I like this one!

-Gabs

Twenty minutes has gone by since I told Valentino that I was pregnant, still he hasn't said a word. We're on the bed in my room, I figured it was safe to tell him while I had home advantage, that way I wouldn't be stranded in some deserted place when he left in frustration. However he didn't leave, although I don't know if his silence is better or worse.

I nudge his extended legs, "Vale please say something."

His eyes are staring into blank space.

"Vale!" I whine, "At least blink."

A dimple suddenly appears on his left cheek, finally he looks at me.

"Sorry I...I was just...you know...thinking." He mumbles.

I nervously fiddle with my hands, "Thinking about what?"

"Like what are we gonna name it?" He frowns.

My mouth falls open, "Vale." I exhale.

"I was thinking Valentino Jr but maybe that's too much, and if it's a girl Valentina Jr, if that's okay with you?" He says timid.

In a million years I never pictured myself laughing after delivering the news to Valentino, however his absurd response threw me off.

"We're not naming It anything." I chuckle.

"Why not?"

I look at my sheets, "Cus we still have options."

"Options?" He hiss, I could tell he doesn't like the word either. "You mean..."

I meet his gaze confirming his assumption.

"Is that what you want?" He mumbles.

"I dunno?" I stir uncomfortably. "Vale I'm scared." There is a lump swelling in my throat.

Valentino moves to embrace me, his warm lips kisses me on the side of my head. "Don't be scared, we're in this together aren't we?"

I nod into his embrace.

The radio is buzzing in the background and we're laying on the bed, pondering on about anything and everything. it's the first time I have felt so at ease.

"Say we were to keep it, what would you wanna name it?" Valentino says.

I sigh, not really having thought about it. "I don't know Vale?"

Valentino rapidly moves to lay on his stomach in front of me, his face is inches away from my still normal sized belly. "Did you hear that baby, she doesn't want you to have a name."

"Stop it." I chuckle, shoving his face away from my belly. "Fine, you really wanna know what I would name our child."

"Hit me with it"

"Hmm, I would name it Taco."

"Taco?" He frowns. "Alessia I'm serious,"

"I'm serious too." I laugh "Or better, we could name it Son Of A Fool, since that's what he'll be."

I'm quick to block the pillow that Valentino throws at me, but he is quick to pin me down. "Son Of A Fool, very funny."

"Our lovely Sunny." I chuckle.

We wrestle for a bit, Valentino on top of me.

"Maybe we should just ask the baby then, since you can't come up with anything. Let's let the baby decide its own name."

I'm suffering as Valentino moves to my stomach and starts to tickle my sides. "Hey baby, what do you think about the name Valentino, you would like that wouldn't you?"

"Vale stop it" I spasm.

The tickling stops as he pulls my shirt over my navel. "Or are you a Valentina?"

His hands started to roam my stomach, making goose bumps appear on my arms.

"No matter what your name is I will still love you." He whispers, lips close enough to caress my skin.

I run my fingers through his hair, he looks up like he has forgotten that I was even there to begin with. Valentino backs away as I sit up straight. He nervously clears his throat. "So for how long have you been pregnant?"

"Three weeks now." I say, remembering how I was riding my bicycle through town that early morning.

"Three weeks ago, when we..." He scratches the back of his head. "...Lessy I'm sorry." he mumbles. "I was stupid and we shouldn't have..."

My hands are quick to pull him towards me, "It doesn't matter, we were both wrong and all we can do is learn from it."

He nods slowly.

"Vale I love you and I know we're still young or whatever but in my heart I know I want to be with you and only you."

" I feel the same." He says.

I'm trying to contain myself, knowing he didn't say I love you back.

"And I love you too." He smiles.

I barely get to peck his lips before noise is heard coming from below us, Mama and Etienne are home.

"I'm guessing you haven't told your mother yet."

"Guessed right."

Etiennes's rapid steps are heard climbing the stairs.

"When are you?"

"Hopefully never."

We both climb out of bed seconds before my door pushes open.

"You're both here already!" Etienne jolts, excitement in his eyes. "I'm gonna change real fast, just wait for me." Quickly he disappears out of site and down the hall.

Heavy steps follow him as Mama now comes climbing up the stairs, her arms immediately cross noticing Valentino in my room.

"Valentino, surprised to see you here, have you been here all afternoon?"

"Mama." I whine. "We have just been chilling, no nonsense."

She glares at us before yawning, "Good, then you can take Etienne to the tracks today, I'm exhausted."

"Is everything alright at work?"

"Yeah, yeah!" She waves, "I just need to hire an accountant, I'm making too much money, not even I can keep up."

As Mama heads towards her room Etienne passes her on the way out of his.

"I'm ready!" He smiles.

