39. Bella
THIRTY-NINE
Bella
Three Months Later…
I sit on the edge of the bathroom sink, the pregnancy test clutched in my trembling hand. Lily stands beside me, her presence a comforting anchor. I take a deep breath and glance at the test, my heart pounding in my chest.
“It’s positive,” I whisper, my voice filled with a mix of awe and joy.
Lily’s face lights up with excitement. “Bella! That’s amazing! I’m so happy for you!”
I can’t help but smile, feeling a warmth spread through me. “I can’t believe it, Lily. I’m really going to have a baby.”
Lily wraps her arms around me in a tight hug. “You’re going to be a wonderful mother. And don’t worry about the hotel. When it’s time for your maternity leave, I’ll handle everything. You focus on you and the baby.”
I nod, feeling a surge of gratitude for my best friend. “Thank you, Lily. I know the hotel will be in good hands with you.”
I make my way to 1207 where Alex is writing his book. The past three months have been a whirlwind, but seeing him so focused and passionate about his work makes everything feel worthwhile.
I stand in the doorway for a moment, watching him as he types away, lost in his world of words. The sunlight streams through the window, casting a warm glow over him.
The crop report earned him enough money for him to retire. There was a month of chaos after Russo died. I hardly saw Alex for a couple of weeks but it soon died down. Ricardo rules with an iron fist and Alex is now at peace. He gets to spend his days doing what he’s always wanted to do and I couldn’t be happier for him.
He looks up, sensing my presence, and smiles.
“Hey, you,” he says, his eyes twinkling with curiosity. “You look like you have some news.”
I step into the room, my heart fluttering with excitement. “I do. Alex, I’m pregnant.”
His face breaks into a wide grin, and he stands up, crossing the room to wrap me in his arms. “Bella, that’s incredible!”
We hold each other tightly, the reality of our growing family sinking in. “I’m so happy,” I say, feeling tears of joy well up in my eyes. “I can’t wait to start this journey with you.”
He pulls back slightly, looking into my eyes. “We need to start thinking about where we want to live, how we want to decorate the nursery. Our baby deserves nothing but the best.”
I nod, the excitement building. “I’ve been thinking about that too. Maybe something with a lot of light, warm colors. A place where we can make beautiful memories.”
“Ricardo offered to build us a house anywhere we want, said we earned him enough money to build in the middle of Central Park.”
He smiles, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead. “Although, not just stay in the hotel? Room service and someone else cleans, what more do we need?”
“I love you, Alex,” I whisper, my heart full. “I’d stay in the streets if it meant being with you forever.”
“I love you too, Bella,” he replies, his voice soft and filled with emotion. “And how about a penthouse? I think you deserve it after everything you’ve been through.”
“I guess I could slum it in a penthouse if I absolutely have to.”