he’d already protested. “I know I told you I wanted to keep it a secret from Andreas, but that was hysterical talk on my part. Of course he has to know the truth if the baby is his. I want answers as soon as possible.”
Vincenzo thought he wanted to know right away, too, but already he’d been living in a fantasy where the baby was his. The pulse throbbed at his temples. “When did you decide this?”
Her eyes, those mirrors of the soul, glistened with unshed tears. “While I was talking to Deline. If I get a test done, it will remove all uncertainty. I’m afraid at this point I can’t live without positive proof. Once I know the truth, we’ll go from there.”
As long as she wasn’t refusing to marry him, Vincenzo could live with it, although he dreaded seeing the evidence that Simonides was the father. “Then we’ll take care of it now.”
She looked at him with pleading. “You don’t hate me for this?”
“Irena—your pregnancy could be in jeopardy if you don’t have peace of mind. Are you ready to go?”
“Yes.”
They passed through the kitchen. She picked up her purse and followed him out the door to his car. For once her thoughts were so heavy, she stared blindly out the window as they made their way down the dizzying cliff to the Via Colombo.
“We’ll take the litoranea road to La Spezia. If you recall from the last time you were here, it’s only a twenty-minute drive.”
“The way you drive,” she teased unexpectedly.
His lips twitched, relieved for the moment she didn’t seem as tense. As she rested her head against the window, he turned on the AC and took advantage of the quiet to phone ahead to the hospital’s E.R. Hopefully an OB would be available to cut down the wait.
Soon the traffic grew heavier. When they reached the sprawling city proper, he wound around to the hospital and parked. The lots were so crowded, Vincenzo was glad he’d called ahead to arrange for a consultation. After guiding her inside the E.R., they only had a tenminute wait before an attendant called for Signorina Spiros.
They walked down a hall to a small office. The fortyish female OB greeted them in good English. “I’m Dr. Santi. What can I do for you?”
This was Irena’s arena. Vincenzo remained silent while she launched in with her request. While she gave the background that prompted her to come in, the doctor sat back in her chair, eyeing the two of them with compassion.
“I understand how anxious you must be to solve your dilemma. However, that kind of procedure called Chorionic Villi Sampling can only be performed between ten and thirteen weeks.”
“But that’s another month away!”
“Yes. And there is some minimal risk.”
Vincenzo reached for Irena’s hand. “Explain, please.”
“The test is invasive because cells have to be collected and this can cause certain risks for the fetus. Besides that, about one in two hundred women suffer a miscarriage because of this test. You need to weigh that against your need-to-know information. For example, you should consider whether not knowing the results will cause anxiety and whether knowing will be reassuring.”
“We’ve already determined we have to know,” Irena insisted.
Vincenzo had his own thoughts on the subject. Whether the baby was his or not he wasn’t happy about her having the test. He couldn’t wait to be a father again and didn’t like the idea that this could hurt the baby in any way. Worse, Irena could lose it, putting her own life in jeopardy in the process. To lose her was anathema to him.
He stared at Dr. Santi. “Do you perform this test?”
“I’ll oversee it. We have a perinatologist who does the actual procedure.”
He glanced at Irena. “I think we need to talk about this more.”
“Why, Vincenzo? Please understand.”
Her agony was so palpable, he couldn’t refuse her. “How soon does she need to come in?”
“Don’t wait any longer than two weeks.”
“I won’t,” Irena answered.
“If you’ll check with the desk in Outpatient and set up an appointment, the next time you come in I’ll examine you and get the blood work done.”
“Thank you, Dr. Santi.”
“My pleasure.”
Vincenzo shook her hand and ushered Irena through the doors to the outpatient department. Near her ear he said, “Make it for two weeks. We won’t be home from our honeymoon until then.”
She stared at him in surprise. “Where are we going?”
“I’ll tell you later.”
He waited while she made her appointment, then walked her out to the car, knowing better than to try to talk to her until she’d had time for the doctor’s explanation to sink in.
“Are you upset with me?”
Exasperated, Vincenzo pulled her into his arms. “I’m worried for you, for our baby, but I could never be upset with you. I can see you need this test so you can relax. Whoever the father is, it’s you and the baby I care about.”
“Thank you, Vincenzo.” She hugged him back with surprising strength before getting into the car. On the way to Riomaggiore he stopped for petrol. He didn’t need much, but used it as an excuse to buy them both a soda. She thanked him and nursed her drink all the way back to the apartment, clearly in an emotional state. Evening had fallen.
“Feel better?” he asked once they’d walked inside.
“No.” Her voice wobbled. He caught her in his arms before she broke down sobbing. The need to comfort her was paramount in his mind. In a swift move he picked her up and carried her to the couch where he could sit and hold her.
“I don’t want to lose my baby.”
Cradling her in his arms, he kissed her cheek and hair. “No procedure’s been done yet. Let’s agree that for the next two weeks, we simply enjoy our honeymoon.”
She’d buried her face in his neck, soaking the collar of his shirt. “What do you have planned?” Her lack of enthusiasm would have been daunting if he didn’t know the reason for it.
“We’ll fly to Los Angeles with Dino and do it all. A Hollywood film studio tour, Disneyland, LEGO Land, Sea World.”
He felt her stir before she lifted her tear-ravaged face. “You’re serious?”
Vincenzo nodded. “He’s never been there. Have you?”
“I’ve been to New York many times, but not California. Since I started working for the newspaper I’ve focused my travel articles in Europe. What about you?”
“I promised
