Page 88 of His Vicious Vow
I find it means being forced into a covering of my clothes and a matching covering over my hair. I’m handed an odd sponge and told to wash my hands with it. I do so under the watchful eye of the nurse who nods when I can rinse my hands.
The moment Carina spots me she reaches out her hand for mine. I catch her hand. Her anxiety is increasing with every passing minute.
“Okay, Carina. How are you doing? Do you want me to talk you through what I’m doing or—”
“Please don’t. No thank you.” Carina clutches at my hand tighter.
I meet the doctor’s eyes. She nods.
Running a hand over her forehead I squeeze her hand. “If you’re insisting on having more children then we are likely have at least one boy. In that case I would like to name him for my grandfather, Ermenegildo Arnaldo.”
Her mouth opens wide. Green roams over my face. “Sandro…” she clears her throat. “Are you serious?”
“Why wouldn’t I be? It’s a strong name. My grandfather went by Naldo. If you have a different name in mind I’m sure we could come to a compromise. I have long had an appreciation for his brother’s name Domizio. Perhaps a combination of them. What do you think?”
“I think Ermenegildo and Evelyn Rose is a perfect pairing. It’s something many parents do, matching first letters or names that rhyme.” The doctor pipes up. Her eyes twinkle as she nods at me.
“Rebecca, please don’t encourage him.” Carina shakes her head.
I lift an eyebrow. “I do not understand your resistance to the name. As Rebecca said, there is an added benefit it would tie our children will share.”
A frown appears. “I think I’m—I don’t…Sandro please be joking.”
“Why would I joke about my grandfather’s name?”
“Ermenegildo? Sandro it’s cruel to do a child. Arnoldo isn’t any better. Domizio, he would be bullied mercilessly. We couldn’t do that to a poor defenseless child.” It’s a plea.
I frown. “It isn’t cruel. It is a respectable family name. You’re naming our daughter after her grandmother Why can we not call him after my grandfather?”
A weak cry sounds pitiful to my ears, I find our tiny daughter in the doctor’s hands. A nurse is unwrapping the umbilical cord from around her neck. The moment it’s off a scream fills the room. I exhale the breath I wasn’t aware I was holding.
Carina tugs at my hand. “How is she?”
I focus on her. “She’s so small.” The nurse is wiping off the baby a bit roughly as far as I’m concerned. I want to take my daughter from her but she’s taking the baby to the small clear basinet.
Carina’s eyes are wide, I squeeze her hand. “Beautiful, just small. She’s being cleaned up.”
I look up again to find the nurse offering her to me. Taking her, I cannot believe how small she is. Her eyes are a cloudy dark blue, almost grey. Small hands are flexing and moving as she stares up at me. Thick black hair is matted on her perfectly round head. Tiny lips are pursed as if she’s trying to figure out if she likes me or not. The look is so completely Carina my chest expands until I wonder if it will burst.
“Sandro, please can I see her?”
Clutching her tight, I lean down to show Carina. Carina glows as if someone turned on a light inside her.
“She is small. Is she okay? Is she healthy?”
“She’s just fine, mama. I’m going to take her from daddy now. We’re going to get her measured and weighed and all that jazz. By the time you’re back in your room, she will be too.” A nurse assures her.
I don’t want to hand over Rose, how can I protect her when she’s away from me?
Carina’s sad sigh catches my attention. Her eyes are on Rose with longing. The sooner I hand her to the nurse the sooner Carina will hold her. Exhaling slowly I hand Rose to the nurse.
I catch Carina’s hand in mine and bring it to my lips. “I was joking about our son’s name.”
Her laughter fills the room and my chest. “I’m going to get you back, just wait, dear husband.”
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Carina