Antoni Renaldi

JAYCEE. She felt huge and so unattractive right now, not even trying with make up. She went to her kitchen and started everything so it could slowly simmer. Jaycee loved leftover pasta, always best the second day. Why did you have to almost say never again. Finding the remote to her surround sound she hit play and smiled as she heard the music fill her house up with life. Her hair was getting in her way so she grabbed a clip from her kitchen drawer and went about her way in her kitchen as she tried to calm any anxiety. Her dogs barking told her he was near as she walked towards her door. Probably being heard with her stern command to not move. “Stay..” she snapped her fingers at Kota, her tail was going side to side so fast. She forgot to take her apron off that was cheeky and said “we’re cooking” with a baby over her belly with a spatula. Slowly she turned the alarm code off and then unlocked the door. Opening it her soft smile went wider, as nodded her head to the side. Her dogs not moving an inch and she was a proud mama at that. “Olive, greet.” She snapped her fingers as she was still training her. Olive went where Jay had pointed then Kota followed. “Kota, is just a big ball of fur. If she doesn’t sense your dangerous she’ll be rude and just walk away..” Kota sniffed him and it looked as if she smiled and walked away. The dogs walked into the living room and just laid in a big bed they share by the fireplace. “Please make yourself at home..” she offered to take his items as she lead him to the kitchen, barefoot. 

ANTONI. If his GPS hadn't told him he was coming up on Jaycee's place, the barking dogs and her voice would have let him know he'd found his destination. He rapped his fingers on the door, hoping he didn't work the dogs into even more of a tizzy, although it definitely sounded as though she had things under control. As she swung open the door, Antoni returned her smile, taking in how casual she was playing the night, bare faced and barefooted. It made him feel better about wearing the same t-shirt and jeans as when they'd met at the store, which he'd been second-guessing on his way over, and the fact that he'd brought an opened, dented box of cereal as a hostess gift. "Hello ... ladies," he said, waiting patiently as Kota and Olive seemingly evaluated the interloper, surprisingly flattered when they granted him access. Following their owner into the house, he felt himself relax even more. He hesitated briefly in the entryway, unsure if her instructions were code to remove his shoes, ultimately deciding to toe them off. Knowing what he did of her, with the homemade ravioli right before her due date, she'd probably get on her hands and knees to scrub the floors if her tracked in anything from the New York sidewalk, and he didn't want that. "Wow, this place is fantastic ... smells fantastic ... sounds fantastic." If he was flirting, he might have added that it looked fantastic as well, but that's not what this was.

JAYCEE. Her girls were following him around, then sneak back to their bed. Kota would probably sit beside him at some point and beg for a hand shake. Her own way of begging for food. She noticed he took his shoes off and she smiled over at him. “Thank you, I love cooking and have made myself dishes I can just put in the oven or microwave after he’s born.” There was probably flour on her nose, as she turns the burners off for the pasta to let it rest. “So I separated them when I boil the Raviolis, there’s fresh ricotta and mushrooms, plain ricotta and then there’s beef. I just grab a few from each pan, enjoying the surprise of what I’m getting.” Waddling a bit to the fridge that was camouflaged with the same style as her cabinets. “Where are my manners.” She said with a thicker southern accent than she intended. Clearing her throat as her cheeks we’re definitely noticeably red by now. “I have different styles of beers, oh I have wine down in my basement.” She said as she pointed to the door that went to her dance studio for choreographing numbers for academy. Taking out some fresh garlic she went about dicing it, making them some sautéed onions and mushrooms. Something Jaycee loved more than her sauce at times. Grabbing a piece of bread she made, she dipped it in the sauce, holding her hand under the other as she brought it to him. “Be honest, I never stray from Nonna’s recipe. Faint memories of wooden spoons to the hand stops me.” She joked.

