“The doctor said one.”
“I’d feel better if you took two. Please?”
He gave her a puppy dog look that she bet got him laid on a regular basis. She sighed. “Fine.”
*
With Violet safely ensconced in bed the next day, remote in hand and his passwords to his various streaming services, Amedeo took a moment to catch his breath. The day had been nutty yesterday so he’d only worked the second half of the day.
Today he needed to buckle down, but he couldn’t help thinking about he’d heard the heartbeat of his child. Wow. His child. The idea floored him now that he had time to digest it all.
Was he really ready for this? He knew he’d have kids eventually. Well, until he was engaged to Tory. She hadn’t wanted kids. He’d given up on the idea at that point. Now he knew he was having one.
It scared him a little.
Madge came in with his phone messages. She sat on the chair opposite him. “You look perplexed.”
“I heard my child’s heartbeat yesterday,” he said.
She nodded as if she understood. He knew she had two grown children. Could she remember back when they were little? Or when she was pregnant with them? He wondered if you ever lost those memories.
“How does it feel?”
He took a moment to think about his words. “Overwhelming. Exciting.”
“Which is the dominant emotion?”
“Overwhelming. Another human being is going to rely on me.”
“We all rely on you for a job. Why should one more be a problem?”
“This is different. This is daily.”
“Only if you get custody.”
He waved a hand. “I can get custody if I choose. I have the means.”
“This is New Jersey. Judges aren’t likely to take the child away from the mother. Even if she can’t truly support herself,” Madge said.
“I don’t intend to take the baby away from Violet. I just want to be a part of the baby’s life. That’s important to me. I know how much I miss my father.”
“At least you had him.”
“I know. Violet never met her father.”
“Sad.”
“Yes it is. I wouldn’t want my child to go through that.”
“How does Violet feel about all of this?”
“I think it’s overwhelming for her, too. She’s tougher than I am, maybe because of her upbringing.”
“She’s probably had to be tougher. You’re making her life easier.”
“I am. I don’t mind. I don’t regret her moving in,” Amedeo said.
He pondered how his life had changed since Violet had moved in. He had someone else on his mind at all times. Maybe not in the forefront, but in the back of his mind for sure. Now he’d have two people like that.
“She’s a sweet girl, Amedeo. You could do worse. You’ve done worse.”
He looked at his assistant. “You mean romantically? No. We’re not like that.”
“No?”
“No. We’re having a relationship, but not a serious one. Things will change when the baby comes.”
“How will things change?”
“She’ll go back to her life and this child will be where our lives intersect.”
“You don’t think that Violet will still be a big part of your life? You’re dreaming. She’s the mother of your child. She will always be a part of your life.”
“I understand that, but I doubt she’ll be living with me.”
“You’re willing to just let her go?”
“I have to let her go. She has her own life which she’ll want to get back to when she has the baby.”
Madge laughed. “Neither of your lives will be the same. A child changes everything.”
“How so?’
“You always have to think about that child. In every decision you make, you have to consider the child. You will think about him or her every single day. If a decision is made about the child you have to consult with Violet. You will both have to compromise and make changes.”
It all seemed like so much right now. Had he made the right decision? Should he let Violet abort his baby? He didn’t know, but no matter what, he would step up and be a father to this kid. He couldn’t do anything less.
“I hope I’m ready for that.”
“I have no doubt you can do it, Amedeo. You’ve accomplished so many other things in your life.”
Leave it to Madge to pour reality on him, then cheer him up about it. She’d been with him for so long that she was sometimes the voice in his head when he was making a decision. She made noises every few years about retiring, but he couldn’t imagine life without her.
He was able to be successful because of her.