My throat felt dry, like I hadn’t had a drink in weeks, and I’d swallowed sand. My eyes felt heavy too. I had no idea where I was, but I knew I wasn’t in my room. It smelled different and there was a ridiculously annoying beep. Curiosity got the better of me and I decided to fight to open my eyes. Not having the strength to open them fully, I compromised, opening them half way so I could look around.

I could see from the wall and all of the tubes and wires going in and out of me, that I was in a hospital and the incessant beeping was my monitors.

My heartbeat picked up, as indicated by the light and the numbers on the screen in front of me, when I saw Dante in a chair next to my bed, his head resting on my thigh. I’d been dreaming of him. Most were good, us making love in the room they kept him in in the basement, but some were bad. Some he’d been killed by Jimmy, others by Vito, and even one, killed by my father.

I supposed, as I looked around me, that my father knew that I was in the hospital. He’d be here soon. “Dante?” I said softly.

His head shot up and he inhaled quickly. “Annalisa!” he exclaimed. He put his arms around me like he was going to hug me but stopped. “I-I—can I hug you? I don’t want to hurt you.”

I giggled. “Then don’t hug me hard.”

His arms wrapped around me and he held me to him. His lips moved to mine and he kissed me softly.

I felt my heart begin to race. I could hear it on the monitor.

Dante pulled back, a concerned look on his face.

My heart rate instantly began to lower. A smile crept over his face. “I do that, huh?”

I felt the blush creep up my chest and neck.

“Fuck you’re beautiful, Annalisa. And for the record, my heart does that every time I kiss you too.” He leaned in and kissed me again. This time, I didn’t mind that the monitor was beeping rapidly. His lips brushed against mine, slow at first, then more urgently. I opened my mouth to allow his tongue. Ours met, exploring, slowly, getting reacquainted with each other.

I heard a cough, a clearing of a throat and then a “Are you fucking kidding me?”

Dante jumped back at my father’s words. “She’s awake,” he said, unnecessarily.

I saw my father roll his eyes. “I can see that.” He looked over at Dante and his eyes got wider.

I looked too and I could see what had gotten his attention.

Dante had quite a large bulge in his pants.

I giggled.

“Jesus Christ, I’m not ready for this,” my dad muttered.

My mom pushed past him and came into the room, either oblivious to it all or ignoring it. “The doctors told us you were awake,” she said walking up next to my bed and squeezing my hand.

“What time is it?” I asked looking at the windows. The shades were drawn, but from the small cracks of light that peeked in, I could tell it was daytime.

“It’s like 11:30,” my mother said.

“Really?” Dante asked shocked. “I can’t believe I slept that long.”

“You slept in that chair, next to my bed all night?” I asked.

“No, not really,” Dante answered.

“It’s been a long night,” my mother explained. “You were brought in just after midnight. We all sat in the waiting room while you were in surgery. When you were in the recovery room, Dante and I sat with you. It was about eight or so this morning when they moved you to this room. Dante said he’d wait with you and I went home to shower and eat.”

“Did you eat?” I asked Dante, noticing how tired he looked.

“No, I’m not hungry.”

I raised my eyebrows. “You are always hungry,” I said, recalling how he devoured the food I brought to him each night.

“Well this food is different.” He laughed. “I’m sure I don’t want to know what they have in the cafeteria. Your food, and yours,” he said looking at my mom. “Was heavenly. This stuff will send you to an early grave.”

My mother smiled. “The next time I go home, I can bring you some food.”

“You really should go home and get some rest,” my father said to Dante.

“I can rest here. I really don’t want to leave her.”

He nodded. “You’re going to have to leave her sometime, but I guess until you start to smell so bad she asks you to go, there’s nothing I can do about it.”

Dante laughed, but he didn’t move. “I wouldn’t be able to sleep if I wasn’t here. I need to know she’s safe.”

“Does it help to know that there’s an armed officer stationed outside of her door?” my mother asked.

“No,” Dante and my father said at the same time.

“There’s a cop outside of my door?” I asked. “What on earth for?”

“Well, there was a shooting involving you,” my Dante said. “I’m sure they want to question you. I’m sure the officer outside your door has already called it in that you’re awake. They’ve come twice already before I fell asleep. I don’t know how many times after.”