ANTONI. “That’s smart. And there’s always delivery.” He’d been surviving on such for longer than he’d like to admit, so he didn’t. “I’m sure people will bring you food, too. When Luca was born, everyone was constantly coming over to feed us, but I think they just wanted an excuse to see the baby.” His trip to the grocery store had been somewhat of a bust. Meeting someone who seemed as though she could be a true friend a definite highlight, but he’d been so caught up in her that he’d left without buying anything of real sustenance, again. Her list of the fillings almost made his stomach rumble, although he cleared his throat to camouflage any sounds. He was extremely glad she’d extended if not insisted on the invitation. “That sounds incredible.” “I’ll take any beer.” He wasn’t about to send the woman down to the basement for a bottle of wine she couldn’t share with him. An image of the two of them sipping a Cabernet over a nice dinner she’d prepared for him flitted through his mind, but he willed himself back to present, watching her bounce from task to task. “I was told you were just reheating pasta,” Antoni teased. “I wouldn’t have agreed to this if I’d known you were still going to be slaving away. Can I help, or would I ruin things?” “You too, huh? I was always smacked for trying to swipe things before they were finished. ‘Pazienza, Tony, pazienza ...’” His voice trailed off as he took the bit of food into his mouth, eyes meeting hers as the intimacy of the moment washed over him. “OhmyGod,” he groaned around his mouthful. “That’s incredible.” She was incredi- “Listen, you’ve done enough. Go sit down, let me get your plate.”

JAYCEE. Jaycee grabbed a few different beers and sat them on the island, centered in her kitchen so he could choose. Turning all burners off she cut the bread and smiled as he spoke. “Well a true Italian woman warms food up on the stove right. Why dry it out or the flavor gets ruined. Not when you cook Nonnas sauce.” She joked but did sit down, giving him a soft smile while she tried to get the apron off. Trying really hard not to think of the way he sounded when he groaned over her sauce, and needed to take a time out. It had been way too long for this girl and words are now being twisted in her thoughts to sexual. “We can eat here, or I have the living room and theater room.” She leaned side to side, telling herself she needed better chairs that were comfortable. Her stomach tightening a bit as she breathed through a small Braxton. Everything was where he needed it to make the plates as her feet rested on the bar stool across from her. Her dad had gotten the place while he’s be here working at the record company or recording a new album. Watching him take over only pulled at her strings to pull her further in, and she couldn’t help but wonder what he was thinking about. As she smelt the sunflowers she’d gotten the other day still going strong on her island for decorations. “I think sunflowers are just happy flowers, they’re so pretty and bright. My dad..” she chuckled. “He planted so many rows before leaving for tour, cause he had to leave on my birthday that year.”

ANTONI. Seeing her struggling with the ties of her apron, he moved behind her chair, gently tugging the ties at her neck and back until they slipped from their bows and he was able to take the apron from her, folding it easily before tossing it on her counter. “Cute,” he commented, referring to the little joke on the fabric. The hitch in her breath made him do a double-take, but he decided not to pester her, assuming she’d let him know if she just happened to be in active labor - probably, at least. Maybe she’d just keep cooking right up until it was time to push. He prepped two plates the way she mentioned she liked it, with a mix of all three ravioli, covering them in some extra sauce and tucking a couple pieces of bread alongside the edge of the plate. “You tell me, wherever you’re most comfortable. Where would I find a bottle opener?” Antoni’s eyes found the flowers she was referencing them, assuming they were the same bundle she’d pick up earlier. It was wild, to go from noticing her to eating what was shaping up to be an incredible dinner in her home. If not for her pregnancy, it would almost feel like a date. “That’s quite the birthday gift, an entire field of sunflowers. It sounds like he loved you very much.”

