Chapter 37
I'm sitting on a bench watching my beautiful daughter Liza play in the pool. The day is radiant, the sun glorious. She climbs out of the water and calls to me.
“Daddy, Daddy, look at me!” She runs and jumps back into the pool.
Her dark hair falls across her face as she laughs with pure joy.
I hear footsteps and watch my beautiful wife approach. I smile as I see her crossing the garden, her eyes shining with love as she looks at our daughter and me.
She walks toward me with one hand behind her back. I watch her curiously.
“What is it?” I ask as Liza comes running up to us. “You look like you want to tell me something.”
She laughs and stops in front of me. She runs her free hand through my hair, tousling it, and meets my gaze. I notice her eyes are sparkling.
“Actually, I have something to tell you.”
“Really?” I frown, intrigued, but curiosity quickly gives way to concern. “Is everything okay?”
“Everything is more than okay,” she replies. “It's just that... Liza is going to have some company.”
I blink, unable to believe what I'm hearing.
“What do you mean? Are you saying...”
She nods, biting her lip to hold back a smile.
“We're going to have another baby.”
At the word “baby,” Liza breaks into a huge smile.
“I'm going to have a little brother?”
“Or a little sister,” she says with a laugh, handing me the pharmacy pregnancy test.
Surprised, I pull her into a tight hug and kiss her, then pull Liza close and kiss her too.
“I can't believe it, love. You just turned a perfect day into an unforgettable one.”
She laughs, clinging to me, radiating more happiness than I've ever seen.
“Our life is beautiful and wonderful, and I'm sure it's only going to get better.”
I hug her and kiss her belly. Liza looks at me.
“I want to kiss my little brother too.”
I lift her up and she kisses Lola's belly. Lola pulls her close and kisses her too. I smile, thinking about what a surprise life gave me when it brought Lola into my world. She changed me, transformed me into a true family man. A mafioso, but a family man.