“Will I make a good dad?”
“You will, Amedeo. You don’t do anything halfway and to be a father you need to do it right. Or not at all.”
“Not at all is not an option. I take my responsibilities seriously,” he said.
He couldn’t imagine abandoning Violet like her father had done to her mother. That was not what a man did. That was not how father raised him. If he had a son, he wouldn’t raise him that way either.
“Why do men do that, Madge? Why would a man walk out on his child?”
“Because they aren’t men.”
Madge had pegged it; they weren’t men. “Can you find me a flower shop on my way home?”
“Why?”
“I’m going to buy Violet flowers. I’m sure she’s going out of her mind home in bed.”
“Flowers, huh? But you aren’t in a relationship?”
“I can make her life easier without falling in love and wanting to marry her.”
Madge just nodded a smug smile on her face. Amedeo had no desire to fall in love. He wasn’t going to get all mushy about Violet. He was just trying to ease her frustration.
“I’ll call them and have a bouquet ready.”
“I’d appreciate that,” he said.
That way he wouldn’t have to wait long on his drive home.
***
Violet knew she shouldn’t be up, but she felt so good and she was going stir crazy in bed. She could only watch so many movies.
She figured she could be back in bed before Amedeo arrived home, but she’d waited too long. He was walking through the front door and she couldn’t sneak back to his room. Shit. He’d be mad.
In fact, now that she was up, she wished she hadn’t gotten up. From being lazy, she was now a little dizzy. She gripped the kitchen counter, realizing she shouldn’t have tried to make dinner. She’d just wanted to surprise Amedeo since he’d been so sweet to her.
“Violet?”
He was in the kitchen doorway, a bouquet of flowers in his hand. For her?
“Amedeo.”
“What are you doing out of bed?” He took a good look at her. “Violet?”
He put the flowers on the counter, then took a hold of her arm.
“I’m okay. Just a little dizzy.”
He picked her up. He didn’t need to do that. “Let’s get you back to bed.”
She rested her head on his chest. She couldn’t do anything else. He didn’t seem to be mad, though he didn’t say much as he climbed the steps. Knowing she wasn’t a small girl, she said “you’re going to hurt yourself.”
“I’m fine, Violet.”
He wasn’t even breathing heavily when he put her back on the bed. He pulled the covers over her.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine, Violet. You feel better now?”
“Yes. Not so dizzy.”
He sat on the edge of the bed. “Why did you get out?”
“I was bored. I wanted to make dinner.”
“I can make us dinner. We’ll eat up here. Dinner in bed instead of breakfast.”
“You aren’t mad?”
“I wouldn’t be a good patient either. Hopefully, no harm has been done.”
Violet put a hand on her stomach. “I hadn’t thought about that. I’m not bleeding.”
“Then you probably didn’t do any damage. It’s fine. Please stay in bed. I’ll make dinner? Can I get you anything else?”
“No, I’m good, but hungry.”
He patted her hand. “I’ll go make it now.”
“I can wait. It’s fine,” she said.
He disappeared then returned with a vase of flowers. “For you. To cheer you up.”
She couldn’t help smiling. That was so sweet. “Thank you.”
He nodded then left. She settled back into the pillows, admiring the flowers. Not roses, but wildflowers. Something she didn’t see often in the city. She couldn’t help but smile at them. Amedeo was being so thoughtful.
He came back a half an hour later with a tray with two plates on it. He crawled into bed next to her, putting the tray between them.
“We’re going to make a mess,” she said.
“Then I’ll have to change the sheets. It’s fine. You don’t expect me to eat dinner by myself in the kitchen. How boring.”
He sat with his ankles crossed and his plate on his lap. She did the same, eating the pork chops and applesauce he’d cooked. “This is tasty. Thanks.”
“No problem. Just please stay in bed tomorrow.”
“I will. I promise.”
“Have you thought about names, Violet? I’m thinking we should bat some around,’ he said.
She had been thinking about names. Ever since she heard that heartbeat and the situation became real. She knew they needed to think this through. “Are there any names in your family that are important?”