As if on cue, two men walked into the room. You wouldn’t have known that they were police officers except they had badges clipped to their waistbands of their jeans.

“Hello Annalisa, I’m detective Quinton and this is detective Murphy. I know you’re probably tired and just got out of surgery, but we’d like to ask you a few questions while things are fresh in your mind.”

I looked over at Dante who was staring straight at me, as if willing me to read his mind.

“Do you recall what happened?”

I recalled it perfectly. I’d gone to the dock to meet Dante, but Jimmy had been there instead. He’d reached in my shirt and touched my breast. He was removing his pants so he could rape me when Dante showed up. Dante had shot him and Jimmy had shot me as he was going down. The problem was that I wasn’t sure if it was self defense if Dante shot first. I also had no idea what the officers knew so I did the only thing I could think of. “Everything is fuzzy. I don’t really remember anything.”

“Do you remember being on the dock?”

I shook my head then nodded. “I-I think so. I’m not sure.” I hoped I was a better actress than I felt like I was.

“Miss Moretti. It’s important to try. We need to get to the truth so justice can be served.”

Justice had already been served. I wanted it to be done. I laid back and closed my eyes.

“Can’t you see she’s tired,” Dante said.

I heard the officer sigh. “It’s important that we get her statement right away. Do you mind giving us a few minutes?” the officer asked.

My eyes flew open. I didn’t want to be left alone with them. I didn’t have to say anything because my father said, “NO! You are not going to badger her. She’s not a criminal. She was shot for fuck’s sake.”

The officer looked at my father and then at Dante. He seemed confused. He must have known of the rivalry.

It was Dante who spoke next. “Detectives, what is it you want to know? Annalisa and I were on a date, taking a walk down on the docks. I told you this. She’ll tell you this. Then we got mugged.”

The detective looked mad that Dante was able to say all of that in front of me.

It did give me a lot to go on as to what our story was. “I remember eating dinner and then walking on the dock,” I said, more to Dante than the officers, again hoping my acting skills were good.

“And then there was that man...who mugged us.”

“Did you know the man?” the detective asked.

I shook my head. It was the truth. I’d never met him before.

The detective turned to Dante. “And how about you? Did you know him?”

Dante shook his head.

The detective flipped to a page in his notebook. “How is that possible?” he asked Dante. “The man who you claim shot Miss Morelli is Jimmy Atolio. He worked with you for a dozen years. You’re telling me you didn’t recognize him?” he said in an accusatory tone.

Dante was quiet for a minute. I made a dramatic sigh. “Detectives, Dante doesn’t want to speak ill of the dead, but yes he knew Jimmy.” I paused and put my hand over Dante’s. “Jimmy didn’t like Dante and I being together. He believed those silly stories about our families being in a feud. He said he was going to show Dante what a… what a...” I let my voice break. “Anyway, he didn’t like it.”

The detective took a few notes then looked up. “I’m sorry that it was traumatic. I need to ask you about the shooting. Do you remember anything?”

I shook my head. I’d never say Dante shot him.

Dante interrupted once again, “I remember something else,” he said. “The guy who shot Jimmy, the mystery guy, he was wearing a Cubs hat.”

The detective turned back to me. “Do you remember him wearing a hat?”

“Who?” I asked. “The man who shot Jimmy?”

The detective nodded.

I was quiet and then I leaned over to Dante and whispered. “I’ve just got to tell them the truth.”

Dante’s eyes went wide. “Baby, you can rest and talk later.”

“Let her speak,” the detective said.

I took a deep breath. “I’ve got to do this.” I looked from Dante to my father. “I’m sorry Dad. I’ve got to tell them.” Before anyone could say anything, I went on. “So Dante and I were on a date walking on the dock. We’re just taking our relationship public. The next thing I know, this guy walks up to me and Dante. I didn’t realize who he was at first, but when he started saying things about a feud and being a traitor, I realized he was someone who didn’t like my father. He shouted at Dante and pulled out a gun. He was acting crazy and I was scared.”

“We found your phone in his possession, but not your purse. Dante said he robbed you. Can you explain that?” the detective asked.

