SPOTTING TRENT’S PARENTS as we walk in, my hands suddenly feel clammy. Smiling brightly, I walk with my hand in Trent's to join them.
“Andrea, darling, it's so great to see you,” his mother says, standing up to hug me. Squeezing her back tightly, I say, “Thank you, Mrs. Zito, it's great seeing you.”
“Please, call me Marjorie, sweetheart. We don't need to be so formal,” she says chuckling.
Nodding, I smile and laugh with her.
Marjorie Zito is the spitting image of beauty, she is the light to Mr. Zito’s more olive complexion. Her light brown hair and crystal blue eyes are always so full of life. The lines next to her eyes show the years of laughter she has had in her life and what happiness is. Being about my height of 5’5, with her curvy stature, I can only compare her to the likes of Marilyn Monroe. His mom is a stunner even in her 50s. I can only hope to look as amazing as she when I’m older.
Mr. Zito stands and kisses me sweetly on the cheek. “Hello dear, it is quite nice to be spending more time with you. I see you've been able to keep my boy here in line,” he says, patting Trent on the back.
Smiling and kissing his cheek back, I wink at Trent. “Oh, Mr. Zito. He is truly not that hard to keep in line, you've done a great job with him.” I smile sweetly.
Marjorie kisses Trent's cheek and pinches it. “I do have a pretty good boy here. One day he will be a spectacular lawyer and the successful man l believe he is,” she says adoringly.
“Andrea, please call me Don. Mr. Zito is my father, and while I love him dearly, I am not about to be formal with you dear,” he says, smiling with the sparkle of humor in his eyes. “You better hold onto this one, my boy, she's a keeper.”
“I think I may just do that, Dad.” Trent winks at me and smiles brightly.
Sitting down and patting the seat next to her for me to join her, Trent’s mother places her napkin into her lap so elegantly and takes a sip of her wine. “I hope you don't mind, we went ahead and got some wine. Shall I pour each of you some?” she asks, smiling as she holds the bottle of wine over my glass.
Looking up to Trent with a look of panic, I see him do the same. “Mom, we are going to wait for our meal, thank you. Andrea has not eaten much today and needs some food in her before we get the wine started.”
Sighing quietly, I mouth, “I love you” to him.
He smiles and puts his hand to his heart.
“Well that is just fine, we wouldn't want our girl here to be sleepy too early now would we,” Marjorie says, laughing and putting her arm around me.
I swear it's like they know something and are testing us. Wine, sleepy...really? They couldn't possibly know anything yet, no way.
Just then the waitress comes over with her little notepad. “Hello, I'm Brittany, and I will be your waitress this evening. I know we started with a bottle of wine over here already, but is there anything else I can start you with?” she asks, looking around our table.
I tip my fingers up to signal her. “I'll just have some water to start with, please.”
Nodding, she smiles, looking to see if anyone else wants anything.
Trent speaks up. “Could we possibly get a pitcher of water for the table, please?” he asks.
“Oh yes, of course you can, sir. I’ll give you a few more minutes to look over the menu and will be right back with your pitcher of water and some fresh breadsticks and salad,” Brittany says, putting her notepad back into her apron and stepping away.
“So, Mom and Dad,” Trent starts as he clears his throat. “Andrea and I have something to share with you. We hope you are as happy as we are, although we understand if you are shocked at first.” He sits up straight and looks back and forth between them.
I place my hands in my lap and smile at the looks on their faces. I'm not sure what to say they are- apprehension, gas, nervousness. Any one of those things could give that face really.
“Please, son, tell us, we’re waiting on pins and needles here,” Marjorie says quietly while reaching for his hand.
“Andrea and I did not in any way plan what we are about to tell you, but we are perfectly happy with this blessing,” he says, now smiling at me and not making eye contact with his parents.
Nodding my head, I give him the go ahead to let the rest out of the bag.
“Mom, Dad, we are going to have a baby,” he blurts out quickly.
Marjorie squeals with delight and immediately reaches over to me and hugs me.
Finally releasing the breath I was holding, I return her hug while looking over to Don.
“Dad? Your reaction is sort of scaring me,” Trent says, grabbing onto his dad’s arm.
“Donald Giovanni,” Marjorie scolds her husband.