JAYCEE. His fingers brushed against her skin when untied the piece around her neck, licking her lips at the jolts of electricity she felt through her body. “Thank you.” Spoke as she wiggled off of the barstool, giggling at herself. “Mylanta, that’s getting harder to do.” She snorted as she grabbed the basket to line it with paper and put the extra bread in and some olive oil and garlic. It was nice to have someone make her a plate and help her, she’s so used to just doing it all. Taking a few deep breaths as she rubbed her belly, hoping it’d calm the baby. Smiling at his words, she titled her head to have him follow her into the lightly lit theater room. “He was an amazing dad, and I hope I’m making him proud” she shrugged not really knowing if he would be. She knew he’d be heart broken over the mess their family is. There was a floor pit where her couches and recliners sat, a cute little bar that had lots of candy in big glass jars. “This room besides my room is one of my favorite lounging areas.” She spoke softly, setting the bread down then grabbing a big tray that laid on the couch to sit it up where it’d be in front of them. Sitting with her legs crossed and watched him, wondering what he was thinking. “I haven’t been home in so long, it feels nice to sit in here. Thank you for coming over..” she looked over at him with a soft smile. “So, what shall we watch? I have a variety of movies or we can just see what’s on?” She grabs the control pad for the room and turns the lights down a bit more, but left enough to be able to see one another. “I’m open to anything.”

ANTONI. He understood the desire to do right by her father. He was rapidly hurtling towards a month of separation from his wife, and he hadn’t told his parents. They’d checked in on him after the move, of course, and he’d - lied. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d lied to his parents. The reminder gutted him a bit, and a guilty sensation twisted in his stomach. What was he doing, fucking escorts and having dinner in another woman’s house? He should be in Boston, with his son, fighting for his marriage. This was not the right thing to do. He tried to shake the feeling, tried to find amusement in her candy collection and the comfiness of her couch. She was sweet. And she was about to be a mother. And maybe this was too much for either of them right now, whatever this even was. He was relieved when she mentioned a movie, hoping it would give his brain something else to analyze. “Give me your favorite movie,” he answered with a small smile.

JAYCEE. She had to get back up and excused herself to the rest room really quick, and washed her hands. Coming out she took her oversized sweater off, leaving her in her spaghetti strap shirt that was cropped a bit showing just a tiny bit of her belly. “I can’t believe how over heated I get.” She snorted as she sat down and grabbed the remote again. Removing the clip out of her hair, her long blond hair fell down her back. “Okay, but don’t judge meeeee.” She smirked as she typed in on the pad. “I loved this movie and would always say I was Baby and do the dances.” Pulling up dirty dancing and pushed play. “It was this or anything scary.” She giggled, shrugging while she grabbed her plate and took a bite. Moaning softly “Deliziosa, grazie a dio per la nonna” doing a little dance as she grabbed some bread, dipping it in the sauce. Her dogs came in and she snapped her fingers and they laid at the foot of the couch. “They think they need pasta.” She smirked, before humming along to the music and constantly having to move when music was on. “I love this soundtrack so much.”

ANTONI. “Well, you are cooking,” he reminded her, quoting the double-meaning of her discarded apron. His eyes remained very purposefully focused on his plate, rather than the neckline of her tank. “I think ... I’ve seen this whole movie in the sense of watching bits and pieces and filling in the rest with just pop culture knowledge of what happens, but I don’t know that I’ve ever sit down and watched it from start to finish.” When she took her initial bite, Antoni followed suit. It really was incredible, and not just because it had been so long since he’d eaten real food. He watched the way her dogs obeyed her, reaffirming how competent Jaycee really was. “To be fair, think everyone needs this pasta.” He could see why the movie would endear itself to everyone who loved it so much. It was charmingly sexy, and the love story was - quirky? Was that the right word? He and Jaycee laughed at all the same moments, and whenever he felt a slight tug at his heart strings, she provided an audible reaction that confirmed she felt it too. It was until the botched abortion that Antoni felt himself get restless, shooting a glance in the direction of his dinner date. Gabby had always hated watching any harm come to pregnant women or babies ever since she’d found out she was carrying Luca, and Antoni subtly took up the remote, just in case they needed to skip anything. 

ANTONI. After surviving off the little pizza joint down the block for the last two weeks, it seemed like it was time to actually put more than beer and leftover potato skins in his fridge. Never really learning how to cook for just one person, Antoni had opted for the hand basket over the shopping cart, figuring he wouldn’t need much to begin fixing his bachelor dinners - although, this had lead to him second-guessing everything he passed (other than a box of Captain Crunch and more beer), and he was verging on aimless wandering when he turned down an aisle and saw her. If he’d been paying attention, he would have noticed her strategizing how to reach something on a higher shelf, but Antoni was distracted by the bump on which her hand was resting. Standing like that, she held a passing resemblance to his wife, and he wasn’t able to shake the thought in time to not be caught staring.