“I didn’t have my purse. We were just walking on the dock. I said he was acting crazy. He told me to give him my stuff. I gave him my phone and some money in my pocket. He wanted my ring. I took it off and handed it to him. I was shaking and I dropped it. It fell between the boards of the dock. I’m sure you could send a diver to find it if you want to check.” I knew there was no way they were going looking.

The detective was writing and looking like he was believing my act.

I swallowed hard. The next part wasn’t acting. “He got really mad that I dropped the ring. He said he’d teach me a lesson. He started to remove his pants and Dante got in his face. He had a gun but Dante didn’t seem to care. I was so scared he’d hurt me, but I was even more scared Dante would get hurt trying to stop him.” I turned to look at the cops. “I swear the next part was self defense.”

Dante shook his head. “You don’t have to talk Baby.”

I kept on going, “I wasn’t at the dock alone. My father made someone go with me all the time. Vito was with me. When he saw what Jimmy was doing, Vito came running. He was carrying a gun. I know that’s probably illegal, but he had one. He shouted something like stop. I don’t even know. I was trying to get away. I heard a loud pop and the guy jerked back and then I heard another pop. It was louder and then it felt like I was on fire.” I felt the tears come and I let them. “I guess that’s when he shot me.”

The detectives looked from Dante to me. “Is that what happened?”

Dante nodded. “I didn’t want to get Vito in trouble since he had shot the guy who was trying to rape my girl.”

“And where is Vito now?”

“I don’t know,” I answered.

“He ran off,” Dante said. “I thought he’d be in contact, but no one has heard from him.”

“It may be ruled self defense,” the detective said. “He’ll need to come in and give a statement.”

“I swear, the next time I talk to him, I’ll bring him in myself,” my father said.

I’m not so sure the officer bought that last part, but they seemed satisfied enough. “If you remember anything else,” he said, “give me a call.” He handed me a card and then left.

The room was quiet a full minute after the two officers left the room.

“I think that might be the end of that,” my mother said.

“Yeah, until they question Vito”

No one said anything. They just stared at me.

“What?” I asked. “It’s not like he’s loyal and is going to confess. Who knows what he’ll say.”

Still they stared at me until finally my father spoke, “He won’t be saying anything.”

“Are you going to…” I stopped my sentence. For me, it had been just a minute since I’d been shot on the dock. In reality, it had been nearly twelve hours. “Already?” I asked, though I knew the answer.

“Yes, and anyone else who threatened you or our family.”

I didn’t want to know who else or how many. I didn’t like to think about that stuff.

“It’s all over now,” is all you need to know n my dad said. “Everything is taken care of, so when you’re released from here, you will be safe. Things can go back to normal.”

My mother started talking about how they could set up a bed for me on the main floor if I couldn’t do stairs in the den off the living room. My father was going over specifics, but my mind was elsewhere.

What did they mean, back to normal? I didn’t want normal. Normal was me in the house, bored and lonely. I wanted the nightly visits to the basement and Dante. I knew that wasn’t going to happen. It’s not like he was going to say to my dad, “So, wanna cuff me back up?”

Still, I couldn’t help but wonder what would happen between Dante and I now that he wasn’t forced to be in our house. I bit my lip.

Dante leaned over and whispered into my ear, “Nothing about your life is going to be normal now. I’m going to be in it.”

“I want that,” I said.

“And I want to take you on a real date.” He leaned over and kissed my cheek then whispered in my ear. “And wake up with you in the morning.”

I felt myself blush with my parents in the same room. It occurred to me, just then, that they might not even know we had sex. I whispered to Dante, “So uh, my parents know we’re um...you know...we like each other?” I felt so silly saying it like that, but I didn’t know what else to say. He wasn’t my boyfriend, not really. We’d planned on running away together, yet we’d never gotten to that label.

“You like me?” Dante said, a silly grin on his face. “I told your parents that I like you too.” He chuckled. “Actually, I told them that I’m in love with you, Annalisa.”

“They know that?” I asked, looking over at my father and mother who instantly stopped talking and looked back at us.

“Know what?” my father questioned.

I felt my face burning. “Uh, know that we like each other.”

He looked from Dante to me like it was some sort of joke. “Aware that you like each other? Ha! I’m aware that he seduced you and that he didn’t seem to know how to keep from knocking you up.”

