Chapter Seven

~ Gianni ~

I wiped my sweaty palms on my slacks before opening the bedroom door of the guestroom and walking out to head downstairs. I could hear Henry and my mother talking in the kitchen before I even reached the first floor.

I'd flown in last night and went straight to the guestroom, too tired to bring my news to my family. Unfortunately, it was a new day and I knew they had questions about why I'd suddenly shown up out of the blue.

Granted, I knew they would welcome me no matter what, but I was usually too busy with work to fly out to see everyone on the spur of the moment. Which would be why my grandmother raised an eyebrow at me when I walked into the living room.

I winced and smiled weakly. When she patted the cushion next to her, I reluctantly walked over and sat down. I just knew she was going to start asking questions that I wasn't sure I was ready to answer.

I needed a few more minutes.

"Hey, Nonna ," I said as I sat down next to her. "How are you?"

"I think the better question is how are you, Niptino ."

I always did like it when she called me her "little grandson". It was my special name. Neither of my brothers had it because they were not the baby of the family. I was.

"I'm okay at the moment." The morning sickness had already passed this morning, so I wasn't lying. "Just kind of taking things day by day."

Nonna patted my hand. "Sometimes, that's the best way to do things."

It was working for me.

"Just tell us when you're ready, Gianni. Your parents will fuss a bit, but they will take it well. Same as your brothers."

I glanced at my grandmother with wide eyes.

How did she know?

Did she know?

" Nonna —"

"You think I can't tell, boy?" Nonna let out a very unlady-like snort. "These eyes of mine may be old, but they still work."

Well, spit.

"You didn't tell anyone, did you?" Even if I had flown out here to break the news to my family, I wanted to do this in my own time.

I still needed a few more minutes.

"It's not my news to share, Gianni. It's yours."

"Nonna, I—" I swallowed tightly, my throat feeling as if it was seconds from closing up. "Mother and Father are going to flip." I didn't even want to think about how my brothers would receive the news. "I don't know who the father is."

This time, it was my grandmother who turned wide eyes to me.

"I went to a party and had a little too much to drink. I know I slept with someone, but I don't remember who it was."

"Well, that does put a different slant on things, but I still think your parents will take it okay. I take it you've decided to keep the baby?"

"What baby?" my mother asked as she walked into the room.

Every ounce of blood drained from my face as I looked up at her.

"What are the two of you gabbing about in here?" she asked.

"Uh..." I glanced at Nonna again.

She was no help.

"Mother, I have something I need to discuss with you, but I want to wait until the others are here." Might as well get all the yelling done at one time. "Do you know when they might be back?"

"Your father and brothers went to grab breakfast for everyone," Delinda replied. "There is this delightful little bakery about two blocks away. Henry introduced it to me. They make the most fabulous breakfast pastries."

Yeah, I had no interest in that. Not only had I thrown up this morning, but I seriously doubted I could get anything to settle in my stomach right now anyway.

I might even go throw up again.

When the front door opened and my father and brothers walked in, I was pretty damn sure I was going to throw up again. I pressed my hand to my stomach and swallowed, trying not to.

"Here, Niptino ." Nonna handed him a small piece of candy. "This is made with ginger. It will help settle your stomach."

I'd try anything.

I popped the candy into my mouth and started sucking on it. Surprisingly, after a few minutes, my stomach did start to settle. I leaned closed to Nonna and whispered, "I need to know where you got these."

I needed like a million of them.

"I have some in my purse. I'll send you some more when I get home."

I grinned and pressed my head to her thin shoulder, hugging her arm. "Thanks, Nonna ."

She was the best.

Henry had plated the pastries. He brought that and a carafe of orange juice and several glasses into the living room, setting them on the table. "Eat quickly before the kids discover them."

I poured myself a small glass of juice, tried to find the plainest pastry I could, and then sat back on the couch. I really wasn't feeling it so I set everything on the small end table and just sat and watched the others eat.

It was kind of nice being here with my family. Between our work schedules, our social schedules, and distance, we didn't really get to spend all that much time together anymore.

I missed it.

"Whenever you're ready, Niptino. "

Damn.

I cleared my throat loudly as I stood, gaining everyone's attention. "So, I have an announcement to make. I hope you'll think it's a happy announcement. I do." I pressed my hand to my abdomen, swallowing tightly before saying, "I'm pregnant."

The silence that followed my statement made my stomach swirl.

"You're pregnant, son?" my mother finally asked.

I nodded. "About three months."

"Who is the father?" she asked.

I knew that question was coming.

"Where is the father?" Frank snapped as he jumped to his feet. His hands clenched into fists. "Why isn't he here to give us this news along with you?"

"Francesco, lower your tone," my father ordered. "There is no call for shouting at your brother."

Frank flushed and instantly sat down. "Sorry."

This was the question I didn't want to answer, but I knew I had to say something. "I'm not ready to discuss the father yet." Maybe never. "I will be a single father for now."

My mother's gaze softened, but there was a twinge of sadness in her eyes. "Is this what you want, Gianni?"

I smiled for real as I glanced down at my slightly rounded stomach. The baby bump was barely visible. "I thought about it a lot after I found out I was pregnant." The smile was still on my face when I looked up at her. "This is what I want, Mama."

I was scared to death, but I wanted this baby.

That was the only truth I had to hold onto at the moment. Maybe one day I'd figure out who my baby's father was and we could take things from there, but that day was not today.

"Are you planning on dropping out of school?" my father asked.

