Words of Lust (16 page)

“Not as bad as last night. Nick has taken very good care of me.”

“I should hope so. Are you feeding her?” His mother sent a scowl over her shoulder at Nick, who was standing rather awkwardly in the middle of the space.

“Of course, Mom. I’ve even been giving her cooking lessons.”

“Well, I brought over some meatballs and
zuppa
. Hearty food will help you feel better and get healed.” She pulled out of the hug and took her worn recyclable shopping bag into the kitchen space where she began unloading.

“I hope you have a good appetite. You’re going to be eating meatballs for, oh, I’d say a week?” Cara had slipped an arm around her waist, though she seemed to need the support too.

“How are you?” Cara’s face looked even paler and more strained than it had at the first Sunday family dinner. “Is Rocco home yet?”

“Nope. And I’m really missing him. If only I didn’t feel like such a cow, and if only the doctor wouldn’t keep hounding me about staying off my feet, and if only this little alien would burst out, I’d be one happy camper.”

“Come on, speaking of sitting down, let’s get you off your feet.”

Nick was helping his mother as she kept her arm around Cara and helped her to the sofa.

Once they were seated, Cara glanced around the room.

“Hmm. Bed looks mussed. I’m thinking Nick’s therapy has included something, ah, hands-on?” Cara giggled and it made her smile too. Unfortunately it also made her blush and so Cara nodded knowingly.

“I should have known. He’s been playing doctor since he was ten and got Denise to pull up her skirt for an examination.”

She sighed at Cara’s words. “The infamous Denise again.”

“Don’t worry about her. She’s a real piece of work, and Nicky doesn’t want anything to do with her.”

“So he claims.”

“Oooh, girlfriend, you are sounding jealous!” Cara poked her but then gave a pained grunt and stopped talking.

“Okay?”

“Just kicks and pokes, but I’m tired of my bladder being used as a punching bag.”

Mrs. Stellato called out that she was putting on some meatballs and sauce to heat up as she pulled out a loaf of Italian bread. “We’ll have heroes. Nick, you have any parmesan?”

“You kidding me?” He and his mother were working like a well-oiled team in the kitchen, so she kept talking to Cara.

“Have you heard from Gia? I know your brother called her, but she’s ignoring him.” She avoided the reason, knowing an uproar would ensue when Gia’s lifestyle was exposed to the rest of the family.

“She’s such a drama queen. She gets pissed at you for something, forget about it. Then, all of a sudden, you’re best friends again. It’s really annoying.”

“Nick insisted I stay home today. He didn’t want me going all the way to school. I emailed the students, but I thought I’d hear back from her.”

“Probably shacked up with some guy. I mean, I like sex too, obviously—” she patted her bulging abdomen, “—but she’s a crazy woman when it comes to boys. And they like her too. She was smart to insist on living away for college. It’s freaking impossible to sneak a boy up to your room with your mother and father plopped in front of the TV every night. I had to get creative.”

“Sex in cars with boys?”

“Not all it’s cracked up to be.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t say that.” The memory of Nick’s hands on her in the back of his truck made her flush again, and Cara tsked.

“I suppose since he’s my brother I shouldn’t be so darned interested in his love life, huh?”

“Probably not.”

“I have to live vicariously, though. I think I forgot how to have sex.”

“It won’t be long now. Make a date with Rocco for a couple months down the line and it will all come back to you.”

“Cara, honey, you hungry?”

“I can’t eat, Mom. I’ve got rotten heartburn and if I eat heavy now, I’ll never get to sleep.”

“Where are the kids?”

“Rocco’s mom has them. She picked them up after day care and promised to keep them for the weekend. Mom and I figured you might not be up for tomorrow night, so we decided to come to you instead. Meatballs aren’t the only thing mom’s got in there.”

“Serafina, you want some spumante? Cara, I’ve got sparkling cider for you.”

“No, Mom, I—uhn.” She suddenly doubled up and everything stopped.

“What’s wrong?”

Cara’s body tightened as she let out a groan. “Something. I don’t know,” she screamed as fluid gushed down her legs.

“Nick, Mrs. Stellato, I think her water broke.” Serafina stood, feeling frightened and useless.

“It’s too early.” Cara was barely able to talk as she clutched her swollen stomach. “Mom, it’s too early.”

