Epilogue
Five years later
JADE WAS LEANING on pillows against the headboard. Eight-week-old Helly was nursing and four-year-old Severo was tucked against her side, practicing his reading with an English picture book.
There was a soft click and Jade glanced up to see Luca in the doorway to the closet.
He tucked his phone into the pocket of the black shirt he wore with a black tie and dark gray trousers. His jaw shone with a fresh shave and his hair was still damp. His expression made her toes curl, it was so masculine and possessive.
“You could have waited to shower until I had my makeup and hair done.” She was still in her robe, for heaven’s sake.
It was date night, their first proper one in half a year, but it was an anniversary of sorts. They jokingly referred to it as “going to Giselle’s birthday,” but it really meant getting a hotel room and having as much sex as they could endure.
As parents of a still-new baby, that might mean a quickie and rolling over to catch much-needed extra sleep, but they were both still looking forward to it anyway.
“Maybe I’ll take another later,” Luca said suggestively, then ambled toward them. “Is she asleep? I’ll give her to Nanny, then put Severo to bed while you finish getting ready. Let’s go, son.”
“No, Papa.” Severo’s legs jolted straight and he thrust his book away. Then he scrambled to his knees and threw himself across Jade, hugging her and bumping Helly awake so she began to cry.
“Severo. Be careful.” Luca was gentle but firm as he gathered their son. “You scared Helly.”
“Nooooo.” Severo staged a full tantrum, kicking and pushing against Luca’s shoulder while he yelled furiously. “No. Stay here.”
“We’re only going out for a little while.” Luca sent Jade an exasperated look as he restrained their son, trying to break through to him. “Grammy is here.”
“No, Papa.” Now it was plea and defeat as Severo wilted into hugging fierce arms around Luca’s neck, face buried against Luca’s throat while he began to sob.
“Ah, son.” Luca rubbed his back.
They were all still out of sorts after losing Filomena a few months ago, but Severo was especially struggling to accept that she was never coming back.
It made him sensitive to any separation.
He’d been particularly anxious when Jade had had to deliver by C-section and wound up in hospital for several days.
Thankfully, Jade’s mother was living with them now. Patricia had found the Sicilian climate agreed with her. Once she had moved here, Jade and Luca found themselves spending more and more time at this villa, especially as Filomena entered her final days.
With Helly’s arrival, Jade had wanted to be here even more and now that Luca’s appointment with the bank was finished, and he wasn’t needed in Milan any longer, they had started calling this home.
“Order in?” Jade mouthed since there was no point trying to speak over their crying children. She tried to soothe Helly by relatching her.
Luca’s mouth twisted, rueful and resigned as he nodded.
“Severo, listen. We’re not going out. We’ll only be downstairs, having a dinner as grown-ups. Hmm? But it’s bedtime. Do you want to help me put Helly in her crib?”
Severo rubbed his face in a nod against Luca’s shoulder, so she gently pulled Helly off her nipple and covered her breast, then stood to transfer her into Luca’s free arm.
Severo turned his face to look at his little sister, whispering, “Sorry, Helly,” as he reached out to give her a comforting pat.
Jade’s heart melted and Luca kissed his son’s hair as he carried them from the room.
A moment later, as Jade began to apply her makeup, she heard them on the baby monitor. Severo’s high voice blended sweetly with Luca’s baritone as they sang a lullaby to a complaining Helly, one that said Mama would sleep if baby would sleep.
Oh, she loved her family so very much. She snatched at a tissue, trying to stem the emotive tears that rose to her eyes.
When Luca came back to the bedroom thirty minutes later, she wore a sparkly dress not unlike the one she’d worn to that party so long ago.
It was just as short and her postpartum breasts were definitely trying to escape the neckline.
She wore heels so high and pointed, they left no doubt as to what sort of evening she was anticipating with her husband.
“Wow,” he breathed as he took her in. “I, uh…” He swallowed, seeming delightfully distracted as she walked toward him. “I called the restaurant. They’ll deliver in an hour or so.”
“Oh? What do you want to do while we wait?” She stepped past him to close the door and lock it.
His breath huffed out. “What do you want to do, bella?”
“Whatever you tell me to do, mi amato.”
His phone hit the floor and he pressed her to the door.