******

"Where is Whitey?" Etienne asks. Everyone is gathered at our usual spot, Nonno, Uncle Flavio, everyone except Whitey who usually isn't this late.

"Yeah, where is Whitey?" Valentino chants putting an index finger to his chin like he's really detecting. Heat rises to my face.

"Maybe he's just running late?" Nonno mumbles, hovering over Etienne's little bike.

"Maybe he's getting you some new gear." Uncle Flavio does a fairly impressive impression of Whitey.

I clear my throat, "Anyway we should just get started, you've got a big weekend ahead.

"Yeah, better get working on those poor starts of yours, so they don't cost you this one."

Both Etienne and I are quick to kill Uncle Flavio with our nasty gaze.

"What?" He says oblivious.

Valentino and Etienne are both suited up and off to the track, Vale is gonna act like a rabbit so that Etienne can learn to get a good reaction start. We all watch them from the other side of the fence.

At one point Nonno says, "I heard about your father speaking to Whitey about some things."

My eyes are still fixated on the track where Etienne and Vale are making dust clouds from all the starting and stopping. "Is that all you heard?" I murmured.

"Yeah, what else?"

"Nothing." My cheeks are burning.

"He's coming this weekend you know, asked to stay with me and everything."

I quickly turned to Nonno, "He did?"

He nods.

My foot stirs the ground, "What did you say?"

"I told him no of course. Told 'em, them children have been having to pick up a lot of pieces after you left and now you decide to crawl back." Nonno spits.

There is sudden pain in my stomach. It couldn't have been easy for Nonno to reject his only son, especially since Nonno has been so lonely since Nonna died.

I exhale, "Etienne would have loved for him to come."

"It's because he doesn't know any better yet." Nonno groans, "Your daddy is still his hero no matter what nobody tells him. It's gonna hit him hard when he's older."

I sigh, knowing how it has already hitting him hard now.

"I see they're getting along with the boy's poor starts."

I jump at the sound of Whitey's deep vibrato suddenly appearing beside me. He is looking out on the track like it's a land far far away.

"Whitey?" I gasp. His gaze falls upon me, he wears a smug look on his face.

"So what are the odds for this weekend?" Whitey is quick to dismiss me and moves on to Nonno. "Are we looking at a podium this time around?"

Nonno shakes his head, "I dunno, it all depends on whether he keeps it up during the early stint."

"What in the hell..." Nonno mumbles, sudden commotion down on the track. Valentino and Etienne are staranden, looks like a problem with the bike. They wave for Nonno to come aid them. Nonno is quick to jump the fence whilst I'm left with Whitey.

I'm cursing under my breath, will he notice if I were to slowly back away and join Uncle Flavio who's working by the tent. It's worth a shot. I hold my breath while my hands leave the fence as I slowly start to back away.

"I'll give your father a call if that is what you like?"

I freeze mid step. I sigh slowly returning to the fence.

"However I did not appreciate your little outburst earlier, lost an important client and I blame you."

My mouth falls open, I am lost for words.

"And my wife is the one who picked this suit." Whitey flaps his jacket, "Told her chartruise wasn't my color." He mutters.

I sigh, "Whitey I didn't mean what I said, your suit is fine." I bury my face in my hands. "I didn't mean to yell at you either, I was just so frustrated at the moment." I let out a slight cough as Whiety suddenly pats me on the back.

"Your daddy has done a lot of wrong. This business..." He removes his giant hat and starts fanning himself, "....The rewards can make a man forget what's important. My wife sometimes tells me I should settle down, telling me I buy too much gear."

I let out a silent chuckle.

"Don't believe me? Wait till you see my basement, I run a Moto museum down dear." He laughs.

In silence we watch as Nonno gestures angrily, inspecting Etienne's bike.

The silence comes to an end as Whitey exhales deeply "....I don't blame him for wanting to treasure the few things he did right. Seeing you in that ad and hearing about your brother racing this weekend, he sounded over the moon to me." Whitey raises an eyebrow as he looks to me.

I bite my lip, "Fine, don't call him!" I sigh, "but I'm not the one to break it down to my mother."

Angry huttering noises are heard emerging as Nonno approaches. "That fool made Etienne exhaust his breaks" He passes us without saying a word. He then disappears behind the tent only to return with his toolbox.

Whitey and I exchange amused looks.

"I bet I can get your old man to do it." Whitey whispers.

We both burst out laughing.

"Anyway back to business."

I react to Whitey's change of tone. "Business?"

He nods, "I told you I lost an important customer this afternoon, you owe me.

"Owe you?" I gasp.

Whitey has a smile on his face as he leans closer, "I'm arranging a race soon, amateur riders of course. It's different manufacturers going flat out against each other, demonstrating the calibre of their products..."

"What does this have to do with me?"

"You are my amateur driver of cours!"