Page 34 of Once Upon A Christmas Kiss
“Baby, you wouldn’t drop her.”
Antonella looks at me; her lips turn up in a huge smile, her eyes sparkle. She moves the baby from her arms into my arms, helping me learn how to hold her.
“Nicoletta smells so beautiful.”
“Baby, Nicoletta is such a good girl. Of course, she has a little sniffle, but she’s good.”
“What? Nicoletta is ill?”
“No, well, yes. She has a little cold, but she’s good.”
“Oh, okay.”
I look at her small little pink lips that look like a rosebud. Nicoletta’s small hand moves, she coos at me, and I swear she’s talking to me. I move my finger over her soft cheek, marveling that this little girl is mine, my daughter. Nicoletta's small fingers wrap around my huge finger, sending a jolt of joy through my soul.
Nicoletta is stealing my heart, wrapping me around her little finger, and I’m in heaven.
“Sweet angel, you’re such a precious little girl. I love you, my beautiful baby. Daddy will always be here for you, I promise.”
I kiss her little face, inhaling her sweet clean scent.
“Baby, Nicoletta likes you.”
“Oh yeah, how do you know?”
“Because she’s not crying, she’s holding your finger in her little hand as she looks at you with her huge green eyes. It’s like she knows that you’re her daddy.”
“Nicoletta has been a good girl; the little sniffles have disappeared,” Mamma says, smiling.
“Thank god, I don’t want Nicoletta to get sick,” Antonella says.
“The Babina is fine. Let’s get Nicola some food. Nicola, you’ll love the Shrimp Scampi that Antonella cooked,” Zia Elena says, nodding.
“Elena, yes, that sounds good. Nicola will be pleasantly surprised,” Mamma says, nodding. She follows Zia into the kitchen.
“I want some,” Bria says, following them into the kitchen.
“Well, I’m going to have some hot chocolate with a Biscotti,” Sofia says, going into the kitchen.
Finally, I have my girls to myself.
“Baby Girl, I love you and the baby. Thank you for the best Christmas gift ever, and now I want my Christmas kiss.”
“I love you, Nicola.”
Antonella goes onto her toes, kisses me with all of her love and passion.
Epilogue
Nicola
“Thank you for your time, but I want to talk to you as my brother,” I say, looking at my Capo.
Christiano takes a pull of the beer, then looks at me, raising his right eyebrow.
“What do you need?”
“I was wondering when the Boss will be giving the contracts to the other Soldati’s. I don’t want to put my family at risk.”
