AllFreeNovel
Share Us
As we drive off, I check the rearview mirror and smile.
Stitches has taken my spot on the park bench. Sasha’s bouncing Bryce on her knee as he points at the ducks on the pond…
* * *
That evening, Salvatore and I sit on the floor in the living room and encourage Dominic to take his first real steps.
“Come to Mama, Dom,” I say, holding out my arms. “Aren’t you hungry? Mama can feed you.”
“Cheater,” Salvatore grumbles.
“He already saidPapafirst. It’s only fair he comes to me first.”
“He saidpoopfirst. Papa was second.”
I snort trying to hold in my laugh. “I forgot about that! But it doesn’t count. He was constipated and had finally relieved himself.Of coursepoop was what he’d say.”
A grin slants across Salvatore’s mouth as he shakes his head and mutters something about his wife being the real crazy one.
We continue encouraging Dominic to come to either of us.
For his part, the thirteen-month-old bounces in place, looking between the two of us with bright eyes and a giggle. He takes the tiniest step toward me and Salvatore calls to him.
“C’mon, Dom. Come to Papa. I’m over here. Wanna play magic tricks?”
“Now who’s cheating? Dom, baby, Mama misses you. Come here.”
Dominic takes another wobbly step toward me and then backtracks a step as if about to go to Salvatore. We keep cheering him on ’til he’s giggling and bouncing to our calls. His eyes light up when he finally makes his decision and teeters over.
He doesn’t choose me. He doesn’t choose Salvatore.
Dominic waddles over to where the trio of Olive, Salt, and Pepa lay on the floor. All three of the pets perk their heads and ears up as the baby approaches. Olive leaps to her feet and does a happy circle to celebrate.
Salvatore and I share a look and then burst into laughter.
“I guess our boy made his choice,” he says. “He chooses the pets.”
“If you think about it, it’s a smart choice. It’s neutral.”
Salvatore walks over and helps me up from the floor, pulling me to my feet. He drops a kiss on my cheek, his hand gliding over my small pooch. “Maybe our daughter will choose differently. She’ll be a daddy’s girl.”
My brows raise. “Daughter? How do we know it’s not another boy?”
“It could be twins.”
“Jon, if it’s twins… expect the womb to be permanently closed for business after this.”
We spend more family time in the living room. Salvatore heads over to scoop Dominic up and hold him high as if he’s flying around the room. I sit on the sofa with the cats next to me and Olive at my feet and watch the two play.
It’s easy to imagine what our next baby will be like seeing Salvatore with Dominic. It very well could be a girl. He’s right that I could even be carrying twins.
I shudder at the thought and excuse myself to the kitchen for a drink.
The staff pause their after dinner clean-up to ask me what I need.
“Here you go, Mrs. Mancino. Freshly squeezed,” says Shonda, handing me a glass of iced lemonade. “Which reminds me, I forgot to give you your mail earlier. It’s on the counter. Security hadn’t picked it up from the front gates so I brought it in and sorted it myself. I set aside a stack for you and Mr. Mancino.”
I take the small stack, thinking nothing of the envelopes stamped and postmarked. Most are from companies and business associates.
