Granted Wishes (The Granted Series Book 1) (23 page)

GRACELYNN DRIVES
A HALF HOUR AWAY
to a drug store where no one will recognize her. She grabs a few tests and a bunch of candy bars, something she eats when she’s stressed.

She returns home and enters her small bathroom, alone and afraid. She expected this day to be a joyous occasion where the man she loved would be with her to find out if they would be expecting a baby out of love.

Angelo, how could I’ve been so stupid … How could I’ve wanted to move on without you?
I was so very stupid
! She shouts into the air and does something she never thought she would. She takes off both the necklace and ring and places them on the sink. She doesn’t need any man right now.

She bites her nails as she waits for the results. She cries again as the tests show positive. All four tests show she is going to be a mother.

She rocks back and forth, holding her stomach and hoping she can be strong enough for herself and this baby. No matter what, she’ll love this baby with every fiber of her being. She doesn’t need any man in her life. Her child will be all that she needs.

* * *

Gio was planning to propose to Gracelynn this evening. He had everything planned with Ben and Cassie. That was the reason she went to the salon with her friend. Until he got a message that said:
“Do you think this is the woman who misses you when you’re not around?”

There were several pictures showing Gracelynn’s head on another man’s shoulder and him looking at her lovingly. He’s furious that she allowed this man to touch her.

And another photo showed Gracelynn laughing and dancing at a place he’s never seen.

He messages the person back only to find out it’s Mallory. She can be up to no good but insists that it’s Gracelynn and her coworkers from work.

He’s furious. He slams his phone down, runs his fingers through his hair and punches the wall behind him.

Screw her! He was going to propose to her. How could she do that to him?

He knows she’s told him before to trust her, that she isn’t Lizzie. How can he do that though, when he’s seen the look in her eyes in those photos?

When he noticed her text message earlier about being late, he didn’t care. He decides she’s a liar and a cheat and he doesn’t need her in his life.

He decides he needs a drink. He starts drinking the scotch he has at the house and passes out on his couch. He’s awoken from his drunken slumber by his phone going off. He stumbles off his couch in search of his phone.

When he finds his phone, he realizes it was Gracelynn and she’s left him a voicemail. He’s hesitant to listen but something makes him do so. And when he does, he falls to the floor. Tears pour down his face as he listens to the love of his life explain her actions to him.

“No, no, no,” he tells himself over and over again. He realizes he’s made the most horrific mistake. He wishes he could take it all back and continues to cry heart-wrenching tears for his stupidity and the loss of the one woman who truly loved him.

He wipes his blood-shot eyes, completely sobered up now. He knows he needs to figure out how to get her back. If it takes him a lifetime to make it up to her, he will.

* * *

Gracelynn isn’t doing so well. The next few weeks she endures are quite hard, considering she’s extremely nauseous from the pregnancy and her heart hurts from not hearing from Gio.

She’s lucky she has Cassie to rely on. When Cass went with her to the gynecologist last week, they were surprised to find out she is ten weeks along.

As the weeks continue she gets random notes in the office or at home three times a week from Gio. Like today, when she enters her office she notices yellow tulips with a card that reads:

I’m sorry. I love you. Please forgive me.

She can see why she fell in love with him to begin with; but he’s hurt her and she doesn’t know whether she can forgive him.

Just as she’s about to leave for the day, she gets the call that Cassie’s water broke and she has to come to the hospital.

Gracelynn hurries to the hospital. By the time she arrives Cassie’s baby girl has been born. Ben and Cassie name their little one Joy and shock her by making her Joy’s godmother. It overwhelms her and she begins to cry for this beautiful happy family.

As she watches Ben and Cassie with their precious baby, she wishes she could have had this with Gio.

As she holds baby Joy, Cassie watches her and shocks her with her outburst. “You could have this too. Just call him. He does love you, you know.” Gracelynn nods and just stares at the beautiful blue-eyed, brown-haired angel.

* * *

Today Gracelynn will find out the sex of her baby. She goes alone to her appointment, afraid, scared and unsure what to do next. She tries to focus on the last note Gio sent her.