So there it was. Not only did they know that we’d slept together, they knew I was pregnant. It wasn’t that I was ashamed of any of it, but somehow having your parents look at you after made me feel about six years old. I did have to set the record straight though. “Dad...Mom...he didn’t seduce me though. I mean, he might have made the first move sometimes, but I came down to his room every night. That was me. I wanted him to.”

My father visibly cringed.

“And the baby is my fault too. I thought I was on birth control.”

“How can someone think they are on birth control,” my mom asked.

“Well, I found all these partial packs of birth control pills at our house. Lina left them laying around. She always skipped a row.”

“The sugar pills?” my mom asked.

I nodded.

My mother smacked my dad on the arm. “See, I told you so.”

My mom was smiling, my dad was doing his best.

Dante was holding my hand, looking exhausted, but happy.

I wasn’t though. We’d just been talking about the baby, but I wasn’t even sure there was one. I hadn’t been sure how I felt about it when I’d first had the hint I might be pregnant, but once I knew, once I’d let myself love it, I wanted it more than anything. My hands went to my stomach.

“I know,” Dante said, his smile faltering.

“Is it...gone?” I asked.

Dante put his hands over mine. “The doctors don’t know. They won’t know for about a month honey. Do you really want to talk about this now?”

I looked over at my parents as I felt the tears start to fall.

“Why don’t we give you two a minute,” my mother said, pulling my dad from the room.

“A month?” I asked him when they’d left.

“Well, they did some blood work when you came in last night, and they said they were going to do it again today. I guess there are some numbers in it and they double each day, so if they go up, then, well, it’s a good sign.”

I squeezed his hand. “And if they don’t, it’s done right?”

He nodded. “But if they go up, they said that doesn’t necessarily mean...well, sometimes it takes time for things to change. They said they’d schedule an ultra sound in three weeks. You’ll be five weeks along then, and I guess there are things you can see better then.”

He sounded like a doctor. It was comforting that he’d asked the questions I didn’t want to or even know to ask.

He leaned over and took my face into his hands. I hadn’t realized I was crying until he touched my cheeks. “Annalisa, Babygirl, we have to stay positive. And if things, well, if things are meant to be another way, then...well...I know this wasn’t planned, but I’m truly excited about it. I really want this baby, and if you want one too, we can get you pregnant again as soon as the doctor says it’s okay.”

It was okay. That was exactly what I wanted to hear. I knew I loved him, or at least I thought I did. It had all happened so fast. He’d said he loved me, and he’d even said it before he knew about the baby, but the baby had tied the two of us together. It was a bond that would keep us connected forever. It gave me security. The fact that he wanted another child, if we lost this one, meant the world to me.

A few hours later, a nurse came in and drew blood. She said it was routine, and it might have been, but I knew that there would also be the test to see if I was still pregnant.

It seemed that the doctors and nurses never stopped coming in, checking on me, looking at my wound, which was really small for how much it had hurt. Dante was there through it all. I hadn’t even noticed that the sun had set until a nurse came in and closed the curtains. She checked my vitals and then turned to Dante. “How are you doing?” she asked.

“I’m fine,” he said, sounding surprised by the question.

“I was just checking,” the nurse said. “I figure you’ll be my patient by tomorrow. It would be nice to get to know you.”

“Patient?” Dante asked.

The nurse smirked. “Yeah. You’ll be suffering from exhaustion and dehydration.”

“I’m fine,” Dante said.

“Okay,” the nurse said with a smile. “I’m sure you guys can get a couples suite.”

I giggled. I liked the nurse. She did have a point though. Dante had been with me all day and hadn’t gotten anything to eat. He’d had a cup of coffee that Marco had brought him when he came to check on me, but that was it.

I looked at the clock. It was nearly seven. “Dante. She’s right. You need to eat and get rest.”

“I’m not leaving you,” he said.

Before I could respond, the nurse was back at the door. She had a small box in her hands. “It turns out we’re pretty busy here, and I don’t have time for another patient, will you eat this?”

She gave the box to Dante and left.

He didn’t open it.

“Dante, why aren’t you eating?” I asked.