JAYCEE. Jaycee had a long day at the office at her company, and was feeling super snacky. She walked in and grabbed a basket and immediately went right to the bouquet of sunflowers and gently laid them in her basket as she finally found the spicy pickles she loved. “Dammit..” she was wearing heels with her height at five, five. But she still wasn’t able to reach it, due to it being pushed all the way back on the shelf. Feeling eyes on her the entire time, but she kept trying then finally huffed with a bit of humming dye to her son kicking another organ. Placing her hand on her belly, she rubbed it slowly to relax him and went to look over at whoever was just staring at her, prepared to snap. But she looked up and arched a brow, wondering what he was staring at. She looked around and moved her foot out one by one to see she didn’t have toilet paper on the bottom of the shoe. “Please tell me you don’t want those pickles..?” She furrowed her brow as her golden brown eyes looked into his eye, softly smiling. “Because my son seems to enjoy giving his mom heart burn obviously.” She laughed softly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. 

ANTONI. “Hm? Oh, no. I don’t.” He almost turned on a dime to disappear back down the aisle, when he suddenly registered the woman’s predicament. “Sorry, let me ...” It was somewhat of a risk, coming further into the brunette’s space in hopes of proving that he wasn’t a weirdo, but he easily reached the jar and handed it to her with what he intended to be a reassuring half-smile. “For you - or, I guess, for him. When are you due? Wait, I’m sorry, is that a rude thing to ask? I mean, I know not to ask it if a someone just looks pregnant, because they might just be ... fat, but you’re clearly not fat, you’re pregnant.” What ... was even happening to him right now? This poor expectant mother just wanted her pickles.

JAYCEE. Jaycee sighed in relief when he said he didn’t want them, her hand rubbing her belly. She smiled back at him sweetly with a hint of a blush creeping over the apples of her cheeks. She could see he was trying to not say the wrong thing, and it was honestly really cute how he was stumbling over his words. “Thank you.. You just made us both very happy. And no, no you’re fine.” She place the pickles into her basket, then held her left hand out to shake his. “I’m Jaycee Lynd, and I’m in fact pregnant.. not fat.” She smirked, licking her full lips slowly. “My son is due on the twentieth of April, so very soon.” He was a very handsome man and she was a bit flustered, pulling her long hair to one shoulder. Opening her mouth to ask him if he’d like to go for coffee or anything. But she chewed on her inner cheek feeling silly as a very pregnant woman, who was huge, to hit on a man. “It’s really nice to meet you.” She said as she let her eyes take him in, from his head to his toes, working her eyes back up to his when a teenager ran down the isle knocking her into him, causing her to gasp and grasp at his clothing to not fall.

ANTONI. “Antoni Renaldi, pleasure.” He was almost surprised at how soft her hands felt, and he glanced down just in time to notice the lack of a ring - although, the very noticeable baby in her stomach was clue enough that she was far from available. Not that you’re even close to being ready to think about that, reminded the rather large part of his brain that hadn’t quite wrapped itself around being a single man in a brand new city. “Oh, wow. That’s - really pregnant.” He was smiling, his tongue swiping against his lower lip just before he responded, or ... tried to, before she was crashing against him. Sacrificing his cereal box and six-pack for the sake of catching her - JC, she’d said her name was? - ensuring she was steady on her feet before calling a stern “Ay, slow down!” over his shoulder to a kid who was already long gone. Turning back to her, his hand instinctively pressed against her stomach, as though he could magically tell if her little man was alright. “Are you okay, are you hurt?” He pulled his hand back as if he’d been scalded, realizing how inappropriate it was, but - it was instinct.

