The Baby Contract ((The women of Landry's Landing and the Fabrizio men)) (13 page)

Luc came into the dining room from the lobby. “They’re pulling up outside right now, so if anybody is going to run you better get started.”

“Luc!” Pierce warned.

“I’m just kidding, besides it’s too late to run.”

Everyone gathered in the dining room making last minute adjustments to their attire and overall appearance. When they were all satisfied that everything was in order they made their way to the lobby so that they could greet them properly.

Pierce was the first to greet his parents as they walked through the door. “Ciao.” He said greeting them in Italian and continued to address them in Italian asking about their trip. His parents answered in Italian then turned to greet the rest of their sons, but when they turned their attention to Gigi and her sisters they switched to English.

“Good evening ladies.” Giuseppe said in a thickly accented voice and wide smile. “I am Giuseppe Fabrizio and this is my wife Serafina.” He announced taking his wife by the hand.

“Good evening.” Serafina said.

The two were a lovely couple, Giuseppe was a tall man around six feet with rich olive skin and hazel eyes, his thick black hair was peppered with grey at the temples his handsome face reminded her so much of Pierce and Gio who looked a lot like him.

Serafina was a petite woman about her height maybe a bit shorter, her once black hair was also peppered with grey but was pulled back into a bun at the back of her head. Her pale grey eyes were striking against her deeply tanned skin. Even at her age she was still a very pretty woman.

Pierce pulled Gigi forward so that they could see her better. “This is Egypt Landry my soon to be wife and the mother of your first grandchild.”

“Please call me Gigi it’s a pleasure to meet you both.” Gigi said nervously, she became fidgety when Giuseppe and Serafina turned to each other and began speaking in Italian she tried to take a step back but Pierce was blocking her retreat. He placed an open palm at the small of her back and urged her forward.

When Giuseppe and Serafina stopped talking they turned their gazes back to her it was his mother that stepped forward and embraced her.

“Pierce she’s beautiful. I’m sorry dear, my English is not so good, but welcome to our family and you may call me Sera.”

Giuseppe approached Gigi taking her hands. “We welcome you, once you become a Fabrizio you will always be a Fabrizio.”

“Mama, Papa I want you both to meet the rest of the Landry woman.” Pierce said luring them away from Gigi before they give her a long drawn out speech about being a Fabrizio. “This is Gigi’s older sister India, Her younger sister Asia and the in between sister London. Ladies this is Giuseppe and Serafina Fabrizio.”

Indy rolled her eyes. “Oh so now you ask for my input, would you excuse us for a minute. Don’t try to be nice that your parents are here.” She said as she walked ahead of him heading out of the room.

“Mama, Papa we’ll see you in the dinner room.” Gio said as he sprinted to catch up with Indy. “Why are you walking so fast, would you slow down?”

Indy stopped just long enough to yell at him. “If you don’t stop bossing me around I swear I’m going to sock you right in the eye.” Indy smiled at the others before turning to make long strides out of the room.” Gio laughed as he followed her.

“Honey, our Gio actually laughed and that India is quite a handful, I like her.” Sera said.

“Whoa! Pierce I think your baby needs another one of those pep talks because there’s an unauthorized soccer game going on inside my stomach.” Gigi said as she leaned over and grabbed her stomach.

Pierce went down on one knee in front of Gigi placing a hand on both sides of her stomach leaning in close he put his mouth against her stomach where the baby was once again doing a little tumble, roll and kick mommy. Speaking in Italian he told his baby to calm down and behave within minutes the movement slowed to a flutter.

“That’s more like it little one.” He said getting to his feet smiling down at Gigi.

“Thanks sunshine.” Gigi said tilting her face up for a kiss which he did planting a kiss on her waiting lips.

“You’re welcome but we better feed you or the baby might decide to start kicking you again.” Pierce said as he started for the dining room asking his parents to follow them.

Dinner had gone well and everyone had turned in for the night. Giuseppe and Serafina we’re pleased with their suite which was just down the hall it being the only other room on the top floor beside the girl’s apartment. Giuseppe and Sera were still awake but sat in bed talking as they did on many occasions, but this time instead of worrying about their boys they felt hope for them for the first time in years.

“Seppe what do you think of the way the boys are acting. Luc is not acting like some wild playboy as he usually does. I think Asia might be just the woman to tame the boy.”

“She certain is a wonderful cook and she seems to be a lovely woman but let’s let them work things out.” Giuseppe said.

“Fine, then what about Gabe this is the first time in years that he isn’t complete focused on work London looks like she knows how to balance work and fun, she did a great job with the decorations for tonight and for the wedding she’s very talented.”

“Yes she is talented and I’m sure Gabe knows that too honey.” Giuseppe said hoping that would keep her from interfering.

“Seppe when was the last time you heard Gio laugh? I mean
really
laugh like he did tonight with India. She reminds me of your sister God rest her soul. She has that same fiery spirit, that same strong will and kind heart and she is quite beautiful isn’t she?”

“Yes dear she is very beautiful and fiery and she seems to be able to handle Gio quite well, So I don’t think you need to push it they’ll find their way if it’s meant to be.”

