Amedeo, Her Italian Billionaire (10 page)

She did as the doctor asked. On the ceiling someone had put cartoons about labor and pregnancy. Violet read them as the doctor readied the machine. “The wand will be put into your vagina and I’ll be able to see what’s going on in there. At this point, the baby doesn’t look like much, but it’s still a baby.”

“Okay.”

“You’ll feel some discomfort, but then it’ll be fine,” Doctor Baron said.

The doctor looked at the screen as she inserted the wand into Violet. Her body adjusted to it inside of her so she was fine in a minute. She would have liked to have Amedeo here, anyway. Maybe she’d have a picture for him.

“I have to look at a few things. I won’t be able to tell the sex of the baby yet. That’ll be during your next ultrasound in a few months. Do you want to know?”

“Yes.”

She and Amedeo hadn’t talked about it, but she wanted to know. Might make this all the more real. “Your husband couldn’t make it today?”

“Uh, he got held up at work.”

“That’s okay. Most men can’t see anything this time around. The next time it’ll be more important.”

She still wished for him to be here, but then again she’d gone through so much of her life alone why should now be any different. She should enjoy getting the first glimpse of her child without him. His loss. Not hers.

With that thought she smiled. “It’s fine.”

“Okay. I’ve looked at all I need. I’ll print you a picture that the receptionist will have in an envelope for you.”

“Thanks.”

She removed the wand. “Now we’ll hear the heartbeat.”

She took what looked like a radio with a microphone out of the cabinet. She put the microphone part on Violet’s tummy.

“Listen.”

There, she heard it. Her baby’s heartbeat. Suddenly it was all real. She had a human inside of her. She was going to have a baby. Amedeo’s baby. Her eyes moistened and she was overcome with emotion. Mostly good ones.

“The heartbeat sounds great. So far your baby is healthy. The receptionist will have a goody bag for you and some recommended reading about what you can expect in the coming months.”

The doctor put away the contraption that let her hear the baby’s heart. The sound still rung in Violet’s ears. She’d remember that sound forever. Her baby. Her child. She sighed.

“You can get dressed. Make an appointment for about one month from now. I’ll see you again.”

The doctor left. Violet dressed in a daze. This was all so real. Suddenly her life seemed so much better than it had ever been. Maybe she needed to think about keeping this child? Raising it with Amedeo in its life also.

Still in a daze, she found the receptionist who gave her a bag and made another appointment for her. She left… only to find Tory waiting for her by the car. The driver gave her a look that said he’d tried to get rid of her.

Not even this woman could kill her buzz right now. She was going to have a baby.

“Violet. That’s your name?” Tory said.

“Yes.”

She’d told her that the first time they met. Violet crossed her arms wanting just to get this over with.

“You’re pregnant. Amedeo told me last night. You know he’s going to take the baby.”

“Huh?”

When had Amedeo seen her last night? When Violet was sleeping? Had he gone out to see Tory? He hadn’t mentioned it. Why not? What had happened? Violet tried to keep a poker face on.

“He’s not going to let someone like you raise this baby. No way. He’ll want to make sure this child has the best of everything. That won’t include you. You’ll be out in the cold.”

Violet had dealt with mean girls before this, but never when she was pregnant. Tory’s words bothered her. They shouldn’t. The Amedeo that Tory was describing wasn’t the man that Violet knew. He’d taken her in. He fed her and made sure she was safe.

Violet shook her head. She didn’t want Tory in her thoughts, but what the woman said cut her. Tory smiled then walked away.

“I’m sorry, Miss Taylor. I couldn’t get her to leave,” the driver said.

“Not your fault. Just take me to the office.”

Violet settled into her seat, but Tory’s words rang in her head. They sadly replaced the sound of her baby’s heartbeat.

Chapter8

Amedeo went home at lunch time knowing he’d missed the appointment with Violet. He’d gotten caught up in something and couldn’t get off a conference call. He’d wanted to go to the meeting, but putting out a fire had taken priority.

Sadly.

He’d wanted to hear his baby’s heartbeat. He’d wanted to make sure that everything was okay. But business had gotten in the way. He had to make tough choices sometimes. Hopefully, Violet understood.

She sat in his living room, staring at the gas fireplace when he arrived. That didn’t bode well. She was mad. Maybe she had a right to be. He put down his briefcase filled with work he planned on doing that afternoon.

Violet was curled up on the couch. She hadn’t looked in his direction. He should have brought chocolate or something. He sat down next to her. She didn’t move or look his way. Her gaze stayed on the fake flames in the fireplace.

“I’m sorry, Violet. I got caught up in a conference call,” he said.

“It’s fine.”

He knew it was anything but fine. “You need some lunch?”

She shrugged. Her eyes looked as if she’d been crying. Was something wrong with the baby? Could they tell this soon? He didn’t really know. He hadn’t read as much about pregnancy as Violet had. He sighed.

