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his arms and hold me close. Finally, he’d say softly. “There’s no one in this world I love more than you, don’t you know that, Catherine … but you mustn’t be jealous of them. They’re no threat to you as far as I’m concerned.” “I’m not jealous, really, I’m not,” I’d answer, the tears streamin’ down my cheeks, “I only want us to belong to each other, that’s all, Dominic.” “We do, darling, we do, please believe that.” Then he’d dry my tears and I’d feel better, much better, knowin’ I had Dominic seein’ things my way.
    Well, the next two months were a joy … growin’ bigger and bigger with Dominic’s child inside me. Soon I’d have somethin’ of my own … my very own, my baby … then I wouldn’t be so lonesome anymore. And Dominic couldn’t have been more devoted. He’d call me three … four times a day … hard as he was workin’, tryin’ to get started. Like yesterday, I can remember that morning when my water broke. I had gone to the bathroom and suddenly, like all hell broke loose, I stood there with my legs apart watchin’ what looked to me like Niagara Falls. Nervously, I called to Dominic, who rushed into the bathroom. He was breathin’ hard and tremblin’. “Oh, my God, it’s happened … wait here till I get something,” he said … as though I were goin’ anywhere. With that, he ran from the room bumpin’ into the door and stubbin’ his toe. He swore under his breath, but came back limpin’ with a pail which I straddled, while he went to call the doctor, frantically. After the flow of water had subsided sufficiently, Dominic bundled me into a coat and away we went to the hospital. Three blocks from our flat, Dominic remembered he had forgotten my overnight case and was about to turn back when I said he could pick it up later. I happened to look down at his feet and noticed that he had put on a blue sock and a beige. Laughing, I said, “And Dominic, when you go back, change your socks.” I don’t think he paid any attention to what I’d said. When we arrived at the hospital, I was taken to my room immediately and prepared. Dominic never left my side … only for the times when Dr. Vincente said he had to examine me. Then Dominic was back, holdin’ my hand. I screamed and hollered I shamefully admit, more than was necessary in the beginnin’, but I felt he should know how much a woman went through in presentin’ her husband with his child. Well, the hours went on … by now, I had good reason for screamin’ and hollerin’ and I wasn’t thinkin’ about Dominic or anythin’, just gettin’ this child born. Finally, after six hours, I was taken to delivery, and greedily, I breathed in the gas anesthetic … one more hard push and there it was, that chubby little red baby boy, black-haired and dark-eyed. I swear, from the moment he saw the light of day, he looked just like my Daddy. What a baby … nine pounds, two-and-a-half ounces … he was so big, I thought he was gonna get off that table and walk right out of that room. I couldn’t believe, for all the world, that I could’ve been big enough to give birth to a baby that size, tiny as I was … or thought I was, but the doctor said, “You’re a born mother, you have the perfect build for it.” Then I was given somethin’ for sleep. When I awoke, Dominic was there, standin’ over me. He stroked my hair and held my hand. How touchin’ it all was, watchin’ that big man with tears in his eyes. “Are you happy, Dominic, darlin’?” “Oh God, Catherine, you have no idea what I feel … to think of what you’ve given me.” I smiled weakly and said, “It’s been a pleasure doin’ business with you, Mr. Rossi.”
    When I look back on that first year, in spite of all the quarrels and the makin’ up and adjustin’ to married life, I’d say all in all it hadn’t been any different or more difficult than most young newly married people have. Sure I took things seriously and maybe