Chapter 143. HONEYMOON (FIONA)

Chapter 143. HONEYMOON (FIONA)
Because I suddenly became pregnant, we made some changes to our honeymoon trip to Italy. I actually started having premonitions about two months ago. I felt strange about my body. Since I'd been pregnant before, I recognized some of the signs. But I wasn't completely sure because I was on the pill. I'd been taking it consistently since Joshua and I officially got engaged. It was a precaution because I didn't want to get pregnant anytime soon. Clio had actually told me that the pill wasn't completely effective at preventing pregnancy. There was still a ten percent chance I'd get pregnant after taking the pills and having such intense sex. Clio told me that the only effective way to prevent pregnancy was to stay away from Joshua for a while.
I brought up the idea of sleeping separately a month before our wedding. Joshua was very against it at first. He was totally against my crazy idea. He became a grouchy, annoying man who was a real nuisance. Joshua messed up the house for the first week after I moved to the guest room. He threatened to break down the guest room door if I didn't move into his room.
I tried to talk to Joshua about it. He finally understood and stopped fussing about having to sleep in separate rooms for a while.
But another problem arose. Two weeks before our wedding, I became increasingly convinced that something had happened to my body. My period was late, which, stupidly, I didn't realize until then. Our wedding preparations and Joshua's madness consumed me so much that I didn't have time to check my period, which was already very late.
Clio suggested I take a pregnancy test. And after I did, the result was as I suspected. I was pregnant. And another stupid thing: I didn't know how long I'd been pregnant. When Joshua asked me after our very lively wedding reception, I told him I didn't know how long I'd been pregnant. My guess was about four weeks. Yeah, but it could have been longer.
"How many weeks old is the baby?"
“Your wife is already in her first trimester.”
I widened my eyes in surprise from the gurney. The nurse congratulated me while helping me wipe off the remaining cold gel from my stomach.
“Do you know what that means?” Joshua whispered beside me as he helped me down from the gurney.
“I’m three months pregnant.”
“You’ve been pregnant that long, and you didn’t realize it?”
“Shut up, Josh,” I groaned.
“That explains why you’ve been so moody the past three months. You’ve been irritable, and angry, and crying, and all the other damn things.”
“Can you please stop? We’re in the hospital, Josh.”
I was still struggling to accept the shocking news, while Joshua kept blaming me for my stupidity. If he was shocked, I was certainly even more so, since I was the one carrying this pregnancy, not him.
"I didn't know I was pregnant all this time. Maybe I was just eating carelessly. I haven't been paying attention to the nutrition of the food I've been eating lately. Will my baby be okay, doc?”
“Don’t worry. Your babies are perfectly healthy. I haven’t noticed any problems so far.”
“Babies?” I asked uncertainly. Maybe I misheard her because of the many worries cramming into my head.
“Oh, you didn’t know yet? You’re having twins.”
“Again?”
“That’s great, baby,” Joshua put his arm around my shoulder. His face expressed happiness and satisfaction.
This man seems to have magic sperm. He always gets it right after just a few tries.
That’s both amazing and terrifying!
"I had problems with my first pregnancy, and I lost one of the twins. Is there a risk of experiencing the same thing again?"
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that, Ma’am. But every pregnancy is different. You might have no problems with your second pregnancy. You’re perfectly healthy right now, and I don’t see any problems with your pregnancy. But if you notice anything in the future, please don’t hesitate to contact me immediately.”
“We’re going on a trip to Italy for two weeks. Will that be safe for her and the babies?” Joshua asked seriously.
I squeezed his thigh gently to reassure him. He didn't believe me when I said I was fine. Joshua almost canceled our honeymoon to Italy yesterday. I asked him to consult my obstetrician if he didn't trust me before he made a decision that would upset me.
I really wanted to go to Italy and relive the sweet things we did there. I wanted to show Melissa the beautiful places we visited. I wouldn't let Joshua cancel it for any reason.
"Don't worry, Mr. Lident. Your wife and the babies are in perfect health. It's safe to go to Italy. Just make sure your wife doesn't get overtired during the trip."
Perhaps Joshua took Doctor Agnes's last words very seriously. Joshua decided to bring Erick and Mia along on our honeymoon trip to keep me from getting overtired. Originally, we were going to go on this trip with Melissa. I couldn't bear to leave her at home with just Mia and Roberto. I'd feel bad if I didn't take her to Italy for a fun trip. I'd left her at home many times on undercover FBI assignments.
"For the first time in history. A honeymoon trip turned into a study tour with a three-year-old girl."
