by Renea Porter
“Are you okay?” Matteo rushed to Olivia.
“I’m fine. Just tired. Baby girl is so beautiful. I thought I might name her Jade Victoria Carmicheal.”
“You want to give her my last name?” Matteo asked through tears.
“I do. Because we want to be a family and I know you will be a great father. If we have kids in the future, they will all have the same last name.” She reached up, swiping his tears away. A nurse brought the baby in and handled her to Olivia.
I knew Olivia would be a great mom as well as Matteo would be a great dad.
Damon went over to see the baby and his face lit up upon seeing her tiny face and body. “She is gonna have you wrapped around her little finger, Matteo,” Damon teased.
“I’m fine with that.”
“We will go and let you guys enjoy your daughter,” I told them as Damon and I got ready to leave.
Olivia reached for my hand to stop me. “We wanted to know if you and Damon would be her godparents.”
Tears welled up in my eyes. “Are you serious?”
“Yes.” Now Olivia was crying, too.
“We would be honored to be her godparents.” Damon put his hand on the small of back and smiled.
“Thank you for being in the room with me.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll see you in a few days and check in on you.”
“Okay.”
Damon took my hand and kissed my fingers while we headed back home to our own daughter that was waiting for us.
Damon asked, “Did her delivery scare the shit out of you?”
“No. It was the most magical thing I have ever seen in my life. Do you plan on being in the room with me?”
“I would like to be but I feel like maybe, if Olivia is able to, she could go in with you. I don’t know how much help I would be.”
“Yeah. We can play it by ear for now.” I snuggled into Damon while we were driven back home. “I’m exhausted. I know that.”
Chapter Eight
KARA
“I am exhausted,” I rolled over to tell Damon as he got ready for work and I continued to lay down.
“You should rest today. Stay in bed and relax.”
“But I have wedding stuff to do.”
He bent down to kiss my head. “Do what you can over the internet and you’ll be fine. Promise me you will rest.”
I offered a side eye before agreeing. “Fine.”
“You can bring Rose in here, too, if she wants to be close to you, and just have a day in.”
“I will. Also send me the guests you would like invited to the wedding and reception so I can get the invitations out as soon as possible.”
“I’ll send it to you today. Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
There wasn’t much I could do except for contacting a wedding coordinator and looking at dresses online. Rose even pointed at all the ones she thought were pretty, which was almost all of them. We also had to get her a dress so she could be a flower girl. She was easier to shop for since we knew her sizes.
“Do you remember my friend Olivia?”
“Yes.”
“Well, she had a baby late last night.”
“Like you have a baby?” She pointed to my stomach.
“Yes, like I have a baby. She had hers and then in a few months, I’ll have this one. Do you want a baby brother or a baby sister?”
“A baby sister!” She cheered as if her wish was already being granted.
“We won’t know until the baby comes out. And you are gonna be the best big sister.”
“Yeah.”
“How about we watch Frozen movie?”
“Yes!”
I put Frozen movie on and stepped out of the room to call Olivia while I could still keep an eye on Rose.
“Hey,” Olivia answered.
“Hey. How’s your first day being a mom?”
“I’m so exhausted. Matteo called his mom. She is coming over while he heads to work so she can help me.”
“He knows you’re overwhelmed and you need to rest when you can. So, his mother likes you then?”
“It seems like she does. I think she was apprehensive at first because I was already pregnant. But she knows our relationship and is more understanding.”
“Good. I’m glad.”
“Hey, how is Rose? I don’t think we ever spoke about her mom just dropping her off.”
“I know. Things have been crazy lately. But yeah, her mom told Damon he could take care of her now. From what I gathered, she is pretty messed up on drugs and it’s a sad situation.”
“But Damon got custody and you legally adopted her?”
“Yes. She’s better here with us. I love her like my own. And Damon is so good and patient with her. Her and I are just laying in bed today being lazy.”
“Lucky.”
“Well, if you need anything let me know, okay?”
“Okay. I will.”
“Hey!” I almost forgot the other reason I was calling her.
“Yeah.”
“I’m not sure if you would want to since you just had a baby, but I wanted to see if you would be my maid of honor at the wedding?”
“Oh my gosh, Kara. I would love to.”
“Oh, good. I was worried I wouldn’t have anyone standing up with me.”
“Come on now, girl. You know better than that.”
I laughed. “You’re right. I don’t think our wedding party itself will be big. I’m fine just having one person stand up with me, and I think Damon was going to ask Matteo. Okay. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Bye.”
I pressed the end call button on my phone and rejoined Rose on the bed as she was fixated on the movie.
While still looking at wedding stuff, I picked out invitations for the wedding and was glad Damon sent me the guest list so quickly.
Rose quickly fell asleep toward the end of the movie. I quietly moved to make a pillow fort so she wouldn’t fall over Damon’s side of the bed and slid back in next to her as my eyes suddenly felt heavy.
