The Italian's proposal

Chapter 33: Epilogue

Epilogue

Melody

One-month-old, Mary Carlenne Giannato Redford was happy, seeming delighted to be surrounded byall her family members, passing from hand to hand, arm in arm, all wanting to caress her and tug onher tiny, blushing cheeks.

Considering it was the first time both families gathered for such an important event as the baby’s firstmonth, Melody was ecstatic to see all the people who were important to her in the living room of herapartment.

This family reunion was taking place after Timothy’s father had come through his second chemotherapywith flying colors, the results were completely favorable, not even a hint of cancer was visible in hislungs and the scans came back perfect and clean.

It seemed like a miracle, and Melody didn’t doubt it. She didn’t doubt it because she knew miraclesexisted. She knew that despite the circumstances it was possible to have a glimmer of light, becauseonly a miracle explained that a man like Timothy Giannato, decided to be with a woman like her, toforgive her even when he thought she stole that ridiculous amount of money, more than anything elseshe considered a miracle, the relationship that started to strengthen with her mother and sister. Little bylittle Lydia was again that important part of her life, the one that she had to recognize that she neverstopped being in her heart, because despite not talking to her every day, not seeing her, not feeling her,the love for her mother, even with the anger and pain of betrayal, was still there, because you neverstopped loving a mother, just as she knew, and that thought grew stronger, her mother did not stoploving her either; she was just confused and made very bad decisions.

Decisions that almost cost her marriage, Charles Redford being a proud man, a proud and hurtingman.

The situation with Lydia got out of control, he did not want to forgive her, if it wasn’t for the interventionof his daughters, nothing would have turned out well between them.

“No,” her father said, when Melody and Allegra joined together to plan a romantic dinner, at a fancyrestaurant, a few months ago. “I don’t want to be with her. Don’t force me to forgive her.”

When Melody came out of the hospital after fainting, almost six months ago, when everyone thoughtshe was going to lose her baby, she promised herself she was going to make things right between herparents, she couldn’t let a marriage that has been through so much, that has come out of even moreextreme situations, such as the recognition of her untimely pregnancy, she wasn’t going to let baddecisions tarnish all those moments of happiness.

“Dad, please. Don’t make this situation more difficult for us,” Allegra said, confused and saddened. Shedidn’t understand how it was possible, that a man who loved her mother so much, who adored Lydia ashis life, could be so stubborn. “Do you love her?” when Charles nodded, she continued, “then, whydon’t you give her a try?”

“Because I’m not ready yet. Because I don’t want to. Because the more I see her, the more I rememberhow she treated your sister. Don’t you know? Don’t you remember?”

“Of course, I know, dad. But she’s mom. She’s our mother and she’s your wife. There are some thingsyou simply have to let go of and forget. For your own sake.”

Allegra always been the intellectual one with her facility with words. She was proud of the sister shehad, for her intelligence and kindness with which she treated other people made her who she was, thebest sister she could ever had, and ever wished for.

Even with all the differences they had in the past.

Melody wrinkled her nose in response to her sister’s comment and turned a smile to her father, foralthough the words her sister said were true, she knew that at the moment Charles Redford was in,they were not what he wanted to hear, they were not what he needed to hear to understand thesituation that both sisters were trying to clarify.

“Dad, what she means is, we’re a family. I was the most affected of all, and I forgave mom. I forgaveher because I don’t want my daughter to grow up without her grandmother by her side. I forgave herbecause I know mom didn’t mean to do the things she did, or the things she said. She didn’t supportme then, but she’s trying now, the mere fact that she’s trying gives her a point in her favor. Not one, itgives her ten points in her favor,” she took a breath and walked over to her father until she hugged himand gave him a kiss on the forehead. “Dad, because we are children of adversities, we are children ofthe bad decisions we make. At the end of it all, even though these decisions try to define who we are,what defines us, is our regret, when we make a mistake, and we repent and ask for forgiveness. Andmom is sorry.”

Now, that was a thing of the past. Her father had agreed to try, shedding tears, and letting go a little ofthe anger that had been taking up part of his heart and the feelings he had felt for her mother.

They could celebrate their daughter’s life and the new opportunity Timothy’s father had to livealongside his beloved Carlota and their son.

“I think she’s the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen,” Lydia said.

“Her mother is beautiful,” Timothy hugged Melody and deposited a huge kiss on her lips.

“Sweetie...” she whispered a little self-consciously, as her parents were there.

“What?” he played innocent. “Did I do something wrong?”

His green eyes flashed mischievously.

“Let him love you. These moments are the best,” Carlota told her as she passed Mary to her. “I hopewe have at least three more grandchildren soon.”

Melody’s eyes widened, barely her little Mary was a month old, and already Carlota was thinking ofmore grandchildren.

She reckoned that her husband’s family was not going to accept her daughter’s birth and marriage toTimothy that easily. They were a prominently wealthy family, owners of large companies and arecognized family name, they had an image to maintain, and even on several occasions, she wasabout to throw up the towel, but every time she looked at Timothy, she felt happier, and her heart wasreassured, because she knew that he loved her, and that was enough. His love would break any kind ofbarrier between his family and her.novelbin

Gradually, Carlota assimilated the news, understanding that she would stay, that she would be part ofher son’s life and that she had no choice but to learn to value and love her.

