Page 71 of Come Find Me Tonight

“I can hear you, Beatrice,” Nonna adds. I giggle at them and their forty-year relationship. My mom could never be like this with the women my brothers were married to.

“Um, can you please keep this to yourselves for now?” I ask politely.

“Of course, Rob might suspect it before long, though,” Bea says. And that was fine. I don’t think I’d be able to keep a secret like this from Robby if I were in her shoes.

“Is there anything I should be doing?” I quietly ask her.

“Look up dos and don’ts, start a prenatal vitamin, and get an appointment scheduled for when you’re eight weeks,” Bea calmly answers.

“Keep it simple. Stay hydrated,” Nonna chimes in.

I nod, surprised there isn’t more to worry about for now. “Thank you.”

At lunchtime, Robby is just ending a meeting when I approach with leftovers and a fresh slice of bread from Bea.

“Aw, man, this is the best part of being in Napa,” he greets me with a big smile and pulls me into his lap. I set the plate on his desk and wrap my arms around his neck as he leans back in his gaming chair.

“What? Living together or eating your mom’s cooking?”

He nuzzles my neck. “You pregnant in Napa, of course. But Mom’s challah is a nice bonus.” His voice vibrates my skin, and I lean into him.

“Were you trying to knock me up the whole time?” I jokingly ask.

“Mm, you caught me.” His hand finds my lower abdomen, and I have a feeling it’s going to live there rent-free for the next few months. He lifts his head and meets my eyes with his. “But I was thinking about it more this morning.” He runs his other hand through my golden curls. “Do you want to get married? You could get on my health insurance. It’d make things easier. I mean, I love you and want to spend forever with you, no matter the label.” I blink at him, thoroughly entertained by his awkward proposal.

I laugh through my nose. “Are you proposing?”

Robby flushes and looks away. “God, this is why you need a ring.”

“Robby…”

“Wait, I just remembered something.” He lightly pats my bottom, and I get off his lap. He walks over to the chest of drawers that holds his clothes. “Come here, babe.” We sit on the edge of the bed, and a small velvet box appears in his hand.

“Robby, what is that?” I ask. I feel as though I could cry again today, and my cheeks burn in anticipation.

“I can’t believe we’re doing this.” Robby grins wide, ear to ear and bigger than I’ve ever seen. “After we moved here and Nonna met you, she gave me this to give to you someday. I can’t think of a better time.” He opens the ring box, revealing a large round diamond with a smaller baguette diamond on each side set on a sturdy platinum band. Sun catches it through the window, and the stone comes to life with sparkles. Robby gently takes my hand. “This is the ring my Nonno gave her when they were still in Italy.”

“Oh, my God, Robby! I couldn’t.” I cover my mouth, trying to hide my awe.

“She wants you to have it. I had a jeweler check all the prongs and clean it.”

“I don’t know what to say,” I whisper.

“How about yes?”

“I’m not about to start saying no now.”

He pulls me onto his lap again and kisses my hair. “Good, because I’m not about to start letting you.”

Just a year ago, I was lying in bed with festering anger that he ambushed me under his other persona, but now, I can’t imagine being with anyone or anywhere else.

Epilogue - Part Two

Robby

Four years later

“Ember, I’m going to get you!” I say, laughing as our wild three-year-old runs away from me through a row of grapevines. She shrieks with laughter, running further down the row. I could catch her, but I don’t. Anything to wear her out is a win.