older brothers and their families will be there, they were in the wedding congregation, but they couldn't make the reception because they planned this one. It won't be as high class, but everyone there loves you. There will be music and dancing, and kissing, relatives you wouldn't believe, like my Uncle Antonio that won't let go of you, and afterwards," He whispered in her ear, and she giggled. "Maybe we should forget the garage and go somewhere quiet. I don't think I can wait till we get to Carmel."
"No, I like your first plan better. We'll just run them off a little early. Besides, I want to meet the boys, and your friends, and be with your family. And Nick, I haven't told you. I haven't said the words—but I love you too. Just for being you. From the moment you said you wouldn't have any part of my plan."
"I gambled on that." He smiled and kissed her hotly on the lips. "But a guy needs to hear it sometimes."
"I'll remember to tell you often."
"We're good for each other," he chuckled and planted a more than inviting kiss to her enticing pink lips.
"I want several children," she began questioningly.
"Me too."
"I want to live in New York," she insisted.
"Sounds great," he said and smiled. "It's always been home to me."
"I want to quit working, and be a mother, and wife."
"Great. I like being the bread winner. We won't live on your family's money, agreed?"
"Agreed. What you make, I'll spend."
"I'll put you on a budget," he insisted. "And I'll keep the garage so I can tinker from time to time, at least till someone wants to buy me out for another sky scraper. But I need a place to go when you get your dander up."
"That's alright; I'll probably run home to mother when we fight. Does it still bother you that the old neighborhoods are going to disappear?"
"It'll always bother me. But its guys like me that make history survive. Hell's Kitchen will never completely die in the heart of the people at least. But I've been through a few changes, and it didn't kill me. I'm learning to adapt."
"So you'd put me on a budget?"
"I'll probably have to."
"I'll skimp one month, and splurge the next, then. I'll spoil our children with love, like your family has you. You know you're richer than you think Nick. You have always had the one commodity that money can't buy—love. And that's one Leonetti tradition I plan on cultivating myself. We'll bake, and sew and make crafts all the time. You'll have to walk over everything in the house to get to us. I want—"
"Ever done it in a limo?" Nick asked pulling the curtain between them and the driver, his face mirroring his love for her.
"No," but there's always a first time."
EPILOGUE
"Uncle Jack, will you tuck me in," the little girl with dark hair and enormous blue eyes cried pulling on Jackson's pants leg.
"I'd be delighted, my dear," Jackson smiled down at Sarah Jackson Leonetti in her blue silk pajamas. Picking her up, he carried her to bed. Planting a kiss on her forehead, he gently tucked her in and smiled down into her small face. "Sweet dreams, little one. Did you enjoy your party with your grandparents?"
"Very much. Grandma Rosa's gonna bake cookies next weekend and she's gonna let me help. I love going to her house because Tony always gives me rides on his back, and Tina puts make-up on me. Grandma O'Sullivan is taking me shopping too; she says I don't have enough pretty dresses. Night Uncle Jack, I love you so much."
Jackson stared glassy-eyed at the child, obviously touched by her love, and then blew her a kiss, "I love you too."
"Night."
"Goodnight," Jackson replied as he strolled towards the door, his emotions once more intact, and turned out the light, his face beaming with a wide smile.