JAYCEE. She scrunched her nose laughing as she nodded her head agreeing at how far along she was. There he was, that smile seemed to fit him so much better. Thinking it’d be nice to be why he smiles all the sudden in the midst of everything. Her eyes wide as she was gasping for air, trying to calm down. His hand was on her, making sure her baby was okay and it was so comforting. “Yeah, I..” licking her lips as her full bottom lips was tearing from her teeth. She didn’t know this man, but he seemed.. He was safe and she knew she needed to get to know him more, when she almost reached for his hand as he pulled away. “I’m so sorry.. I.” She pointed at his cereal and beer, as the baby felt like he shifted in the jostle between a running teen and pregnant woman. “Are you okay? I didn’t hurt you when I landed into you did I?” She asked a bit concerned not noticing she had gravitated closer to him. “I can help get someone over here and then replace what is ruined. It’s the least I can do.” Now who was jabbering away like a nervous girl, almost giving off a doe eyes look of worry.

ANTONI. He’d never been the type to make anything of his height and stature, not the way his brother seemed to, with the sense that clearing 6’ somehow made you entitled to sex, but it was still cute, the idea that she could somehow injure him with a little fall - even with the assistance of her temporary belly. “I think I can take it,” he assured her, chuckling just a bit. Turning his attention to the cereal box, he added, “And so can the Captain” as he popped out a small dent in the corner of the box. A quick retrieval of a rogue beer bottle and a check to the five that had stayed in the holder confirmed that everything was in tact. “No casualties,” he reported, returning his items to his basket and taking hold of it as he stood back up. “I’m going to be - stressed about you, though. I’m sure everything is fine, you just don’t want a pregnant woman to fall.” He tried to laugh again, though it was a little less natural than it had been a moment before.

JAYCEE. Both of her hands rested on her belly, as if she was comforting her son.   Causing her dress to rise further up her thighs, where the back was a bit longer. Jaycee snorted and instantly covered her face, but he was just being so calm and cool about it. And loved his personality, and instantly thought of exchanging numbers. She reached into her knee high boots to pull her phone out and typed in his name before handing her phone to him. “Would it help if we exchange numbers, this kid has a mean kick and who knows how you’ll feel tomorrow.” She joked softly, hoping to calm him a bit, noticing the change in his laughter. “Hey..” instinctively reached for his hand to get his attention. “I will get checked out for both of our worry okay? It would have been probably tragic if..” she cleared her throat as her voice cracked at the thought. “Never mind that, you saved me and my little one. So don’t worry, too much.” Not realizing her small hands were holding one of his large hands and realized there was no ring and looked back up at him and placed his hand on her lower belly right where he was letting her know he was here. “See, still active and I feel deeply he’s safe.” She smiled.

ANTONI. His eyes followed her as she bent down, smirking a bit as she pulled out her phone like a rabbit out of a hat, reminded of the way his wife would lament the lack of pockets in women’s clothes. The comparison gave him the same kind of pause that had caused him to stop and stare in the first place, and he took her phone out of reflex. “Oh, yeah, sure.” As he punched in the last few digits of his number, he wondered if he was setting himself up for a future awkward encounter with the pretty girl from the neighborhood grocery store who’d ghosted him because she was pregnant, and if he’d forever need to keep his head down while shopping there for fear of running into her again - but then her hand was on his, and the worry lessened just enough for him to hit save. “‘Saved’ is probably a stretch, but I’m glad I was here for you to fall on ... Oh, yeah. There he is.” He’d never in his life put his hand on another woman’s pregnant stomach, let alone felt a baby kick against his palm. “He’s probably pissed that I’m keeping him from his pickles. Did you need anything else, or should we - ?” His voice trailed off as he nodded towards the checkout lines.

