Fight Me Little Pearl

Chapter 44

Chapter Forty-Four

FRANCESCA

“ W hat’s going on?” Louisa meets me by the car, her face drawn with worry. “You sounded terrible over the phone.”

I glance at the house before pulling Louisa into the car and shutting the door. As the car pulls out of the driveway, I hit the button that triggers the partition between the driver’s seat and the backseat.

“Who is the driver?” Louisa asks. “I’ve not seen him before. Where’s Dutch?”

“His name is Romero.” I answer.

Looks like he’s been put in charge of driving me around. I haven’t seen Dutch or Vance in days, along with my husband. Valentino hasn’t called, and neither has he shown up at the house. So many times I’ve been tempted to call him but have chickened out. What I want to say to him can’t be done over the phone. I’m going to take the bull by the horns.

I’m going to be completely honest with him so I need him to be home and look into his eyes before I confess how I truly feel about him. First, I’m going to apologize then I’m going to tell him I’ve fallen for him. And I cannot live without him. And then I’m going to give him my good news. At least, I hope he will consider it good news.

“Did your mom see you leave the house?” I ask Louisa.

“Yes, but she doesn’t know I am coming to meet you,” Louisa answers. “Why are we whispering? And where are we going?”

I glance around me, even though it’s only Louisa and I in the car.

“Okay, you’re making me more worried.” She grabs my shoulders. “What is going on? What’s wrong?”

“We’re going to the hospital,” I whisper.

Louisa’s eyes widen. “Are you sick? What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

My voice dips even lower because I don’t want to risk the driver hearing me. “I think I might be pregnant.”

Louisa squeals, and I slap a hand to her mouth. “Louisa!”

“What?” Louisa peels my hand away from her mouth. “Isn’t this a good thing? You’re pregnant for the Boss.”

“It might not be,” I whisper harshly. “Valentino and I are going through some rocky times right now and I don’t know whether he will be happy about his baby.”

Louisa looks disappointed. “You still haven’t apologized to him? You’re even more stubborn than I thought. It’s been three days since your mama advised you.”

“I haven’t seen him in three days,” I answer, my heart contracting painfully in my chest.

“What? Where is he?”

“I don’t know. He hasn’t been home. I really hope this marriage isn’t over, Louisa.” Tears sting my eyes, but I blink them away. This isn’t the time for cowardice; it’s time to be strong.

Louisa’s arms come around me.

“I don’t know how this happened. I went on the pill when Valentino and I got married.”

Louisa gasps. “Does he know this?”

“No. I didn’t want the marriage, Louisa, and I was scared that I’d be bound to him if I got pregnant, so I took steps to make sure.”

“Okay, but after you and Valentino got to know each other, why didn’t you stop?”

“Because we never discussed having kids. It was too early. I didn’t want to bring a kid into this life with a man that doesn’t love me, Louisa. Please don’t blame me.”

“I will never blame you!” Louisa hugs me. “You’re my sister. I’m always on your side.”

Tears slip down my face, and she gently wipes them off. “So what now?”

“I’m going to confirm my pregnancy test.”

“Okay.” She nods. “What next? What will you do if you find out you’re pregnant?”

“I—”

A knock on the partition interrupts me, and I hear the driver’s voice. “We’re at St. Monica’s hospital, ma’am.”

Louisa and I exchanged glances. “Come on,” she says. “Let’s do this.”

Hours later, Louisa and I are huddled on a chair in the hospital reception, waiting for the result of my pregnancy test. A nurse had taken my urine sample about two hours ago, and my patience has almost run out from having to wait that long.

Louisa’s arm is tight around my body, and I can tell she’s nervous, too. My heart is beating furiously in my chest because deep down, I know the result is going to say the same thing the pregnancy kits from the pharmacy said. The symptoms are all there.

“Miss Barbieri?” A nurse calls, and I rush to my feet with Louisa beside me.

“The doctor will see you now,” she says, gesturing towards the office.

We go into the consulting room. The doctor is a middle-aged man with a friendly smile, and he directs us to the seats across from him.

There’s no need to delay the inevitable; I’d rather rip the plaster off instantly. “Tell me, Doctor. Am I pregnant?”

Louisa grabs my hand and squeezes.

The doctor presents me with a smile. “Congratulations Miss Barbieri,” he says. “You are five weeks pregnant.”