"Shut your damn mouth, Rick."
"You're lucky Melissa's sleeping. Otherwise, you'd be getting a slap in the mouth for swearing."
“You think you’re here to have fun, huh? You’re here to help Fiona take care of Mellisa because Fiona shouldn’t be too tired.”
"Sorry, Rick. I told him I was fine and that I could handle everything, but he didn't believe me. You'll have to be Melissa's babysitter for a while."
"I don't mind at all."
I shot Erick a teasing glance. He kept stealing glances at Mia, who was sitting in the back of the cabin, watching over Melissa, who was sleeping on her lap.
“I’ll make sure you get some special time with Mia while you’re in Italy,” I whispered to him.
“Hey, he’s on this trip for work, not fun.”
I smacked Joshua on the arm.
“Let him have some fun once in a while. Erick’s been working really hard to prepare for our wedding.”
“Hey, listen to that, asshole.”
“You fucking bastard.”
“You two stop swearing at each other! There’s a toddler with super-pure ears on this flight.”
“Your husband started it first. He should know he can’t do anything without me,” Erick said arrogantly.
Joshua threw a napkin at him. It landed right in his face. Erick swore before throwing the napkin to the floor.
“Guys, can you please quiet down during the flight? Your voices are making me dizzy,” I complained.
We still had an eight-hour flight before we arrived in Rome. I couldn’t imagine what I’d be like if I had to listen to them bicker for eight hours.
"Please tell your husband to stop being such a dick."
“You just move to the back. Sit with Mia. It’ll be much better for both of you.”
Luckily, Erick took my advice. He moved to the back seat next to Mia.
Mia was a bit surprised when Erick took the empty seat next to her. He was such an asshole. He didn’t say anything. He just sat there, adjusted his crooked sunglasses, and that was it. He sat silently next to Mia for minutes that would turn into hours.
I watched them silently. Joshua nudged my arm hard because I was practically ignoring him, too focused on the strange couple.
“What?”
“Leave them alone. You have me, your husband.”
“Look at your stupid assistant, he’s just sitting there like a statue. Can’t he say something to Mia?”
“Why do you have to worry about Erick? He’s not a baby anymore. You have food to eat.”
I forgot about the half-eaten steak and mashed potato on my table. They were cold. My appetite was gone. I finished my salad and told the flight attendant to remove the food from my table.
“I feel sick.”
“Should we turn around and go back to Chicago?”
I widened my eyes in surprise. “No. I won’t let you ruin my vacation.”
“There’s no point in us going on vacation if your only focus is on Erick and Mia.”
“This isn’t the time to be jealous, Josh. We still have plenty of time to have fun. I’m sure you’ll monopolize me while we’re in Italy,” I poked the tip of his nose.
“Absolutely. But I want my bride right now.”
Joshua pulled me onto his lap. His hand rested on my belly, which was starting to show a small baby bump. He’d developed a new habit since he found out I was pregnant. He liked to place his palm on my belly and gently stroke it.
"I wasn't there for you when you were pregnant with Melissa. This time, I won't miss the opportunity to be by your side."
I stroked his jaw and kissed his lips gently.
“Are you okay with us going to Italy?”
“Why shouldn’t I be okay?”
“Maybe the place reminds you of Alana and her family.”
“They’re nothing to me.”
“Yeah, but four years ago you destroyed the Calonzo clan. Did you take over all of Calonzo’s possessions?”
“Not all of them.”
I raised an eyebrow at him.
I hadn't thought about the Calonzo clan when I came up with the idea of a honeymoon to Italy. I loved the country. I wanted to visit the amazing places of Venice and Florence after spending a few days in Rome.
"There's a mafia from northern Italy who's taken some of Calonzo's possessions. They want it all, but I'm only giving them half."
"Is this trip safe?"
Joshua stroked my cheek gently.
"If this trip wasn't safe, I wouldn't have granted your wish to go to Italy. It's perfectly safe, baby."
I found comfort in his arms. He was so warm. I began to fall asleep to the sound of his heartbeat, which sounded like a lullaby.
"I promise you, we'll have a great time in Italy."
"Oh, thank goodness. I don't want anything bad to happen to us on this trip, Josh."
I rested my head on his chest, my arms wrapped around his neck. It was one of my favorite positions, besides him cuddling me in bed every night.
"I'm sleepy, Josh. I think pregnancy hormones are playing a role."
I yawned widely.
“I’ve been feeling sleepy lately.”
He pressed his lips to the top of my head, inhaling deeply the scent of my shampoo.
“Go to sleep, baby. Go to sleep.”