“Take a nap the next time you feel out of sorts. If that doesn’t work, call your doctor or come see me.” Daniella put a motherly kiss to Imani’s head and set out to join the others in the living room.
“Miss Daniella? Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, child.”
“Please-” Imani swallowed, looking more miserable then. “Don’t-don’t tell anyone else,” she asked.
Daniella gave a reverent nod. “I won’t, child.”
“What are you gonna do?” Candace asked when they were alone in the kitchen.
Imani shook her head. “I can’t ever tell Roman this.”
Candace’s jaw dropped. “You’re joking, right?”
“He almost killed Humphrey just for insulting me, Candace.”
“That was his brother. This is his mother-”
“And he hates her. I knew that early on.” Imani dropped her face in her hands and inhaled. “I think it’s because of how she treated Pitch when they were small. Besides, you heard your mother, different doses do different things. I could’ve gotten it wrong-”
“But you don’t believe that. Imani this goes beyond not liking your son’s wife-”
“I won’t tell him this.” Imani closed her eyes on the discussion. “The family’s been through enough.”
“The family?” Candace snapped. “The bitch could’ve killed you and we still don’t know if the baby-”
“Candace,” Giselle called, gave a quick shake of her head.
Candace bristled and then tugged Imani’s hand to her mouth and kissed it. “I’m sorry, I understand. I do.”
All three women gasped when the back door opened and Roman walked inside.
“Apologies, apologies, didn’t mean to scare-” Roman stopped, concern rising immediately when he looked to Imani. “Did something else happen after we left the doctor’s this morning?”
“No, no, no Roman everything’s fine,” Imani waved toward the table. “We’re about to have tea and cake in the living room.”
“Mmm hmmm...but these aren’t tea and cake faces.”
“Roman,” Imani’s smile trembled, “it’s nothing we-we just broke a vase. We’re a little rattled over it.”
Roman observed the spotless kitchen. “Where?”
“Oh, Miss Daniella already cleared it away. She put it in the garbage,” Imani looked to the shiny silver can near the back door.
“If you just came back to check on me, I’m fine,” she added.
Candace and Giselle stood as Roman neared the table.
“We’re gonna go on and join the others,” Candace said.
Imani stood as well. “I really am okay,” she assured her husband.
“I’m only here to grab a file,” Roman rubbed a thumb along her jaw. “I left it when we rushed out of here today for your appointment.”
Imani pulled the end of his black and white checked tie. “Sorry you had to come all the way back for it.”
“It was worth it,” his deep dark gaze was adoring, but also clearly measuring.
Imani knew her husband well enough to know he was already looking for the weak spots in what she’d just said. “I won’t keep you then, I know you’ve got quite a drive back ahead.”
Roman nodded slowly, consideringly. “Sure you’re okay?”
“Fine. Absolutely fine. I have a crew of nurses looking out for me in the living room. Don’t worry.” She stood on her toes, put a sweet yet hurried kiss to his mouth and left the kitchen.
Roman watched until Imani was out of his sight. Then, he turned a calculating look toward the window sill.
***
The worry had been for nothing. Spring saw the birth of Roman’s and Imani’s son. Hilliam Khalid Tesano was born beautiful, healthy and weighing a staggering 9lbs 7oz. Named for both his grandfathers and the priest who had married his parents, the first Tesano grandchild didn’t have long to remain the only Tesano grandchild. Hill was followed three years later by his brother Isak Tafari Tesano and Smoak Andreus Tesano two years after that. Four months after Smoak’s birth, Gabriel and Giselle were welcoming their son Brogue Danilo Tesano.
~45~
“They are beautiful Imani, aren’t they?”
Imani pressed her nose to Smoak’s silken cheek and inhaled his baby scent. “Yes, they are,” she sighed.
Giselle laughed and then brushed her lips across Brogue’s forehead and into the honey blonde curls haloing his plump face.