“Please talk to me, Violet. Tell me what I can do to make this up to you.”

“I’m not mad at you, Amedeo. Disappointed that you weren’t there, but not mad.”

“Again, I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”

“It’s fine.”

She still didn’t look at him, which made him antsy about whether she had truly forgiven him or not. “Is the baby okay?”

“Uh huh.”

She handed him a piece of paper. He couldn’t identify what it was. “I’m stumped.”

She patted a white lumpy thing in the picture. “That’s our baby.”

He had to admit he was unimpressed. The bugger was pretty small right now. “That’s going to be a human?”

“Yep.”

She shot him a glance finally. He took her hand. “Wow. That’s pretty impressive that you’re going to grow this thing inside of you.”

She shrugged. “Women have been doing it for years.”

“Still. I’ve never known anyone who grew one of mine in them.”

She didn’t laugh, just flashed him a quick smile. What was her problem? “Is everything okay with you?”

“Sure.”

“Did the doctor say something to upset you?”

“No everything is fine with the baby.”

He sighed again. “I’ll make us some lunch. Grilled cheese and tomato soup?”

“Fine.”

He left her, but he kept looking back at her. She didn’t move. He made them lunch then brought it to her. She ate, not devouring the food like she usually did. Something was definitely wrong. He would have to drag it out of her.

He cleaned up from lunch then sat down with her again. “Please tell me what’s wrong.”

She shrugged. “Not sure I’m ready to talk about it.”

“I can give you space if you want.”

“Please.”

He left her to do some work, but kept checking on her. Finally he couldn’t wait any longer. He sat down. “Violet, what happened today? Why are you upset? Please tell me.”

She let out a long breath as if it pained her to speak. “I saw Tory today.”

“Damn it. I’m sorry for whatever she did.”

“It’s not your fault.”

“No, but she’s inserted herself into your life because of me,” he said.

Tory had lied to him about staying out of Violet’s life. He would have to confront her again. He might really need that restraining order. He hadn’t wanted to go that way. It would be embarrassing for her parents and they were nice people. How had they spawned such a psycho daughter? Maybe by giving her everything she wanted.

Now the world had to live with her this way.

“You didn’t do anything wrong.”

He squeezed her hand. “What did she say?”

“She said that you would take this child and raise him or her yourself. That I’d be left out in the cold.”

What an awful thing to say. Amedeo bet that if she weren’t pregnant and hormonal that Violet would have had a snappy comeback to Tory. In her normal life, she’d eat Tory for breakfast.

Now Violet was out of her comfort zone. She wasn’t living in her neighborhood and she was flush with pregnancy hormones. No wonder it had upset her. Violet didn’t know what to say to Tory and he hadn’t made it clear enough that he wasn’t going anywhere.

He kissed her hand. “Do you trust me?”

“I’m not sure. I don’t trust easily.”

“You can trust me, Violet. I’m not going anywhere. Even if for some reason we aren’t lovers, I’m not kicking you out. I’m seeing this through until the birth of this baby and we decide how we are raising it. We will both be in this child’s life. I would never leave you out of the picture.”

She blinked a few times, but he wasn’t sure he’d gotten through. “I’ve never found a man I could depend on.”

“You have now, I promise. This is my child, too. Of course I want to get the baby tested, but I’m pretty sure you haven’t lied to me,” he said.

He interlaced his fingers with hers, his gaze never wavering from her face. He willed her to believe him.

“She was awful, Amedeo.”

“I’ll get a restraining order. I promise. You can count on me.”

“I want to. I do. I just have learned the hard way not to rely on anyone. This whole situation has me on edge,” she said.

He brushed a hair out of her face. “I know. I’ll do my best to be a little more sensitive.”

***

Amedeo grimaced as he waited for Tory to open up the charity shop where she volunteered on the weekends. He needed to speak to her somewhere she wouldn’t make a scene. That would be the only way she would be rational. For once Tory had to understand what he was saying.

She needed to stay away from Violet. To stay away from him. There was no future. He’d moved on. He was going to help Violet raise this baby.

If Tory didn’t understand this time, he was going to talk to her parents. They would rein her in. He didn’t want to resort to that because Tory was a grown woman. He chose to treat her that way.

Or he could treat her like the child she was resembling these days.

He saw her park her car in the lot. She hadn’t noticed his car. He was by himself today. No need to involve anyone else in this. Besides, his Maserati needed some exercise. He gave her a few minutes to make her coffee and get settled.

Despite how pissed he was at her, her didn’t want to ambush her. That probably wouldn’t get the desired result.

The charity shop was connected to a hospital in name, but not location. The store sat in a strip mall outside of Princeton. The shopping center wasn’t busy this early, but would be soon. Amedeo didn’t shop so he assumed that it would be.

What did he know?

He climbed out of his car, locking it behind him. Violet was safely at work, in a better mood since their conversation. This was his responsibility and Violet didn’t need to be upset. He hadn’t told her where he was headed.

