Chapter 78
Alessandro
38 Weeks Pregnant
S hooting pain goes through my core as I bring my hand to my stomach, noticing the blood as I pull it away. Someone shot me. No. It can’t be. Luci screams when I collapse in her arms as she yells at me, trying to keep my focus on her.
“Alessandro! Alessandro, stay awake. Please! Stay awake for us. For our daughter. For Gia. I want to name her Gia. Stay awake for Gia please!”
Gia? She wants to name our daughter Gia. I turn my head to Luci but immediately focus on a figure that’s appeared behind her shoulder. A figure I’ve seen in pictures and the first woman who loved me. Looking at her, I realize how beautiful of a woman she is, how beautiful she was.
“So beautiful.” A rush of calm floods me when Mamma nods her head, her way of saying it’s okay to close my eyes.
I wake up in my bed, confused about the vivid dream I had. When I roll over I notice Luci isn’t there and shoot out of bed, throwing on a pair of sweatpants before I search for Luci. She needs to be resting.
“Luci! Luci, where are you?” I notice a figure appearing off in the distance. As I get closer, I notice the person I see is slightly taller and leaner than Luci with dark hair that matches mine. I halt when she turns around, realizing it’s Gia. It’s my mamma.
“Alessandro, mio figlio. Come here, appease your mamma with a hug.”
I approach my mamma as she embraces me, a tear falling down my face and it hits me. My mamma hasn’t held me since I was a newborn and I’ve never had any memories of Mamma’s hugs.
“Oh my, have you grown? The last time I held you in my arms you were smaller than me! Now look at you. You’re such a handsome man just like your papa.” The mention of Salvatore makes me stiffen, and she senses it. “Don’t be too hard on Salvatore. Losing me was harder on him than he’ll admit. Geno did an amazing job making you into the man you are today. I’m so proud of you.” She lovingly cradles my face in her cold hands, sending a shiver down my spine.
Wait, if Mamma is here then where is Luci?
“Where’s Luci?” Mamma answers with a sad smile. That can’t be good. “Where. Is. Luci?”
“She’s okay. Luci is with Quinn and Enzo right now.” My body relaxes when Mamma says she’s okay. My eyes widen when my brain registers she said Quinn.
“Why is she with Quinn?” My heart stops, waiting for the answer I don’t want to hear but know is true.
“Luci is in labor. She’s doing amazing.”
“Luci is in labor? I need to get back. Mamma, how do I get back?” I turn to run to my daughter’s nursery when Mamma grabs my arm, holding me in place.
“Alessandro. My son. Wait. You cannot let yourself get stressed. Calm down. It’s okay.”
“It’s okay? How is it okay? I’m here and Luci is in labor. I need to be with her. She needs me!”
“You’re right. To be able to do that you need to calm down and keep your heart rate down.” I attempt to slow my heart rate while looking into my mamma’s eyes. Then it hits me that she’s officially here. My mamma is right in front of me.
“I got your journal.” I’m not sure what possesses me to say that, but when I do, she smiles.
“Good. I wrote that for you, as I’m sure you noticed. Carrying you was the biggest blessing of my life. You’ve made your mamma proud just by being the man you were always meant to be. I’m sorry I couldn’t be around for you growing up. You stole my heart!” I hold her close as she laughs, making me smile in return. I’m not sure how long I’ve been here or how long we continue hugging. When we part ways she grabs my face in her cold hands again, taking the time to scan my features. “It’s time, mio figlio.”
“Time for what, Mamma?” I never knew how therapeutic it would be to call her mamma until today. I needed this.
“You need to go back to Luci. Be there for your daughter like I couldn’t be there for you. I need you to remember one thing, mio figlio. Be a part of every moment you can with your girls. Treasure everything and remember every sight, scent, voice, everything. Those memories will be what matters.” She reaches up on her toes to kiss my forehead and smells my head similar to how you would smell a newborn’s head. “Be the papa I know you can be. Do it for your mamma.”
“I will.” Everything fades, including Mamma as I enter a space of blackness and can hear everything around me but I can’t see anything.