Valentino's Pregnancy Bombshell (14 page)

Valentino grinned. It sounded like bliss. ‘I brought this with me from the airport.' He reached into his pocket with his spare hand and pulled out the velvet case he'd produced all those months ago. He presented it to her. ‘Will you wear it?'

Paige slipped her hand out of his and flipped open the lid. The diamond glittered beneath the dim overhead light. ‘Just try and stop me,' she murmured as she freed it from its satiny cushion and slipped it on. ‘See?' She
turned it around to show him and he rose slightly and pressed a gentle kiss against her mouth.

‘Perfect. Just like you.'

‘Just like us,' she whispered. ‘Just like him.' And her hand rejoined his as she kissed him back.

‘H
E'S
perfect. Perfect in every way,' Valentino mused, peeling back the wad of wrapping in the crook of his wife's elbow to reveal his one-hour-old son Ferdinando Lombardi.

Paige smiled as her little boy slept. She couldn't agree more. She was exhausted from a fifteen-hour labour but somehow still too elated to sleep. Erica had taken her off the nifedepine a week ago and their son, after wanting out at such an early stage, had finally decided to make an appearance seven days later, weighing a very healthy three and a half kilos.

‘Can we come in?'

Paige looked up to see her parents and McKenzie waiting impatiently in the doorway.

‘McKenzie!' Valentino smiled and held out his arms to her.

She rushed into the room. Don and Adele followed at a slightly more sedate pace. Slightly.

Valentino swept McKenzie into his arms and plonked her on the side of the bed. ‘Are you ready to
meet your little brother?' he said as he signed simultaneously.

McKenzie squirmed with barely suppressed excitement. ‘Yes,' she said.

Paige smiled, still in love with her daughter's voice as she turned her son around.

‘This is your brother, Ferdinando,' Val murmured, signing as well.

McKenzie looked at him as if he were a baby unicorn she'd found in an enchanted forest, her eyes big and round. ‘Nandi,' she said, and leaned forward to kiss the tip of her sleeping brother's nose.

‘Looks like he's already acquired a nickname.' Adele beamed, reaching forward to gently touch her grandson's tiny fingers.

Valentino chuckled. ‘I like it.'

Paige made way for McKenzie to snuggle into her side and they all gazed on her newborn son's perfection.

‘Thank you,' Valentino mouthed after a few moments, interlinking his hand with hers.

‘Thank you,' she whispered back.