Once the baby is born they'll split their time between Italy and the United States. They haven't figured out the details yet, wanting to wait and see what works best for them as a family, then take it from there. They still own the house on Nantucket, and can stay with family when they're in Rhode Island. Maybe they'll buy a house there too? Who knows what the future holds? It's ripe with possibilities.

Over the past two weeks she's found it increasingly difficult to do much of anything. She feels like a giant water balloon ready to explode. Her hands and feet are swollen, her back aches, she has to pee every five minutes, and her patience is non-existent.

She doesn't remember it being this difficult with Liam, but she was twenty-four then, not almost thirty-two. The last month of pregnancy is for the birds in her opinion.

She was on the phone with Sloane the other day, sharing that very sentiment, and her sister-in-law couldn't agree more. They've made peace with Sloane. She's a different person since Peter died, and Julia and Ellie have grown close to her over the past two years.

Little Peter is just over two years old now, and before he was born, Sloane sold their apartment in New York and decided to stay in Rhode Island to be near Peter's family. They live in Bristol and spend a lot of time with his grandparents. Their baby grandson is the apple of their loving eyes.

Will stands up and holds out his hands to help her to her feet and hugs her to him, rubbing her back.

"I feel for you sweetie. We are having a baby, but you have to do all of the work."

"Yeah, yeah, spare me. If men had to go through this, the human race would be extinct," she teases him.

He's been so good, trying to ease her load in whatever way he can. They've always been a good team, sharing household chores, but he insisted that he and Liam take over all home-related responsibilities over the past few months, cooking, cleaning, doing the laundry, tending the garden, washing and drying the dishes. They've been a huge help.

Liam's totally engrossed in his book and Will taps him on the shoulder.

"Hey big guy, let's pack up and take Mom home."

After dinner, Julia soaks in the big claw foot bathtub. Their neighbor Angela, a seventy-five year old widow who reminds them of Gram, has been very kind, delivering meals two or three times a week, sometimes joining them to dine, and giving Will cooking lessons while she's working.

Tonight, Will made a delicious chicken soup from scratch and served it with crusty Italian bread. He's getting quite good under Angela's tutelage. Julia hasn't had much of an appetite this week, so tonight's light meal was perfect.

This is her favorite time of day. She can hear Will and Liam in the kitchen cleaning up after dinner, and smiles as she lathers up the washcloth and rubs it over her body. In the water, she's almost buoyant, the pressure of their growing baby temporarily alleviated.

She's ready to have this baby and reclaim her body. Julia hasn't said anything to Will, but she started having mild contractions this morning. They're more than fifteen minutes apart, but she's having this baby in the next day or two. The minute she tells Will, he'll become a mother hen, clucking over her, and jumping every time she winces.

Will's excitement over the baby is heartwarming. He missed this with Liam and doesn't want to miss anything this time around. She still feels guilty for keeping Liam from him all of those years, no matter how understanding he's been. They both feel it was the right thing for her to do under the circumstances, but still...

After Julia confronted Avery at the play, Will's ex-wife left town and moved to northern California, telling her lawyer to quickly settle the divorce, waiving her right to alimony. Maybe Avery thought Julia would spread rumors about her, and this was her way of shutting her up? She wouldn't have done that, no matter how much she'd love to tear that woman's reputation to shreds. She's just grateful Avery's out of their lives for good.

Will enters the bathroom and sits on the stool next to the tub. He's accompanied Julia to all of her doctor appointments, gets teary-eyed every time he hears the baby's heartbeat, and stared in wonder while they did the ultrasound. He's smitten.

They chose not to find out the sex of the baby before the delivery, but she has a feeling it's a girl. This pregnancy has been so different.

Her husband holds her hand, gazes at her body, and grins.

"You're staring." She looks at him, eyebrow raised.

"Yes I am," he laughs.

"Stop! You're making me self-conscious!"

Will kneels on the ground, takes the washcloth from her and runs it along her swollen breasts and stomach.

"You have nothing to be self-conscious about. You've never been more beautiful." He kisses her neck then her lips.

"I am an elephant." Will takes her hand and places it on him. He's totally aroused. Her eyes open wide, "You can't be serious."

He nods his head and helps her out of the bathtub, wraps a towel around her and gently dries her body, his eyes never leaving hers. They've made love regularly throughout her pregnancy. Will said knowing she's carrying his child has only made her sexier in his eyes.