“I don’t want to eat in front of you and I know you can’t eat.”

“Yeah, but I’m not hungry,” I said honestly. “I don’t know why, but I’m not, but it’s bothering me you’re not eating or sleeping.”

Dante reluctantly agreed and I wasn’t surprised when he ate the entire sandwich that was in the box along with the chips, apple and cookie.

The doctor came in not long after that with the nurse. “I have your test results, Miss Morelli. Would you like some privacy?” He was looking from me to Dante.

“No, it concerns him too,” I said, not liking the look on the doctor’s face. He looked like he had bad news.

He nodded and opened the folder. “Well, things look good in regards to your levels from the surgery. There are no signs of infection.”

Dante reached over and grabbed my hand. “That’s good Baby.”

“I also have the hormone levels regarding your pregnancy,” the doctor said. “The numbers are significantly higher than this morning, which indicates that you’re still pregnant and the fetus is growing.”

I looked over and saw tears running down Dante’s face. He exhaled as if he’d been holding his breath for hours.

“I have to be straightforward with you. It doesn’t mean you’re out of the woods yet, but it is a good sign.”

“When will we know?” I asked.

“If you lose the baby, you might know by cramping and spotting. That isn’t always the case. I’m going to order an ultrasound for two weeks from now. By then, the technician will be able to make a much better determination.

“Thank you,” Dante said, shaking the doctor’s hand.

He left the room leaving the nurse standing there. “I take it congratulations are in order?” she said.

“Yeah,” Dante said. Again, there were tears in his eyes. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I was just so worried and I knew how much you wanted this,” he said more to me than to her.

“You’re probably overtired,” the nurse said. “You need a good night’s sleep.”

Dante shook his head even before she finished talking. “I’m not going home. I wouldn’t sleep well if I was away from her anyway.”

The nurse had opened a large wooden cabinet along the wall and pulled out a sheet, blanket and a pillow. “Well, if you’re going to be stubborn, then at least get a good night’s sleep here.” The nurse asked Dante to stand and showed him how the chair he was sitting in turned into a single bed. She helped him put the sheet on it and then the blanket. She handed him the pillow. “Now, no fooling around in here,” she teased.

I woke up a few times during the night when the nurses came to check on me, take my temperature and blood pressure. In the morning, I woke to see Dante sleeping in the bed next to me. I loved how he looked, sleeping there.

Later, when I woke, Dante was awake. “Good morning, sleepy head,” he teased me.

His parents arrived a few minutes later, as did mine. His mom brought him a change of clothes and something to eat. My mom brought him something to eat, too. He made a joke about needing the jogging pants again if everyone was going to keep over feeding him.

I was allowed to eat real food, though it had to be the hospital food. It wasn’t too bad. After we both ate breakfast, the nurse had me up and walking around. I thought it would hurt a lot more than it did, though it was still uncomfortable.

The doctor was happy with my progress and told me I’d be going home in the morning.

I was happy to be going home, but a little sad too.

When the doctor left the room, Dante pulled his chair right up against the side of my bed, where he’d been keeping it most of the time. Our parents had left an hour or so earlier so Lina, Marco, and Donnie could visit. They’d gone home when the doctor had come in.

The television was on, muted, as I stared at Dante. How did I tell him what I was feeling?

“I’m really happy that you’re doing well enough to go home, but I have to say that not being with you twenty four hours a day is going to be hard.”

It was such a relief to hear him say that. It was exactly what I was worried about.

“Why are you smiling? You like that I’m going to be miserable without you?” he asked.

I shook my head and giggled. “No, it’s just that I was thinking the same thing. I like going to sleep with you and waking up with you.”

Now it was Dante’s turn to smile. “Babygirl, this is not going to sleep with me and waking up with me. I’ll show you what that’s like once you’re out of here and really all better.”

His words made my stomach tingle.

He took my hand. “I have to be honest Annalisa. I have no idea if I’m going to be good at this or not, the dating thing. I’ve never really dated a woman in the way people date. I mean, I’ve...uh…”

“Fucked a lot of women,” I supplied.

“Yeah,” he said, somehow looking embarrassed about it. “But I’ve never done the dinner beforehand or the flowers or, well, any of it.”

