Page 137 of Poison and Wine

Callum nodded his head, never taking his eyes off of his daughter. After recording the numbers in a file, the nurse said, “Dr. Sheehan should be right in.”

“Thank you,” I called as she exited the room.

While I sat in the chair across from the examining table, Callum leaned over Julianna. When his lips brushed against her bare skin, she squealed since she knew what was coming. He blew the raspberries across her tummy. She giggled and grasped the strands of his hair.

I couldn’t help smiling at the sight before me. “Never would I have believed a scene like this would be part of my life when you kidnapped me,” I mused.

Callum threw a glance at me over his shoulder. “Even after all this time, you’re never going to let me forget that, are you?”

Shaking my head, I laughed. “Never.”

Callum turned back to Julianna. “Your mommy is the most stubborn woman I’ve ever met.”

I stood up from the chair to join them. Leaning over Julianna, I added, “And your daddy’s biggest weakness is the two of us.”

With a grin, Callum replied, “Aye, as much as I don’t want to admit it, you’re right.”

I brought my lips to his for a kiss. When I pulled away, I ran the back of my hand across the hair on his cheek. “The best thing that ever happened to me was being kidnapped by you.”

“The best thing I ever did was kidnap you.”

Before we could start kissing again, a knock came at the door. “Come in,” I called.

Dr. Sheehan stepped in the door with a bright smile. “It’s good to see all of you again.” She gave me a knowing look since Callum was in attendance. He’d come to her two-day checkup as well. Even though she’d taken a Hippocratic oath, Callum didn’t trust her when it came to Julianna.

“Yes, he’s a very involved father,” I mused.

Dr. Sheehan smiled. “You’re lucky.”

Returning her smile, I replied, “I am.” And it was the truth. I’d never imagined Callum being such an involved dad. He’d gone so far as to take a month long paternity leave from his work, so he could stay by our side. Once he’d gone back to work, he called or texted constantly throughout the day. I tried reminding him he had cameras to check in on us, but he claimed to want to hear my voice. I think it was more about wanting to see a clearer image of Julianna on facetime than the grainy images on the security cameras.

As crazy as he was about her, Julianna was just as crazy about him. She was a Daddy’s Girl through and through, and I teased Callum that some days I felt like she preferred me only as a milk receptacle. He quickly argued that I had him beat considering how much Julianna favored me. She had both of our dark hair, but her facial features did resemble mine. Of course, it felt a little conceited to say she looked like me and then say what a beautiful baby she was.

So, I bit my tongue and let everyone else remark about her beauty instead.

Once Dr. Sheehan was through with her examination, we came to the part of the appointment I’d been dreading: the vaccinations. While I didn’t want my daughter to feel pain, I really feared Callum’s reaction when she was hurt.

At the first shot and Juliana’s high pitched wail, Callum’s hand went for his gun under his jacket. “Callum!” I hissed in horror.

When he met my gaze, he had the audacity not to even appear apologetic. “She hurt her,” he gritted out.

I rolled my eyes. “She had to get her vaccines, especially with us traveling overseas.”

For Julianna’s baptism, we were traveling to Sicily. We’d decided to have her baptized at the church I’d attended as a part of the Sacred Heart. Most of our family thought we were insane to do it there considering the potential bad memories involved with my kidnapping. Maybe Callum and I weren’t sane, because to us, it was a special place.

It was where we first met.

Of course, it was also where I’d shot and bitten him, and he’d drugged me. But without all of our initial trauma, we wouldn’t have each other or our beautiful daughter.

Another reason we would be baptizing her there was because I’d asked Sister Lucia to be one of her godmothers along with Maeve. We’d chosen Rafe and Kellan as her godfathers. Although Quinn and Dare should’ve been higher on the list, I knew Kellan had the heart and soul needed to watch over Julianna in a spiritual and emotional sense. As the new capo of the Neretti family, Rafe brought physical protection.

Once Dr. Sheehan was finished, Callum practically shoved her away, so he could get his hands on Juliana. “Oh, my angel, Da is so very, very sorry,” Callum murmured as he cradled Julianna against his chest. At her continued wailing, he began cooing to her in Irish.

When Dr. Sheehan shot me a look, I held up my hands. “My sincere apologies. I promise I’ll leave him at home for the next set of shots.”

While she laughed, Callum shook his head. “Like hell. My princess needs me.”

Once again, I rolled my eyes. Dr. Sheehan replied, “It’s always the hardcore daddies that break down the worst with their wee one’s shots.”