Chapter 4 – Our Secret
It was 5am and Dante couldn't sleep. As he laid in bed, several questions kept creeping in. "What was he going to do?" "What was he going to say?" "How would she feel?"
The best thing that had come into his life was Lulu. He couldn't remember a time when he was so happy but also so torn. Lulu looked like an angel sleeping next to him, snuggled under his arm. They had been sneaking these nights together for awhile because they didn't want anyone to know about them. Oh, some people knew something was up between them, but nothing on an exclusive. Dante felt it was too dangerous for Lulu to be connected. Dante knew these moments couldn't last; he would have to tell her. He hated keeping this secret from her.
They had come so far since that night in the Zacharra basement. Lulu felt she owed Dante her silence since that night. But something else had happened, she found he was a great guy, very sensitive, very proud, very smart. One thing Lulu and Dante agreed on – no more secrets between – ever. His revealing to Lulu he was Dante Falconeri, not Dominic Pirelli was big. He thought she could handle this. Lulu was still having issuing with what Dante was doing in Port Charles, but had resigned to herself he was doing his job. She couldn't tell him what to do anymore than he telling her what to do. As much as she wanted to tell Sonny about Dante; she found her growing love, yes, her love, for him was what kept her quiet. Dante had promised to keep her father and Johnny out of jail at all costs and to keep her aware of what was going on in the investigation. That was the best he could do. They did discuss the case, but lately, their talks had turned to a future together. It was something which seemed to surprise them both. Lulu noticed Dante was more on edge, but thought it had to do with case. However, Lulu had her own questions. "What was she going to do?" "What she going to say" "How would he feel when she told him?"
Dante couldn't handle it any longer. Watching the clock only made it worse. He thought once this secret was out, Lulu would change her mind about him. He decided he wanted one last moment with her, one lasting kiss, one more smile from her. Something to remember him of their time together. He had to tell her now. He had promised, no more secrets.
He nudged her. She barely opened her eyes, but did give him the smile he was wanting to see.
"Lulu, you've got to wake up. I have something important to talk about."
"Officer hottie, it's 5 o'clock in the morning. Can't this wait for a few hours?" she chuckled. She thought she knew what he was wanting and loved their lovemaking. It was filled with passion, tenderness, and love.
"Lulu, we promised each other we wouldn't keep any secrets from each other."
At that point, Lulu sat up in bed with a worried look on her face. "What are you talking about?" "What do you know?"
"Well…" a lump formed in Dante's throat. He paused just long enough for Lulu to get worried. She couldn't hold her breath any longer and blurted out…
"Ok, I'm pregnant, how did you know?"
The lump in Dante's throat grew bigger. "What? How did this happen?" was all he could come up with.
"Now, I think you know HOW this works" she replied.
For the first time, Dante was utterly speechless. He finally was able to form a sentence and asked her "How long have you known?"
"For almost two weeks" she mumbled as she started to cry and fell into his arms. Dante took her and hugged her as tightly as he ever had, he didn't want to let go.
"We will get through this together" what a stupid thing to say he thought.
"Dante, I can't do what I did before, I can't go through this again." "People do not even know we are together." "They don't even know who you really are!"
"Again?" was the only word he could hear and reply.
"I never wanted to tell you this, but a long time ago, when I was a lot younger, I got involved with someone I shouldn't have. I did it to hurt someone, but it was me who ended up getting hurt too. I ended up getting pregnant. I was in no position to go thru with the pregnancy, so I had an abortion. I know you are a Catholic, so I know abortion isn't an option for you. If you do not want to be with me because of my past, I understand, but I want you to know, I am keeping our baby." For the first time in almost two weeks since she knew about this secret, Lulu started to breathe again, happy it was out in the open. She wasn't sure how Dante would react to this news. The look on his face was most surprising. It was almost as if he were excited.
"Lesley Lu Spencer, I love you." It was so easy coming out of his mouth.
"Remember our conversation when Claudia wanted me to help her get pregnant? Remember I told you I was an old fashioned kinda guy? I wanted a wife, couple of kids, planned for, wanted, loved? Well, this isn't exactly when or where or even the time I had wanted to do this, but will you marry me?" Dante continued "You've opened up a part of your past, one I'm sure you wanted to keep closed. You're past is your past, not ours. You did what you thought was best at the time. But this is our future and I want to share it with you for as long as I can."
She knew he meant every word to her, he loved her. He had for a long time, he just didn't know when he was going to tell her. As he laid her back onto the bed, it occurred to him she had never looked more beautiful. He kissed her, and gently laid on top of her. He wanted to show his love for her, he was there for her. He started to pull back, afraid it would hurt her or the little one growing inside. "WOW, what a thought, a baby, our baby."
"It's ok, he's just fine in there for now." She assured him.
As much as his secret needed to come out, hers was more important right now. Those questions would continue to haunt him, "What was he going to do" "What was he going to say" "How would she feel" but later. For now, he didn't want to think about them, he couldn't be more thrilled with Lulu's secret, now their secret.
As they laid entwined together, waiting for the morning sun, Lulu gently took her fingers and moved Dante's hair off his face. She kissed his forehead and smiled and said "yes."
