Six Months Later
SIX MONTHS LATER
EPILOGUE
Charlie
G raduation from nursing school at my age wasn’t really a big deal, or so I told myself a hundred times as I waited in the spring sunshine for my family to arrive. Most other mature students my age had just had their diploma mailed to them. I’d suggested that to Ren, and he’d tutted in that infuriating way he did when he knew I was lying about something.
“You’ll go and collect your diploma in person, and I’ll be there to watch you, even if it’s just waiting in line at the admin office,” he’d said firmly, so here I was.
The other graduates around me were all younger, and I was pretty sure none of them were pregnant.
You couldn’t really make out my bump yet at all. I was only four months along, and it was my first pregnancy, so I wasn’t showing too much.
“Here they are,” Sonny murmured to me.
I swiveled around in my seat. Yep, I had a bodyguard at graduation. I was that strange, untouchable student giving off secret princess vibes, and I was okay with that. I was sure Lucy would have it even worse in Florence when she started culinary school in a few weeks.
The small quad was full of chairs and parents and well-wishers. Pink blossom trees enclosed the space, and the sky was light blue.
Into that pastel palate, a spear of darkness appeared.
The De Sanctis family entered the quad, Ren’s men spreading out to check the safety of the area. All in black, they didn’t exactly fit in. Renato led the charge up the central aisle, Elio at his shoulder, Giada on the other side, and Carmella and Lucy trailing behind them. Something clutched my throat at the sight of all the people who had become so dear to me, showing up here to support me.
Renato scanned for me, drawing eyes from the rest of the audience as he walked through the crowd like a king visiting his serfs. It parted naturally for him. He looked deadly, and more handsome than anyone had a right to. His eyes met mine, and the slight tension on his face faded. He smiled at me, inclining his head in a nod.
Good girl, little nurse. You’ve done so well. I could still hear the words he’d whispered in my ear last week when I’d told him I was pregnant, right in the middle of sex.
The Italians sat, looking like the rebel cool kids at school who everyone else wanted to be. The music started, and the ceremony began.
When my name was called, I took my diploma, and loud whistles filled the air. My ragtag group of family had all stood and were clapping so loudly, it should have been embarrassing. Giada led the charge, of course. Even the De Sanctis men, many of whom I knew by name now, having treated their various cuts and wounds, clapped loudly from the sidelines.
I didn’t blush or rush away. I deserved this.
I raised my diploma in celebration, then took my damn time leaving the stage.