IF I HAD A FLOWER FOR EVERYTIME I THOUGHT OF YOU… I COULD WALK THROUGH MY GARDEN FOREVER.” -Alfred Tennyson.

I love you, Gracie. Please come back to me. I love you and I’m sorry. I love you so much. You’re all I think about. I want us together again. Please call me. I love you. Yours, Gio xxx’s

She cries because he’s not here, because he’s being so damn sweet and because she’s going to an appointment today and hasn’t told him about the baby yet. How dishonest is she? She blamed him for not telling the truth and here she goes around and does the same. Here she’s withholding important life-altering information from him, so she doesn’t scare him away.

She loves his note so much and realizes she needs to be honest. She’ll call him once she gets out of her doctor appointment and tell him.

As she arrives to her appointment, she goes into the ultrasound room. She glances around the room, feeling as if she’s being watched and hears a faint voice.

Gracelynn, quit being stubborn. That man loves you more than life itself.
She turns her head and doesn’t see anything out of the ordinary. She glances at the ultra-sound tech, but the young lady is busy getting the gel ready to check out her baby.

“Are you ready to find out the sex of the baby?”

Gracelynn nods and looks to the monitor to see what the ultrasound tech can show her of the baby.

The technician hmms and hmms while looking at her belly. “I’ll be right back, okay, Gracelynn?” Then she leaves the room, and Gracelynn starts to feel scared. When the technician returns, she has the doctor with her. They look over the monitor and glance at Gracelynn and smile.

Her doctor turns to her. “Well, Gracelynn, today is your lucky day. You’re going to be a mommy of twins.”

Gracelynn is about to pass out. “No, that’s not possible. That’s not possible.”

Alyssa, the ultrasound tech, and the doctor show her on the screen two little babies. They explain that the other baby must’ve been hiding during the previous ultrasounds for them not to be able to see it.

“Now that we have that surprise out of the way, do you want to know the sex of your babies?” Alyssa asks.

Gracelynn nods and Alyssa shows her she’s having one boy and one girl.

She leaves the doctor’s office ecstatic and as she’s about to enter her car, she hears the voice again.

I need you, Gracie. Please come and find me, love
. She knows that voice. It’s Angelo’s.
You’ll find me right where you left me. I’ll be waiting for you
.

She knows exactly where he means and drives to the cemetery. As she approaches his gravestone, everything goes white and her beloved Angelo appears before her, looking just as handsome as the last time she saw him; which makes her cry uncontrollably as she crumbles to the ground.

Angelo angelically strides towards her and embraces her. He pulls her up to lead them in a dance. He hums to the music, ‘YOU’RE THE WIND BENEATH MY WINGS.’

Dancing with him calms her. Tears choke in her throat. She can’t believe she’s holding her beloved. The man who stole her heart. Tears start to trickle from the corners of her eyes.

“Don’t cry, my love.”

Angelo stops mid-dance and wipes her tears and kisses her temple gently. “I’ve missed you so much, Gracie. So much. You are it for me. No one else, ever… and since I’m gone… I think it’s great you’ve met Gio. I led him to you, you know. It’s okay to love him.”

He stops them again in dance, lifts her chin to look at him and stares at her with everything she can ever imagine as love, longing, believe, true love, soul mates… everything. His eyes shine.

“You deserve him, as he does you. But you need to tell him he’s going to be a dad. He deserves to know.” He starts dancing with her again.

“I will always love you, Gracie. You have my whole heart…and you need to know that it’s okay to share yours since you are still alive and carrying twins. Live your life, love your life and remember that I love you….forever and always.”

Tears run now in an endless stream down her face… It seems as if he’s saying goodbye… no goodbyes! No!

“I want you to know, I’m so sorry how I left you that day. I’m so sorry. I would be with you…if I didn’t go. I should have told you, I wanted to shield you from the pain… and I hurt you beyond belief. I should’ve told you about a brother I had… I wish I could do it all over again. I do. I wish I could wake up with you every day…” She watches as he tears up himself and feels his tears trickle down the side of her face.

