A Place in the Sun(78)

“It’s yours—obviously,” she continued. “I went into La Spezia to see a doctor today. That’s why I’ve been gone all day. They confirmed the pregnancy and did an ultrasound. They printed out a little polaroid I can show you, though really it doesn’t look like anything quite yet, just a black and white piece of abstract art. Still, it made me cry all over the nurse’s scrubs. I think they felt a bit bad for me—being a blubbering mess and all. They said in two weeks I can go back and listen to her heartbeat, Gianluca! It’ll be this whirring little sound. And I can show you the picture if you’d like. It’s quite boring, but I love it and I’ll show you if you want to see it.”

“Georgie—”

“Don’t think you have to stay with me for the baby. I’m quite prepared to be a single mum if I have to—I think I’ve got the temperament for it and I do think I’ll secretly relish seeing people look on at me with pity. Besides, I’m quite good with kids. We enjoy a lot of the same things.”

“Georgie, stop talking.”

“Oh god, you’re so sad that you’re crying.”

I supposed I was—crying, that is.

“You’re ridiculous,” I said, cradling the back of her neck so she couldn’t pull away from me.

“You can’t call a pregnant woman ridiculous. It’s in the rules.”

I kissed her to shut her up and when I pulled back, her lips were parted and her eyes were wide as saucers.

“I suppose I’ve got to marry you now.”

If possible, her eyes went even wider.

“What do you mean—marry?!”

I grinned. “It’s really the only option we have.”

“Don’t toy with me, Gianluca.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

She started vehemently shaking her head then, trying to push away from me. “No, I won’t allow you to propose just because you feel obligated to—by this.” She pointed at her stomach.

“Didn’t you hear the bit where I said I loved you?”

“You said that?”

“Earlier.”

“Oh.” She touched her lips, thinking it over. “I suppose I was caught up in my own world, trying to work out how to tell you about the baby.”

“Well it’s too bad you missed it. I poured my heart out to you and it was bloody romantic.”

“No, no, go on, say it again and I swear I’ll listen properly this time.”

“It really wasn’t much, just a little speech about me really loving you and all that.”

“Oh. Wow. That does sound good.”

“The real proposal will be better.”

“So you’re going to propose with a ring and all?”

“I’m not a brute, Georgie.”

“Sometimes you really act like one.”

“You shouldn’t call the father of your child a brute.”

Her lip quivered then.

“We’re having a baby, Gianluca.”

My heart swelled and I leaned in to kiss her again, and this time it was soft and slow. I could hardly break it off.

“You could start calling me Luca now, don’t you think?”

She grinned. “I suppose I could.” Then she proceeded to try it out. “Luca.”

I loved the sound of it coming from her.

“Does this mean we’re friends now?”

“We’ll see.”



…



It was nearly amusing to look back on the last few days with a fresh set of eyes. Ever since the blowup on the mountain, Georgie had been acting strangely. What I had interpreted as her pulling away from me was actually her panic at the thought of having conceived a child with a man she couldn’t rely on. I kicked myself for taking so long to give her the assurance she needed, but I knew it didn’t matter anymore.

Now she knew how much I loved her and I planned on ensuring she never forgot.

I moved her things to the villa that night.

I couldn’t wait.

She didn’t have much more than when I’d moved her in, just a suitcase and a few bags. She had more sandals than any one human needed, but I didn’t care. Georgie was moving into my villa and I wore a shit-eating grin as I carried her things up the steep hill. She was lying on the couch, listening to the record I’d put on as I carried in the last few things. Mopsie was curled up at her feet, and I couldn’t resist the temptation to join them.

“Don’t move.”

I kicked the door closed, dropped her bags by the door, and stole Mopsie’s spot, pulling Georgie’s legs up onto my lap so she didn’t have to shift at all. I sank into the cushions and glanced over to find Georgie spilling life into every nook and cranny of that empty villa. She smiled at me and wiggled her toes.

“You’re the best moving man I’ve ever hired.” I smiled. “My own personal Sherpa, after all.”

“Yeah, a shoe Sherpa. That’s quite the collection you’ve got going.”

“Just doing my part to stimulate the local economy.”

I arched a brow. “Oh, so you enjoy stimulating things?”

“Oh, ha ha, very charming. How could I possibly love you?”