The months that followed the wedding, despite the fear and uncertainty, both women began to seeeach other with different eyes, offering their support, as much in Melody’s pregnancy as in Timothy’sfather’s illness.

Melody remembered feeling Timothy so close to her, the moment she looked at herself in the mirror onher wedding day, her face was bright and full of joy, she was finally going to marry the man she loved.Timothy’s father’s life was beginning to slip away faster than they imagined and wanted it to. His father-in-law was deteriorating and there was nothing that money or caring could do.

Timothy suffered in silence. Although he said nothing to her, Melody was aware of his pain and tried togive him all the support she could. Only a miracle could save him.

She smiled at her reflection; she was going to marry Timothy. She was a short time away from givingbirth, her body had grown to great proportions, and she was almost unrecognizable.

The pounds gained from pregnancy felt wonderful, even, herself, she felt more confident and beautiful.

“Ready?” she heard Devina say, as she reached over and finished placing a delicate tiara on herhairdo.

She wore her hair up in a bun, with a few loose, wavy locks.

Her makeup was simple and plain, as she was never fond of the extravagant and outlandish.

“At least let me put a little pink on your lips,” the makeup artist had told her. “You have beautiful grayeyes, but a little lipstick would suit you perfectly.”

“Yes, come on. Put it on,” Devina answered for her.

In those months, the two women had become inseparable. In Devina she found more than just a friend.

“You look beautiful. That idiot is so lucky to have you,” the comment was without malice or desire tooffend Timothy, and that was clear to Melody. Devina had a peculiar way of showing affection.

Only one who got close enough could understand how this complex redhead thought and felt.

“I’m just dying of nerves. I think this is bigger than me,” she confessed, as she wrung her fingersnervously.

“Big? Big you have the belly, and it doesn’t weigh you down, and it doesn’t make you nervous. Gettingmarried is no big deal.”

“How about me falling down in the middle of the aisle? How about me embarrassing Timothy in front ofhis parents?”

“Everything you’re feeling is normal. At least I think so,” she seemed to consider it for a moment andMelody wondered if it was that woman ever feared.

“You didn’t panic? You didn’t want to run off and get married in Vegas? Just you and Hamlet?”

“Yes. I wanted to run away. But not because I thought it might embarrass him or me, but because I’venever been one for big weddings. And marrying a Giannato entails that and more.”

“I know.”

“Then stop wasting your time. Enjoy this moment. I don’t think you’re going to get married again.Neither that you’ re going to walk away like the first one...”

“I’m not going to walk away,” she interrupted her.

“I know. You’re in love and now he loves you back and you know it.”

The door rang at this moment and her sister stepped through the summarily threshold with bright,excited eyes.

“I can’t believe my little sister is getting married already. My little sis going down the aisle.”

“Let’s see you calm her down. Your sister is going to eat all her nails and ruin her manicure,” Devinasaid immediately upon seeing Allegra arrive.

“It’s common to be afraid. You just have to remember that you love him. And most of all, he loves you.”

She took several breaths and let the air out and her sister hugged her, conveying the strength sheneeded.

Devina was an excellent friend, but she didn’t give as much affection as Melody needed.

She felt like a machine craving love. Like every day she needed to be constantly told how much shewas loved, and her marriage to Timothy was right.

“Let’s get you married!” shouted Devina clapping her hands repeatedly and causing both sisters to pullaway from the fright of the sound of clapping palms colliding.

Everything went perfectly that day. Their wedding day, the real one, the one when both genuinely lovedeach other, she and Timothy, the one they would never forget.

Timothy hired a whole team of photographers to make his daughter’s first month memorable.

Melody would never tire of telling him how much she loved him and how happy she was to have himthere with her, to have given her daughter his last name, Mary would be the happiest baby in the world.

They consulted with a lawyer, the truth was that Timothy by marrying Melody could give his last nameto the baby, he could adopt her at a certain time, since Richard gave up his parental rights, and withoutany money offered by the two of them.

The man decided to get out of their lives for good, but since she would doubt his word for a long time,she asked Timothy and the lawyers he had to make him sign a document surrendering the right to seethe girl.

It was a cruel but a necessary thing to do, she cried for days, because she felt that she was takingaway her daughter’s chance to know her real father, but she did not want a person so troublesome andmalicious, so greedy and eager to get money, to seek advantages in every situation, as she was toRichard. For her daughter, her real father would be Timothy. Not because she would not tell her thetruth about her birth, because she would when her daughter was old enough to understand thesituation, but, because it would instill in her, the love and respect for the man she loved so much andwho she was sure would love her daughter for life, because as Timothy said, that baby was more histhan hers. That comment would make her happy for the rest of her days.

She had found the man of her life, one who loved her and who loved her daughter, one she could trust,that if at any time she were gone, Mary wouldn’t need anything.

While standing there, with her family holding her and caring for her, she did not say aloud that shewanted more boys, she was eager to have them, to carry Timothy’s child in her womb, to give him evenmore happiness.

Their love broke barriers, it came to make them happy. To unite them more than in holy matrimony.

That which came as an agreement between them, a charade, and a sham marriage, became the bestthing in her life.

Now she could not imagine being with anyone but Timothy Giannato, the man who, with his warmthand love, made her believe in real love.