She darted him a glance. “From the first moment I saw him, I was surprised he didn’t look at all like me. In the beginning I didn’t say anything to my family, but after two weeks everyone agreed he didn’t look like anyone on our side of the family. In the case of the baby’s father, I saw no resemblance to him, either.
“My oldest brother knew I was worried and suggested I get a DNA test done so I could be absolutely certain one way or the other. My fear turned into a nightmare when the results came back, letting me know he wasn’t my baby.”
Giovanni nodded. “Nightmare is the right word, but I was the last person to be contacted by the hospital, so I haven’t had as much time as you to be torn apart.”
She smiled sadly. “No matter the length of wait, it has been a hideous experience loving our children, yet knowing we would have to give them up.” Her gaze centered on him. “Now that I’ve met you, there’s no question Ric is your son. His hairline and coloring match yours.”
Giovanni was still trying to grasp the fact that their babies had been switched. “How much did he weigh?”
“The chart said eight pounds, four ounces. He was twenty-two inches long. He’ll be tall like you. My baby’s father was five foot ten. It explains why he’s a little lighter and smaller.”
His eyes lingered on her features. “Vito has so much of you in him, it’s uncanny. I thought it odd that he was born with blond hair, but I never considered that he wasn’t mine.”
“My brother told me it was my mother’s intuition.”
Giovanni nodded. “If my wife hadn’t refused to see him, she would probably have felt something wasn’t right.”
She expelled a deep sigh. “The mystery has now been solved.”
“But not the agony,” he finished the thought she hadn’t spoken. “Our situation is so unique, there’s no precedent to follow. I’ve read that out of four million babies born every year, twenty-eight thousand are switched temporarily, or permanently.”
“I read the same article and was surprised it was that high,” she murmured. “The doctor told me the car accident caused both myself and your ex-wife to deliver while we were in the ambulances taking us to the hospital. The mistake must have happened after we arrived at the ER.”
His eyes found hers. “Were you injured?”
“No. I was already in labor. Everything happened so fast, I guess the impact sped up the process.”
“The same thing happened to Tatania. She’d started bleeding, so her family called an ambulance for her. But she got the help she needed in time to recover with no aftermath of problems.”
“Thank heaven.”
“It’s a miracle the accident didn’t do more damage. I’m afraid my ex-wife’s family will probably sue the hospital. Signor Conti hasn’t said as much, but you know it’s what he’s fearing.”
Valentina lifted the baby to her shoulder to burp him. “I can tell he’s really sorry. He even offered counseling to help us. But as far as a lawsuit goes, I don’t want to sue anyone. A ghastly mistake was made, but today it’s been rectified. Surely whoever put the wrong bracelet on the boys had no idea what he or she had done. It happened.” She kissed his little head. “No one’s perfect.”
“You’re right.” In a sue-happy world, Giovanni found her attitude not only amazing, but refreshing. In fact she appealed to him so much, he wanted to spend the rest of the day with her so they could really get to know each other.
“I’d better get going.”
“Please don’t leave yet.” His mind raced ahead to prevent her from leaving. “I can understand why there’s a rule that parents don’t meet under a situation like this. The sooner we get our birth babies home, the sooner we can bond with them. But you and I have met. I’m not sorry.”
After a slight pause she admitted, “Neither am I.”
“Thank heaven you said that because I have to tell you I love Vito from the bottom of my soul. To forget him would be impossible. I want, need, to stay in touch with you.”
Tears glistened in those fabulous blue eyes. “You’ve taken the words right out of my mouth. Ric is the most precious thing in my life. I held him all night, not wanting to let him go. Seeing the two of them together like this is tearing me apart. I know I have to give Ric up, but I can’t bear it. If only there were a way to share them, but of course that’s impossible.”
He clasped Ric a little tighter. This was a place in Hell he didn’t know existed. No way was he going to let her and his son just walk out of his life! He stared at her. “Maybe there is a way.”
Her startled gaze met his. “What do you mean?”
“Since we both feel the same, I have a suggestion. After what happened today, it’s clear we need time to spend together with both children so they get used to both of us. When they’ve learned to trust us and be happy with both of us, then we’ll decide when we can safely make the separation, knowing it won’t traumatize them.”
“But how would that work?”
“You could stay at my villa with Vito for a few days. I’d get an extra crib. Then I could stay at your home for a few days with Ric. After a time we could separate and take one of them home with us and see how they handle being away from us overnight.”
She averted her eyes. “According to everything I’ve read, that’s exactly what we shouldn’t do.”
“Does it matter? We’re talking about you and me and our babies.”
Valentina bit her lip. “Even if it were possible, I’m living with my brother, so the idea of your staying at his house isn’t possible.” Giovanni Laurito had been a thorn in her brother’s side. To consider getting involved with him when she knew how Rini felt made the whole situation precarious. Valentina couldn’t believe the coincidence of both families having been brought together under such bizarre and astonishing circumstances.
“Where do you live?”
“Here in Positano.”
“I live in Ravello. My home is open to you for as long as is needed. Why don’t you fly home with me now so we can talk and make plans?”
She stirred restlessly. Much as she wanted to go with this man, Rini would never condone it. “People would think we were out of our minds.”
“I don’t particularly care. They would have to be in our shoes to understand how we feel. We’re alone in this and we love both boys. Their welfare is all that matters. Don’t you agree?”
“My brother would never permit it.”
“Forget your brother for a minute.”
He didn’t know what he was asking.
“What is it you want? I caught you in the doorway wanting to find me, though you shouldn’t have. I heard Vito crying and couldn’t stay away from your door, either. Nothing about this situation has gone according to the book.”
“I know,” she whispered. “I—I need to think about it.” Valentina was so tempted to go with him, it was killing her. The babies’ needs aside, she felt an overpowering attraction to this man, who made her think and want things she’d thought were dead inside her.
“Then let’s do this. We’ll program our phone numbers into our cells. Since both babies are asleep, let’s exchange them now. I’ll take Ric home with me. You take Vito. We’ll see how it goes tonight. In the morning we’ll talk again. How does that sound?”
Valentina had to admit it sounded wonderful.
Though she didn’t say anything, she reached in her purse with her free hand