“Well at least our Pierce has found happiness with a gorgeous woman who appears to be very sweet. Our grandbaby is going to the envy of all the women in my ladies group I plan to show lots and lots of pictures the way they have all these years bragging about their grandchildren. I can’t wait to shut those biddy’s up.”

“Sera, you might want to wait until the baby is born first.” Giuseppe said teasingly.

“Seppe don’t make fun of me I’m just so happy that our boys are finally on their way to happiness.”

“And they will Sera but if you push they’ll just push back then it will take that much longer for them to realize what we already see.”

“You are right as usual my darling Seppe.” She said kissing him goodnight.

The next morning everyone woke up excited about the wedding and jumped in head first making sure that things would go as planned. Pierce woke up and got out of bed carefully so that he wouldn’t wake Gigi she’d had a long night unable to sleep because of a terrible backache.

He left her a note letting her know that he was with brothers but he’d see her at the altar. When Gigi got up that morning she was having sharp pains. Her sisters found her doubled over beside the bed.

Gigi grabbed London by the hand and pulled her down to eye level with her. “This baby isn’t coming until Pierce and I get married, you got that.”

“Well she certainly is grouchy this morning.” Asia said. Indy glance at her shaking her head in disbelief at the stupid things Asia sometimes said.

“If I wasn’t worried about making you even more stupid than you already are, I’d slap you right now.” Indy said.

“Look, let’s just get this show on the road before I’m holding this baby in my arms while I’m standing at the altar getting married.” Gigi said through clenched teeth.

An hour later they were about to enter the church when a contraction hit Gigi and it took all her will power not to scream out from the pain. Once the contraction subsided London cued the music and began to march.

The Fabrizio men were waiting at the altar dressed handsomely in black tuxedos with bowties and cummerbunds in misty grey, that London had made herself.

London walked down the aisle first in her misty grey one shoulder fitted dress, a design she’d made for this special day. Her short black hair was pushed back from her face with a silver headband that matched the rest of her silver accessories. Gabe thought she looked even more beautiful than she usually did.

Asia was next to walk down the aisle wearing a dress just like the one London wore. Her long blonde streaked her was styled in an up do with wispy curls hanging around her face as silvery clips held it in place. She smiled when her hazel eyes met Luc’s hazel eyes as he smiled back thinking what a total knockout she is.

Indy began walking down the aisle with her light honey eyes locked on Gio. Her breath hitched as she stared at him, as did his. The misty grey dress she wore was the same as the ones her sisters were wearing but with one big difference. Her dress hugged her voluptuous figure dipping in at the sides where it clenched her small waistline. Her shoulder length auburn hair had been swooped to the side in a cascade of curls and held there with silver hair pins.

All Gio could think about was peeling her out of that dang dress to find out exactly what she was wearing underneath. The site of her long shapely legs in those high heel sandals had him wanting to lick her from her ankle to her…

He didn’t realize he’d groaned softly until Pierce nudged him in side with his elbow.

But it was Pierce that became dumbstruck when Gigi began her trip down the aisle towards him. Her long dark wavy hair was piled at the top of her head with tiny flowers styled around her hair like a halo. Her wedding gown was done in a silvery white-grey material with an empire waist and a bodice that angled across her chest and over one shoulder down to a long flowy sleeve that London had added to cover the bruise on Gig’s arm. Her honey eyes glowed as she gazed at him on her way down the aisle but her smile didn’t quite reach those glowing eyes of hers.

Pierce had a feeling that something was wrong but wasn’t sure until after the preacher asked who gives this woman’s hand in marriage and all three of her sisters answered in unison. “We do.”

Just as the preacher was about to read their vows another contraction hit and this time Gigi did scream out from the pain. She bent over slightly holding her a hand at the bottom of her stomach.

“Why didn’t one of you call me?” Pierce asked. “We need to get her to the hospital we’ll postpone the wedding for…” Before he could finish his sentence Gigi reached up and grabbed him by the collar with one hand pulling him down so that she could see his face.

“I’m not leaving this church until I am Mrs. Pierce Fabrizio, you got that sunshine.”

Pierce turned to the preacher once Gigi had let go of his collar. “I’m going to need you to speed this up a bit, so I can get her to the hospital. Preferable before the baby arrives.”

When he started asking Gigi if she takes Pierce to be her husband she said “I do” before he could even finish what he was saying with Pierce adding. “Yeah, yeah we both do. Preacher you need to talk faster.”

Just as he pronounced them husband and wife Gigi’s water broke and she screamed as another contraction hit taking her to her knees. Pierce scooped her up in his arms taking long strides to the door as he carried her out to the limo he’d hired for them.

“Get us to the hospital and hurry.” Pierce shouted to the driver as he climbed into the backseat with Gigi in his arms.

“We’ll meet you guys there.” Indy yelled after them. She turned to see everyone still standing there watching the limo drive away. “Don’t just stand there let’s mount up move it, come on let’s go people. There are eight of us so we’ll take two cars, Gabe you take London, Luc and Asia and Gio and I will take Giuseppe and Sera. Let’s go.”