Ciara Mendes
"I'll do it."
I reminisce on my words from six months ago as I take in the scene before me. Although it's been so long I'm still contemplating whether or not I made the right decision. Will I really be able to play the good step mom as the real mom go off to make a better life for herself and the two children in her life?
Giovanni brown eyes gleam with happiness as he looks down at the little bundle in his arms while taking cautious steps toward me outside of the hospital room where Rhea was settled in after giving birth to a baby girl.
Seeing him this elated turned my despondent feeling into something more vibrant, content. I know he wasn't excited at first to be a father; if anything I'd say he was scared, scared that he'd be a bad father but since the past couple of months I had to stand on the side lines and watch as he be there for Rhea even though she had Rico there with her as well.
I'm not saying he shouldn't have been there for her because if he wasn't I would have lost all the respect I have developed for him since we've been together and it wasn't like he didn't give me his time as well. A few months ago he brought me to meet his parents even though I had already met them.
His mom was as lovely as I remembered, his father was a very cold man. He barely spoke ten words to me. Richard was still Richard who commented that if he was a few years older he would have gotten me to be his girlfriend before Giovanni did. Like he could stand a chance. His eldest brother Bentley and his wife was the most beautiful couple I have ever seen though they were married for so many years they still behaved as if they just fell in love.
Love. A word that has been on my mind a lot lately. I still haven't told Giovanni that I love him, I guess I was just too scared to voice the words.
I felt like he knew even without having me say them, his mother even mention that she knew I love him because if I didn't I would never put up with so much that has happened in our relationship and she was right.
"Look baby girl." Giovanni says gently to the newborn as her eyes flutter open, "This amazing woman is Ciara and she's also a very important person in my life."
He look up from the baby to meet my eyes that had already been busy observing him. "Do you want to hold her babe?"
My gaze move to the baby, gingerly shifting her towel to see her properly before shaking my head no.
Giovanni seem hurt and immediately ask why. "Look at her Giovanni she's so small and delicate, I wouldn't want to hurt her some how."
I found out years ago when Zendra was born that I had a fear of holding newborns and that would be the reason I never held Zen until she was two months old, which might seem crazy but I rather be safe than sorry.
He continue to look at me in silence, "What's her name?" I decide to ask as the baby close her eyes once more.
"About that, Rhea thought it would be a great idea if you named her and I must say I had to agree."
I look at him in shock. "She wants me to name her first born?"
He nods smiling down at me, "But why?"
"I didn't askâ" his brown eyes soften. "but I have an idea why. She's in there talking to your cousin right now but if you want you can go in and ask her about it."
I didn't want to interrupt them. "Are you sure you don't want to hold her, if you don't she might think you are mad at her."
I give him a small smile, I know that he is the one who would be offended if I didn't hold her."Come on buttercup you won't hurt her."
I sigh looking at the baby again. "I don't knâ" Before I could get the words out the nameless child was being place into my arms. "Giovanni." I start to panic but his hands were helping me in holding her.
Several seconds later we were both staring at each other, brown eyes that resembles her fathers' stare up at me before a toothless smile filled her face, the action warmed my heart and brought a smile on my face. "See she already likes you and by what I perceive I can tell the feelings are mutual."
I glance at Giovanni who was now standing with both hands in his pocket grinning at us, I honestly didn't even realize that he had let go.
"Peanut?" Enrico calls from the threshold of Rhea's room. "Rhea wants to see you."
I nod absentmindedly.
Entering the room with the baby still in my arms I realize how tired Rhea appear to be. "Hey." She says softly.
"Hi." I say, immediately placing the baby in her arms even though she looked like she could fall asleep any minute and then sleep for days.
She place a small kiss on the child's forehead before looking at me. "Did Gio tell you I wanted you to name her?"
I nod. "I don't get why, she's your first child and you'll be leaving her in a couple of weeks. Shouldn't you be the one to give her a name?"
"After everything that have happen you were still there for me, you took me shopping and got a truck loud of baby things." She exaggerate and a force pulls my lips into a smile. "You didn't judge me when I told you about my past and you were the one who rushed me here in time and thanks to you both of us are alive right now."
She was right, there had been some complications that could have led to either Rhea are the baby's death. Both Giovanni and Enrico had been occupied with things work related. We were lucky to have made it here in time.
"That dâ"
"Please Ciara." Rhea interrupts.
I watch the steady breathing of the child in her mother's arm. She had now fallen asleep and looked so sweet and placid. "Felicity."
Rhea smiles looking down at little Felicity. "I love it."
"Felicity Kiara Haynes." I heard Giovanni says from behind me, he slide his arms around my waist and gave me a quick kiss on my neck.
"You replaced the C." I whisper feeling a bit honoured.
"He wanted to name her after you but I told him I wanted you to name her so we agreed that Kiara would be her middle name." Rhea says right after Enrico walks in and peck her lips.
He had confessed to me sometime ago that he fell in love with Rhea from the very first time he saw her, although he didn't have to. The look he gave her that day they met said it all.
"I'm thinking of naming our son Navid."
I playful slap his hand that was still holding me. "Don't get ahead of yourself Mister, You just got a sweet little girl."
"Don't forget the most important thing peanut." Enrico glares at Giovanni even though they had started to get along since the past months. "He still needs to put a ring on it."
Giovanni Haynes
Ciara head was resting on my shoulder with my arms holding her closer to me as I gaze up at the plain white ceiling of my bedroom.
My thoughts went back to our conversation earlier and me telling her about being the mother of my son. That was the first time a conversation like that came up, there is no doubt in my mind that Ciara is the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with. I've put her through so much and yet she's still right here with me. From my niece and nephew learn how to talk I labeled children as little devils and I wouldn't want them around me for much long, yet here I am a father of a beautiful baby girl thinking about creating even more little devils with this beautiful woman in my arms.
"Are you alright buttercup?" For the last several minutes she's been silently rubbing her thumb over my cheek in some kind of smoothing manner.
"I'm fine just thinking." She pause lifting her head slightly so that she could look at me.
She was pouting and I couldn't stop myself from kissing her. "Tell me buttercup, what's on your mind?"
"There's something I've been meaning to tell you." She pause for several seconds which only grew my curiosity.
"I love you too Giovanni."
I grin rolling us over so I was between her legs. I rain kisses all over her face, placing one on her lips. "I was starting to wonder when you'll admit it."
She narrow her eyes at me. "With everything that happened today â I guess it just finally gave me the courage to do so. I didn't want you to think I didn't."
"You didn't have to say the words Ciara. You know what they say, actions speak louder than words."
"I'm starting to be grateful that you were so obsess with me that you decided that stalking me would get me to go out with you." She says combing her fingers through my hair.
"We should also be grateful for that boss of yours, if it wasn't for her then I'd still be stalking you, you're one hard nut to crack buttercup."
She frown, "Not true."
"You were but whose arguing, I love you despite of all those threats and death glares you sent my way and I love and appreciate you even more right now after everything you put up with because of me and for talking me into visiting my uncle before he died. Thank you Ciara."
Her eyes shimmer with tears. "I'm so ecstatic that you didn't give up on me and you don't have to thank me, I'll always be there for you, no matter what."
Rolling us over once more I hug her to my chest placing a kiss on her head. "And I will always be there for you, buttercup."
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I've seen the love you amazing readers have given this book and I'd like to say thank you very much, I'm super grateful and I hope you like this chapterâ¤ï¸