[Dawn]
The wet season has truly ended, and we’re outside having a barbeque for the first time in what feels like forever.
I guess that’s because Aldo and I haven’t been outside in months; we’ve been obsessed with our little girl Louisa.
“Who wants a drink?”
Aldo snaps his tongs at me; he’s by the barbeque and cooking up marinated chicken with Luca.
A few of our friends are here, and we’re celebrating mom’s birthday and my book being finished.
Michael runs over, takes a drink from my tray, and heads back to the lawn. Mom’s house looks completely different with Aldo constantly working on it.
Everyone is present. Our parents, Luca and his family, it’s a full house.
We moved in after Andre’ passing. I wanted to help mom after the stroke, and she wanted to be around the baby.
We all won. Although she might regret it with her sleep having seriously dropped off.
She’s on the lawn with Sophie, Michael, my parents in law and the baby of tge family-Louisa.
I put the drink tray on the table and squat down on the lawn. “Is that you Louisa Carla Andretti crawling along?”
My daughter gaggles and giggles and clumsily makes her way over the grass to me. She’s all smiles and pudgy faced and warm.
Her cheeks are red from teething, and she goes immediately to grab at my chest pocket, where she knows I keep her binky.
“Uh uh, a kiss first?”
She blows a raspberry and wiggles to be freed. I place her back down on the lawn, and she crawls off for to both her Abuelas.
I take the three beers off the tray for Aldo, Luca and my father in law and head over. They accept them gratefully, and Aldo hugs me.
He kisses me on the head.
“Aldo has told me about the book,” my father in law says, beaming at me. “You haven’t stopped.”
I go slightly red. “Thank you, dad” I say. “I guess I needed an outlet while staying at home.”
“It’s magnificent.” Luca beams. “Sophie also told me about the book. She enjoyed it, especially because it’s a Mafia romance…”
I snort a laugh and look mischievously at her, but she’s on the lawn playing with both my mothers. “Yes, I guess for us it’s probably right at home.”
“Now, I’ve often heard that authors create characters from people they actually know.” Luca elbows Aldo playfully. “Is Alessandro me or Aldo?”
Aldo snorts loudly and spits a bit of his beer on the barbeque. We all laugh and I don’t respond. All I do is wink and walk off.
I know who Alessandro really is, and The King of Miami is neither of them.
I head back inside to the kitchen and get the salads out of the fridge.
I place them on the table and get the plates from the cupboards as well, and just as I close the glass fronted cabinet, the King of Miami smiles at me.
I turn and look at Andre’s portrait on the wall. He’s smiling and happy.
A picture taken just before mom’s accident, just before he left us, just before he came back…
The night is still heavy on my mind, and I think that’s partially why I began writing as well.
The last year and a half has been hectic, with the death of Andre and the birth of our daughter. It was a busy pregnancy and a busy birth.
We moved in with my mother out of closeness for the family, but also because I couldn’t imagine being away from her after everything.
After everything she’d done for me, I could only think of repaying her by taking full care of her.
Aldo completely agreed. His parents couldn’t be happier, I love them so much.
He set about fully restoring the house and repairing any damages. If he couldn’t fix it, he replaced it.
He looked after not only me and the baby, but also my mother. He did it all without complaint or tiring either.
I think in the same way I escaped with writing, he escaped with fixing. We both had to.
But we also escaped into one another.
We had a wedding that was completely for us, and I gladly took his name after.
Andre was avenged, and the bratva was captured. Luca and his cousin Leandro finished everything up, and cornered Alexei so well that he was forced to flee America.
We haven’t had a problem since.
My brother finally has peace.
Aldo comes into the kitchen and sees me with the portrait. “You okay?”
I nod and hang the photo back up. “Just thinking.”
“Think away,” he says, kissing me on the head and then taking the salads and plates all in a mess of arms. “You join us when you’re ready.”
“It’s okay, I just got stopped.” I take some of the plates from his loaded arms and place them back on the table.
“But I wanted to ask you something. I’ve been meaning to for a while.”
“Oh sure.” Aldo puts the salads down and rubs my shoulder.
“Can we have another?”
The question bounces right off his forehead, and he stares at me.
The situation I’ve been overthinking for the last two weeks doesn’t go either of the ways I’ve been imagining.
“Another what?”
“Another child.”
“Ahhh,” he says, beginning to untie his apron.
“What are you doing?”
“We’re having another child, no?” he arches a brow.
“I didn’t mean now-”
But Aldo pinches my butt, and I run away giggling. He chases me through the house, and he eventually traps me against the front door, kissing and tickling and play fighting with me.
I break free and slap his arm. “I didn’t mean now.”
He shakes his head and grins. “You gotta be more specific.”
I roll my eyes. “Well, your enthusiasm is noted.”
“Good.” He comes towards me slowly and takes me in his arms. “I love you, Dawn. And I want to have as many kids as you do. I plan on being with you for a long time.”
We hug, and I try to disappear in the warmth of his chest. We’re already living a busy life, but I know another kid will be great and worth it.
Happiness always is.
AUTHOR’S NOTE:
Phew, we’ve finally wrapped up the Andretti saga! But don’t get too comfy because this book isn’t over yet.
I’ve got a brand-new, sizzling forbidden tale waiting for you in the next chapter, and trust me-you do not want to miss this one. It’s fresh, fiery, and absolutely irresistible. Oh, and don’t worry, this one’s not tied to the Andrettis… but it might just leave you craving even more! Stay tuned!