Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 84324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 422(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Adriano says nothing, but the voices grow louder. I hear kids yelling and laughing and smell the delicious aroma of the barbecue.
My sneaky husband pulls me to a stop, then the blindfold slips away.
“Surprise!”
My mouth falls open when I see our backyard has been completely transformed. “Oh, my God.”
Cream and gold decorations fill the garden, and long tables are covered in flowers and gifts. There’s a massive banner hanging above the tables.
Are Mommy Laurie and Daddy Adriano having a boy or girl?
A baby shower for me.
And everyone is here to celebrate with us. The men are gathered by the barbecues, and the women stand near the tables.
Emotion immediately stings the back of my eyes, and I swallow hard.
Mom walks toward me, looking a little emotional herself. “Surprised, bella mia?”
“You did all this?” I ask, stunned.
“It took weeks of planning without you finding out.” She presses a kiss to my cheek. “We all wanted you to have the baby shower of your dreams.”
And just like that, the tears start flowing. “Aww, Mom.” I hug her tightly.
I now have a massive family who love me so fiercely it still overwhelms at times, and I thank the heavens daily for them. Because there was a time in my life when nobody celebrated me, or cared enough to do something special like this, I appreciate everything they do for me with my entire heart.
I feel Adriano’s hand on my back, and it helps me gather myself.
Pulling away from Mom, I glance over the property, seeing Yuki and Nina waving excitedly at me while Valentina stands nearby holding Vittorio on her hip. Remo named his firstborn after Mom. She cried her eyes out the day they told her.
The memory makes my smile soften, then I hear Georgi laughing at something near the barbecue while Augusto shakes his head at him.
Little Ricky grins the second he notices me looking his way, and beside him, Tiny is already eating a hot dog roll while Big Ricky is sipping on a beer.
I hear the children shriek with laughter.
Everything feels alive, warm, and overflowing with love.
Adriano’s hand settles over my stomach again as he leans down close to my ear. “You okay?”
I look up at the man who once terrified the crap out of me. He changed my entire life in a matter of days and fought all my fears like a dark knight.
My vicious devil is still terrifying and as controlling as ever, but only to others.
“Yeah,” I whisper. “I’m just happy.”
His expression turns tender, then he presses a kiss on my forehead. “Come sit. I don’t want you standing for long periods of time.”
When I take a seat on a pink and blue decorated throne, the women instantly surround me and start pushing gifts into my hands and Adriano runs for cover, joining the men.
I peel soft yellow paper from a box, and when I open it, a grin spreads over my face. “Oh, my gosh, this is so stinking cute.”
“You have to guess who it’s from,” Nina says.
“What happens if I guess wrong?”
“Adriano has to drink,” Yuki answers.
Rosie lets out a burst of laughter. “It was my idea, so unless you want your husband getting stupid drunk, you better guess right.”
I stare at the tiny booties, then say, “Sienna?”
She gasps as she sinks down on a chair. “How did you know?”
“You’re obsessed with shoes.” I give her a grateful smile. “I love them.”
The women chuckle while Mom hands me another gift. It’s an engraved diaper bag. Baby Rizzo.
I glance at all the women, and when I see the excitement on Yuki’s face, I tip my head at her with a knowing smile. “Thank you, bestie.”
The next one is baby bath products, and when I try to figure out who it could be from, I don’t get any hints, so I take a wild guess. “Raya?”
“Nope,” Nina’s sister-in-law replies. “Yes, I have an unhealthy obsession with bath products, but that’s not from me.”
“Yo, Grumpy,” Rosie shouts. “You have to drink.”
“Sorry, my love,” I call out.
Georgi hands Adriano a tumbler with a finger of whiskey. “Down it.”
For the next two hours, I continue to unwrap gift after gift, and when I get the fourth one wrong, I say, “No more drinking. I don’t want Adriano getting sick. Make him run or do something funny instead.”
“Do the chicken dance,” Little Ricky shouts.
“How about I punch you everytime she gets one wrong?” Adriano asks.
“Oooh I know!” Nina says. “He has to say one thing he’s excited about as a dad-to-be.”
“Yes!” the women cheer.
Adriano gives Nina a thankful look. “I can’t wait to hold our baby for the first time.”
“Awww.” Everyone coos.
I continue opening gifts while conversations overlap around me. Once I’m done, Yuki keeps showing me tiny outfits she wants to steal because they’re so cute, and Nina snuggles up against Georgi’s side, while he rubs over her pregnant belly that’s starting to show.