Chapter 24 — Baby Shower
The baby shower was a month later. Since Rebecca was getting bigger every day and so was Vincent's excessive worrying over her, Lidia agreed that they could have the party at their house. Rebecca wouldn't have to get into a car and drive into town, which made her sick most of the time, and Vincent wouldn't have to send her guards with her before following her to the Lidia's apartment anyway. Their place was lager anyway so everyone fit comfortably. Rebecca thanked everyone that came. She didn't know nearly half of them but she had recognized them from the gender revel party along or from coming to the house with their men on occasions. She was trying hard to get to know every woman and so far, she hadn't had any problems. Nadia had even offered to host a little party that would help with it but Rebecca had told her that she had already thought of that and would hold one as soon as all the baby and wedding craziness was over.
Rebecca loved the change that she had seen in Lidia it was like night and day. Lidia gushed to everyone about how she was going to have a new niece and nephew. She told Rebecca she couldn't wait to spoil them and even fought with Roxy about who would be the favorite aunt. "You both are wrong," Joni piped in, "I will be the favorite because I am the God mother." This comment had gotten some curious looks from her future sister-in-laws and even Nadia raised a brow before smiling and changing the subject to avoid an uproar. Vincent had told her that traditionally they should pick someone in the life so they would still be raised with the family so they could take their rightful places when the time came but Rebecca convinced him to allow Joni and Isaac to do it.
Roslyn, Rebecca's mother sat down beside her on the couch. "Have you and Vincent decided on any names?" She smiled at her daughter.
"A couple of each but we want them to be surprises for everyone so, we aren't sharing them until they are born," Rebecca gave her mother a sympathetic smile. She knew her mother would want to know so she could start customizing things. Rebecca laughed when she remembered the conversation, she had with her just after the gender reveal. Roslyn had told her that it would be important to make sure the twins felt like they were each their own person. She was a twin so she knew what it felt like. She had told her that the best presents she got were ones with her name on it so that she had something that belonged to just her since her face didn't. Rebecca laughed and told her mother that she would just have to give them personalized gift then and she agreed.
"They will have to wait longer for their gifts if I don't know their names, Rebecca," Roslyn looked at her sternly. Rebecca just shrugged. "Sorry, Momma," she kissed her on the cheek before she turned to work her way off the couch.
"Anything?" Sherri, Joni's mother asked Roslyn as she reached down to help Rebecca off the couch. Roslyn stood up and helped also. "No. She isn't giving the names out until they're born," she threw her hands in the air letting go of the arm she had ahold of. Rebecca fell back on to the couch. She looked up at her mother with a glare arms folded over her chest. "Sorry," her mother said sheepishly. Rebecca shook her head and started to stand up again.
"Don't bother," Lidia stopped in front of her, holding a hand out to stop her from standing. "It's times for presents," she smiled. Rebecca nodded and made herself comfortable.
Twenty minutes later, Rebecca had opened enough presents containing clothes for the twins that she would be able to clothe them their whole lives. Most presents also included cards to the soon to be parents. Lidia had asked anyone attending the shower, that was already a parent, leave a tip on their cards. Some were funny, like always check on them when they are quiet. Others were handy like, sleep when they sleep. She was shocked that everyone had been so generous and encouraging since she barely knew them but that was probably because she was to be the queen. She thought the title was weird since Vincent wasn't called the king but she was warming up to it.
"Open this one next," Lidia said handing her a gift the size and shape of all the others that contained clothes. She smiled and opened in. Inside was not baby clothes though. Rebecca's eyes grew wide and she looked at the card attached to the box.
"Ros," she whipped her head in the direction of the friend who had gifted her a cute but very revealing nightie. Rosalina rolled her eyes before looking to Lidia and Joni.
"I'm guessing they didn't tell you this is a bridal shower too," she crossed her arms.
"That was supposed to go in that pile," Lidia scolded her. Rosalina shrugged.
"Oh well. Do you like it?" She winked. Rebecca felt herself blush a little. She wished they had told her the plan. Both her and Vincent's mothers were there. Opening lingerie in front of them was not her idea of fun. "I will take that as a yes. I know Vince will love it," she smiled. Rebecca closed the box quickly when she noticed her mother was leaning her direction and put her head in her hands with a groan. Everyone started laughing which eased her anxiousness some. She put Rosalina's gift to the side and got back to the party. Lidia told her she could open the other gifts later when no one was around if she felt more comfortable with that, which she did.
"How are the wedding plans going?" A girl Rebecca remembered being names Anna, asked her. "Are you excited?" Rebecca nodded.
"The plans are coming along. I am ready to just be his wife though," she sighed. The truth was the wedding was stressing her and she wished they could wait until the babies were born and settled before planning it. At the same time, she really wanted to be married already.
Everyone was talking when the front door opened. Vincent was the first to walk into the room. He paused at the doorway and looked around the room with wide eyes taking in that it was full of women and gifts everywhere. Gio, Trent and Domenico stopped behind them and stared in shock too. Francesco started laughing taking in their faces. The women heard him all turning to look at the men.
"Nope!" Nadia said marching toward her brother who was now sweeping his eyes around the room to find his fiancé. "You all get out of here," she stopped in front of him.
"It's my house," he glared at her. Even though she hadn't done anything to hurt Rebecca or him recently, he was still not happy with her. She would have to do a lot more than throw a party for him to trust her fully.
"I don't care," she huffed. "It's also your future wife's and she is having a great time. No men allowed though," she smiled ignoring her brothers tense stare.
Vincent finally saw Rebecca out of the corner of his eye. He turned her direction and took in that she was smiling in his direction. She made a shooing motion in his direction and nodded before turning to his sister again, "We'll be in my office," he told her pointedly. He looked over at Rebecca again and she nodded before repeating the shooing action. Sighing, he turned toward the men that were with him having them follow him to his office.
