The Legacy (13 page)

Even the slight nausea doesn't dampen my spirits as I
wait for Ingo to return from an all day photo shoot. I am glad
Jessica is at the boutique today. She is usually so observant, she
would have easily seen behind my smile and guessed my news
before I could share it with Ingo.

Ingo arrives home a little after four and I meet him at the
door. “I missed you,” he says, pulling me close for a kiss.
“I missed you, too. I’m glad you’re home.” Drawing back,
I look into his eyes, feeling positively giddy.
“Either you're extra glad to see me or something good
has happened. So which is it?”
“Both.”
“Both? Do I need to sit down before you tell me?”
“Maybe.” I smile at his arched brow.
“Okay.” Taking my hand, he leads me into the living
room, then promptly pulls me onto his lap. “Okay, let's have
it.”
“Well, I just found out that someone I know is going to
be a papa.”
“Really? Who . . .” Pausing, he grins, and then laughs.
“Really? Are you sure?”
“I am.”
He hugs me. “I can’t believe it! I’m going to be a father.”
He caresses my cheek. “You’ve made me so happy.” Pressing
his hand against my flat stomach, he draws me against him and
kisses me slowly. Stirred by my breathless response, he quickly
leads me up to our room, and there we stay until darkness falls.

When we finally head back downstairs to get something
to eat, Jessica is sitting at the table enjoying a cup of hot
chocolate.

“Well,
good evening,
you
two,”
she
says
with
that
knowing smile I recognize all too well. “Dinner is in the fridge
if you’re hungry.”

“I’m sorry about dinner,” I say. It had been my turn to
cook.
“I’m sorry, too, Aunt Jessica. It was my fault she forgot.”
Of course he smiles as he says this. I slug him playfully,
embarrassed.
Jessica chuckles. “It’s okay, dear. You can take my turn
tomorrow.”
I sit down at the table while Ingo heats some dinner for
us. Watching him pull several things from the fridge, I muse
that I will soon be needing the large meals Jessica always
prepares.
While the food is heating in the microwave, Ingo places
his hands on my shoulders. “Sweetheart, we should tell Aunt
Jessica the good news.”
“What good news?” Jessica asks, her eyes bright.
“I don't know,” I tease. “Are you sure we should tell
her?”
“Hmmm, maybe we shouldn't just yet.”
“Tell me what?”
“You know,” Ingo says, “just forget we said anything.”
“Ingo and Cisely Kelly! You stop messing around and tell
me this instant or I'll . . .”
“Okay, okay,” I give in, laughing. “We’re going to have a
baby.”
“Really?”
she
squeals.
“Oh,
my
goodness,
how
wonderful! Congratulations!”
“Thank you,” Ingo says. “We’re pretty excited.”
Jessica claps her hands jubilantly. “Your parents are going
to be thrilled to hear this.”
“I think thrilled is an understatement. Unless one of my
brothers' wives makes an announcement, this will be their first
grandchild. I’ll call them tomorrow. I’m sure they will let
everyone else know pretty quickly.”
“Oh, you should call Adagio back and tell him he’s going
to be an uncle,” I add. “He called this morning and mentioned
that Uncle Adagio has a nice ring to it before I even realized I
was pregnant.”
“That’s Adagio for you. I’ll call him in the morning, too.”

Adagio whoops loudly when we tell him the news.
“Congratulations! I’m so happy for you!”
“Thank you,” Ingo says. “We’re pretty excited.”
“We will be officially calling you Uncle Adagio soon,” I

say on the other extension.
“And I will be ready for it! As a matter of fact, I think I
will plan another visit soon.”
“We would love that,” Ingo assures him. “You know
you’re welcome anytime.”
“I know.”
“We’ll let you know the due date as soon as we find out,”
I say.
“I will be waiting to hear. I have been told there is
nothing as wonderful as bringing a child into the world. And
Ingo, my friend, I know you will be a great father. Cisely, you
being a good mother is a given.”
“Thanks, Adagio. That means a lot.”
“I only speak the truth.”
“Well, you just get ready for your uncle duties,” Ingo tells
him.
“I am looking forward to it.”
After talking a few minutes more, we give him our love
and say goodbye. Taking me in his arms, Ingo holds me close,
kissing my brow.
“I'm sorry about having to postpone the trip, Ingo.”
“Don't be sorry, love. We can go another time. Besides, it
wouldn't do for you to be sick all the way down.”
“This is true,” I agree.
“I guess we should call my parents now. Only I’m sure
we'll be on the phone a lot longer.”
“You’re probably right.” I know how much his parents
enjoy talking to us. They will be so excited to hear about the
baby, we will indeed be on the phone a while.