“Serafina, call an ambulance. Nick, call Rocco. Get him home. Cara, honey, do you have your doctor programmed into your phone?” At Cara’s nod, Mrs. Stellato grabbed her daughter’s bag and pulled out the phone. She put in the call to the OB/GYN and explained what was happening.

“She’ll meet us at the hospital. Nick, you got him?”

He nodded and handed his mother the phone. She informed Rocco that his wife was in trouble and then she passed the phone to Cara, who wailed into it.

Serafina had confirmed that the ambulance was on its way, having assured them it was not a normal labor, that Cara was more than a month away from her due date and had a problem pregnancy. She prayed the severity of the situation would get their attention.

Mrs. Stellato was comforting her daughter, holding her hands and talking to her in a soothing voice as Nick paced, looking dark and frightened. When she began showing blood as well, everyone paled, and the sound of the ambulance arriving sent them all into action.

He hurried to go down and let the EMTs in and then helped them get Cara onto the gurney. Mrs. Stellato had called her husband and sons. She grabbed Cara’s purse. “Nick, follow me to the hospital.”

“Sure, Mom. Right behind you.”

“I’ll just stay here. I don’t want to be in the way.” She felt like a third wheel as he and his mom dealt with the crisis.

“Of course you’re coming. We’ll all be there for Cara.” Mrs. Stellato simply took her by the arm and pulled her along with them as he closed and locked his door and hustled them down to the parking lot.

Cara whimpered on the gurney and her mother gave her one last fierce hug before she climbed into her Volvo. Nick squeezed one hand.

“Hang tough, baby sister. Everything’s going to be all right. Rocco’s catching the next flight home and he’ll be here in just a couple of hours.”

“Are you coming too, Serafina? Please come, okay?” Cara’s words were faint as the doors to the ambulance closed and the vehicle sped off.

“Come on, Professor.” He grabbed her hand and ran for his truck. The urgency of the situation was written plain across his face. He was petrified for his baby sister and her heart went out to him. She couldn’t be so selfish at a time like this.

The New York Downtown hospital was only a few minutes away as he drove, speeding around cars that were slowing him down. Ahead of them she could see his mother’s Volvo careening from lane to lane. Like mother, like son.

Inside a hospital for the second time in two days felt like déjà vu, but this time her fear wasn’t for herself.

“Cara’s doctor’s coming in from Jamaica, so it’s going to be a while.” She was being attended to and after a brief examination, the Stellatos were told she was being rushed into labor and delivery.

“It’s too soon.”

“It may be, but she’s having the baby.” The doctor was too harried to beat around the bush.

“What about the blood?” Nick asked.

“We’re working on it. But we need to deliver the baby. It’s in distress and so is your sister.” The attending hurried away and they all watched grimly as Cara was wheeled into an elevator and disappeared.

Mrs. Stellato slumped down onto a chair and began to sob. Her firm, commanding presence vanished once her daughter was being taken care of.

“Mom, did you call Pop?”

“Yes, and your brothers. They’re all on their way.”

He sat down next to his mother and wrapped his arms around her. Her heart broke at the picture of the family waiting, hoping for a good outcome, but she was utterly out of place. She’d intruded in their most private moment but had no way to get back to her own apartment. Her clothes were back at Nick’s and even though he had thrown a denim jacket over her, in the baggy shorts and tee she was barely covered.

Miserable, she sat down beside him and resigned herself to being there until the crisis was over. Worst of all was the fact that she was being forced to sit on the sidelines. She would never experience welcoming her child, and as Nick and his mother spoke softly, she sat and stared at the door, watching as people came and went, as life went on all around her.

* * *

Over the course of the next hour the other Stellato family members arrived. She’d actually tried to call Gia, but Nick had said he’d gotten her voicemail, and his anger built over his sister’s continued absence. She tried again, but as she was leaving another message, Gia came tearing into the waiting room with Carlos and Forrest on her heels. It was absolutely the wrong time to lay this on the family too, and she hoped Gia would be sensible and not go blurting it out while everyone was worried and dealing with Cara’s crisis.

“Mom! Dad!” Her face was ghostly pale, and she was trembling. “How’s Cara? I got here as fast as I could. I was in the library studying.”

