“Really?”
“Yes, fertility is still a huge mystery for many couples. I’ve had women and men with perfectly healthy reproduction systems who never manage to conceive on their own after years of trying. I’ve seen a case like yours conceive on her first attempt. This will not be easy, I’m glad you and your husband came in aware of that. But there is every reason to believe you will become pregnant.”
“How soon can we do the surgery, and what will it be like?”
***
Regina
“I’m sorry,” I whisper into Dominic’s neck. He’s holding me tight as we lie in bed. I told him I needed a nap, determined to cry out of his sight, yet he wouldn’t allow me to hide from him.
“For what?” He pulls back to study me.
“You know...not being able to do the one thing I’m supposed to be able to do.”
His frown is a little scary. “Are you fucking serious? The only reason we found out that you might, emphasis on might, have issues getting pregnant was because I’m too much of a control freak to give you the babies you want the way any other couple usually has them. I’m the one not doing the one thing I’m supposed to do. Quit thinking stupid shit like that. This is already going to be a long, hard road, princess. We talked about it, you said you were prepared. I need you to be sure.”
I bury my head in his chest. “I love you, Dominic. There is always going to be a part of me that believes I’m short-changing you in some way.”
“That couldn’t be further from the reality if you tried.”
“Thank you, for loving me. For putting up with my neurotic fears.”
“You’re welcome, sweetheart. No thanks are necessary, though. What do you say we go bug Chloe and have her find us a house to fit the four kids you want so badly?”
“Really?”
“Yes, really.”
***
Regina
Enzo opens the door with Allegra in his arms. The moment she sees Dominic she tries to throw herself at him. With a chuckle he catches her close. My heart clenches so tight I have a hard time catching my breath. Soon I’ll see him like this
every day with our baby girl. I can’t wait.
“Chloe’s in my office waiting for you two. I gave her plenty of chocolate and she’s sipping ginger ale so she should be in a good mood, at least for a few hours.”
“Still with the throwing up?” I ask, wincing.
“Yeah, it’s been rough. No matter how many times she tells the baby her morning sickness should be over, he doesn’t want to listen. She’s blaming it on the fact it’s a boy and she’s putting in for all girls from here on out. Come here, baby girl. Let’s go get you some carrots to gnaw on, not Uncle Dom’s tie.”
Allegra starts to cry when Enzo takes her until he blows a raspberry on her neck, then she’s giggling again. I sigh as they walk away. Dominic catches me close. “Patience, sweetheart, come on.”
We take the stairs up to Enzo’s office, which is massive with not just two monitors but three, and two different laptops. Pushing open the door, Dominic guides me in ahead of him.
“Hey, are you sure you’re good to help us? We could bother Dante.” Dominic eyes her with one eyebrow up.
Shaking her head, she gestures for us to come around to her side of the desk where she has two chairs, one on each side of her. “I’m good. I’ve been on my ass so much it’s starting to hurt. Enzo is also driving me nuts with how he won’t let me do a thing, even hold my daughter. And don’t tell him I said that. We are going to cut it down quick though. Dominic, tell me what are the parameters as far as money and where you want it to be.”
“It needs to be within five miles of the club. Past Uptown is too far, I don’t really want to go south of Lincoln Park. Regina is talking four girls, so we’ll need a room for each and I’ll need an office, as far away from the rest of the house as possible, a carriage house appeals for the office. With that size I’m guessing we’ll need to start at two million. I don’t want to go over five million but if we find the perfect home and it’s seven million, I won’t bitch.”
My jaw becomes unhinged. “Seven million dollars?” Seriously, how rich is he? I give up. “How rich are you?”
Both he and Chloe laugh. “I’m rich enough. And most of it is even legit.”
“Dominic?” I whine, then am annoyed with myself for whining.