JAYCEE. Jaycee took her phone back and sent him a quick text just saying hello and that her name. Smiling, the tip of her tongue was resting between her teeth. “No if you wouldn’t have been here, I’m so stubborn I would have gotten that step ladder and..” she paused before tilting her head at what would have happened. Putting her phone back into her boot, her emails dinging. “He probably is, but he can learn mama is in charge.. but I’m sure I’m keeping you.” Feeling her cheeks warming up she prayed that her blushing wasn’t as noticeable. Switching her basket to the other arm she notice one of her sunflowers in the bouquet had broken, sighing softly. They were always around her house until she couldn’t find them anymore. Walking towards the check out lines with him, she rested her free hand on her lower back. The closer it came to checking out she hoped that they’d be seeing one another again. Not that she’d blame any guy for not wanting to deal with a woman pregnant. Seeing the cashier couldn’t stop staring at him she leaned up to whisper. “Don’t look now but I think you might have an admirer.” She smirked, it was cute to see.

ANTONI. Tugging his own phone from his back pocket, he glanced at the text - oh, Jaycee, not JC - he quickly saved her number. “No stepladders, alright? Not for the next ... twenty days or so.” As they approached the line, he gestured for her to move in front of him, adding his two items to her small purchase and gesturing for the cashier to ring everything out together. At her whisper, he simply blinked in response, a little surprised at her bluntness, until a moment later when he realized she was referring to the employee. His cheeks were a little hot at the mistake, blushing slightly in a way that mirror hers. When had she started blushing? He gave the cashier a tight-lipped smile and polite nod, using the keypad to purchase their things, and clarifying that they needed two separate bags: pickles and sunflowers, and cereal and beer. “Let me know when the doctor gives you the all clear,” he said genuinely, handing her the bag with her things in it, not hating the way their fingers brushed in the transaction. “I’ll be thinking about you.”

Antoni Renaldi’s life seemed to unfold before him without him needing to do very much about it, which he’d always thought was kind of a blessing until - right about now, actually. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

Born and raised in Boston to a loving, working-class family of five, Antoni spent his childhood as a true middle child. He kept his head down, not making life any more difficult for his parents than his fuck-boy older brother and princess of a baby sister already did. He did what was asked, what was expected, and found that it made for a relatively carefree existence, all things considered. Academics came easily, he was above-average in athletics, and people seemed to like him well enough: “Tony? He’s a good kid.”

When it came time for college, and his school counselor hinted that he could potentially get into an Ivy, he didn’t think much of sending off a Harvard application right alongside the ones to UMass and Boston College. And then he actually got in. His parents sat him down and explained - well, his father explained while his mother happy-sobbed - that he needed to do this, for himself and for his family. Between his living at home and taking out some loans, they would make the finances work (the fact that his older brother had bypassed college altogether was helpful in that it meant there was a little more in savings), but most importantly, he needed to live up to his potential. He owed it to himself, and he owed it to them.

That’s how Antoni found himself going into a good amount of student debt to attend a prestigious university, not necessarily because he wanted to, but because he could, and because it seemed like the right “next” thing to do. It was also how he found himself putting all of his Good Kid energy into becoming a psychiatrist, not necessarily because he wanted to, but because he could, and because it seemed like the right “next” thing to do. Of course, it was also how he got the idea to buy a ring and get down on one knee for his college sweetheart … not necessarily because he wanted to, but because he could, and because it seemed like the right “next” thing to do.

While his siblings continued to run themselves off the tracks, he kept chugging right along. He had the wife, the house, the job, everything he was supposed to, and soon enough, he had his son. Being a father had, of course, seemed like the logical progression of things - but it was different than any other milestone he’d ever completed. Antoni felt everything come into color, like he was finally alive in his own life. When the opportunity came to relocate to a practice in New York, he found a quaint little borough that seemed to be the ideal place to raise his family.

It was after the last box had been packed, when they were sitting on the hardwood of their apartment, staring at the accumulation of their life together, that his wife told him that she wanted a divorce. She didn’t want to go to New York, and she and the baby were staying in Boston. He did everything in his power to change her mind, to explain that it was too late to renege on the job offer, the down payment, the life he’d created for them, but there was nothing to be done. Antoni moved, alone, into a picturesque little brownstone on a picturesque little street.

Not necessarily because he wanted to, but because he could, and because it seemed like the right “next” thing to do - and for the first time, everything that had always served him so well, felt like a fucking curse.