He grabs her stomach gently. She loves the feel of his hand on her swollen stomach. “Promise me you will tell him about his babies. He will love them as much as he loves you. He loves you… like I do.”

And then he stops them from dancing again and anger appears on his face.

“What Mallory told you was all lies. You shouldn’t have listened to anything she had to say. What she did was hurtful and she did it because she’s jealous. She’s always wanted Gio… but he’s only ever wanted you. She falsified documents to end your relationship with him….”

Gracelynn gasps. She places her hand on her chest. Her heart feels like it is going to jump out of her chest. “Wha…What… What do you mean?” she stutters.

“She falsified some of the documents, but Gio’s wife and friend were there… Lizzie and her friend from work were going to a baby loss support group, when a truck swerved into their lane. Her friend tried to miss the truck; but when he did, it sent their car into the other lane straight for the Calhoun’s ending their lives. Gio’s wife didn’t cheat on him, and she didn’t purposely try to harm anyone.”

He looks distraught again. Pain etches on his breathtaking face.

Gracelynn leans up and caresses his soft, porcelain skin, enjoying the feel of him and sniffs him as she leans into his neck.

“Lizzie did love Gio, so much…but know this….not anywhere near as I did you. Or even the way you love him. The bond between the two of you is so strong. I love you, Gracie… so so much,” he cries uncontrollably again into her hair.

She clings to his body, enjoying the way his body completes her and her heart like it did all those years ago.

He stops crying, wipes his tears and stands up tall. “Gracelynn, you’re amazing and will be a fabulous mother and wife. Forgive him and let him explain. I will always love you.”

He surprises her by placing her necklace around her neck again.

“I’ll always be with you. I was your angel to find your way and fall in love again. My wish was granted. Now, it’s time you let go and accept the wish I was able to have granted, for you.”

She sobs again, clutching the man she knows she’ll always love. “I love you so much, Angelo. I love you so much. How can I just forget about you?” She clutches his body tightly, never wanting him to leave.

He gently touches her skin in a loving embrace. “Honey, it’s okay. I’ll always be with you. But I have to go. My time is up. Cherish, love and support him. He’s going to need it after he learns the truth about Lizzie. I love you, always and forever. Until we meet again.”

He leans forward, kisses her on the lips like he used to, in a way that brought magic and sparks to her soul.

She mouths I love you as he starts fading away, but just then the most incredible rainbow appears in the sky.

His voice speaks up, but she can’t see him. “I love you. Whenever you see a rainbow… just know it’s me, letting you know…I love you.”

When she realizes Angelo is truly gone again, she sobs at his gravestone for a while. She nods too though, knowing she needs to call Gio. She picks up her phone, hoping he will answer.

“Gracelynn, is that you?” Gio asks as soon as he picks up.

“Yes, Gio…but we need to talk. We need to talk about so much. I miss you and love you.” She sobs uncontrollably into the phone.

“Honey what’s wrong? I love you too, Gracie. I’m so sorry I was stupid and wasted this much time away from one other. Can I come to you? I will drive the four hours to be with you. Please say yes.”

She agrees and looks forward to seeing him later tonight. But at the same time, she worries he won’t take this news well.

GIO IS
ELATED TO HEAR FROM GRACELYNN
. The last few months not hearing from her has made him bitter again. Nothing that he does, whether working, running, spending time with Kat and Grandma or even hanging out with Holly gives him real comfort.

Grandma and Kat tell him that Gracelynn has every right to be angry and upset with him, but that she loves him and he has to give her time to heal.

They were the ones who helped him with a few ideas to send to her. Most of them were his ideas, but they gave a few impressive ones for him to send as well.

When he received Gracie’s call, he cried. He doesn’t care what anyone says. He’s a man and real men do cry. He cries some more that she’s allowed him to see her and ecstatic she’s allowing him to drive to be with her again.

He gathers his items in his carry all bag and then remembers the ring. He grabs it from his end stand; he wanted to give it to her months prior. He now knows, if they can work everything out, he won’t ever want anyone else other than her. She has his whole heart.