He’d tell her when he was back at the office.

A bell jingled above the door as he entered the shop that sold the detritus of people’s attics.

“Just a minute,” Tory called from the back.

Amedeo waited by the counter.

“Sorry. I had some items to check in.”

He knew the moment she saw him. Her smile dropped off of her face. A frown replaced it. Guess he looked sufficiently mad at her for her to choose not to charm him. “Amedeo.”

“Yes, it’s me.”

She crossed her arms. “What brings you here?”

“Don’t play coy with me, Tory. I know you ran into Violet.”

“Oh?”

“Yes. I know what you said to her.”

“She’s making it up. I barely said anything to her.”

He slammed his hand on the counter. Tory jumped. He’d never lay a hand on a woman, but he wanted Tory’s attention. “Don’t lie to me. I know what you said. Violet has no reason to lie to me.”

“She’s doing this for the money. Don’t you see that? I’m trying to save you from her.”

“I don’t need saving, Tory. Except maybe from you. Now I’m going to visit my lawyer and he’s going to file a restraining order against you. You are not to come near Violet or me. Ever.”

“I think you’re over reacting, Amedeo.”

“No, I’m not.”

“That woman is carrying my child and I intend to make sure that she is safe and healthy.”

“Then what? You raising a child? You’re a child yourself.”

As if she would have any idea who he was anymore. She’d managed to change him. By her leaving him, he’d grown up, but she wouldn’t know that. He didn’t care to enlighten her. None of her business.

“Doesn’t matter what you think, Tory. Leave us alone.”

“You’re going to look like a fool when she isn’t pregnant.”

“I’ve seen the ultrasound, Tory. She’s got a baby growing inside of her.”

Tory snorted, but Amedeo had lost his patience for her. What had he seen in this woman? He must have been blinded by sex or something. She didn’t seem even remotely attractive to him now.

He drove to his lawyer’s office. He had a few things for the man to do. His office occupied the front of his house. At some point Clark DuPont would have to move to a bigger place, but for now he worked from home.

Amedeo parked his car in the driveway, then hopped out. His lawyer didn’t have a receptionist his practice was that new and that small. Clark had worked for Amedeo in his law department, but had branched out on his own. Amedeo used him for his personal legal matters.

Clark stood and came out from behind his desk. “Hey, Amedeo.”

The two men hugged. Clark remained Amedeo’s only non-Italian friend who hugged him.

“What brings you to this neck of the woods?”

“I have some legal work, of course.”

“Oh?”

Clark sat back down.

“A restraining order.”

“I always knew you had to beat off the women, Amedeo. It’s that Italian charm.”

“Just one woman,” he said.

“Oh?”

“Tory. She’s harassing me and she’s harassing Violet.”

“Who’s Violet?”

“A woman I got pregnant and who I am now taking care of.”

“Do you know it’s yours?”

“Not sure. She’s already agreed to let me take a paternity test when the baby is born.”

“You should still have a formal agreement of what you are going to do for her.”

Amedeo pondered that. Might put Violet’s mind at ease. “Okay we can work on that, too. The restraining order is most important.”

“Tory’s trying to get back in your good graces? What a hoot.”

“That’s not how it looks from my perspective.”

“I’m sure not. I’ll need her address so it can be sent to her once I file it with the court.”

“Not a problem. I’ll email you that when I get back to the office.”

“How’s your brother doing with his new wife?”

“Doing well. They are expecting their first child soon. I think in the next month or so,” Amedeo said.

Clark nodded as he typed on his keyboard. “Okay. I’ve got a template for a restraining order. Let’s get this started.”

***

Violet woke up in the night needing to use the bathroom. She did that more and more and the baby wasn’t even big at this point. She’d spend her whole day in there once it was big.

She noticed a bit of discomfort in her abdomen and thought maybe it was the tacos they’d had for dinner. Maybe spicy wasn’t a good idea while she was pregnant.

She used the toilet then realized that she has spotting on her pajama bottoms. Just spots of red. She was sure it was blood.  She stared at it for a minute, not sure what to do. She wasn’t cramping, but she did feel odd.

She sat on the closed lid of the toilet, pondering this. Should she call the doctor? Go to the emergency room? Not wanting to alarm Amedeo, she sat there for a few more minutes.

Would he take her concerns seriously? She didn’t know if this was supposed to happen or not. She’d never been pregnant before this. Her instincts told her that she should see a doctor.

Before she could fully make a decision, Amedeo was in the doorway. He’d pulled on boxer shorts. His hair was in disarray and he looked sexy that way.

“Is everything okay?” he said.

“I have a little bit of blood coming out.”

“Is that bad?”

“I don’t know.”

“Then we should call your doctor,” he said.

Of course Amedeo would want to take action. That was the type of man he was. He wouldn’t sit around and wait. He’d do something.

“I have her number in my phone.”

“Wait here. I’ll get it, honey.”