Page 70 of Come Find Me Tonight

I push that thought right out of my head. We’ll get married when the time’s right. Hell, we’re not even engaged. A year into our relationship is early for a baby, but I’m at peace with it all after spending the last couple of days contemplating what life would look like with one.

Despite having so many nieces and nephews, babies were unfamiliar to me. I knew sleepless nights would be guaranteed along with the terror of giving birth, but I knew Robby would be there for it all. Maybe to an overbearing degree, but he’d be there.

“You’ve been quiet this morning,” Bea says while we roll out dough balls into strands to braid into challah bread. The warm dough sticks to my fingers, but I’m getting the hang of it. “Is my son being a butthead again?” she teases. If there was one person who could keep Robby in line, it’s her.

Since moving to Napa a couple of months ago, I’ve toned down my influencer content. I still have sponsorships and passive income from views on older videos, but I spend my days with Bea and Nonna or Enzo when he cares for the horses. While Robby worked, Rob, Robby’s dad, showed me how wine is made, and much to my relief, stomping grapes was no longer a thing.

Thank God for modern machinery.

A small smile grazes my lips, but I shake my head. “He’s always a butthead, but no, that’s not it.”

Nonna, cane in hand, walks into the kitchen. “The challah isn’t the only thing in the oven,” she says with a smile. “I know that look. You’re pregnant, sì?”

“Nonna! You can’t just say something like that,” Bea says to her.

“Have I ever been wrong?” Nonna claps back.

Bea’s eyes dart to me, her hands frozen on the rolling pin. “Is it true?”

“Um,” I start to say.

“Nonna knows everything,” Nonna adds.

Flush finds my cheeks. “She’s right; we found out this morning,” I confess.

Bea squeals and pulls me into an immediate hug. She’s much taller than I am, with dark curly hair, and even though Robby looks and sounds like his dad, I see so much of her in him. Her hugs always feel safe and real, and she’s careful not to put her flour-dusted hands on my back.

“That’s amazing, Appa. How far?” Bea asks.

“Um, I don’t really know,” I answer, lightly rubbing my arm. “I’m three days late and took a test this morning.”

Should I know this?

“My goodness, you’re only three or four weeks then.”

I can feel my eyes widen. Already one month along? I need to research. Maybe there’s a Pregnancy for Dummies book?

“That’s probably too soon to say something,” I say and bite my lip.

Bea washes her hands at the sink. “No, I’m glad you did… Well, Nonna did, really. It’ll explain why nothing sounds appetizing to you in a couple of weeks.” Bea brushes my curls off my shoulders. “Are you nervous?”

I shrug my shoulders. “Just in the normal way, I guess. I know it’s too soon to get excited. Things can happen.”

“Just stay relaxed the best you can.” Bea smiles warmly at me. “You two accomplished that a lot faster than Rob and I did.”

“Any advice?”

“Walk a lot. You’re going to need the strength.”

“For what?” I ask, still completely wide-eyed.

“Birth, Appa. Robby was almost nine pounds!”

I touch my forehead. “Oh, God.”

“And a glass of vino won’t hurt,” Nonna chimes in.

Bea rolls her eyes and lets out a light laugh. “Don’t listen to her,” Bea whispers to me.