“Doesn’t mean we’re completely out of the woods,” Giselle cautioned.
Gabriel dropped a kiss to the top of her head. “I wish you wouldn’t think of it that way. I wish you wouldn’t think of it at all.”
“How am I supposed to do that when they don’t even know the most important thing about me?”
“What? Your race?” Gabriel’s stare was incredulous. “That’s not the most important thing about you, Guy.” He cupped her face in his wide palms. “You’re as gorgeous inside as you are outside.” He kissed her forehead as if to mark the matter sealed.
“Can we at least agree that race is one of the most important things about me?”
He gave her a forbearing look. “Deal.” After a single nod, he pulled her into a tight squeeze. “I don’t think I’m ready for whatever this news might do-not ready to see my mother treat you like she did Imani. I honestly don’t know what that could bring out in me, Giselle.”
“Stop,” she pressed a hard kiss to his palm still cupping her face. “You’re a good man, but this can’t stay hidden forever.”
“I know,” he rolled his eyes. “I know that, I just...I want her to love you beyond...all this,” he fluffed her golden hair around her face. “I believe it could happen. Pop loves you as much now as he did before we told him. It’ll just take a very long time with Ma.” With an optimistic smile, he turned Giselle back against his chest. “How about we check out our new crib in the meantime?” he murmured next to her ear and then took her hand.
“Now you’re talkin’,” Giselle laughed wildly as they ran hand in hand up the long driveway.
***
“You’re sure? No record of the birth in the city or any of the boroughs?”
“Not with the details you provided, Mr. Tesano. There’s no such person as a Guya Giselle Weeks. Are you sure about the spelling?”
Vale rolled his eyes. “No,” he said into the receiver and scowled.
“Well,” the records clerk patiently continued the report of his findings. The man had increased his diligence with the task once Vale had shared his last name.
“Aside from a Giselle Weeks born in Manhattan and another in The Bronx, there’s nothing. The Bronx Weeks was born in twenty-three, the Manhattan one is seven years old.”
Vale swatted the air with his fist. He’d mostly managed to dismiss the strange conversation with Gabriel, but bits of it continued to linger. He wasn’t sure why.
Lies. He knew why. There was pure terror in Gabriel’s eyes when Vale had asked about the name he’d used. Vale wanted to believe it was about Giselle, but he knew Gabriel too well. Could the jackass already have a chippy on the side? He wondered. Could he really have some whore warming his sheets within a few months of marrying a goddess like Giselle?
Damn right he could. Gabriel’s title as the family slut, was a title he had well earned. Proving that he was stepping out on his new wife could prove quite useful. It was easy to see that Humphrey had a thing for their new sister-in-law. News of Gabriel being up to his old tricks, could not only give Hump a chance with Giselle, but might very well dim Gabriel’s bright light in Humphrey’s eyes. Such a turn around might allow Vale to be seen. Finally, to be seen.
“Should I continue with the search, Mr. Tesano?” The clerk’s voice drifted through the line. “Perhaps we could try different variations of the name or expand the search to include the Upstate if you’re sure she’s a native New Yorker.”
“I think her parents have been here since they were married. Before they had kids.” Vale said.
“So you’d like us to keep looking?”
Vale called himself a fool and cringed as Stone’s voice crept into his mind. He could almost hear him taunting, laughing at him for seeking scraps from their big brother’s table. He squeezed his eyes shut.
“Yes, keep looking. Expand the search and keep looking.” He slammed down the phone and yanked at his hair when he thrust a hand into it. Something was there, had to be there, he knew it.
~23~
Ogdensburg, New York~
“You’re getting some size about you girl! It hasn’t even been three months yet.” Athena’s violet eyes were sparkling with genuine tears of happiness. She clasped her hands to her mouth and watched Rosella Campagnone making her way down the brick walkway along the side of the Marsala home. The expectant mother’s rust colored maternity dress billowed in the early evening breeze.
The women embraced. Athena took care not to squeeze too tightly given the younger woman’s noticeable bulge.
“How are you feeling?”
“Fine. Tiring easily.” Rosella’s smile was serene yet traces of weariness wisped through.
Understanding fueled Athena’s nod. “I was on bedrest with Stone and my youngest, Vale,” a haunted look took residence on her face. “There was so much going on in my life during my pregnancy with Stone,” something changed in her eyes and she fixed Rosella with a brighter look. “He asked about you.”
Rosella’s maple brown eyes widened in reaction to the news. “You told him about the baby?”
“Not yet.”
“But-”
“It’s better this way, my love, trust me. Stone will accept the news far better if he comes seeking it instead of me delivering it.”
“But he did come seeking it,” Rosella moved close to lock her hands over Athena’s wrist hidden by the sleeve of the custom knit black sweater she wore. “What if he doesn’t-”
“As I said, don’t worry. He’ll ask again and soon.”
Rosella pressed her lips together and bowed her head. “Do you think he’ll want us? Me and the baby?”
Athena leaned in when she squeezed Rosella’s arm. “I’m sure of it. Stone is a good boy. From fine stock. He will do what’s right.”
Rosella braced, her expression mildly resolved. The wind whipped her dark curls and gave her a fierce look. “Whether he does the right thing or not, I want this child. My child. I love it more everyday it’s inside me. I’m ready to raise it somewhere on my own. We’ll have a good life together.”
“On your own, Child?”