Chapter Nine
KARA
Today was a brand-new day. After resting, I was ready to tackle the day to get most of everything on my to do list done.
“What’s on your agenda today?” Damon asked while we got dressed.
“I’m going to meet with the wedding planner, then I’m going dress shopping. After some research yesterday, I found one that was highly recommended and she has worked with some high-profile people in the area.”
“Is anyone going with you?”
“No. Olivia is still a new mommy so I couldn’t ask her.” I was bummed I was going by myself.
“Take Tony with you, just to be cautious. And don’t argue with me.”
“Fine.”
Looked like I was on my own with a driver and a security guy thanks to Damon demanding it.
We pulled into a coffee shop and I went inside to order a latte and grabbed a table. Not long after I sat, I spotted a brunette and assumed it was my wedding planner. “Kara Ricci?”
“Yes, that’s me.”
She reached out her hand. “I’m Starlin Price, the wedding planner.”
“It’s so nice to meet you.” I shook her hand. She had a powerful look to her. Her brunette hair was cut into a slightly lopsided bob, she wore a black blazer, a pink top, and she had on black dress pants and super high heels.
“You, too. Let me grab a coffee and we can get to work.” She plopped a big binder down on the table.
She joined me after getting her coffee. “Okay, Kara. Let’s go over the details.”
Starlin and I chatted over an hour, planning everything from the flowers I wanted, how I wanted the reception decorated, my bridal bouquet, and the food that would be served. Lastly, Damon and I would need to go over what kind of cake we would want. All I had to do was get my dress, the shoes, and maybe a dress to change into for the reception.
“It was really nice talking with you, Miss P
rice.”
“Please call me Starlin. I will have my team get started on ordering the flowers and the decorations. And I’ll book the catering company as well for you.”
“Thank you so much.”
Damon had already put my name on his banking account, so it was easy to write the first check for Starlin’s services.
After our meeting, I headed to the dress shop that specialized in maternity wedding dresses. After today, I was gonna be dog tired but at least I had some things started.
Entering the dress shop, a sales woman quickly greeted me. “I’m Dominique Reynolds and I’ll will be assisting you as well as a few of my colleagues.”
I looked around. “Wait. Did you close the shop just for me?”
Dominique smiled wide. “We did. Damon called and asked if it could be arranged, so we did.”
“Oh wow. Okay.” I was taken back by all the attention and what Damon did.
“Why don’t we get started? How far along will you be when you get married?”
“I’ll be nine months pregnant.”
“And what type of dresses are you interested in looking at?”
I scrunched my face. “I’m not really sure I want to do white. Between my pregnancy and the reminder a white dress would bring of my time with Jose, I didn’t particularly like the idea. Do you have anything that is, like, maybe a light pink color, or another light color but still looks like a wedding dress? I think I would be comfortable with something flowy and loose from my waist down and something more fitted at the top.”
“Okay. I can work with that. Let’s go look at some dresses and see what speaks to you.”
After looking through the racks of dresses, I was overwhelmed. I picked a few gowns to try on.
In the dressing room, one of the assistants helped me with the gowns. The first one was a pale blue with sequins on the V-neck line and then from the waist down, it was very flowy and light. Stepping out and onto the rounded level, my gown was fluffed out while I looked at it in the mirror, turning to see the back, the side view, and the front view.
“I really love this one. Let’s keep this in the yes pile.”
Next, I tried on a blush one that had see-through sleeves, lace throughout the top area, and then it flowed down into soft tulle that was a little see-through on the legs. I wasn’t sure I was comfortable with that. But I stepped up and looked into the mirror and looked at it from all sides and angles. Turned out, I love this one, too.
“This one is in the yes pile.”
The next two dressed I did not like and immediately took them off. The last dress was one I wasn’t sure I would like. It was nothing I would pick for myself but Dominque insisted to at least try it on. I did it to oblige her.
It was white, a color I said I didn’t want to wear. However, the top part was an intricate black lace over a white material, from the waist it flowed down into white and had black embroidered lace in different patterns of the dress toward the bottom. Looking in the mirror, it was stunning. Then Dominque added a veil to finish the look and I was speechless.
“This is the dress,” I squealed with some much happiness.
“Shoes?” the assistant offered. Apparently, this was a one-stop shop.
She assisted me with the low heels to finish the look and I was just dumbfounded.
“I can’t believe how this dress speaks to me. Can you take a picture and I can show my friend? She just had a baby so she couldn’t dress shop with me.”
“Absolutely.”
Dominque took a photo and handed my phone back to me. And I headed back to get changed out of the dress. Thankfully, the dress would have plenty of room if my belly got bigger in the coming months.
I immediately sent the photo to Olivia. What do you think?
Holy shit, Kara. You look stunning. That dress is absolutely perfect.
Thank you. -K
I’m so sorry I couldn’t be there with you. -O
It’s okay.
After getting some minor alterations we agreed for them to hold the dress so I could do multiple fittings until I was ready to pick it up.