Blinking, he finally grins ear to ear. “Well, yes, you could say I am shocked to hear this. But I am not as much of a prude, so to speak, as you would like to believe, son. We know and understand times are different now than they used to be. Do not worry, this new grandbaby will be wrapped around our fingers just like the cousins before him or her,” he says, clapping Trent on the shoulder. “Congratulations to the both of you,” Don cheers as he raises his glass.
Feeling so relieved and elated by this turn of events I was definitely not expecting, I take a deep breath and the sobs wrack me. With the sobs, I turn my smiling face to both Marjorie and Don and mouth, “thank you.”
Marjorie immediately stands and pulls me into her arms, smiling as Trent comes over and takes me into his arms kissing me sweetly. He whispers against my lips, “See baby, I told you this would go well.” Nodding and laughing, I grab my napkin to wipe my eyes and nose.
Brittany chooses then to come back with our breadsticks and salad, as well as our pitcher of water. Setting them down on the table she then asks if we are ready to order.
“Oh, dear, I am so sorry. We have not even looked at our menus yet. Can you please give us a few more minutes and come back?” Marjorie asks.
Nodding, Brittany smiles and walks from our table. Finally sitting down, I grab my menu while still dabbing my eyes.
“So, this is why you aren't having any wine, hmmmm?” Don asks.
Laughing, I nod as Trent and Marjorie join in the laughter. “I so thought you were on to us,” I tell them. “When you were pouring me a glass and then talking about me being tired early, well, that seems to be my new life these days. Exhausted is an understatement on some days,” I say laughing.
“So, have we gone to the doctor and found out when my new grandbaby will be meeting us?” Marjorie asks, clapping delightedly.
Smiling to Trent, I let him take this one.
“Yes, Mom, we went a few days ago. She is about four weeks along and we should be meeting our baby in late June or early July.”
Don suddenly claps his hands and looks toward the ceiling. “It makes me happy that the two of you will be able to finish this last year of school and graduate before the baby comes. Yes, this new blessing is great news, but I want you to be set in some way a little and on your path to life.”
Marjorie goes to respond. As soon as she opens her mouth, Trent cuts her off.
“Mom, I know what's next. No, we aren't getting married right now. We love each other, yes, but we don't want a baby to be the reason to rush into a marriage. We will one day, absolutely. But for now our plans are to live together by the time the baby comes and let the rest fall where it may at the right time.”
Smiling in adoration at Trent, Marjorie grabs his hand. “I'm so proud of the man you have become, my sweet boy. You have this all figured out in such a short amount of time, when many men your age would take a hike.”
Speaking up, I smile to him. “He is the best. He continues to show me he is in this with me and planning for this new life event. I agree that had it been someone else, I may be in this all by myself. But you see, that's why I have him. God never gives us more than we can handle. This baby is our blessing together and I’m so glad you are as overjoyed as we now are.”
***
After we finally ordered and ate, we talked more about school and how our jobs were going. Having a small cushion of inheritance from my grandfather helps me to stay afloat while student teaching and taking classes. Never have I been more thankful for that unanswered prayer after losing him. I still miss him every day, and I think part of this new gift was his way of shining down on me with his love from Heaven.
Snuggling up with Trent on the couch, I decide I'm not letting him off so easy today with making love to me. After the Marissa fiasco last night, I need to connect with him. And this newfound libido is kicking in high gear right now. Standing up, I look down to him wiggling my eyebrows.
Thankfully we came back to my house, so I can do this without Brad or Lauren walking in. I slowly start to remove my shirt over my head, followed by unbuttoning my pants.
Trent sits up smiling widely.
“Baby, let me help you, I want to look at you,” he says.
Slowly sliding my pants over my hips, he kisses my stomach lovingly. “You're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen, sweetheart,” he murmurs against my stomach while kissing his way up.
“Trent, please make love to me, I need you so bad right now. Hold me and don't let go, please,” I beg him as he pulls the cup of my bra down to latch on to my nipple.
Standing, he pulls me up until I wrap my legs around his waist. “That sweetheart, I most definitely can do,” he says, kissing me and walking toward my room.
Turning off the light, he tosses me on the bed and makes love to me nice and slow.