A Love Restored

o my room.

I served two bowls full of soup and toasted some bread with some garlic butter, then put it all in a tray and took it to

Since both Julian and I were in no condition to be doing much now, we had to hire someone to cook for us, plus a nurse to dress his wounds and help me around the house.

“Dinner,”

I announced. Julian was sitting up in our, um, my bed. He turned to look at me and smiled. I sat on the other side of him.

Julian took a sip of his soup and made a face.

He looked at me, slightly smirking. “Is this what our old age will look like? Are we already old?” He joked, “Nurses and cooks and bland soup.”

“It’s not bland,” I furrowed my brows at him, “I think you can’t taste that well because of all the painkillers you’re on.”

He grimaced. “One painkiller, Ginevra. That I didn’t need. You forced me to take it.”

I smiled to myself. “Taking painkillers won’t make you any less of a man, Capo Bastone.”

I liked saying Capo Bastone again. Earlier, when I used to say it, it had been a joke, something I said to him teasingly. Since he had been reinstated, it somehow became laden with meaning. More meaning that it had ever corried. Now it was a constant reminder of a position he had to cam twice, one he had given up for me. And one that I was now tied to forever.

He had gotten me a bracelet this time. With his symbol. Since the necklace had so many bad memories tied to it, we collectively decided not to replicate it yet. But I did love wearing that symbol. It made me feel like I belonged to him, with him. like it was where I was meant to be.

“I like hearing you say that. Its incredibly hot.” He looked up at the ceiling, “Its so hard to control myself when you do these things, Ginevra. Especially when you’re so pregnant. It brings out something…primal in me. If 1 hadn’t been injured, I would spend all day eating you out. Because after your delivery we won’t be doing anything sexual for like, a year.”

I couldn’t believe we were having this conversation over soup.

“The recommended time is six months, 1 corrected.

“Not taking any risks. Don’t want to hurt you.”

“And its not like we will have much time,” I laughed, “Kids tend to keep you busy.”

“I intended to keep you busy, till 1 got shot.”

He made a lot of jokes about it. It wasn’t that funny. It wasn’t funny at all.

“I keep forgetting its your first time seeing me get injured like this. It will happen again, Ginevra.”

Tears threatened my eyes. “Don’t say that!”

Julian frowned. He reached out and patted my head. “You need to get used to it. Occupational hazards, baby.”

I frowned. It wasn’t good news. I mean, it wasn’t news. I knew in my head that I should prepare myself for these things. But it didn’t make anything casier.

I also worried about my daughter. Growing up in the mafia was not easy. Especially growing up a Rivera, daughter of a Capo Bastone. I knew Julian and I would do our best.

But, stillConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

Both of us were done eating, so Julian took our dishes and put them in the kitchen. He came back, and we both lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, holding hands. One of

Julian’s hands rested protectively on my belly

“We’ve been through so much. And now we’re going to be parents. It’s hard to believe sometimes.” He said.

I was starting to tear up again. “I know. I just wish my mom could be here to see this. She would have been so happy for us. It feels like, I just lost my mom, and now I’m going

to be one myself. Life moves on so fast, no?”

Julian squeezed my hand reassuringly. “I know, she would probably hate me, which is understandable.” I shook my head and argued, “My Dad doesn’t hate you,” to which Julian insisted that he did.

*Your mom would be so proud of the woman you’ve become. And I’m honored to be by your side on this journey. I’m honored I get to be the father of your child. That I get to bring her up with you,”

I smiled. “Thanks, Julian. You don’t know how much that means to me, really.”

*We’ve faced a lot of challenges, but we’ve also grown so much together. And I know we ll continue to do so as we become parents.”