“What do you think he’ll say?” I ask Gemma, still holding on to the pregnancy test.
She slumps down beside me with her back to the wall . “Doesn’t matter.” She answers. “Whatever you want to do, we’ll support you.”
“Humor me,” I try.
She thinks over the question for a moment. “We had a happy childhood.” She finally says. “Dad worked a lot, but mom was always here, ya know? She loved the hell out of us.” She takes a deep breath. “What I’m trying to say here is Gio isn’t lacking love and even though he acts like a big asshole most of the time, he has a good heart. I think if you are pregnant, and you choose to keep it, he will support you and love the hell out of that baby.” Gemma smiles. “And I for sure will.”
I wipe away a stray tear. “Thank you.”
“I’ll give you a minute.” She pats my thigh and leaves me in the bathroom.
We stare at the stick for a full three minutes after I pee on it.
Two lines.
Pregnant.
Gio sits behind a panel of glass looking at me expectantly. His face holds days of stubble, more than I’m used to seeing on him. His eyes are glassy and colder than they normally look. I move my weak legs to the chair on the other side of the glass separating us and sit down.
I wonder why we’re separated by the damn wall of glass. He’s not a violent criminal, he’s not going to hurt me. I want to touch him, feel his skin against mine. I want that comfort again.
In unison we pick up the phone that connects us, and allow us to hear each other's voices.
“Annie,” he greets, his voice is hoarse and raw but I still relish the sound. “I’m glad you came.”
My eyes fill with tears as I look at him on the other side. The man in front of me looks rough, not like the man I fell in love with. “I’m sorry.” I whisper.
“For what?” He asks. “You think you should be here instead?”
I have no words so I just meet his eyes. We both know the answer, yes, it should be me in there.
He looks down, and then back up at me with an intense gaze. “No.” He tells me. “Don’t ever think like that. You will never be the one in this chair.” His words cut through me like fire. “Say it to me now Annie. You will never be the one in this chair.”
“I will never be the one in that chair.” I mumble half-heartedly.
“Annie,” He starts. “My little thief, you know I love you and I will always protect you and I will never let this happen to you.
Now I can’t stop the tears from falling. Of course the first time he says I love you is behind bars.
“Why are you crying, Annie?” He asks, reaching out to press his large hand against the glass.
“I’m pregnant.” The words leave my mouth quickly before I can lose my nerve.
His eyes light up.
“You’re what?”
“I’m pregnant.” I whisper this time.
For the first time since I walked through those doors a smile appears on his face. “Damn.” He whistles low. “A baby? My baby?”
I return his smile. “Yes, your baby Gio.”
Laughter lights up the gloomy block of people talking to their loved ones through glass cages. “Yes,” He says enthusiastically. “Yes, Annie! This is our baby and I will love him so much.”
“Him?” I ask smiling. “What makes you so sure it's him?”
“Of course it’s a boy.” He says with confidence. “The DelGado bloodline runs strong.” His pride makes him look like a gorilla beating his chest.
It makes me laugh.
In my heart though, I know it’s a little girl.
A dad.
I’m going to be a dad.
Suddenly there is nothing more important in my life than my baby and Annie. “I’m going to marry her.” I tell my father when he comes to visit me.
Giuseppe sits across the table in the room reserved for attorneys and their clients. He wears a pressed pin-stripe suit, Italian leather loafers, and a clean linen shirt. He looks perfectly polished as usual. “I would expect so,” he sighs. “We need to get you out of here first though.”
Next to Giuseppe sits Ricky, headphones covering his ears as he doodles on a legal pad.
“Dad,” I look at my father, he’s graying and getting older but still the man that raised me. “If anything happens-”
“Gio-” He tries to cut me off.
“No, listen to me.” I continue. “If anything goes wrong, anything happens to me you have to take care of her and the baby.”
“I know, Gio.”
“No, I love her pops. I really do. I don’t want her to go without anything. Anything she wants she gets, ya know? Be there for her, she doesn’t have family so you guys will have to protect her.”
He nods. “I know son, I will take care of her.”
“Promise me.”
He gives me an easy smile. “I promise.”
“Good.” I lean back into the cool metal chair.
As long as Annie is taken care of.
It took six months.
Six long months for Ricky and my dad to get the case thrown out on a technicality.
Six long months behind bars waiting to touch my girl, see my family, and meet my baby. Well, the baby isn’t born yet, so at least I haven’t missed that.
But I’ve missed so much else, and that kills me.
I wanted to see every second of Annie’s pregnancy. I wanted to be there every time she was sick or had a weird craving. I wanted to be the one driving to the
