It was the same jeweler that had done her engagement ring before. "Is that?"
"Your engagement ring?Sì. It has been sitting in my safe since your father returned it to me." He shook his head. "I thought that told me how little regard you had for it. You didn't want me or the ring I'd had custom made for you, but the expression on your lovely features says the opposite."
"I love that ring." But she'd felt wrong keeping it after calling off the wedding.
Carlo opened the box and took out the ring. Annette offered her hand and he slid the ring on her finger. It was déjà vu and not. They'd done this once before, but this time, Annette knew they were getting married to build a family.
She wasn't building castles in the sky around love and happily ever after.
They would be good together if they were good to each other.
She loved him and had every intention of being the best human in his life she could be. Annette trusted that Carlo was just as determined. He'd grown in the past five years, just as she had.
Smiling she sat down to the table, thrilled to see her favorite smoked salmon and gouda omelet on her plate. There was fruit and toast as well, but she ignored both to take and then savor a bite of the omelet, makingmmmnoises.
"You know some doctors claim cravings are your body's way of getting the nourishment it needs," Carlo said with a smile. "Have you had your iron levels checked recently?"
"I'm sure it was included in the panel the obstetrician had run." They'd taken two vials of blood after all. "The nurse said everything came back normal when she called."
"I'd feel better if you checked your health chart app."
"Fine. After breakfast. Right now, I'm going to eat this yummy omelet before it goes cold."
"A very prosaic way to celebrate our engagement, but not a bad one."
She grinned at him. "I can't drink champagne, but I can eat fish."
"Not too much fish. Some studies—"
"Shh…after breakfast."
He dutifully went silent, making a sign of zipping his lips. However, Annette had no doubts he'd be having a talk with Mrs. Banning about how much fish should be served at meals in future.
"I am still the President of Messina Shipping and Exports," Carlo said as they finished their meal.
"Yes, I know."
"It is possible we could move my offices to New York."
Touched at the proof that he was not taking anything for granted this time around, Annette shook her head. "Not necessary. I'm not staying with my organization so now is as good a time as any to make the move to Sicily. I speak Italian and can look for a job over there, but honestly after the past few months, I'd like to take some time to regroup. Maybe a sabbatical at least until after our baby is born and we see how mundane things like breast feeding and sleeping through the night go for us."
"If that is what you truly want?" He wasn't being diffident. There was too much quiet confidence in his demeanor, but he was taking nothing for granted this time around. She approved.
"I do."
"That will make my next request an easier one to make then."
"Yes?" she inquired.
"I hoped you would be willing to wait to look for another position until after our honeymoon."
"We're going on a honeymoon?" For a marriage of convenience because they liked having sex and didn't seem inclined to stop doing it together and she'd gotten pregnant as a result?
"It is customary."
"All right, but I want to give Joyce, Fantino and Jo-Jo a few days to settle in after Joyce comes home, before I leave."
"Naturally. It will be hard on both you and Jo-Jo when you leave, but if she is going to bond with her mother…" He let his voice trail off and shrugged.