Epilogue
Theo was the last to arrive, and he arrived with a gift, tissue paper sticking up from the top. He looked out of place carrying it, like someone was holding him at gunpoint.
“You made it. Finally.” I clapped him on the shoulder. “What’s this?”
“A gift.” He set it on the table where the other presents were. “Isn’t that what you’re supposed to do at this sort of thing?”
“It’s a gender reveal, so no. What did you get?”
“Diapers,” he said. “And I wrote that you’re an idiot on all of them. Something to read in the middle of the night.”
I grinned. “Thanks, man.”
Dante was already there with Hannah, and my parents were there too. Scarlett stood in a dress and heels, her large stomach noticeable in the baggy fabric. She was talking to her father, who had his arm around Hannah, and Scarlett was rubbing her stomach absent-mindedly like she always did.
“Nervous?” Theo asked.
“Why would I be nervous?”
“I’d be nervous as fuck if I were going to be a father.”
“I’m excited, man.”
“You know what the sex is?”
“Nope. Aldo is the only one who knows.”
Theo crossed his arms over his chest. “What do you think it is?”
I shrugged.
“What do you hope it is?”
“I honestly don’t care. Boy or girl, doesn’t matter to me.”
“Well, I think it’s a boy.”
“Why?” I asked.
He shrugged. “Look at how big she is. That’s obviously a big boy.”
“Did you just call my wife fat?”
He smirked. “I would never.”
Scarlett came over and hugged Theo. “So glad you came. And you brought a gift.”
“Diapers,” he said. “No idea if they’re the right size.”
She smiled. “Whatever the size, the baby will fit into them eventually.” She rubbed her dress over her stomach, arching her back more than she used to, to accommodate the extra weight. It was harder for her to get around, so our nights were spent in front of the TV with me rubbing her feet or her back. She didn’t cook anymore, and she’d stopped going into the restaurant for the time being. But despite her discomfort, she was very excited. “Now that everyone’s here, ready to find out if we’re having a boy or a girl?”
“I’m ready.” Theo looked at me. “What about you?”
“I’ve been ready since the day she told me she was pregnant.” My arm moved around her waist, and we walked to the cake on the kitchen island. Aldo had ordered it from her favorite bakery, and the inside was colored pink for a girl or blue for a boy.
“Oh my god, I’m so nervous,” she said.
Her father and Hannah gathered around with my parents, all of whom were equally excited about their first grandchild.
I grabbed the cake knife and handed it to her. “Would you like to do the honors, baby?”
“I don’t know. I’m so nervous.”
“Here.” I had her take the end of the handle. “Just hold it.” I grabbed the handle closer to the blade and did it for her, having her hold on and let the knife move on its own. We sliced into the soft frosting and the layers below. The shadow in the crack was still too dark to distinguish anything, so we made another cut on the other side.
“I don’t see any color yet,” Dante said.
Mom gave a sigh. “Hurry up. We need to know.”
I cut the other side then slid the knife underneath the base to lift it in the air.
Blue.
“Oh my god, we’re having a boy!” Scarlett threw her hands over her face and, like a spark to a match, burst into tears. “We’re having a boy.”
I returned the slice to the table and wrapped my arms around her. “These tears of sadness or joy?”
“Neither.” She sobbed into my chest. “I’m just…I don’t know.” She’d been a lot more emotional lately. We were watching TV one night, and a cat commercial came on and made her bawl.
I kissed her temple. “I’m excited to have a little man running around the house.”
Everyone cheered in excitement. My mom hugged my father, and they cherished the moment.
Dante smiled. “A grandson…I like that.”
Theo drank from his scotch. “I just hope he’s nothing like you, Axel. He could look identical to Scarlett, and you’d still be uglier.”
“Thanks, man.” I kissed my wife again.
He raised his glass. “Anytime.”
Scarlett continued to sob into my arms. “Can you believe it?”
My hand went to her distended stomach and bunched the fabric under my fingertips. “I’m so excited. I never cared about being a father before you. But now, it’s a dream come true.”
“You’re so sweet. I hope he’s just as sweet.”
“I’m sure he will be. A big mama’s boy.”
“That would be nice.” She stopped crying, her makeup smeared from the tears. “I just hope he’s not close to your size because that’s gonna be rough.”
“You can do it, baby.”
“Easy for you to say. You don’t have to do it.”
“You know I would if I could.” I pulled her in again and gave her a kiss.
She left my arms and went over to each guest one at a time, hugging them and thanking them for being a part of this special moment. My parents were always happy to talk to her, and without their telling me how they felt toward her, I knew they loved her.
Dante left Hannah’s side and came to mine. “Congratulations.”
“Congratulations to you.”
“Thank you,” he said. “I’m very excited. And if you need a babysitter, call me.”
“You?” I asked incredulously.
“I raised a little girl all on my own, didn’t I?” He nodded toward her. “And look how she turned out.”
“True,” I said with a smile. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
He patted me on the back. “Thank you for everything. I know this moment wouldn’t be possible without the way you supported my relationship with Scarlett. Most men wouldn’t have tolerated me, probably would have killed me, but you had the grace to forgive me. You’re a very admirable man, and if my grandson is anything like you, he’ll be a fine man indeed.”
My eyes shifted away in discomfort. His words were appreciated, but the sentiment made me feel all sorts of things that were unwelcome. “Thank you for saying that.”
“Of course,” he said. “We’re a family.”
I nodded as I continued to watch Scarlett, making my father laugh with something cute she said. “Yeah…we’re a family.”
Next in the series…
My husband of two years tells me he wants an open marriage.
I”m stunned. I”m hurt. And I”m livid. I don”t want to be married to a man who wants to open our bed to other people.
But then I get a flat tire in the pouring rain and a sexy-as-hell gentleman helps me out.
My husband is in the game, so one look at the skull ring on this gentleman”s left hand tells me exactly who he is.
The Skull King.
I didn”t want an open marriage...but I definitely want this man.