A Love Restored

Cabe rubbed my feet as I giggled helplessly. He was really, really bad at giving foot massages. I knew he had the right intentions, but the way he was rubbing my feet was basically endless tickling. Since that day when I had started bleeding so much, either Dad or Gabe would come over every day. Julian had hired a housekeeper who cook my meals and clean up around the house, despite all my contestations. And he was adamant on hiring a nurse, but that had made me uncomfortable–firstly because I was feeling better and also because it was too much. He had only given in when Dad and Gabe started coming over every day and he had felt like I had enough companionship during the day, Julian would, of course, come over in the evening every day. He had been paying more attention to the non–mafia related financial ventures he had been involved in before. It kept him busy, which was a great thing. I liked that he was slowly getting used to the sudden transition.

Gabe finally stopped tickling/rubbing my feet and fell back down on my bed

He looked up at me, “So, how are things with Dante?”

I shrugged. “He’s been very worried, I think. Since it happened. But we haven’t addressed it. We haven’t spoken of it once.”

“Doesn’t seem very healthy. Have you tried to bring it up?”

I nodded. “He kind of dismisses it? Or just talks around it.”

Gabe frowned. “I guess he took it really hard? Because its pretty clear that he cares.”

I nodded in agreement. Of course he cared. There was no doubt about that. But I just wished he would talk to me. He had barely even acknowledged it. Sure, he had gotten so much more protective, and he never let me do anything now. He was treating me like I was made of glass. But I didn’t want that even though I recognized that it was his way of caring for me. I wanted to talk about it. It had been a scary moment for us both, and I wanted us to address it together and deal with it together.

“Today we’re going to Nua and Nico’s for dinner.”

Gabe gave me a look. “Really? That sounds like a great idea.”

I rolled my eyes at the sarcasm. “I’m dreading it as well. But Don and Donna and Consigliere and Consigliera will also be there. A family dinner.”

*This keeps getting worse and worse,”

I shrugged, “I mean, its bound to be awkward, but we can’t just stop seeing each other. I think it’s a good idea, actually,” I said, “The more we all see each other, the less awkward it will get over time.”

“I haven’t spoken to Nico in a while, how’s that going?”

“Nua is really nice, you know I said, and Gabe nodded. “Nico is really nice, too. I think if nothing else, they will eventually like each other. Nico does say he thinks she’s really sweet.”

“I’d hate to be in any of your situations, bro, Alll four of you.”

“Thanks,” I grabbed my chest, feigning hurt, and he laughed.

Cabe left when Julian arrived. He was already dressed for dinner, and asked me to get ready as well. He lay

I pranced around the room putting on makeup and getting dressed.

“How were you today?” Julian asked nonchalantly. His attention was still on his phone.

“Good.” I answered.

“Hm. Did you eat well?”

“A soup. Some rice. Eggs. So yeah, enough.”

He nodded. He looked away from his phone at me. He smiled slightly. “You look beautiful.”ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

Thank you!

Julian went back to looking at his phone. And that was the last straw.

y down on my bed and was using his phone as

“Are we ever going to talk about what happened?”

He turned his head sideways slowly. Keeping his phone on the bed, he sat up. “What’s there to talk about?”

“Really, Julian?” I was exasperated. “Really? We nearly lost our baby, and there’s nothing to talk about?”

He stood up and approached me, but I took a step back.

“But we didn’t lose her,” he said in response.

“So it was nothing for you, then? Great.” I plastered a fake smile on my face. “Let’s go, then. We have a dinner to get to. And when your family talks about it, you can just pretend it never happened.”

I stomped out of the room, and he was hot on my trail. “Come on, Ginevra, Why are you fighting with me?”

I turned on my heel to glare at him. The expression on my face must have been really intense, because he stopped in his tracks,

We both stared at each other for a second. I started to speak, but he beat me to it..

“It wasn’t nothing.” His voice was soft, almost a whisper. He took a few steps toward me. His arms entwined around my waist.

“It was the scariest moment of my life, Ginevra.” His grip tightened until I was crushed into him, as much as I could be with my huge belly between us. “While you were inside

that room, I was outside thinking of the worst. Thinking of what would happen if we lost our baby, or worse, if I lost you. I wouldn’t be able to go on. I can’t live without you.”

His expression was one of deep sadness, and fear. “And as soon as I found out you were okay, that our baby was okay, I just never wanted to speak of it again. Or even think about it. I know that isn’t fair to you, my love. I know you deserve more, and we can talk about it if you want. Whatever you need. But I was scared and overwhelmed. It was the worst feeling of loss. I hadn’t ever imagined I could feel this afraid of something.”

I closed my eyes against his chest. “We don’t need to talk,” I told him, “I love you. We’re safe. We’re safe. That’s enough.”