"Mrs. Kennedy, right this way." He leads her to their bed and turns the lock on their door.

Will wakes to the sound of moaning. It's dark outside, the middle of the night and he reaches for Julia but she's not in bed. He sits up with a start and turns on the lamp to find Julia sitting in the rocking chair, her eyes closed, clearly in pain.

Oh my god, this is it! He runs over to her.

"Babe. Tell me what's happening."

She breathes through the pain for a few more seconds, then looks down at the watch in her hand.

"It's time. The contractions are less than six minutes apart."

He's never been more nervous or excited in his life. He kisses her and pulls on jeans and a t-shirt, slips on his shoes and runs next door to Angela's house. They asked her to stay with Liam if Julia went into labor before her mother arrives from the States. Carol and Ron are flying in tomorrow.

Will impatiently knocks on their neighbor's door. It's three in the morning, but Angela answers a moment later, fully clothed. She nods and closes the door and he gives her a quizzical look.

"How did you know?" he asks.

"La luna." She points to the sky, "It's full. I've been waiting."

It's a fifteen-minute drive to the hospital and they're the only car on the road. Julia's water broke two minutes into the ride, her contractions dramatically increasing in speed and intensity. She's squeezes his hand with each contraction and he's trying hard to keep his eyes focused on the road.

He has to get her to the hospital! She's writhing in agony, howling in pain so horribly, he almost pulled over, but she swatted his leg, "Just keep driving! I'll make it...Ahhhh!" She lets out another primal scream.

They arrive at the University Hospital of Verona, Julia's contractions coming one on top of the other, and he sees his reflection in a mirror near the door, his face ghostly white. What on earth did I do to her? He's never heard a human being make those sounds. He holds Julia's hand as she's wheeled into an examination room and the doctor on duty checks her cervix then sends the nurse from the room.

"Tua sposa e dieci centimetri dilatata."

Will shakes his head, uncomprehending. Unlike his son, he doesn't have an ear for languages, despite Angela's patient instruction. He has no idea what the doctor is saying. Julia lets out another scream.

"What? Cosa? Parlare inglese?"

"You wife," The doctor sighs, holds up ten fingers and slowly says, "Dieci centemetri."

Ten centimeters? Already? Will swallows hard and nods, then leans over Julia, wiping the sweat-soaked hair from her forehead and kisses her.

"Jules, it's time to meet our baby." Her eyes are glazed over with pain, but she touches his face and smiles.

Will holds Julia's hand for over an hour as she pushes, until at last, he hears their baby's cry.

"Signore, si dispone di una bellissima bambina." Will's eyes are wide and brimming with tears. A girl. Julia's collapses against the bed, completely exhausted but smiling. He kisses his wife, wiping the damp hair from her brow.

"Jules, we have a daughter." Her eyes fill and she nods, reaching out for him.

"You hold now?" The nurse asks Will in broken English. He turns to Julia and she smiles and nods her head.

"I was the first to hold Liam," she says, wiping away a tear, "You should be the first to hold our daughter."

He sits beside Julia in bed and holds his arms out, his heart swelling with emotion as the nurse places his baby daughter into his arms. I can't believe she's here!

"She's perfect," he whispers, kissing her tiny forehead. She has wispy dark hair on her head, big brown eyes, and a beautiful round face. He didn't think his heart could contain more love, but it can. The love he feels for his wife, son and baby daughter, his family, is infinite.

"What will we call her?" he asks. They haven't selected any names. Julia said they'd know when they see the baby in person.

"I'd like to call her Mary Grace, after my grandmothers." Julia leans back on the bed, her eyes closed, "Mae was Gram's nickname."

"Mary Grace Kennedy," Will squeezes her shoulder and she smiles lovingly into his eyes, "Welcome to the world sweet Mae."

"I wish Gram was here. I want to tell her I found my Romeo, and we have a family. That our daughter has her name..."

"She is, my Juliet." Will sits beside her, kissing her softly, "She'll always be with us."

About the Author.

What if I Fly? is Jayne Conway's debut novel. Jayne has written dozens of short stories, poems, song lyrics, and other meandering thoughts, for her own amusement. One day, she decided to share the stories dancing in her head with others. What started off as a daydream, something to tick off her bucket list, has turned into a passion. She lives in Rhode Island with her three beautiful children and is currently writing her second novel.

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