He enters her address in his GPS and drives towards the love of his life. As he drives, he calls work to inform them he will be out of the office and if there is anything they need, they are to report to his next in charge.

He’s scared and nervous, hoping the reunion with Gracelynn will be an enjoyable one. He glances at the GPS, now showing a half hour before he arrives in Layton Hills.

But all of a sudden out of nowhere an eighteen wheeler is in his lane and he can’t move and his last thought is he’s sorry. He loves Gracelynn and hopes he can see her again to tell her just how sorry he is…. And then his world goes pitch black.

* * *

Gracelynn is worried sick, pacing her living room. It’s been several hours and she’s not heard from Gio. She’s starting to panic. She calls Kat and asks if she’s heard from him, but Kat hasn’t heard from him either.

She decides maybe she’s overreacting and he possibly got stuck in traffic. She tries to calm down and decides to call him. But when a woman answers his phone, she’s confused.

“Hello. Can I speak with Giovanni, please,” she asks, wondering why a woman would be answering his phone.

“Miss. Giovanni Antonetti is currently in the hospital. I answered hoping that a family member would call. He’s here in Mercy hospital.”

Gracelynn drops the phone as the woman continues.

“Miss, miss are you there?”

“Yes, yes, I’m here. I’m his fiancé. What room is he in? I’ll be there right away.”

“Miss, he’s in surgery. We can discuss more when you get here.”

Gracelynn grabs her phone, dials Kat and hopes she can comprehend what she’s going to tell her.

“Kat,” she sobs. “Kat… you need to come to Mercy Hospital. Gio’s been in an accident… I’m on my way there.”

“Oh my God. I’ll be there as soon as I can. I’ll call you… or you call me and give me any updates. I love you, Gracelynn.”

She hangs up and heads out the door to reach the man, who she needs to tell she loves him and won’t lose the man who is going to be the daddy of her twins.

* * *

Gracelynn rushes to the hospital. She arrives in a state of shock. The doctors have Gio out of surgery, but he is now in a coma. The doctors aren’t sure when he will wake up because he had a lot of head trauma. Time will tell and they need to let his brain heal on its own right now.

Gracelynn is allowed in the ICU with him, since she informed the staff she’s his fiancée. She stares at his lifeless, mangled body hooked up to machines in the dreadful hospital bed. She leans forward, clutches his hand and cries to him, “I’m so sorry, Gio. I love you. We have a miracle. You’re going to be a daddy. We’re going to have twins. Please come back to me. I love you.”

* * *

Gracelynn wonders if the man she loves will ever wake up. She glances at Gio, kisses him and whispers she’ll be back soon. That she needs a quick bath and needs to rest her sore back.

As she leaves Gio’s hospital room, she stops in her tracks. She notices Kat and Anne outside sitting on the small, metal chairs. Their eyes shine with unshed tears and then a look of astonishment reflects on their faces.

“Hi, guys! I’ve missed you both,” she says as she looks at them, hoping they won’t be angry with her.

Kat is the first to get up, hug her and then step back, her face filled with excitement now.

“Well, look at you. You will now be my sister. I love it…and this…,” she points to Gracelynn’s stomach. “Why didn’t you tell us about this?”

Grace is stunned, unsure of what to say, but then she turns to Anne who has a giant smile on her face, as if she knew this all along. But how in the world did she know?

“Anne and Kat… it just happened. I never expected this. We were fighting and I didn’t know how to tell him after he hurt me so badly.”

Tears start to flow down her face. “I love him with all my heart. When he wakes up I will tell him and I don’t ever want to be without him again,” she gushes at them as she holds them.

“I know that Gio will be happy about this. I’ve never seen him as happy as when he was with you… you should’ve seen him without you… when he wakes up, I’m sure he will never let you go too,” Anne whispers in her ear.

Both release her, let her go home to rest and inform her they will go see Gio and should he awaken, they will call her. Anne also tells her she should get some rest, for herself and the babies.