Finding Love Again

by Natasha Marquis

  "Hunter calm down your speaking Italian and no one can understand you."

  Ever since Hunter learned, Italian whenever he was flustered or angry he would switch to Italian.

  "Sorry I did not realize that I had switched. I guess my relatives in Italy are going to be happy. I should call my grandparents, but that will have to wait until later."

  "What you need to do is go upstairs and see Chantelle, and Hunter congratulations you are going to be a great dad."

  Everyone was congratulating him as he went upstairs to see Chantelle.

  Π

  When Hunter went to their room, he caught Chantelle with a worried look on her face.

  "We cannot have this."

  "What are you talking about Hunter?"

  "You with that worried look on your face it is not good for you or the baby."

  "I am so sorry Hunter."

  That was the last thing he expected to hear from her.

  "Why are you sorry? You do know that it takes two to make a baby."

  "If I had not forgotten my birth control, this would not have happen."

  "If I had not forgotten to wear a condom in the shower, then it would not have happen. Listen babe we can keep blaming ourselves or we can be happy that Michael is going to have a sibling and that we created a baby together."

  "You mean you are not angry?"

  "Of course not why would I be angry about a baby? I love children. I have to admit I always thought that I would never have any of my own. Babe you have given me the best gift a man could ask for."

  "Suppose there is something wrong with the baby?"

  "First, we are going to think positive. This baby is going to be perfect with us two as the parents. Second, if there is a problem with the baby I know that we will love the baby no matter what."

  Chantelle wanted to cry. Hunter was not mad he was happy about the baby. In addition, she knew that no matter what happens they would face it together.

  Epilogue

  A year later

  Everyone was at Hunter and Chantelle's house. They had just come from Church and had Antonio's christening. Chantelle and Michael had moved into Hunter's house when they came back from the Bahamas. For a while, Chantelle was anxious worrying if the baby was going to be all right. When they had the first test done, it came back normal. They had another test done later on in her pregnancy and that test came back normal. When the ultrasound looked normal, they decided to find out the sex of the baby. Hunter and Chantelle decided that they did not want to be surprised. They had decided to give their son Hunter's middle name. Of course, when his Italian relatives referred to Antonio the baby they called him junior because they referred to Hunter as Antonio. Chantelle hoped that her son did not get confused when he got older. Chantelle hated junior as a name, but for right now, she would go along with Hunter's family referring to Antonio as junior. Everyone was at the house even his relatives from Italy came. Chantelle had learned a little bit of Italian so she could talk to Hunter's grandparents since they refused to learn English. His mob relatives came also as long as promised to behave themselves while in America. Hunter's birth mother had found out about the baby, and had written a letter to Hunter to congratulate him and to ask if he saw it in his heart to send some pictures. She understood if he did not want to. Hunter had mixed feelings with this for months.

  "What are you thinking about babe?"

  "I was just thinking how nice it is that all of our families came for the celebration. It was nice of you to extend the invitation to your birth mother. I know that it must have been hard."

  "I am not going to say that it was easy. Plus I had to make sure that mom and dad were okay with it."

  "They seem to be handling it okay."

  It had surprised Hunter how his mom encouraged him to try to have a relationship with his birth mother.

  "His mother had said it does not matter that I did not give birth to you. You are still my son, and nothing is going to ever change it."

  "Do you ever think that you will have a relationship with her?"

  "I do not know I will tell you what I told her that we have to take it one day at a time."

  "She cannot ask for anymore. It looks like she is happy to be a grandmother she has not stop holding the baby since we came back home."

  "She is probably trying to make up for when she gave me away."

  Chantelle raised her eyebrow to Hunter's statement.

  "I see we are going to have to work on your relationship with her, but do not worry I will be here to help you."

  Hunter turned Chantelle to face him.

  "Will you really be here forever?"

  "Of course you cannot get rid of me that easily. Besides we share a child together."

  "We share more than that."

  "You know what I mean."

  "Do I really know what you mean?"