That pit that grows in your stomach when you’re about to hear bad news, when you’re waiting for the “but” began to grow in mine. What was he trying to say?

“I guess what I’m saying,” he continued, “is that I’m new at all of this, so I’ll probably fuck up. I’ll buy you the wrong flowers, or, I don’t know. I’ve never actually spent the whole night with a woman before, so I probably won’t be as polished as the guys you usually date.”

I stared at him with my mouth slightly open. Was he being insecure and vulnerable with me? It was so out of character for him, and adorable, and slightly inaccurate. I mean, I had no clue what he’d be like dating, but I also had never dated before. “Dante? Uh, don’t you remember taking my virginity?”

He smiled and nodded. “So fucking tight I thought I was going to die.”

“So clearly, I haven’t slept with a guy all night either and I’ve only been on like five dates in my life. None of them were real. My father...well let’s just say, he’s a bit overprotective.”

Dante chuckled. “Just a bit.”

It was nice we could talk about our feelings. He sat close to me and we held hands while watching a movie on TV. Dante kept complaining that all the good parts had been cut out.

I don’t remember falling asleep, but I remember feeling content.

In the morning, the doctor was in and I found myself being released. Dante walked next to me as the nurse wheeled me to the door and stood there as my father went to pull the car around. He leaned down awkwardly and kissed my lips. “You have my number,” he said, a sound in his voice I couldn’t place. “Call me and text me if anything is wrong. I can be at your house in less than fifteen minutes.”

I nodded.

“Or call or text if nothing’s wrong too, okay?”

Again, I nodded. I couldn’t talk. I knew if I did, I’d start to cry.

My father’s car came around the corner and before I knew it, I’d been loaded into the backseat. I didn’t look behind me as my father drove off leaving Dante standing on the sidewalk in front of the hospital.

Silent tears fell down my cheeks and my parents didn’t notice for blocks. When my father looked in the mirror, his eyes went wide. “Is the ride hurting you Annalisa? I can drive slower. I’m trying to get you home.”

“I’m fine Dad,” I said. It was a half-truth. I was fine physically and I would be fine emotionally. I knew Dante wasn’t gone forever.

I resisted the urge to dig my phone out of my bag and text him that I missed him. I didn’t want to be one of those clingy girls. When we got home, my parents helped me into the bed in the makeshift room they’d created on the first floor.

My mom tucked me in and made a fuss over me. “So you can have anything to eat now. What do you want?”

“Just soup,” I said.

She sat down next to me. “Wanna tell me what’s wrong?” she asked.

I was about to say nothing, but I saw her eyes. So caring and understanding. “I miss him,” I admitted.

She smiled softly. “So call him. Text him. Let him know. I have a feeling he’s missing you too. Where’s your phone?”

“It’s in my bag,” I said. The police had returned it earlier in the morning saying they’d cloned it. Dante hadn’t liked it, but they said it was evidence. I’d told him that there wasn’t anything on it anyway that would be incriminating.

My mom reached into my bag and handed me my phone.

I was surprised to see that I had several text messages. Two were from Lina. She and Marco were at her apartment. She said to call her later after I was settled in at home. There were three from Dante. I bit my lip as I clicked on them. They were:

Miss you.

Hope you’re home safe.

I was wondering if you’d go on a date with me. Can I pick you up around six?

There had been a space between each. I had to giggle at his last text. I really couldn’t go anywhere. I mean, the car ride had been a bit painful, but the doctor did say that the more I moved, the less it would hurt.

I couldn’t hold in the smile as I texted him back. “I’d love to go on a date. I’m not sure where I can go though.”

“How about a picnic in your yard?”

It sounded so romantic.

“I take it, it’s good news?”

I jumped. I’d forgotten my mom was standing in my room. “Uh, yeah. Dante wants to take me on a date.”

She frowned. “A date? Honey, you’ve just gotten out of the hospital.”

“Just a picnic in the back yard,” I said.

“That sounds very romantic. I’ll let your father know so he doesn’t accidentally shoot Dante.”

I let out a small laugh, but part of me knew she wasn’t kidding. Now that the drama part was over and I was out of the woods medically, would my father and Dante be able to get along? I mean, my father had kidnapped and planned to kill Dante less than a month ago, and Dante had been trying to rob my father. That didn’t really make for a good start to a relationship.

