by Sam Crescent
Chapter Seven
“You seem happy enough,” her mother said.
Petal glanced over at her mother. Marco had business to do, and much to her surprise, he’d taken her along with him. She pushed some of her hair out, accepting the drink of water. Her stomach had been a little off the past couple of days.
She’d been with Marco nearly two months now. He did still have to leave her, but he didn’t take weeks, like he did in the early days of their relationship. Each night, he came back to her, no matter how late it was.
“I am happy,” she said.
“I’m glad. I was shocked when your father made the agreement with Marco, but that’s your father. I know you’ll be a good girl. You always have been. I did expect Marco’s tastes to be a little different.”
Her mother liked to constantly point out Petal wasn’t like other women. She didn’t have a stick-thin frame, and her curves were just too obvious.
“Marco likes me the way I am, and I like me. I’m happy. He makes me so happy, and I know I make him so.”
“Yes, I did notice. In all the years Marco has been coming here, I’ve never seen him smile. Today was the first time. You’re good for him.”
Her mother loved her in her own way. She just had a set of beliefs, and one of those was men didn’t like a curvy woman.
Marco loved her curves, and what was more, she loved her own curves.
“I need something to eat,” she said. Her stomach was really giving her a few problems.
“There’s some salad in the fridge.”
Petal stood up and paused as a wave of dizziness swept over her. The floor started to sway. She took a step, and as she did, everything went dark.
****
Sounds.
Voices.
Words.
None of them made sense.
Petal opened her eyes.
Her mother, father, and Marco were standing over her.
“What is it? What happened?”
“The doctor is on the way.” She turned her head to see her brother coming out of the living room.
Marco wrapped an arm around her waist, helping her to her feet. “What is going on?” she asked.
“You fainted,” her mother said.
She looked toward Marco. The worry in his eyes was clear.
“I’m taking you to lie down.”
“No, no, I should be fine.”
“I’m not asking you.” In front of her parents and siblings, Marco picked her up in his arms and began to carry her through to the bedroom.
“You really don’t need to do this. I think you’re overreacting just a little bit.”
“I’m not. A woman doesn’t just faint for no reason. You’ve not had a fall.”
“I’ve been feeling a little sick.”
“Sickness doesn’t lead to fainting. It leads to diarrhea from bad food or a stomach bug.”
“That’s a colorful description,” she said.
He placed her down on the bed, and she sat up. He pushed her back down again. She was no match for his strength.
“Marco, come on. I can book an appointment with the doctor.”
“One I trust is already coming here.”
“So you trust someone now?” she asked, wanting to change the subject and teasing him.
“Don’t, Petal. Not right now.”
“What’s wrong? I’m only kidding.”
“I’m fine.”
“Fine people don’t just faint for no reason. You’re getting checked over.”
“Marco, please.”
“No!” He leaned in close. “Don’t you see, I can’t have anything happening to you.”
“Nothing is going to happen to me.”
“I couldn’t stand for it. I love you too much. There’s no way I could ever—”
“You love me?” she asked, interrupting him.
There was no way she had heard that right. He said he loved her.
“Of course I love you. Could you have any doubt?”
“You never said anything.”
“I’m … I’m a fucking fool when it comes to you, Pet. Such a damn fool. I love you more than anything. Why do you think I’d take you? I wanted to have you for so long, but I found every single excuse I could find not to have you.”
She couldn’t control her tears. “I can’t believe you love me. I’ve hoped and prayed that you did.”
“You wanted me to love you?”
“Yes. I love you more than anything. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. There’s no one else I would ever want to be with.”
“Marry me,” he said.
“Yes.”
He cupped her face and slammed his lips down on hers. She moaned, wrapping her arms around his neck, holding him close.
“I’m not ever going to leave you or let anything happen to you. I love you. There’s no way I could be without you.”
Someone cleared their throat.
“Get the fuck out!” Marco yelled at whoever had invaded their privacy.
She cupped his cheek. “I think that was the doctor. I don’t need a doctor.”
“For me, you do. I need to know you’re okay. That we’re okay.”
“As long as I have you, I know we’ll be okay.” She kissed his lips. “I didn’t know I could feel this happy.”
He kissed her again. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“The doctor?”
“I’ll see him.” She nodded.
“You think that was a request?” Marco winked at her. “I’ll go get him.”
She sat up and watched him walk out of the room.
In love.
Finally, Marco Guidi belonged to her and she to him. There was no way she could ever be happier. This man was everything, and whatever life threw at them, she could survive it with Marco.
Epilogue
Eight months later
Marco stared down at his resting wife. She had just been through three hours of labor, and she looked exhausted.
“Hey,” she said.
“Hey yourself. You’re not too tired to hold her?” he asked, looking at his little girl.
