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“Then what?”
I stared at him in disbelief. Marriage? If he had said that to me two weeks ago, I would have wept with joy. But my world had changed since then.
I had nearly lost my baby. I was so tired of death and fear and pain. I would not put my baby through losing her father one day like I had lost mine. I just could not do it.
When I did not answer, he said, “Is it the house? We’ll move house. We will live anywhere you like. You’re carrying my child. And I am taking you both home with me where I can keep you safe.”
I looked away from him. Shook my head. “I can’t, Marco. I’m sorry. I’m so tired. All I want is to go home.”
And to my shock, he lifted my hands to his lips. Gently kissed them. “Rest now, my love. Everything will be well. I promise.”
Chapter 43
BETH
The next morning, my doctor told me he would be happy to discharge me from the hospital that evening. Marco had sent over some of my clothes, so I dressed to go visit my mom, who was in the same hospital.
I wrapped a floral chiffon scarf around my neck to cover the bruises there and applied my make-up carefully to appear bright and cheerful. I might as well have not bothered. Mom took one look at me and her welcoming smile faded.
“Darling, what’s wrong?”
I went to her bed, gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Everything is fine.”
“Don’t lie to me. I’m your mother.”
I sat at her bedside and sighed. “Things have been a little tough lately,” I admitted. “But never mind that. Tell me how you’ve been? I’m sorry I haven’t come to visit.”
“I’ve been wonderful. Daily massages, hydrotherapy, and they even have a daily social hour! Bernie loves it even more than I do. But enough about me. I’ve missed you, but it’s the first time you’ve been on holiday since my accident, and you deserve it! But what’s happened, honey? It’s not you and Marco, is it?”
My lip started trembling. And before I knew it, everything I had meant not to say came spilling out. Everything but the news of Dad’s betrayal with Dolly. Mom didn’t deserve the awful and useless pain of knowing that.
Mom listened so patiently. She’d always had a way of getting the truth out of me without even saying a word.
“Oh honey,” she said when it was all over, “you really have fallen for him, haven’t you?”
I had thought she would be horrified, but she looked surprisingly calm.
“Bernie and I googled him, you know,” she admitted. “All those rumours about criminal connections, so part of me did wonder…” She sighed.
“He really is a mobster, Mom, and he won’t listen to me. I can’t be with him. I can’t live in terror every day, wondering if terrible people or the cops are going to catch up with him. What kind of life is that?”
Mom looked troubled. She nodded sadly. “I think you made the right choice.”
“To break up with him?” I said in a small voice. Hearing her say it hurt like hell.
She shook her head. “To take your time and think about what you really need. Because you’re going to be a mother. And I’m going to be a grandma.”
It was as if the news of the baby suddenly struck her. She started weeping tears of pure joy. We cried together. Happily.
“A baby boy or a baby girl,” she said, marvelling, her eyes so bright. “A little baby to love. I always wanted that for you. A family to love. I hoped you’d have a wonderful man to take care of you too, but it doesn’t matter. We’ll be okay. I only wish I could help more.”
She looked so frustrated.
“You’re helping already,” I assured her. “Talking to you has made me feel so much better. I feel like my old self.”
She screwed up her brow. “And you’re going back home today? Will it be safe?”
I nodded. “Marco told me he has caught them all.”