"I'm going to take a year off," I admitted. "I figure that is long enough to have this kid and get used to being a parent."

I didn't understand the laughter.

"I assume you still want to live in the city?" Father continued. "You are more than welcome to live at home, you know."

"I actually haven't decided that part. I'm still getting used to the whole being pregnant thing."

"Why don't you stay at home until you decide what you want to do?"

I nodded. "That would probably be for the best."

Once I took that year off from medical school, I couldn't stay in the apartment I shared with Tony. I'd have to move somewhere else. Home with my family seemed like a good place to start thinking about the rest of my life.

"If you want," my mother said, "we can set up a nursery next to your room and put in a connecting door."

"I want to wait until the baby is fully stable before I start buying a bunch of stuff." I refused to admit I'd already bought a couple of baby things.

My mother's brow furrowed as her eyes dropped to my abdomen. "Is there something wrong with the baby?"

"No, no," I said quickly to reassure her. "I've just heard that it's best to wait until at least the fifth month before buying stuff. Miscarriages happen a lot more frequently in the early months."

The thought terrified me.

"Do you have any juice?" I asked Frank.

"Always." He snorted before gesturing toward the kitchen. "There should be some fresh juice in the refrigerator."

I got up and headed to the kitchen. As much as I wanted a cup of coffee, I'd read that caffeine was bad for pregnant people. I found the juice easy enough, but it was a little harder to find a glass.

"Cabinet left of the fridge."

I glanced over to see Frank leaning against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest. I ignored him as I grabbed a glass and poured myself some juice. I knew why he had followed me in here. He was in big brother mode.

I actually expected Martino to show up any moment now.

I crossed one arm over my waist and took a sip of juice as I leaned back against the counter. I could feel my brother's eyes on me, assessing me. I knew he had questions. I also knew I wouldn't get out of answering a few of them. I just wanted to get away without spilling everything.

"You doing okay?" Frank finally asked after several moments of agonizing silence.

I placed both hands around my glass, enjoying the coolness of it, and nodded. "Still a little morning sickness, but I'm kind of used to it by now."

"Henry had morning sickness into his fifth month and then again for the last month."

I prayed that didn't happen to me.

" Nonna gave me some ginger candy to suck on," I stated. "It helps."

"She made a bunch up for Henry and Ryan when they were pregnant. Trust me, it works."

Good to know.

I sighed when Martino walked into the room. He came over and leaned back against the center island, his arms crossed over his chest much like Frank.

Yeah, this was going to be fun.

Martino pursed his lips as he glanced between me and Frank. "So..."

"You do remember the part where I said I wasn't ready to discuss the father yet, right?"

Frank smiled.

Martino smiled.

I tried to run out of the kitchen, but they caught me, each grabbing one of my arms. I thought they were going to drill me with questions right there and then.

That's what I got for thinking.

They lifted me up off my feet and carried me through the penthouse to Frank's study. The door shut firmly behind them. Frank walked around to sit at his desk while Martino leaned up against the door, cutting off my escape.

When they both just stared at me, neither of them saying a word, I knew I wasn't going to get out of that room until I spilled every last detail.

"You have to swear to me that you won't say anything to our parents or Nonna ."

Frank's eyebrows lifted. "It's that bad?"

It wasn't good.

"Swear to it," I demanded.

Surprisingly, both of my brothers lifted their hands, raising three fingers in the air and said, "I swear."

My shoulders slumped. I walked over to stare out the window. It wasn't the spectacular water view that the living room had, but the open air market across the street was interesting.

"I don't know who the father is," I finally admitted. "I went to a party put on by another medical resident, had too much to drink, and woke up six weeks later pregnant."

"Were you raped?" Frank asked in a very serious tone.

I shook my head. "I don't think so. There were no signs that I was forced. I'm pretty sure it was consensual sex."

"But you're not positive?" Martino asked.

"It's all kind of a hazy blur." I turned around to face my brothers. The intensity of the looks they were giving me both frightened me and comforted me. They were good brothers, just a little overprotective. "Beyond not knowing who I slept with, I don't have any apprehensive emotions connected to what happened."

"Then you most likely weren't raped," Frank said.

That had been my conclusion as well.

"Are you going to tell our parents?"

"At some point," I replied. "I'm just not ready to yet."

"Have you tried to track down who this man is?" Martino asked.

I shook my head. "I've been too busy trying to decide if I wanted to keep this baby or not. I finally decided that even if I never know who this guy is, this is still my kid and I want him."

Never thought I'd say that.

Martino sighed, but Frank came over and pulled me to his chest, giving me a hug. I understood it. Martino had been betrayed, not once, but twice, but men professing to love him. It had nearly cost him his current husband and child.

Frank had been betrayed, too, but not in the same manner. He'd been lied to and manipulated. It had cost him five years of his daughter's life and almost the man he loves.

Frank had an easy smile on his face when he leaned back. "So, single parenthood, huh?"

"Looks that way."

"You know, Henry and Ryan could be really good resources for you," Frank stated. "While they shared a house for those first few years, they were still essentially single fathers. If you have questions, they'd be the ones to ask."

I had questions, a lot of them. And every time I thought of a question, another one popped up. I felt so out of my element I could have been on the moon.

"I'm pretty sure Nonna knows something is up because when doesn't she? But I'm not ready to tell our parents yet. Please don't say anything to them."

Frank and Martino shook their heads.

"We won't say a word until you're ready," Frank said. "That doesn't mean you can hide it from them forever. Eventually, you're going to have to tell them the truth."

Yeah, I was afraid of that.