Holy shit, ten weeks.
“Hadley, you okay?”
I nod. “I didn’t realize it would be that soon.”
“Yes, it will be. You’re going to do great.”
I nod again.
~ ~ ~
I keep complaining about Luca not being ready, but what about me? I lean against the nursery doorframe. I love it. It’s picture perfect. Luca did most of the work, but I did help. I go over to our room and lay on his side of the bed. I nuzzle my face into his pillow and inhale his scent.
My fear takes over me as I lose myself in my thoughts. What will I do if Luca leaves me? I would continue my job at THN. I’m sure Mama would move in. There’s no doubt in my mind about that. I would be a single mom, just like my mom was.
Little Valeria wouldn't have daddy-daughter play dates. Luca wouldn’t see her dance recitals, or whatever sport she chose to play. Would I tell her about Luca? Of course, I would. I’m not an evil bitch. I would tell her about our years together, our traveling, and all the fun times.
I close my eyes and think about our memories. The one that hits me is when Luca took me to Russia for the first time. We had only been dating for a few months. It was our first summer together. My mother wasn’t sure about me going all the way over there, but I was an adult and I promised to check in often.
The moment I met Mama and Papa, they treated me as if I were their own. I’ve never doubted that for a single moment. Although, Mama would not let Luca and I stay in the same bedroom. She still doesn’t like the idea that we’re not married after ten years.
I first saw pictures of Valeria when Luca took me on a tour of the house. She looked like Mama with the big caramel eyes, but lighter hair. Luca never talked about her until he took me out to the pond.
He had told me how much he hated that pond and the memories it held. I never pushed him to tell me. I knew that he would when he was ready. Luca did everything on his own time. He never rushes into anything.
Come on, it took him ten years to ask me to marry him.
He finally opened up to me when he took me on a picnic a few days before we left. I cried as he briefly skimmed the details of Valeria’s death. He didn’t go into great length the first time, but I knew he wouldn’t. I was honored that he trusted me with that part of his life.
I open my eyes and scan the room again. Luca does everything when he’s ready. He promised he wouldn’t leave me. I just need to be patient, and that’s something that I’m not very good with.
~ ~ ~
I tried to be home two hours ago. I wanted to be there when Luca came home. He was so upset about the loss last night that I didn’t even mention the doctor’s appointment to him. I hoped to have dinner made and surprised him, but that didn’t happen.
“Luca, you home?”
“I’m here.” I hear him in the TV room and I go in there and sit next to him on the couch.
“How was your flight? I saw your text that you landed, but I was busy in a meeting.”
“It was fine. How was your meeting? They kept you late.”
“It was nuts. However, the hockey league released more copyrights to us and that’ll help when we do more features and Classic Game Nights. Are you hungry? We could go out.”
“No, not really, but if you are, I guess we can,” he shrugs.
“I had a huge meal earlier and surprisingly, I’m not hungry at all. I think that means Little Valeria is asleep.” I rub my belly. “I went to the doctor yesterday.”
“Oh, yeah. How did that go? Everything still good?” He looks over at me.
“Well, apparently those pains I’m feeling are Braxton Hicks contractions and Dr. Jones said not to be concerned with them. And…” I pause. He’s going to flip, but I have to say it. “It looks like we’ll be parents in about ten weeks.”
“What pains?” He turns to look at me. “You haven’t told me about any pains, Hadley. And you’re already having contractions? Why the hell haven’t you been telling me this?”
“Luca, calm down.” Shit, I hadn’t told him about them. I hoped he would h
ave ignored that part. “I’m fine and they are fake contraction pains. I’m not in labor. I didn’t tell you because I didn't want you to worry. The season was getting ready to start and I knew that you had enough stress. Everything is fine.”