She checked her watch. “Oh shoot, in less than an hour. Will you send Amira in to help me?”
“She’s playing next door with Marcy and Greg’s kids; I’ll help you. I am really digging how well she adjusted to living with us and how you two hit it off.”
Standing on her tiptoes, Gabrielle gave him a peck on the lips. “She is a sweet little girl and I adore her.”
“I think she can tell you love her.”
Gabrielle nodded. “We love each other, and we both love her; she knows we will always be here for her no matter what.”
Jonathan placed his hands on the small bulge of her stomach. “Yup and when our baby is born, she will have a brother or sister to love also.”
“Who would have imagined I was pregnant. I fought Sandra like a man and took some hard blows and falls.”
“It just shows, when the big guy places an order, nothing can cancel it out. You fought to resist me but he knew better.”
“How do I dispute that?”
“You can’t,” he winked.
Nick’s voice drifted through the screen door. “Knock, knock, anybody home?”
“Come on in, Nick.” Jonathan went to the steps to assist Nick. “Hey look at you!
You’re walking.”
“Yeah, I wanted to surprise you and Anthony by walking instead of using my wheelchair. Where is he by the way?”
“He and Melanie are on the way. Gabrielle is in the kitchen.”
Using his cane, Nick greeted Gabrielle with a kiss and a hug. “Gabby, thanks for inviting me and Sarah. How’s my godchild doing in there?” He asked patting her stomach.
“Baby is getting hungry and Jonathan won’t get the food going on the grill.
Nick, would you like a beer?”
“Alright, I’m going,” Jonathan said scampering out the back door with Midnight behind him.
Nick cleared his throat. “Gabby, I’m sincerely happy for you and Jon. I didn’t think that clown would ever get married much less have TWO kids.”
She handed him the beer. “Thank you, Nick. Amira isn’t officially ours yet, but it looks promising.”
“Salute, I know everything will work out, and I hope you and I will become friends as well.”
“Nick, we are friends. Whatever happened with the three of you is in the past.
We can’t live for the past only the future.”
*****
The yard filled with family and friends. The laughter and sounds of children running between the adults was a dream Gabrielle never saw coming true for her.
Gwen, Kevin, Anthony and Melanie sat at the picnic table laughing and sharing stories with Nick and Sarah.
Pam listened to the stories Otto and Gordon were telling and laughing
hysterically. Jonathan put his arm around her shoulder. “Do you believe this?”
“I have to keep pinching myself to make sure it’s real. I love you, Jonathan.”
“I love you too, Mrs. DeMinico. Shall we join our guests?”
“Yes we shall, and remember you promised to clean all this when the party is over and give me a foot rub.”
“It would be my pleasure to rub your feet,” he said kissing her.
Table of Contents
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Epilogue
Smoke Page 18