The Italian's New-Year Marriage Wish (18 page)

She stared at the test in her hand. ‘Would you mind if I did it on my own?' Her voice shook and he gave a sigh.

‘Don't push me away, Amy. Don't push me away,
tesoro
. Not now when we are just learning how to share.'

Amy hesitated. She wasn't sure that she could actually do a pregnancy test in company, even when that company was Marco. ‘The thing is,' she said honestly, ‘even though I know
it can't be positive, I want it to be, so badly. I—I just need a few moments…'

‘I understand that.' Marco hugged her tightly. ‘We'll compromise. Do the test and then call me.'

So that he could offer comfort.

And she was going to need comfort, she knew she was.

Amy closed the bathroom door and sat on the edge of the bath, the packet in her hand unopened. Why was she even hesitating? It wasn't as if she didn't know the answer, because she did. So why was she treating the test as if it were a bomb that was going to blow her life apart?

She didn't really think she was going to be pregnant, did she? Surely she wasn't really that stupid?
That delusional?
Had she really, somehow, allowed a tiny flicker of hope to creep in and contaminate her common sense?

With an impatient sound she stood up and unwrapped the test.

A few minutes later she was still staring at the stick, tears trickling unnoticed down her cheeks. The tiled bathroom floor was cold under her bare feet but she didn't notice that either.

‘Amy?' His tone impatient and concerned by equal degrees, Marco pushed open the door without waiting for an invitation. ‘Talk to me,
amore
. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have even suggested that you do that test. It was thoughtless of me and—'

‘I'm pregnant.' Her voice was a hoarse whisper and she felt suddenly dizzy. ‘Marco, I'm pregnant. I'm having our baby.'

She heard him swear softly and then felt his arms slide around her and support her as her legs gave way.

 

‘So now I believe in happy endings.' Nick glanced between them and smiled. ‘I'm pleased for you both. Really.'

Marco laughed in disbelief. ‘I just told you that I want to leave the practice and return to Italy. It's not exactly a happy ending for you.'

Nick looked at him for a long moment and Amy saw something pass between the two men. An understanding. They'd shared so much. Loss. Pain. Pride at the way the practice had developed.

‘Life moves on. Things change and we have to change with them.' Nick shrugged. ‘We set this place up together and a lot of the success is down to you, Marco. The practice will go on without you. Grow. Change. I can understand that you and Amy want to go back to Italy.'

‘Penhally will always remind Amy of her past.' Marco slid a protective arm around her and Amy looked up at him.

‘And you miss Italy.'

‘Sì.
That is true.' He smiled at her. ‘I miss Italy. I feel like the Maserati. In this weather, my engine suffers.'

‘Well.' Nick cleared his throat. ‘On a practical note, Adam Donnelly is due to start tomorrow, as you know, so we won't be left high and dry.'

‘We can stay for a few months if that would help.'

Nick shook his head. ‘I don't want you to do that. You've managed to sort things out and I'm pleased about that. You've no idea how pleased. Now I want you to go and get on with your lives. Get ready for that baby.'

‘You're very generous.' Marco's voice was gruff. ‘Thank you.'

‘
Prego
. Isn't that what I'm supposed to say?'

‘And what about you, my friend?'

A shadow flickered in Nick's eyes. ‘I carry on building the practice. Supporting the community. Kate's resigned.'

‘Oh, no!' Despite the conversation they'd had, Amy couldn't help feeling shocked. She hadn't actually believed that Kate would do it.

‘And you accepted her resignation?' Marco's gaze was steady and Amy held her breath. It was the nearest any of them had come to asking Nick directly about his relationship with Kate.

‘It's disappointing for the practice but she wants to take a new direction in her career. It would be wrong of me to talk her out of it.'

Work. He only talked about work. Nothing personal.
Nothing about missing Kate or feeling anything for Kate.

For a moment Amy was tempted to step forward and shake him. Didn't he know how Kate felt about him? And was he really pretending that he felt nothing for Kate? She knew that wasn't true. Not after the scene she'd witnessed on New Year's Eve.

‘Nick—'

‘People are complicated,' Marco said quietly, closing his hand over Amy's to silence her. ‘Relationships are complicated. And not all the obstacles to happiness come from outside and can be solved. Sometimes they are inside us and only time can shift them.'

For a moment Nick didn't respond. ‘And some times time just isn't enough. Good luck, the two of you. Stay in touch. I look forward to holidays in Italy.'

 

They walked away from the surgery and Marco turned to look back.

‘You're going to miss it, aren't you?' Amy slid her hand into his and he turned and smiled at her.

‘I'm ready to move on. Do something else. I suppose I feel a little guilty about leaving Nick, especially as Kate is leaving, too. Whatever is going on between them, she has been a big part of the Penhally Bay Surgery for a long time.'

‘She would have stayed if he'd told her that he loved her.'

‘Nick has far too many issues after Annabel's death. He isn't ready to think about another relationship. Perhaps he never will be.'

Amy sighed. ‘Why didn't you make him admit that he is in love with Kate?'

‘I'm not sure that he knows it himself. And I'm not a doctor of relationships.'

Amy slipped her arm into his. ‘I think you are. You cured ours. I can't believe this has happened. I arrived in Penhally a month ago to ask you to give me a divorce and now here I am back with you and pregnant. It's like a dream.'

‘But a good dream.'

‘Of course.' She reached up and kissed him. ‘It's like being given a second chance. When I first met you I was so in love and then it all went so wrong. I didn't believe our relationship could work if I was infertile because I'd seen what it did to my parents.'

‘It isn't about fertility, it's about love. Your parents didn't share the love that we have for each other.'

‘No. I think you're right about that.'

‘You know I'm right.' He slid his arms around her waist. ‘I'm always right.'

‘And so modest. So what happens now?'

‘We make our home in Italy. The sun will put some colour in your cheeks and you will grow so accustomed to being loved that there will be no room for doubt in your mind. And you will speak Italian and learn how to make pasta from scratch.'

Amy laughed. ‘And Penhally?'

He glanced around him, his eyes warm. ‘This place has been a part of our lives. But it's time to move on.' His gaze moved back to hers. ‘Will you move on with me,
tesoro
? Build a new life? Do you trust me enough to give up everything you know?'

‘Yes.' She answered without hesitation. ‘The only thing I don't want to give up is you. You're all that matters.'

Marco gave a slow smile of satisfaction. ‘Finally, we agree on something.'

And he bent his head and kissed her.