I thought that six o’clock would take forever to come, but I guess exhaustion had gotten the better of me, because I took a four hour nap. When I woke, Lina was standing in my makeshift room with a pile of clothes.

“I raided your closet. What are you going to wear on your date?”

“How did you know I had a date?” I asked, still waking up.

“Oh, well Marco told me. I mean, we were in bed together when Dante texted.”

“Dante texted Marco?” I asked with surprise. “Why?”

“He wanted to ask you out, but he knew you couldn’t really go anywhere. He wanted to have a picnic in the yard but wanted to make sure he didn’t get shot coming over or something.”

I laughed. “My mom said the same thing.”

Lina spent the next hour helping me get ready. I couldn’t wear anything really sexy because I had to wear my running shoes. It was hard enough to walk as it was. Lina was finishing my makeup when I heard the doorbell. My tummy swarmed with a thousand butterflies. I could hear my father’s voice. I moved to the opening of my makeshift room and peeked into the living room.

Dante and my dad were standing in the foyer.

“So this is really happening?” my father asked in a deadpan voice.

“Yes, Sir, it is.”

“This is the part where I’d tell you that if you try anything with Annalisa, I cut off your balls, or if you hurt her, I’ll come after you and they won’t even find the pieces, but since you’ve somehow managed to get my daughter pregnant and shot all before taking her on a first date.”

“Dante, it’s wonderful to see you again,” my mom said coming into the room from the kitchen. “I know that your invitation for a picnic made Annalisa’s day.” I wasn’t sure who she was talking to, Dante or my dad, because it was my dad who responded.

“Ok, I get it, just treat her with the respect she deserves,” he said.

I stepped out into the room a bit more. Dante turned to me and smiled. “God you look beautiful,” he said walking up to me.

He had a big basket that he carried into the yard. He spread out a blanket and we sat on it. He’d brought sparkling cider, fruit and cheeses. We fed each other and held hands. He looked into my eyes and we talked about everything.

Before I knew it, the sky was completely dark and the stars were out. The moon was large, nearly full. We stared up at the sky. “It’s so beautiful,” I said.

“It is,” Dante agreed, though he was looking at me.

I giggled nervously at his compliment.

“I’m loving this date, but I think we should get you back inside. I want to make sure you get rest.”

I didn’t want the date to end, but I was tired. I agreed and he walked me to the door. Standing on our back porch, he pulled me into a hug. I put my arms around his neck.

“Babygirl. I had the best time tonight. I want to take you out again. Here, anywhere...would you like to go?”

“I really would. This was so fun.”

He leaned down and brushed his lips gently against mine.

I could feel the warmth of his breath as we kissed.

“I love you,” he said, standing up straight again. “I’ve got to go. You need rest.”

I was nearly floating as I went back into the house. I knew it would be hard to sleep without him. I’d been so used to it, but I was also tired.

My mom helped me into bed and I lay there thinking about how wonderful my first date with Dante had been. My lips still tingled from where he’d kissed me. I was reading a book when my phone buzzed with a text.

“So, I looked it up online and saw that you’re not supposed to text for two days after a first date. But I also saw online that you’re supposed to tell the woman carrying your baby often how special she is to you. When I did the math and averaged it out, I came up with waiting 45 minutes. I hope this is all right.”

I was still reading his first text when the next came through. “I had a wonderful time Annalisa. Thank you for agreeing to another date. I miss you already. I hope you’re sleeping though. I’ll message in the morning. Good night.”

I nearly squealed when it came through. I texted back. “I had an amazing time too. I am about to go to sleep. I’ll message you in the morning too. Good night.”

It was easier to fall asleep then, and he did message in the morning, and every morning and night for the next week. He came over every afternoon to sit with me or evening to have a picnic.

On Saturday, he came over and wanted to take me on a real date. “It will just be dinner and home. I won’t have her out long, and it’s a safe place,” Dante said to my parents.

“What sort of place?” my father asked. “Is it your club?”

Dante’s face turned red. “No...I was going to take her to Annalisa’s.”

My mother smiled, but my father didn’t look convinced. “Donnie is going with you,” he said.

