Strong (Book 2 in the No Control series)

*24 Weeks*

We are enjoying one last trip to the villa in Italy, before the baby comes. Liam has me standing in the gazebo for this month’s picture.
Back at the house, I watch as he posts the close up of my belly. Then he changes the wallpaper on his phone to a full length picture of me.
Taking his hand in mine. “Liam, I’d like to go to Verona, to see Lucia. Let her know about the baby.”
He kisses the top of my head. “That’s a great idea. How about tomorrow?”
“Perfect, cause right now, I could use a nap.” I relax, letting my body melt into his. His chest being my favorite pillow. Falling asleep as he plays with my hair.

The next day we make our way to Juliet’s house. Mere moments after arriving Lucia spots us from across the courtyard. She runs towards us, her daughter Mia trying to keep up.
Lucia sees my belly and her hands fly up to cover her mouth. “So happy.” She manages in English till her daughter arrives.
We exchange hugs with Mia as well. Lucia begins to speak very quickly in Italian. Mia translates for us.
“My mama says she is very happy for you both. She also asks if you remember when she told you “Pazienza”, patience?”
I look up at Liam and smile. “We do remember that. She was referring to the baby, wasn’t she?”
Lucia looks at me while she waits for Mia to translate.
“Yes, she could feel that you had a medical issue. She knew that it could be rectified though, that’s why she told you patience.”
I hug Lucia tightly. “Thank you.”
Mia adds. “She asks if you want to know if it’s a boy or a girl?”
“She knows?” Liam asks.
Mia smirks. “She says she does, and as weird as it is, she’s always right.”
Liam and I look at each other. “Actually we want to wait.”
Lucia nods.
I move closer to her, quietly asking in my broken Italian. “Bambino salutare?”
Lucia takes my hands in hers. “Sî. Molto.”
I breathe a sigh of relief. Squeezing her hands, I tell her. “Grazie.”
Looking at Liam. “I asked her if the baby is healthy.”
“And?” Liam asks nervously.
I smile. “She said yes, very.”
Liam shares that same sigh of relief that I did.
Lucia approaches us. She takes Liam’s hand, setting it gently on my belly, then taking my own, placing it on top of Liam’s. Leaving her own hands on top of ours.
“Vero amore.” Lucia says.
“True love.” I say.
“Per sempre.” She adds.
“Forever.” Liam says with a smile.
Lucia removes her hands from ours, placing them on my belly, directly below ours.
“Benedizione.” Lucia says with a sparkle in her eyes.
“I don’t know that one.” Liam says.
Looking in his eyes, with tears slipping from my own, I tell him.
“It means….blessing.”

Notes