Petal’s reason for fainting had been that she was pregnant and dehydrated. The doctor had advised rest and to make sure she had a steady diet and fluids.
Hearing his woman was pregnant had been what Marco had wanted. He married her within two weeks, and he hired only the best men to take care of her. He had a weakness, but there was no way he’d let anyone see how much.
Stroking her hair back from her cheek, he felt like he’d aged twenty years during her labor.
She’d been in so much pain. His hands had cramps from her holding them as she pushed down, trying to get their little girl out.
“She is so perfect,” Petal said.
The love he had for this woman and his little girl scared him. Ever since the ultrasound had revealed it was a girl, he’d been making sure there was no risk to his family. Petal made it a lot easier for him as she didn’t mind staying by his side.
Kissing the top of his little girl’s head, he rested his face against her neck. “You scared the shit out of me,” he said.
“But we got through it. You told me labor wasn’t that big of a deal. You’ve been shot enough times to know what real pain is like.”
“I’m an asshole, and I don’t know what I’m talking about.” She was a fighter and one of the strongest women he’d ever known.
“Marco?”
“Yeah?”
“I love you so much.”
“I love you too.”
His little girl opened her eyes. They were the brightest blue. She made a little noise, and it just melted his heart.
“What should we call her?” he asked.
“I don’t know. She is just so perfect in every single way.”
“Anna,” he said. “I want to call her Anna.”
“Anna Guidi. I like it.”
He kissed his wife, and he saw
“Will you take her?” she asked. “You need to support her head.”
Marco took his little girl, holding her in his arms. He stared down at her beautiful face.
“You don’t need to be too stiff. She wants to feel loved and protected.”
He held her closer.
“That’s it, Daddy,” Petal said.
He looked at her, amazed.
“You’re a daddy now.”
“A husband and a father,” he said. “Wow.”
He heard her giggle.
“I’m tired.”
“You go to sleep. I’ll be here to keep an eye on the two of you.”
Petal nodded, her eyes falling closed. He heard her sigh.
“Marco?” she asked.
“Yes, baby.”
“Do you want another one?” she asked.
“You went through all of that and you want another?”
“A brother or sister for Anna.”
He lifted her hand to his lips, kissing her knuckles. “You’re going to be the death of me, woman.”
“Is that a yes?”
“You know I’ll give you whatever you want. You just got to say the word.”
“I want another child. I want to have a big family with you.”
“We’ll work on it soon.” He held her hand and kept Anna tucked closer against his chest. When the nurse came in, she didn’t say a word.
He wasn’t leaving his girls. This was where he was meant to be.
Loving them.
Protecting them.
Making sure their lives were complete and perfect.
He didn’t need anything else because they made his world worth everything.
The End
www.samcrescent.com
Other Books by Sam Crescent:
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BONUS SAMPLE CHAPTER
THE MARRIAGE SACRIFICE
Sam Crescent
Copyright © 2019
Sample Chapter
If Sage Boyle had to listen to her mother flirt with her supposed fiancé one more time, she was going to throw up. Her mother was in her fifties whereas Dominick Duke was thirty-three years old. Not that it was a problem with her mother going after a much younger man—her husband of twenty-four years was sitting right beside her.
Sage sipped at her drink while trying to ignore the embarrassment that was her parents. It wasn’t like her father cared, as he’d spent the entire lunch checking out the female waitresses’ asses. This was why she avoided her parents at all costs, that, and the shiny ring on her finger. Instead of sitting in this restaurant just to be seen, at her parents’ demand, she could really do with going home and working. She had a self-imposed deadline, and so far, she was on schedule, but her parents seemed to be determined to work against her.
All of this was fake anyway, just like her relationship had always been with her parents. She finished off her water, which had been poured into a wine glass as her mother didn’t want to look like a drunk.
“Well, this has all been nice. I really do need to get going,” she said.
“Oh, honey, all of that shopping can wait. Please, stay with us. You know how we miss you. We can’t stand for you to be away.”
The “shopping trip” was in fact the Friday afternoon she went and helped at the homeless shelter. She offered out clean clothes, and also served in the kitchen. Her mother hated her charity duties. She thought it was beneath a woman of her station.
Sage could do without the social climbing today.
“I’m sorry. Those branded bags won’t buy themselves.” Sage had never taken to shopping. Her mother had tried so many times, but she just found it all boring. There was so much more to do with life than shop.
Sliding out of her seat, she rounded the table, kissing her mother on the cheek, then her father.
“Goodbye,” she said.
“How about I come with you?” Dominic, or Dom, to most of his friends, asked. They were of course friends she’d never been allowed to see or to talk to. She and Dom were engaged to be married, but it was one that had been organized by their parents.