“On my date!” I exclaimed. “Dad! What do you think is going to happen?”

“You could get shot!” he said loudly. “Do you know what it’s like to wake up in the middle of the night and get a phone call from your right hand man telling you that your only child has been shot! Do you think I want to do that again?”

“We can stay here,” Dante said looking defeated.

“No, no you can’t,” my mom said. She turned to my dad. “She’s got to live her life.”

My dad grumbled something and she whispered, “Go, but be careful, please.”

Dante had an amazing car. I knew it was powerful, but instead of flooring it, he drove so slowly to the restaurant I swore an old lady in a walker would pass us. When we got to Annalisa’s he parked the car and ran around to open my door. He helped me out of the car.

When we walked into the restaurant, I swore everyone stopped talking and was staring at us.

Dante leaned down and whispered, “And your father was worried about you getting shot?”

It was true, he was in theory, in far more danger, but since he was with me, he was safe. I’m sure it would have been the same had he taken me to his club.

We had a great dinner, in spite of the people watching us. As promised, Dante took me right back home, only we didn’t go in right away. He turned to me and took my chin in his hand. We kissed for nearly half an hour in his car. When he’d walked me to the door, I felt weak. It wasn’t from going out, it was from the things he could do with his mouth.

We went out nearly every night after that. He took me to a few restaurants, the movies, and even a concert in the park. When we didn’t go out, we stayed in and had a picnic. Our picnics had gotten more and more physical as the week had progressed, and they had morphed from picnics to make out sessions. All we ever did was kiss though.

About two weeks after I’d been shot he was over, hanging out with Marco, Lina and I in my room playing a card game. It was my last night sleeping in my makeshift room. I was able to walk the stairs and I’d get to sleep in my own bed. I missed my room and the privacy it offered. Every time my parents walked past, I felt like I was in a zoo since there was no real door.

When it started to get late, Marco and Lina went up to his room. I was more than a bit jealous that the two of them got to make love all the time. I loved kissing Dante, but after having been in his arms, feeling him as he made love to me, made me want it again.

As I walked Dante to the door, my mom stopped him. “Dante, if you’re not busy tomorrow afternoon, around three, I’d like to invite you to Sunday dinner. We’re having stuffed shells.”

“I’d love to come,” Dante said. He turned to me. “See you tomorrow Babygirl.” He leaned down and gave me a soft kiss on my lips.

I was floating as I walked up the stairs to my room to get another book. Dante always left early so I could get rest, but no one could sleep that much. He’d been overly concerned about my health, though we never spoke of the baby. My appointment for the ultrasound was the following Monday. I think neither of us wanted to talk about it until we knew for sure.

As I reached my bedroom, I could hear Lina and Marco in his room. They were having sex, and clearly, they were both loving it. Lina was screaming out Marco’s name and he was grunting something I couldn’t understand.

It had been so long since I’d had sex. I wondered how I could have gone my whole life without it, and then after having it every day for two weeks, not having it at all was torture. I wondered how Marco was handling it. He’d been having sex daily for years. This must be torture. He hadn’t even asked for it.

I was surprised he’d never tried for more since I’d come home from the hospital. How was he doing it? It hit me like a ton of bricks. He wasn’t. A guy like him wasn’t being celibate, he just wasn’t having sex with me. He and I had never actually talked about being monogamous. We had been ready to run away together, but that was for our protection, so we wouldn’t be killed. We’d never said anything about only dating each other. Was that what he was doing? Dating other women? No, he wasn’t dating them, but was he fucking them?

I walked back down to my room on the first floor, with the moans of Marco and Lina echoing in my head. I climbed into bed with my book. I reached over and picked up my phone. There was already a text from Dante. “Miss you. Can’t wait to see you tomorrow. I love you.”

I believed him. I knew he loved me. I texted him back, “I love you. See you tomorrow.”

As I closed my eyes, I didn’t let my doubts creep back up. I’d see him in the morning and if it still bothered me, I’d ask him. I pictured Dante home in his bed, asleep, not at his club with another woman. My hands went to my stomach. As I fell asleep, I imagined him in my bed, his arms around me like he had done when he was in the basement, but this time, I wouldn’t have to leave.