Chapter 53 Sophie
Sophie
The private delivery room at the hospital is spacious with Siena in the center on the bed and Matti and I on either side of her.
I’m elbow-deep in sterile gloves, counting minutes between Siena’s contractions while Dr. Rossi barks orders from the adjoining suite where Giovanna’s twins have decided to make their appearance simultaneously.
Three babies today, and thank God. The overwhelming chaos of the birthing rooms is probably the only thing that could erase the memory of how Vin stared at me in the hall.
“Sophie, I need you to stay with Siena,” Dr. Rossi calls through the open door. “Her labor is progressing faster than Giovanna’s but the twins are in crisis.”
My heart hammers as I move down to the end of Siena’s bed as Matti holds her hand and whispers in her ear.
I’m not a doctor. I’m a chef. But Dr. Rossi walked me through the basics in case he needed an extra pair of hands, and now here I am, about to help deliver my cousin’s baby while trying not to think about how I’ll never do this myself.
“We’ve got this, Soph.” Siena grips my hand hard enough to crack bones, her face shiny with sweat. “I trust you.”
I smile, praying my terror doesn’t show through. “You’ve got this, love. Let’s friggin meet this baby!”
“Matti! You’re squeezing my hand too hard,” Siena grits out through another contraction, and I can’t help but smile despite everything. Even in labor, she’s in control.
“Better?” Matti rubs her hand, his knuckles are bruised. I wonder what that means Vin has been up to and if he’s okay.
My stomach twists, but I push the thought away. Siena needs me.
“Another contraction,” I murmur, checking the monitor. “Big one coming.”
The next hour blurs into a symphony of controlled chaos.
Tommy refuses to leave Giovanna’s side in the next room, his deep voice a steady rumble of support.
Dr. Rossi is with Giovanna but shouts out to me on occasion, calm and precise.
I focus on Siena’s breathing and the numbers climbing on the monitor.
“Almost there,” Dr. Rossi calls, appearing in the doorway long enough to check Siena’s progress. “You’re doing beautifully. Sophie, when I give the word, you’re going to help guide the baby.”
Guide the baby. Me?
My hands shake as I position myself, following Dr. Rossi’s rapid-fire instructions. Matti is murmuring to Siena but her eyes are locked on mine.
“Now, Sophie!” Dr. Rossi’s voice cuts through my thoughts before he rushes back to Giovanna.
“Okay, Siena, ready? Time to meet Emilia. Push for me!”
There’s no time to think. One second I’m nodding and smiling at Siena and the next second I’m holding her tiny, perfect miracle. Emilia’s wail fills the whole room, throaty and loud.
“She’s here,” I whisper, my voice breaking. “Siena, meet Emilia.”
The baby is warm and slippery and impossibly small, her face scrunched up in indignation at being forced into this cold, bright world. I lift her carefully, placing her on Siena’s chest as Dr. Rossi swoops in to clamp and let Matti cut the cord.
Matti has actual tears streaming down his face as he stares at his wife and daughter like they’re the only people in the world.
I blink hard against the burning in my eyes, and swallow past the lump in my throat.
It’s beautiful, what they have.
I carefully wash Emilia, but when I try to hand her back to Siena, Siena shakes her head and snuggles into Matti’s arms, her voice tired but light.
“Hold her, please.”
I carefully snuggle the baby to my chest, cleaned and swaddled in pink, the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
She’s so light. So fragile. Her tiny fingers curl against my chest, and she smells amazing.
God, I want this so badly I could taste it. A baby with Vin’s dark eyes and gorgeous olive skin. A little girl or boy who would grow up knowing she was loved fiercely, protected absolutely, who would never doubt her worth because her father chose her, chose her mother, chose us.
But he didn’t choose me.
A tear slides hot down my cheek before I can stop it. I turn slightly, hiding my face as I press a kiss to the baby’s downy head. She smells like new life and promise, everything good.
Siena beams at me. “Auntie Sophia holding baby Emilia Sophia Bellamorte Dragovari.”
I squeeze my eyes shut around the tears I can’t stop from pouring down my face, too overcome to speak.
Siena reaches for me and I reach out my hand the best I can around the baby. “My best friend. The strongest woman I know,” she says.
The tears come faster now, but I’m smiling through them. “I’m honored.”
“I always wanted us to be pregnant at the same time!” Siena laughs, exhausted and elated.
The words hit like a cold shower. I freeze, my smile faltering. And that’s when I feel him.
I look up to see Vin standing in the doorway, his face almost white, his eyes locked on me with an intensity that steals the breath.
Not on the baby. On me.
For a moment, the room falls away. It’s just us, standing on opposite sides of an impossible divide, and the look on his face is something I’ve never seen before.
Then I realize why: he heard what Siena said. He thinks I’m pregnant.
My heart stops, then restarts with a painful lurch.
I turn to Siena with a breezy laugh, feeling Vin’s gaze on me. “Pregnant at the same time? Last time I checked you and Giovanna were the only ones so lucky.”
She laughs with me. “I meant the restaurant. You’re giving birth to your baby, and I gave birth to mine.”
Ah yes. The restaurant. My baby. The only one I’ll ever have. I can almost feel Vin deflate.
“Vin!” I’ve never heard Matti sound so animated. “Come meet your niece!”
I turn Vin’s way and he blinks, the hard edge slamming back into place.
I carefully hand Emilia back to Siena. “I should check on Giovanna.”
“Sophie—” Vin’s voice stops me halfway to the door.
I don’t turn around. No way I’m letting him do this to me again in front of everyone. Not on this special day.
“Congratulations on finding Aurelio,” I say quietly. “I hope being boss is everything you wanted.”
Then I walk out before he can see me fall apart.