How could you?” Marco’s mouth dropped open. Tears filled his eyes, and his lip trembled. “I trusted you to take care of my little girl and you…you defiled her.” His face had gone red.

“Sir, it’s not like that.” I clasped my hands together in front of me, pleading for him to believe me. “It wasn’t my intention, sir.”

“Your Commander highly recommended you. What kind of operation are you running, Mr. Martin?” Marco paced, unable to bear looking me in the eye, and not daring to turn his attention to his very pregnant daughter.

“This has nothing to do with VanGuard. This is on me.” Commander Phillips still had no idea about the pregnancy, at least, not that he let on. I’d sworn Cruz to secrecy.

“Daddy,” Vanessa stepped forward, directly into Marco’s path, forcing him to confront her. “Please don’t be mad. I love him.”

Her words filled my heart with joy and put the steel back in my spine. We hadn’t been overly free with that word in our months together. I’d always assumed she just knew that I loved her, as I knew her feelings for me. But hearing it out loud and firm like that, it made me want to go to her right then and sweep her up in my arms.

Marco, however, was less moved. “Love? Love! How do you call this love? Shacking up together, living in sin!” He was yelling at the top of his voice now, veins popping out in his neck. Spittle forming at the corners of his mouth threatened to fall on Ma’s good rug.

Trying to mitigate the damage, I stepped back, giving him more personal space. “I’m very sorry for the way it happened, and the way we kept it from you, Mr. Genovese.” I looked over at Vanessa, who hadn’t moved from the edge of the hallway. I went over to her, took her hand, and continued. “We do love each other. I have no intention on hurting Vanessa. I’ll gladly return all the money you paid me over these months. I haven’t touched it.”

Marco’s eyes went wide. He hadn’t thought of that yet. I silently cursed myself for being the one to remind him. “I’ve been paying you to sleep with my little girl!” Spent, he sat in a heap on Pop’s recliner. Marco pulled a light blue pocket square from his jacket. That’s when it struck me that he’d come here, carrying boxes of presents and decked out in a full suit.

I looked at Vanessa, who shrugged and continued our defense. “Daddy, I was the one who told Martin to keep the money. He didn’t want to. It tore him up. But we need it. I haven’t been able to return to work after the…incident. Nobody will hire me. The baby’s coming in two months. It was my idea to keep it, so if you’re going to be mad at someone, be mad at me.” Vanessa’s voice was firm but kind. She let go of my hand and went to her father. She stood behind him, placed her hand on his shoulder, and waited.

“It’s not the money, princess.” Marco squeezed her hand. “I don’t care about money. I’ve missed you. I’ve been so worried about you. And I thought I’d come here today and get you to come home with me. But…”

“This is my home now.” She glanced in my direction, and I nodded. Of course this is your home.

Marco stood, motioning for me to come to him. I stepped lightly, not sure of what was to come. He pulled Vanessa around the chair and caressed her swollen belly. “A little baby,” he smiled, grandfatherly pride puffing his chest.

Vanessa and I held each other again, all three of us placing a hand on the belly. Marco continued, “Good thing I came dressed for a wedding.”

My breath caught in my chest, and Vanessa gasped. If we’d never really given words to our love, we’d certainly never talked about marriage. But at Marco’s mention of the word, I was surprised at how calm I remained. It felt natural, as if we’d already planned the whole thing and were only discussing some minor detail to be decided on before the event.

Vanessa, quick to change the awkward subject, asked, “Why are you dressed like that, Daddy?”

“Well, this is part of why I came today. My good news and gifts.” Marco waved his hand at the forgotten boxes, all neatly wrapped in different bright colors. “I sold the restaurant. I’m taking a position at a non-profit organization, cleaning up my act. A nice little soup kitchen downtown. Seems the owner’s band…something called a Dirty Monkey… hit it big on the internet, and he had to sell.”

“Oh, Daddy, that’s wonderful!” Vanessa burst into tears and hugged her father hard.

I patted the man on the arm, finding a free spot that wasn’t engulfed by Vanessa. “Wonderful news, Mr. Genovese.” I smiled and nodded toward Vanessa, still a blubbering mess. “I’m growing quite accustomed to it.”

“I remember the days. My sweet Carlotta would tear up at the smallest things.” Marco’s eyes got a far off look.

I waited a moment, allowing him the privacy of his memory. When he blinked and seemed to be looking back at me, I reiterated, “I want you to know that I never intended for any of this, but I do love her, and I’m very happy.”

Vanessa finally released her father and added, “He didn’t stand a chance, Daddy. I pursued him. Please don’t be mad at him.”

“I’m not, dear. I just want you to be happy. Besides, I know what it’s like when a Genovese woman sets her mind to something.” He hugged Vanessa and lightly touched her nose, as one would a small child. “If you were half as determined as your mother was with me, princess, poor Martin didn’t stand a chance.”