  "I love you Hunter, and there is no way I could have gone through this pregnancy without you. I was so worried for Antonio, and if you had not been so strong I think I would have made myself crazy."

  "I will always be here for our children. I love you and I cannot see a future without you Antonio and Michael. I want us to be a family a real family. I know that you loved your late husband, and I respect the feelings that you had for him. I also know that there are going to be times when you are going to be sad about his lost, but I want to be there for you. I want to help raise Michael. I already consider him my son. What would make this even better is for you to become my wife."

  Chantelle was shocked she never expected marriage. Yes, she loved Hunter and wanted to be with him, but she was content with the arrangement they have now. Everyone had stop what they were doing and listened to their conversation. Hunter went down on one knee.

  "I know that you are contempt with what we have now. I also know that you can be very stubborn. It took some convincing you to go out with me. As you know, I do not give up easily. However, I want so much more. I want a future and a real family with you. Chantelle you would make me the happiest man in the world if you would become my wife."

  Chantelle had tears running down her cheek.

  "Babe why are you crying I just want us to be a family."

  "I am not crying because I am upset. After Conner died, I did not think that I would find love again. I loved him he was my heart, and I still love him. Before you start thinking, I still hold a torch for him I do not. There will always be a special place in my heart for Conner, but I also know that he would want me to move on. I believe no I know that he would approve of you helping to raise Michael. I also know that he would approve of you considering Michael your son. I want a future also, and I would be honored to become your wife."

  Hunter picked her up, swung her around, and kissed her. Everyone came over to congratulate them.

  "I knew it was only a matter of time before he popped the question especially with Antonio's birth. I want to see this rock on your ring. Are you sure you are going to be able to stand up with this on."

  "Aaliyah I love my ring I would not trade it for anything."

  Hunter had forgone a diamond engagement ring. He had given Chantelle an emerald surrounded by diamonds because he knew that she loved emeralds. Also green was her favorite color. Chantelle went back over to her fiancée she did not think that she would get use to that. When things had settled down, Chantelle and Hunter snuck away upstairs to have a private celebration. They were lying in each other's arms after making passionate love.

  "When do you want to get married?"

  "I have not thought about it. I mean I do not need a big fancy wedding this is my second time unless you want a big wedding."

  "I do not have to have a big wedding. Now I cannot speak for my mother."

  "You know she is going to want a big wedding."

  "She probably has already called the society editor and placed an announcement of our engagement in the paper. Big weddings take a long time to plan, and I want to marry you right away."

  "
How about a compromise let's get married in two months and with the help of my family and yours we should have no problem getting it together. Do you think that will work for your mother?"

  "It is going to have to because I have waited for you all my life, and now that I have you I do not want to wait."

  "I understand why you did not propose when we first found out I was pregnant our concerns were elsewhere, but why did you wait four months after Antonio was born?"

  "I wanted you to be sure without any doubts. I believed if you saw us as a family you would want it as badly as I did."

  "You used phys 101 on me."

  "Something like that I knew you wanted marriage you just had to be pushed in the right direction."

  Hunter gave Chantelle a passionate kiss."

  "You know that we should go back downstairs everyone is going to wonder where we are."

  "I think they already figured it out besides it is not like we do not have enough people to take care of junior."

  "About this whole junior thing we are going to have to do something about that name. I do not want my child stuck with the nickname junior."

  "What is wrong with it?"

  Chantelle punched him in the shoulder.

  "Ouch what was that for?"

  She was getting ready to punch him again when he held up his hands in defeat.

  "Okay I get it. I will have a talk with my family, but I doubt if they will change."

  "Well we will figure something out."

  "Now can we get back to celebrating the future Mrs. Jameson?"

  "Of course we can Mr. Jameson."

  "I love you Chantelle."

  "I love you Hunter."

  §

  About The Author

  Finding Love again is Natasha Marquis first romance novel. She is also a widow with one son. Her free time consist of taking her son to soccer and swim practice spending time running, reading, and taking care of the two dogs and cat.