Chapter 24

Clay broke the news to his mother who couldn't resist making several comments about how if he had only listened to her years ago… After acknowledging she was right, Clay was relieved when Porter began talking about wedding plans. However, the only thing the three of them could seem to agree on was that it should be before the baby was born.

As the dinner plates were cleared away and the staff began serving desert, Clay and Laurel walked over to the table her parents were at. They asked Mac and Giraldo if they would mind switching tables. Knowing that they wanted to speak to Laurel's parents, Mac and Giraldo agreed.

Once again they news was shared, this time with Laurel doing the honors.

The moment desert was over Porter and Isabelle gravitated to each other to talk about their children's wedding plans. Clay was very weary between all the emotional excitement and the fact that it was his first outing. He asked Laurel if she would mind leaving so they could be alone. She happily agreed.

Giraldo would take Sarah home, but they were going to stay awhile and dance.

Laurel's father and Porter's date decided that since they weren't needed, because their women folk were deep in plans, they would head to the bar.

Because Laurel was staying with her parents and Clay had his own apartment they chose to go to his place. She looked around with appreciation as he closed the door behind them and then asked, "Would you like something to drink? Coffee? Tea? …Milk?" the last was asked staring at her tummy.

"No, nothing," she told him with a grin as she removed her wrap and took a seat on the leather couch. "You have a very nice home."

"It suited my needs. But since it only has one bedroom, we'll need to find something else."

"Do you want a bigger apartment, or would a house be something you would consider?"

Moving to sit next to her he told her, "Laurel, there is no 'you' in 'us'…well there is a U in us, but I'm trying to say that decisions like that, are something we should make together. I do like the idea of a house, although I'm not much inclined to the white picket fence look. Maybe something a bit more modern…"

She grinned and said, "I don't need a white picket fence as long as I have you."

Taking her in his arms, he replied, "It should have a yard for the baby to play in and maybe an extra bedroom or two if we decided to have another child or even more than one."

"Oh, I would like that," she sighed.

"Would you be willing to live here until we can find a place? I mean move in soon, or would you rather stay in your parents' home until we are married?"

"I thought I would never see you again after Italy…Clay! I don't want us apart ever again! I know you will have to go to work and such, but I want us to live together as soon as possible!" she insisted.

"Then we shall!" he promised, pulling her into his arms and hugging her close as her head came to rest on his shoulder.

"Oh Clay," she sighed, and he relished the sound of his real name on her lips. He had truly hated lying to her while in Italy and he privately vowed that he would never do so again.

She was so close that all he had to do was turn his head slightly to capture those lovely lips with his in a kiss that quickly deepened with the passion they had shared before.

The result of that passion felt it was time to be remembered by his parents. Giving a hard kick that Clay couldn't help but feel, since he was holding Laurel so close, the baby got noticed.

Clay jumped back as if punched rather than a getting a thump from her belly. Laurel couldn't hold back her laughter at his stunned look.

"Did that hurt you?!" he demanded.

"No. Your son or daughter often gets rambunctious late in the evening. Usually just about the time I want to go to bed. Then it seems to want to keep me up while it plays."

"As long as it isn't hurting you, but maybe we should find out the sex? I hate calling it…IT and 'he or she' all the time will get a bit much after a while."

"I agree, but if we want to keep the mystery we could call him or her our 'undercover love', although that's even longer."

"It sounds like you would rather be surprised about the sex?" he questioned gently.

"I guess I do lean more towards the old fashioned way on that score."

"Well, in that case, a good nickname for Anthony or Antonia is Tony. We could refer to the baby as that. Whether we end up spelling it with a Y or I, it sounds the same. What do you think?"

"Oh Clay! That's perfect! Our little undercover bundle of joy shall hereby be known as Tony!"

When her eager declaration ended on a yawn, he suggested that they call it a night. "I would carry you to bed, but unfortunately I'm not fully recovered from the gunshot yet."

"It's alright, you will be soon, and now that we are together again I will do my best to see to it!"

They walked to the bedroom hand in hand.

THE END