Page 117 of Irreplaceable
I hadn’t considered it from Enzo’s perspective. I’d been too busy fighting for my life. And then fighting for Aiden’s. But now that I’d taken a step back, I realized how scary it must have been for him.
“When Dr. Fulton called me, I was…” He swallowed hard. “I’ve never been more terrified.”
“I’m sorry too. I’m sorry for doubting you. And I’m sorry you had to come home and miss something so incredibly important.”
“I didn’t have to. I wanted to.” He cupped my cheek. “Ti amo con tutto il cuore. You know that, right?”
I nodded. It had taken me longer to realize it than it should’ve, but I knew—baby or not—Enzo loved me with all his heart. “I love you too.” A tear snaked its way down my cheek before he caught it with his thumb. “And I meant what I said about moving home, but only when the time is right for our family.”
“Shh.” He smoothed my hair away. “Don’t worry about that now. We will figure it out.”
“I don’t want you to retire until you’re ready. All I know is that I want to be together. I want us to be a family.”
He wrapped his arm around me and kissed my temple. “That’s all I want, uccellina. All I’ve ever wanted.”
* * *
Eight weeks later,Aiden and I were sitting on the swing out front of our rental house when Enzo pulled into the driveway. I waved to Enzo and smiled, giddy at the sight of him after a week apart. He climbed out of the car and carried his bag up to the front porch.
“Ciao, Papà!” I called, waving Aiden’s little hand.
He smiled down at our son. “Mi sei mancato, angelo mio.” He kissed the top of Aiden’s head, and I melted at his greeting. Then he gave me a peck on the lips and said, “E tu, uccellina.”
He’d nicknamed Aiden his angel, and I loved the way he doted on our son. We both did. He truly was our angel baby—such a sweet little boy who brought everyone around him so much joy.
He certainly brought me a lot of joy. Being a mom was…everything I’d hoped for and more. It had its messy moments. Long nights. And I was definitely tired. But every day, I felt a little stronger. Every day, I felt a little more like my old self. And my body and mind began to heal.
I’d started working again, slowly. I’d been sad to leave my job as a film location scout, but I was excited about the future. I’d slowly started taking on photography assignments and relished the flexibility. I loved being behind the camera again, and I was grateful that Enzo had encouraged me to pursue it.
I didn’t go online. I didn’t read the news. I spent time with my family, and I ignored the rest of the world.
And every day, I fell a little more in love with both of them. Enzo treated Aiden with such care and patience, and it seemed as if fatherhood had transformed him. He’d had to go to LA the past few days for some events, and we’d missed him.
I still couldn’t believe Aiden was eight weeks old. Because he’d been born early, the expectations for his development milestones were different from a full-term baby. At least for the first two years. Even so, he was doing so well. All the doctors and nurses had remarked on that fact when he’d been discharged from the NICU. As well as how fortunate he was to have such devoted, loving parents.
Aiden made a grunting sound, and I smiled down at him. Olive skin, dark curls, slate-gray eyes that were slowly turning hazel. Enzo’s genes were strong, and he’d given me the most beautiful gift of our son.
“Do you want to go for a walk?” I asked, grateful to be away from the hospital, away from LA. We’d moved to the Alondra Valley as soon as Aiden was released.
We were still hunting for the perfect house, but in the meantime, we’d rented a nice place not far from my parents. We never missed Sunday dinner, and I loved being near my family.
We’d head back to LA when the season started. But for now, I was enjoying the peace of being back in my hometown.
“Let me just put this inside.” Enzo soon returned with the baby sling.
As we walked around the property, we talked about everything and nothing at all. There had been a bit of backlash after Enzo had left the World Cup. Of course, they’d been disappointed that he couldn’t play. But there had also been such an outpouring of love and support, that I could see why he loved the fans so much.
Eventually we stopped at a bench by the pond under an old oak tree. Enzo had Aiden strapped to his chest, and Aiden’s eyelids were growing heavy as Enzo sang an Italian lullaby he was fond of.
“I hope you know how much I love Aiden.” His voice was gruff but his expression tender as he looked down at our son.
“I do.” I nodded, admiring the way he rested his large hand protectively on our son’s back. “I see it in the way you care for him. In everything you do for him.”
“It isn’t just for him.” When he looked at me, his brown eyes shimmered with emotion in the afternoon sunlight. “It’s for both of you. Ti amo, uccellina. More and more every day.”
The corners of my lips tilted, and I leaned into his side. “Ti amo.”
We sat there a while longer before returning to the house. Enzo went to put Aiden down for a nap, and I cleaned up the kitchen. Though Dr. Fulton had cleared me for sex two weeks ago, I hadn’t felt strong enough. And Enzo hadn’t pushed. But I was ready now. More than ready.