She didn’t want to marry Dom, or anyone else for that matter. There was a time she had hoped to have her own life far away from the demands of her parents, but that didn’t look like it was happening any time soon.
“I’m sure you’d be very bored,” she said.
“I need a new belt.” Dom wiped his lips before throwing down the napkin. “I think we should spend some time together. Allow the press to get a few shots. I’ve had several newspapers get in touch telling me how little time I spend with my woman.” He placed a hand at her back.
“Brilliant idea,” her father said.
Where her mother hated all of her charity work, her father was the opposite. He slept around with any woman who would have him, but he was the most supportive of her choices, which did always surprise her.
“Dad?”
“It’s for the best, honey. It’s time you and Dom here started to act like an engaged couple. You know what it means for everyone to uphold that image. Have fun, you two. I’ll take care of the bill.”
She glanced over at Dom and saw his jaw was clenched.
One thing Sage didn’t want was conflict, and for some reason, she believed these two men were close to coming to blows.
“Let’s go,” she said.
Without waiting for Dom, she headed for the exit, thanking the maître d’ as she passed. She didn’t arrive by car; she walked. Yes, if her parents knew, they would be so ashamed.
Growing up in a world where she was constantly on view was so tiring, but she had grown used to it. Once the press realized she wasn’t a party animal and following her around was boring, they found another daughter of a wealthy family to go and pressure.
“Wait up,” Dominic said.
“Look, I don’t know what it is you want to do, but it’s not spending the afternoon with me.”
“What’s wrong with me wanting to spend some time with you?” he asked.
She sighed. “I know this marriage is just some business contract. I don’t want any part of it.”
“You think I do?”
“Our parents are the ones that negotiated this. I don’t care what you think. I just want to carry on with my life, and it doesn’t mean hanging out with you.” She spun on her heel and began walking. The shoes she wore were biting and impossible to walk in.
Moving to the wall, she placed her hand on the brick work, kicking them off. The moment she felt the solid pavement she breathed a sigh of relief.
One good thing about having a large handbag was she could hide her sneakers inside. Her mother would be having a fit right about now as she slid them on her feet. She lost a good couple of inches and had to look up to Dom now, but at least she had comfort. That was all that mattered.
She had known Dom for so long now, since they were kids. He was older than she was, and most of the time he couldn’t stand to be around her. She’d been a tomboy, and he’d been … a loner.
“You carry a change of shoes?”
“I’m not one of these magical women that can stand to wear such high shoes. Wow, they feel so good.”
“They’re not even designer.”
“Dom, I’ll let you in on a little secret, I don’t give a fuck about designer or brands or anything that my parents want me to. In fact, I have no interest in going shopping. I’ve got plenty of clothes and shoes to last me a lifetime. Shopping is boring.”
“What are you going to do then?”
“That is none of your business.”
“If you’re off to see a lover boy, it is my business.”
She stopped and turned toward him. “Excuse me? How the hell do you figure that?”
“That’s my ring on your finger. It makes it my business.”
“Oh, I don’t want to talk to you right now.” She started to walk away. They hadn’t said more than two words to each other since she was forced to put his ring on her finger. There was no way she was going to listen to him right now.
“You’re not going to get rid of me that easily.”
“Shame.”
“Come on, Sage, you’re not still pissed at me, are you?” he asked.
She spun on her heel and glared at him. “We had a deal, you and I. You promised me years ago when we first found out that we were destined to be man and wife that you’d fix it. You’re the man, and my father will only listen to you. Believe me, I’d have fixed it if I could.”
“I will.”
“How? Getting engaged is not going to fix anything. I trusted you, and now we’re here. My mom has a wedding planner. There is no way out of this. Not with my mom involved.” She shook her head. “I don’t want to talk about this. I don’t want to do anything with this.” She held onto her bag tighter as she crossed the road. There were no cars, but she didn’t want to take her time and risk getting knocked over by a car.
“I tried,” Dom said, still following her.
“Not hard enough because I wouldn’t be part of any wedding planning or anything else.” She didn’t want him following her all the way to the homeless shelter. This was what she did for herself, not for him or her family to invade what she loved to do. They would only spoil it. “Please stop following me. I don’t know what it is that you want, but I’m really not interested. I get that we’re supposed to be married in a couple of months, but I really don’t want to play the doting fiancée. So please, stop.”
She stared at him and took a step back. Then another and another, until he didn’t follow her and she was able to get to the shelter without thinking about Dom, her parents, or the wedding that was being dubbed one of the best of the year, complete with celebrities and all the other crap it entailed. Once she had put her bag in the locker in the back of the shelter, she rushed toward the kitchen where Billy was already mixing up the soup. She loved to cook, no surprise there, but feeding the homeless was also enjoyable. Helping others was what she lived for.
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