“Now how about a cocktail dress for the reception,” Dominique suggested.
“Yes. I did see something earlier that I liked.”
Ordering both dresses, I was ready to head home. I couldn’t wait to marry the man I was so love in with. Each day, I found out something new about him, especially since he became an automatic dad.
Chapter Ten
DAMON
“What are you doing here?” I asked Matteo as he entered the club.
“I’m working.”
“You’re supposed to be home with your baby mama.”
“My mom is coming to stay for a few days so I can work and she can help out.”
“I’m sure Olivia would rather have you home with her.”
Matteo shrugged. He was a big dummy sometimes.
“I’ll be with her and help her out when I’m home.”
“Whatever. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“How is Rose adjusting?” Matteo asked. Now that our women were best friends, Matteo and I got closer as well and now it felt like were more friends than just boss and employee. So, when he asked a personal question, I didn’t get mad about it.
“She’s doing really well. She adores Kara, and Kara is such a good mom with her.”
“Do you want Kara to have a boy since you already have a girl? Come on. You can tell me.”
I smiled. “I hope she has a healthy baby.”
“Come on. I know better than that.”
“Fine. Yes, having a girl, I do secretly hope Kara has a boy. But, honestly, it doesn’t matter to me.”
“Okay.”
“Were you surprised Olivia asked to use your last name for baby Jade?”
“I was shocked and surprised.”
“Maybe you will adopt Jade like Kara adopted Rose.”
“Maybe. I don’t know how that works if the baby daddy is dead.”
“I can get you a lawyer and you can find out whenever you are ready.”
“Thanks, man.”
“Sure. Now let me get some work done so I can go home to my woman. And go home, Matteo. You aren’t needed here. Take the week off. I’ll pay you.”
“Are you sure, boss?”
“Oh, one more thing,” I called after him.
“Yes?”
“Will you be my best man at the wedding?”
Matteo grinned. “I would be happy to.”
“Okay. Now go.”
“Thank you.”
Shaking my head, I put my glasses on and got to work with the mundane paperwork.
“I heard congratulations are in order?”
It was Raphael, who was Jose’s arms dealer. He was coming to collect his last payment.
“Yes. My fiancée is six months pregnant, and I have a daughter I didn’t know about.” Normally, I didn’t talk about my personal business with clients. But Raphael and I went way back so I knew I could trust him.
“That’s messed up you didn’t know about your daughter.”
“Yeah. But it’s all good now. You here for your last payment?”
“Yeah, man. Thanks for putting me in contact with another client.”
“Sure. You know I wouldn’t pay you and then leave you hanging. It was the least I could do since Jose is dead and you did me a big favor.”
“I’m just glad it was a quick dealing because I didn’t need my head chopped off for denying to work with him.”
I handed him the stack of money. Taking it, he placed it in his jacket pocket. “It was nice doing business with you,” he added.
“You, too. And Raphael…”
He turned. “Yeah?”
“I’m going legit from here on out.”
“Sure, Damon.”
“I’m serious. I have a family I have to take care of and I don’t want to put any one’s life in danger.”
“Okay. I’ll put the word out if anyone a
sks.”
“Thanks, man. I’ll see you around.”
He cocked a grin. “Hopefully, you won’t.”
That was true.
And to top everything off, I was no longer providing drugs for the club goers. I ended that business deal the other day. We ended things amicable, and he was well compensated for doing me that favor about Jose. How ever my club goers got their drugs was their business now.
Today was the official day I was starting my legit business. I didn’t need the government taking me down and I didn’t need to deal with any more bad dudes. I had a family to be concerned about.
After another hour of work, I was ready to leave.
Chapter Eleven
KARA
We were winding down for the evening and Rose and I were sitting on the couch. We were watching some animated movie called Antz. I thought it was disgusting because I hate bugs. But Rose loved it. Damon was arriving home late tonight. So, us girls were by ourselves.
Rose fell asleep, so I turned the movie off and covered her up with a blanket. I was about to go make some tea when my phone buzzed. Thinking it was Damon, I quickly looked at it. I realized it wasn’t him. Seeing the text, it was like a punch in the gut.
I showed you the evidence. Now you can give me a hundred thousand dollars to keep quiet. And do not tell your boyfriend. We will meet one week from today. I will text you the location later.
Who are you? I asked again.
You will find out soon enough.
My heart thumped in my chest. I couldn’t breathe. How was I supposed to get a hundred thousand dollars? Especially without Damon knowing. I was beyond stressed out but at least they gave me a week. I would have to think of something.
Damon arrived home and his face was bloodied.
“What the hell happened to you?” I questioned in a whisper since Rose was sleeping.
“I was leaving work and I got jumped by a couple of assholes. They took the cash I had on me and my Rolex.”
“Jesus Christ. Come with me so I can clean you up.”
“Is she sleeping?” he asked about Rose.
“Yeah. I’m too pregnant to carry her upstairs.”