Chapter 7
"Yes, for two reasons, after speaking with her doctor we are of the impression that the baby's father was someone named Roberto and at home Bud and Harriett Roberts are like family to me. He will be named for all of them. His middle name is Francesco after out daughter."
"Robert Francesco Paretti, it is a good Italian even if his first name is American."
"Marcella, his last name is Chegwidden, because Francesca declared him my son."
"I still think it was mean of her not to give me the baby."
"Yes Marcella I can see just how much you are involved in his life."
"What is that suppose to mean Alberto? I arranged for the nanny to care for him."
"Yes, that's exactly what I meant. Now we should get to choosing what you would like to keep."
"You need to give me some time to look around, Alberto."
"I'm sure you've been here many more times than I have Marcella, don't you have some idea of what you might like to have? Anything you don't want I'll donate it to the local base so they can use it if they need housing items".
"You are just going to give our daughter's furniture away?"
"Marcella, neither you nor I need any more furniture, what with your home being full and I mine is as well."
"Still it is our daughter's, Alberto."
"I'll remember our daughter in my heart Marcella, I don't need her furniture to remember her."
"And the baby furniture?"
"I thought I'd send that to one of the local orphanages."
"Aren't you going to keep it?"
"It would be more expensive to ship it than to buy new. And the nursery at my home should already be filled by the time I get there. Bud and Harriett Roberts are taking care of that for me."
"You see! You have others do for the baby too!"
"No, Marcella, I have others helping me to make sure things are ready for when I arrive home with the baby. I will be caring for him myself."
"Just like you did with Francesca?" she sneered.
"When she was a baby I had a wife, and as a SEAL had to go on missions when ordered."
"Si, that is what I meant, you were never around."
"But I'm retired now and have nothing but time to devote to Robert."
"I suppose you will want me to make arrangements with you every time I want to visit him?"
"I'm turning the guest room into the nursery, so you might let me know in advance so I can make arrangements for your stay."
"You do not want me staying at your home?"
"I just assumed you would prefer not to sleep on the couch."
"You would not give up your room for me?"
"Yes, but I remember you don't like as firm a mattress as I do. You would not be very comfortable on mine."
"Si, you could arrange for a suite for me."
"Yes, I guess I could," he said in a tired voice, thinking, 'And that means I'll end up paying for it too.'
"I will take her writing desk then and you can have it delivered when you have the rest of her things taken away! What are you going to do with all of her beautiful clothing?"
"I suppose I could talk with Giovanni about that and see if he has any suggestions."
"I could go through her things for you."
"Of course if there's anything you want Marcella, you should take it."
'That was my intention all along,' she thought.
After she had gone through all of Francesca's clothing and jewelry and packed many things into Francesca's luggage, Marcella took her leave, reminding him to let her know when he planned to pick up the baby to take him away from his beloved grandmother to another country where she would hardly get to see him.
Trying to avoid rolling his eyes at her acting, AJ promised that he would do so and saw her to the door. Mindful of the four-hour time difference, AJ waited to be sure that he wouldn't be catching the Roberts family in the middle of the children's bedtime. When Harriett came on the line he soon realized that he had called in the middle of bath time instead. Or at least he hoped that was the case when after Harriett had said 'hello' she called out in a raised voice, "AJ you know you're not allowed to run through the house dripping wet and naked!"
To be continued…