Chapter 04


    Sixteen years of age...


    Five months pregnant...


    Papa has been generous enough not to force the matter of us telling Celestes family that she is


    pregnant. It has been a hard road and we are only halfway through her pregnancy. Mama urged Papa


    to hire me in our family clinic so I can earn money to support my new family with. We ordered a few


    pieces of furniture for the nursery online to avoid any of the town''s gossip. Papa cleared out his home


    office and repainted the walls a beige colour and stered a bundle of Dr Seuss quote stickers on top.


    "This one will be the wisest of us all" He proudly said puffing his chest out.


    We''re all excited about our new Venturi addition to the family and can''t wait to find out the sex. I can''t


    thank the gods enough for their guiding hands in leading my Celeste and child through the path of


    protection. I just wish my Celeste would ease up a little and enjoy the changes happening to her body.


    She looks stunning with her bump forming. I smile just thinking about her and imaging what she will


    look like full term.


    "YOU!" A loud scream fills the clinic.


    I look up to see my beautiful Celeste being dragged by the hand of her mother across the room straight


    towards me. I stand and walk around the reception desk.


    "Is this your doing?" Her mother yells at me, lifting Celeste''s top exposing her tiny bump.


    "Si," I answer.


    I look at Celeste and her eyes are on mine filling with tears shaking her head.


    "What were you thinking?" She said turning Celeste to the side and pointing at the dove tattoo on her


    hip.


    I sigh with relief. "We have matching tattoos." I lift my top and show her.


    "I don''t want you anywhere near my daughter." Her eyes narrow and she pokes me in the chest. "Stay


    away." She threatens me.


    "Or what?" I ask challenging her.


    "I''ll go to the police and get a protection order out against you." She huffed.


    "I haven''t done anything to put your daughter in danger." Anger starts to build in the pit of my stomach.


    "But they won''t know that now will they?" She says with a snarky attitude.


    " You would lie to keep me away from her?" My hand''s clinch, forming into fists.


    "You can bet your dirty little Italian ass I will." She res at me.


    "That is quite enough Mrs Maddison." My mama calls out as she walks directly towards us.


    " I will not have you talking to my son like that in my ce of work. Next time save your confrontations


    for an appropriate time and ce." Mama says standing in front of me, sheilding me from her vile


    assumptions.


    "Now, where would the fun be in that?"  She lifts her face and looks around the room.


    Multiple pairs of eyes look back with amusement. She looks back at us.


    "I think I''ve gotten my point across." She abruptly turns and leaves the clinic dragging my future family


    along with her.


    "Gio." My mother''s voice is full of pain.


    "I know mama, I know." I lean into her open arms and hug her.


    "We have to tell your Papa. We can''t keep this from him, you know it will get back to him and he will be


    furious hearing it from someone elses mouth other than yours " She pats my head.


    I pull back and look up at her. "I will mama. I promise."


    "Good. Now, fix yourself up. My Venturi men don''t crumble for no one." She says with a sly smirk.


    I worked my shift feeling miserable thinking about my Celeste. Desperate to know if she was well and


    safe. I messaged her a dozen times and she still hadn''t messaged me back. Fear seeps into my heart.


    ********************


    We''re sitting down having dinner. Mama looks at me, urging me with her eyes to speak up and to tell


    papa. I put my fork down and take a deep steady breath.


    "Papa," I say waiting for him to look up.


    "Si, Gio." He says as he takes a bite from his bun mum had freshly baked for dinner.


    " Mrs Maddison came into the clinic and warned me to stay away from Celeste. She threatened me


    with a protection order." My heart starts to race.


    " Merda!" He swore in Italian.


    "I don''t know what to do that won''t get Celeste into trouble. She is halfway through her pregnancy and


    she still hasn''t told them." He says frustrated as he pushes his te forward.


    "I can be charged with rape," I say softly trying not to panic.


    "You should''ve kept that in mind before you stuck it in her." He scratches the back of his head with


    frustration.


    "I wouldy down dead before I let anyone take you away Gio." His eyes bore into mine.


    "You are my son and this is not our home."  He gets up from the table and walks out of the kitchen.


    I look at mama and she faintly smiles at me.


    "Your papa is right. This is not our home and we can pack up and leave when the timees."


    "What about my family?"


    "You are no good to anyone if you end up in jail." She snaps. "Gio, this is serious. It is time for you to


    act like a man and do things you don''t agree with even if it means leaving your family behind till the


    time is right toe back and im them."  She stands and looks at Luca.


    "Learn from your brother''s mistake and strive to be better." She nces back at me and walks away.


    "Does that mean I''m not gonna be an uncle anymore?" He says sadly.


    "You will always be an uncle no matter what happens, Luca," I reassure him.


    A small smile lights up his face.


    N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    "Help me clear the table." I stand piling the tes on one another.


    "Okaaaaay..... " He says like it''s the hardest job ever.


    Iy awake in bed looking up at the ceiling wishing sleep would hurry up and im me. My minds going


    crazy thinking about Celeste. Not being able to touch her or be near my baby is killing me silently.  I


    look at the time on my bedside table.


    23:04


    Fuck it! I throw my nkets off and chuck a pair of running shoes on. We stay on the same street, I just


    need to be sure she is alright so I can at least get three hours sleep. I quietly open my bedroom


    window sliding it up inch by inch trying not to make too much noise. I throw one leg over the edge than


    the other. I hit the grass with a little thud and sprint towards Celeste''s house.


    Her bedroom light is off. I desperately look around for something to throw at her window. I spot an old


    bottle top, I pick it up and aim for her window and throw it.


    Secondster Celestees to the window and pulls her curtain back. Once she realises it''s me she


    opens her window.


    "Gio... What are you doing here?" She says in a hushed tone.


    "I needed to see you and know you''re okay."


    My heart does a little somersault.


    "We''re okay " She whispers cing a hand over her swelling belly.


    "Ti amo" I say.


    "I love you too!" She smiles and wipes a lone tear from her face.