On
Friday
morning,
Ingo
comes
with
me
to
my
appointment. My doctor, Judy March, is a good friend of
Jessica’s. A kind and pleasant woman, she is a lot like Jessica as
far as personality, and I can see why they are friends. She gives
me a full checkup and pronounces me healthy. The baby will be
due in July and I am grateful I won’t have to go through the
complete summer pregnant.

The following morning after we finish breakfast, Ingo
suggests that we go window shopping for baby things and I
eagerly agree. We spend the morning roaming in and out of
various stores and see so many cute things, Ingo insists on
purchasing a few. Shaking my head, I laugh as we walk out of
store after store carrying full shopping bags.

“Just a few things, huh?” I say.
“I can’t help myself. I’m in a spoiling mood already.”
“I can see that.”
We put everything in the trunk. As he closes it, I give into

We have lunch at
Romano's Macaroni Grill
. It is one of my
favorite restaurants, and now that I am expecting, I don’t feel
as guilty about stuffing myself. Not that I've had to worry much
about my weight in the past. So far, I have been one of those
lucky people who can eat basically anything and not worry
about my figure. But I'm sure that will change after I have the
baby.

We enjoy a leisurely lunch and talk of our plans for the
future. Afterward, we stop by the boutique and visit with
Jessica for a few minutes before heading home.

We carry the bags up to our room. Sensing how tired I
am, Ingo insists that I take a nap, and I am so worn out, I don’t
protest.

“I don’t remember shopping ever being this exhausting,”
I say, dropping my head on the pillow.”
He covers me with a fleece blanket and kneels beside the
bed. “I’m sorry I wore you out today.”
“No, don’t be sorry,” I say, placing a hand on his cheek.
“It was a lot of fun. And I really enjoyed watching you. You
can out-shop me any day.”
He smiles, kissing my palm. “We’re just going to have to
make sure you take it a little easier for a while. You relax and
get some rest. I’ll take care of dinner this evening.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I know, but I want to.”
“You’re just too good to me.”
“I could never be too good to you, love.” He kisses me
and leaves me to sleep.
A while later, Ingo awakens me.
“I’m sorry to wake you, love, but your cousin Velma is on
the phone. I thought you would want to talk to her.”
This is a pleasant surprise. “Yes, I would.” I pick up the
phone and Ingo leaves me to talk.
“Hello, Velma.”
“Hi, Cisely. I’m sorry about waking you, but I just wanted
to see how you were doing.”
I smile, happy to actually have someone in my family
thinking of me. “I’m glad you called. How have you been?”
“I've been great. I’m enjoying being out on my own. I
love the freedom. How are you?”
“I am doing well. I have an amazing husband and . . . I'm
pregnant.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Girl, I’m so happy for you and Ingo!”
“Thanks. We’re pretty happy, too.”
“Have you found out when you are due?”
“Yes, we're having a July baby.”
“That’s good. I am so excited for you guys.”
“So are we. In fact, Ingo is so excited, he nearly bought
out a few department stores today. We were only supposed to
be window shopping.”
Velma laughs. “I can only hope to find a guy like that one
day.”
“You will. I am sure of it.”
“From your lips to God’s ears.”
“It's only a matter of time.”
For a long moment, Velma is silent and I wonder if
everything is all right. As I'm about to ask, she finally speaks
again.
“Cisely, I just wanted to tell you how amazing I think you
are. Because of you, I know anything is possible. I often think
about your life and the things you went through. I know it
wasn’t easy growing up in a family like ours, but you completely
turned your life around. You're an inspiration to me, and I’m
glad you found Ingo. I’m grateful to be able to call you both my
family.”
Darn these tears!
“Thanks so much, Velma. We’re grateful
for you, too.”
“You've had so many awesome things happen to you,
Cisely, and I'm sure there is even more to come. I hope for me
as well.” She laughs. “Listen to me. I sound like a fortune
cookie.”
I chuckle. “You sound great.”
“Well, I’ll stop rambling now. Basically I just wanted to
say I love you and I am one family member who will be here
for you whenever you need me.”