The sound of the women starting up conversation again was heard as Vincent shut the door to his office. He walked to his desk taking a seat behind it. He watched his brother and cousin take the seats they wanted but Trent and Francesco stood. He lifted a brow.
"Is everything ready?" Francesco asked Trent who nodded his head and handed him a large envelope. Vincent looked to Gio and Domenico who shrugged not knowing what was going on either.
"What did Trent have to get ready?"
"He has been moving some things around for your mother and I," Francesco told him sitting in the chair across from him. "Your mother wants me to retire. She has always wanted to travel so that's what we will be doing." Vincent was shocked as were Gio and Domenico. The three of them looked at each other before looking back at Francesco.
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"What about the wedding? The babies?" Vincent asked him. He knew that his mother had talked none stop about the babies being born helping with them and the babies.
"We aren't dropping off the face of the earth or dying," Francesco laughed. "When we got married there was a lot going on and we didn't get to have a honeymoon. Your mother deserves that." Vincent nodded in agreement. He knew they hadn't gotten a honeymoon and every time things calmed down, it didn't last long enough for them to go. "Make sure you don't make the same mistake with Rebecca," Francesco added handing Vincent the envelope. "There will be a party in one month to celebrate my retirement and you taking over." Vincent stopped looking at the paperwork he pulled from the envelope and looked at his father.
"One month?" Francesco nodded.
"It's time," he tells him. "You knew this was coming. You wanted it."
"I know I did and I still do," Vincent sighed. "I just thought that it would be after the babies were born and maybe after the wedding." He stood up and started pacing. Running his hands through his hair he stopped to look at his father. "I'm not the only one that is taking over a new position. Rebecca's pregnant. It's a lot of stress on her too." Francesco nodded. He understood what this meant for everyone. He and Nadia had talked about it for months before making the decision. "Your mother has been giving Rebecca advice and will help her with whatever she needs. We will only be a phone call away if anything comes up," he stood up putting his hand on his shoulder. "We won't leave you both just up in the air." Vincent nodded. He would talk with Rebecca and see if she was okay with it. He knew things would be stressful but he would be there to support her as much as he could.
They spent the next hour going over what Vincent would need to be paying attention to, who they had treaties with and more. They were nearly finished when there was a knock on the door. Domenico opened the door to find his aunt and his wife standing there.
"The party is over," Nadia said walking into the office not worrying about being invited in. Rosalina kissed Domenico and smiled to the rest of the men. "Dom," Nadia turned to look at her nephew. "Take your wife home," she turned to Gio, "you too son. She is helping take some of the things up to the babies' room, but Vincent can do that later. They have been helping all day," she waved her hands around as she gave instructions. "Vinny, your wife is tired. Take care of her," she gave him a hug before looping her arm through Francesco, "let's go," she said pulling him towards the door. Francesco looked at all the men and laughed.
"When the queen speaks, we listen," he allowed him to lead her out the door. Gio, Domenico and Trent all laughed stopping when Rosalina glared at them. Vincent rubbed his hands together.
"You all should go. I am going to spend some time with my beautiful wife," he told them as he headed out of the door.
He walked into the room where the party had been held to find Rebecca trying to juggle a tower of boxes in one hand and way too many bags in the other. "Woah, Woah, Woah," he said racing to catch the boxes that were falling. "What are you doing?" he asked her in a scolding voice.
"Taking things to the babies' room," said with a sigh.
"I will do that," he took the bags and sat them down. "Sit," he pointed at the couch. Rebecca sat and Vincent took the cushion beside her. "Now," he said wrapping his arms around her shoulder and pulling her closer to him, "did you get everything we need for the babies?" Rebecca smiled up at him.
"More than everything," she laughed, "we probably will never have to buy them clothes again." Vincent laughed.
"I'm sure that won't stop anyone from spoiling them more," he kissed her head. She snuggled into his side taking a deep breath. She loved the way he smelt like home to her.
"It was a bridal shower too," she said after a while of them just sitting in silence. The front door had opened and they heard the last of their family members leave several minutes ago. Vincent pulled away from her enough that he could see her face.
"Does that mean that you got a bunch of sexy things to wear on the honeymoon," he wiggled his eyebrows at her. She laughed as she sat up more to shake her head at him.
"I think we should push the wedding back," she looked down at her fingernails and started picking. Vincent laid a hand on hers.
"Stop that," he told her, "there's no reason to be nervous around me. Why do you want to push it back?"
"I just want to look perfect for you and after having twins it probably will take a little longer than most to get skinny again." She kept her head down not wanting to look at him. He reached out and lifted her head though.
"You are perfect now; you will be perfect after the twins and every other day also. You are perfect to me no matter how your body looks," he kissed her all over her face making her laugh. "Besides I was thinking we should move it up," he smirked. Rebecca pulled away from him and looked at him as if he was crazy.
"You do remember that your children will be here in two and a half months. Maybe less," she nearly shouted. She stood up to pace. She had started doing this recently a learned trait of his that rubbed off on her.
"Mi Amore," he stood up and stopped her by grabbing her shoulders. "Calm down. I just would like it to happen soon. Father will be handing over the family in a month. After that I can't promise that we will have time for a honeymoon soon after." He thought about how his parents were just now getting to have theirs and he didn't want Rebecca to suffer like his mother had. No matter how much she loved the family, Nadia had deserved to get her dream honeymoon and Rebecca did too.
"I can't fly," Rebecca pointed to her stomach. Vincent smiled pulling her to him.
"I have an idea. It won't be ideal but, I promise you will love it," he kissed her on the forehead when she looked up at him.
"Okay," she closed her eyes and smiled. She loved him and she was ready to be his wife already.