Chapter 49
Luci
I ’ve been sick for days. I know it’s the pregnancy and this will pass, but right now, it sucks. I haven’t said anything to anyone since the day after I got here, the day that everyone agreed I should marry Elio. Everyone except for me.
The moment I got into Nonno’s car I regretted leaving with him. Alessandro might as well be universes away even though I’m carrying a part of him with me. A wave of nausea hits me and I’m glad I’ve gotten comfortable with a blanket in the bathroom. I get to the toilet in time for what’s left in my stomach to come up. Gentle footsteps come into the bathroom and Nonna squats next to me to rub my back.
“It’s okay. Your mamma and I were this sick when we were pregnant too. It means you’re going to have a girl. She will be blessed with your beauty and kindness.” Nonna has been the only one that’s been kind except Elio, so kind it’s annoying. Nonno is insistent on having things his way and Mamma keeps her distance, giving me the impression that I’m the biggest disappointment in her life.
“But this early?” So far, pregnancy sucks.
“Morning sickness can happen as early as four weeks and that timeline starts on the first day of your last period. That’s how I knew I was having your mamma.”
“Why are you here, Nonna? I appreciate your kindness, but we both know that Nonno sent you in here.”
“You see right through me sometimes don’t you? Yes, he did send me in. Let’s go back to your room and talk. I brought some toast for you and water with those electrolyte things. Elio has been generous and went to the store to get everything you need, including vitamins and all those ginger candies that help with morning sickness.” She immediately notices my sadness as she helps me up and into the bedroom. “All this stuff about ginger and morning sickness seems a little far-fetched to me.”
“Yet you think that morning sickness can depict the gender of my baby?”
“Of course, it can! Later we can find a list of old wifes’ tales that confirm you’ll have a girl. Now lay down and at least drink some water.” Nonna peels back the sheets and I climb in as she tucks me in. She pushes a loose curl behind my ear, handing me the toast and water while sitting on the edge of the bed.
I eat for Nonna and my poppy seed sized baby, no matter how much eating and drinking makes me want to gag. I don’t want to disappoint Nonna by refusing her help. “You didn’t stay here to make sure I ate and drank. What else?”
“My, my. There you go again.” Her sweet tone gets serious as she continues. “You’ll need help with this baby. Nonno and I are too old to help raise another baby. You know we love you and this baby but you need someone to help you, and that help needs to come from a man. Elio is a good man, a kind man. He loves you Luci, and he wants to be with you and raise this baby. Where I’m headed with this is that I think you should marry him.”
Tears well up in my eyes at her words. I always thought she would be on my side and it hurts to have her echo the same words everyone else said. “Nonna I can’t marry him. This is Alessandro’s baby and I want to raise this baby with him. I love him, Nonna.”
The sigh that leaves her mouth makes it known she’s going to say something that I won’t like. “Luci, you don’t love him. These hormones you have since you’re carrying the baby he put inside you make you believe that. You spent too much time around him. He’s your captor, and he’s brainwashed you. With enough time you’ll see that and you’ll make the right decision.”
“But Nonna you don’t understand,” The words come through broken sobs.
Nonna kisses me on my temple before standing, covering me with the blankets. “I know this is overwhelming, but you know we have your best interest in mind. Keep sipping on your water and rest. When you wake up, you’ll know what you need to do.”
The door closes before I cover my mouth, crying into my palm to muffle my sobs.
I remove the hand from my mouth to rest on my stomach, thinking of the life I’m currently growing. I speak similar words to my baby that I’ve repeated every night for the last week. “I’ll get us back to your papa little baby, I promise. I’ll figure out how to get us home.”