So Nico is getting his way and convinces Dani to tell the kids. He's used to dealing with criminals and thugs and according to Dani even "aliens from another planet", but he's never dealt with teenagers and he's in for a surprise…
And if you can indulge me for just a moment, last night I had to say goodbye to one of the loves of my life, a 9 year boxer with soulful eyes and a heart as big as the sky. So this chapter is dedicated to him and until we meet again on the other side of the rainbow bridge, I will always love you.
She was used to waking up alone, with Nico not being there and her by herself in the bed. So it came as a surprise when she woke up with his arms still around her.
The digital clock by the bed registered 5:30 AM. Too early to get up and truth be told, she was enjoying this unexpected gift. As she snuggled closer, Nico's arms closed tighter around her.
"So, how long have you been awake?" By the past midnight visits to her house over the last year, she knew that Nico didn't sleep very much.
"A few hours. But you were sleeping so soundly and I didn't want to disturb you."
As he was talking his hand move up until it rested on her stomach and he began to make slow circles. His touch was warm and she felt him all the way to her spine.
In the dark she could feel his breath on the back of her neck.
"Can you feel anything yet?" Since Nico had heard the heartbeat, it had become very real to him and he found himself wanting to know everything. Dani knew what he was asking and tried to answer as best she could.
"Sometimes yes. It's hard to explain. At times it feels like butterflies, like when you get nervous."
"I don't get nervous." Nico said. Dani smiled as she continued talking
"Sometimes it feels like your heartbeat, but far away." With that Nico took his other hand and placed it on her heart.
"Like yours?"
Dani's voice broke a little. "Something like that. Nico, can I ask you something?"
Laying like this with him in the dark she felt safe and closer to Nico than she had ever been before. It was like they were the only ones on the planet
Nico didn't respond but his arms tightened around her and she took that as a sign to continue."
"Juliette. Is Juliette your daughter?"
Just as Dani thought he wouldn't answer her, Nico responded.
"No Dani, she's not. Gabrielle wanted me to believe that she was to keep me close to her and probably to ensure that Juliette would grow up protected. It wasn't until the playoff game, the night TK was shot, that she admitted to me that she wasn't mine."
"How did that make you feel?"
"Like I had lost my best chance of ever being a father. But then you came along and one unplanned night later, here we are."
Taking Dani's shoulder and turning her over until she faced him, he used the thumb of his pad to wipe the tears that came from Dani. His honesty and the hurt in his voice touched her.
"So while this baby may be unplanned, he or she will never be unloved. For that Dani, I will always be grateful. Now I can live the rest of my live never having to doubt about the fact that I'm this child's father."
"And that's why you want to shout it from the rooftops? Because you can."
"Yes, something like that."
I want to tell the kids now Dani. I know this is not going to go smoothly and we are going to have some bad days ahead of us, but delaying it won't help. The longer we wait the more they are going to think that we had something to hide, which we don't."
"And when did you become the Therapist Nico?" Dani asked smiling.
"That's your job, but I'm picking up a few things along the way. So we tell the kids next week. Thanksgiving is coming up in a few weeks and I know it's a long shot, but I would like to be able to spend it here, with them and you."
"And my mother Nico?"
"Yes, even your mother. Do we have a deal Dr, Santino?" Before Dani answered, her hand closed around Nico and she began to stroke him, soft and steady, all the while watching his eyes darken with the promise of the passion that would be coming shortly.
"Yes, Mr. Careles, we have a deal. Next week it is."
With that, Nico closed his mouth over hers and as the sun rose, they came together. A deal sealed with much more than a kiss.
A week later, Nico wished he was back at the beach house and not sitting where we was.
"Oh my god, Mom, that is so gross! Are you kidding me? You have totally ruined my life. What are the kids at school going to say when I tell them my mother got knocked up by a security guard at that stadium?"
"Yea Mom, he busted us and now you're having his baby or something? And don't you think that's a little weird to be having a baby when you are so old?" Ray Jay added.
As she heard the words "security guard and old", Dani cringed. She knew this would not be easy. So she had decided that they would tell her and Ray Jay together. Nico had come to the house after dinner and Dani had asked them to come to the Living Room where they could all talk.
When they first saw Nico, both Ray Jay and Lindsay had thought he was there because of the memorabilia incident from months before. That's when Nico first realized this was going to be much harder than he thought.
And when Dani had tried to explain that no, that wasn't it but because she and Nico had gotten close and that while unplanned, they were going to have a baby who would be a very welcome addition, the kids horrified expressions had turned to full blown temper tantrums.
"Lindsay, Nico is not a security guard, he runs security for the New York Hawks as well as other companies that Marshall Pittman owns and Ray Jay, it's not "weird" that I'm having a baby. I'm not 40 yet and lots of women have babies at my age."
When neither would look at her, she continued.
"Listen guys, this was not something I planned, okay. You two were enough for me and I would have been content with that." Making eye contact with Nico who now stood by the fireplace, she continued.
"But I, we took a new and unexpected path. And while I would have been happy with you two delinquents, to have a chance at another baby and with someone that I care about deeply, that's not something I'm willing to pass up."
"And what about us Mom?" Lindsay said. "Don't we have a say in the matter? What if we don't want a new baby brother or sister?"
At that point, Nico made eye contact with Lindsay . "You do have a say I suppose. You are grown up enough to understand that when you make a choice, both good and bad, you deal with what comes. And I won't lie to you, Lindsay; no one is saying that it's going to be easy. But your Mom and I are dealing with "what comes" in the best way we can. It may not be your way, and you have a right to say that, but I would ask that you at least try to give us a chance to make this work."
Lindsay's lower lip trembled and she stood up. "Fine. Fine, have this baby, I don't care. I'll just go live with Dad. At least I won't have a baby brother or sister over there."
With that she stormed out. Turning to Ray Jay, she asked.
"And what about you?"
Ray Jay stood up and started to leave the room, turning back at the door.
"You've just ruined our lives; I hope you are both happy."
After a few moment's they heard the first and the then the second bedroom door slam.
"Well, that went better than I thought, don't you think Nico?"
Leaning back on the couch, Dani dragged her fingers through her hair, closed her eyes and made a sound that was a combination of a sigh, a moan and a groan.
"Well? Dani, I've had failed covert ops that went better that that." Coming down he sat next to her and took her hand. "So what's next?"
"Well Nico, we give them some time to process this, we keep them talking and hope that they come around at some point without both of them moving to their Dad's."
"Would they do that?"
"Well I couldn't stop them if they did. But let's give them time, okay."
"Got it. Well I'm glad that's over, nothing can be worse than that."
Rolling her eyes at the sound of the front door opening and closing, Dani turned to Nico and with a half smile said.
"Oh you think? Next up is my Mother Nico. This may be as good a time as any to rejoin the Seals, you may be safer."
And with a deep breath turned as her mother came into the room.