“Don’t you check your goddamned messages?” Nick snarled at her and everyone stopped and stared. “Your sister is in the hospital and you’re off doing what?” She shrank in the face of her brother’s fury.

“Nothing! I told you. We were in the library working on Professor Luca’s team papers and you have to turn your cell off.”

“That’s true.” She spoke softly, trying to avoid being drawn into the family drama more than she already was.

“Fine. Whatever.” He stormed off and marched to the opposite side of the room while Gia looked at her with tears in her eyes.

“I came as soon as I got the message.”

“It’s okay, honey. He’s just worried. Cara was with us when her water broke. It was very scary.”

“Don’t worry about your big brother,” Mrs. Stellato said. “I’m just glad you’re here. Cara will be too.”

“Is Rocco coming?”

“He’s flying in right now.”

“Good. Okay. Good. Do we have any news?”

Mrs. Stellato looked like she was just barely holding it together, so she explained what had happened and what the doctor had told them.

“It will probably be a while before we know anything.” After that everyone settled down, though the feuding siblings sat on opposite sides of the room, as far apart as they could get. Gia was holding hands with both boys, so she intervened to keep things from getting worse.

“Gia, now isn’t the time to share this news of yours, so try to be circumspect. Your brother is angry, your mom and dad are scared, so play it cool,” she whispered, then gave both boys a look, and the threesome sat up straight and dropped hands. She motioned for Carlos to move over, then sat down next to Gia and took her hand.

“You look pretty gross, Professor Luca. Nick said you’d gotten hit on the head or something, but I didn’t understand the message. You fell down?”

“I was knocked into the street. I’m lucky I wasn’t hit by a car, but yes, the doctor said a mild concussion and some bruising.”

“I’ll say.”

“Thanks for sugarcoating it.”

“Sorry, Professor. When I get nervous, my mouth runs away with me.”

“Just when you’re nervous?” She smiled and the moment lightened the tension in their corner, at least for a bit. She looked around at the family. Mr. Stellato sat with his arms around his wife. Berto, Vincenzo and Nick were all hulking, scowling and prowling around the room like caged animals. She and Gia sat quietly with Carlos and Forrest and everyone simply waited.

Finally the doctor emerged and was heading their way when a huge guy came running in. Mrs. Stellato hurried over to him. Rocco had arrived. He looked like a wreck, his eyes red and his clothes rumpled.

“Folks, I just wanted to let you know that mother and daughter are doing fine. There were some complications, but everything was controlled and the prognosis is excellent for both of them.”

“I’m her husband. What happened?” Rocco’s voice was deep and rough. He was obviously on the verge of tears as he ran to the doctor.

“Your wife was suffering from a condition called placental abruption. This condition is life-threatening for a fetus, so it was imperative we deliver the baby even though she wasn’t at term. She’s small, but she’s in good shape. She’ll be in the NICU for a while, but if all of her systems are in line, she’ll be able to be released before long. We had to deliver her by C-section, and your wife lost more blood than we would have liked, but we’ve transfused her and once she’s recovered from the procedure, she’ll be able to see you. I suggest you all go home and get some rest and come back for evening visiting hours.”

“I’m staying.” Rocco collapsed into a chair and began to cry into his hands while Mrs. Stellato comforted him. She looked up at the rest of them. “You should all go home. Especially Serafina. Nick, get her back home so she can rest. I’ll stay here with Rocco. Gia, can you go to Mrs. Sergio’s house and look out for the kids so she can come to the hospital? You can all study there, right?”

“Sure, Mom. We’ll go right away.”

When Gia and the boys had disappeared, Mrs. Stellato approached. Nick was telling Rocco what had happened, and his mother smiled wearily.

“I have to thank you for all your help, Serafina. You were so calm, I don’t know what we would have done without you.”

“You were the one taking charge. I’m so glad everything is going to be all right with Cara and the baby.” Her attempt to smile failed and Mrs. Stellato patted her arm.

“Poor thing, you look so upset. Don’t let all this frighten you. Situations like this are pretty rare when you think about all the babies being born. I never had a moment’s problem with any of my kids! They all came right on time with no problem, healthy as could be. Don’t you worry. You’re a strong young girl and like my grandma used to say, your hips are meant for babies!” She smiled wearily, then nodded at Serafina in assurance before turning away.