The Italian's proposal

Chapter 33: Epilogue

Epilogue

Melody

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

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

This family reunion was taking place after Timothy’s father had come through his second chemotherapy with flying colors, the results were completely favorable, not even a hint of cancer was visible in his lungs 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 miracles existed. She knew that despite the circumstances it was possible to have a glimmer of light, because only a miracle explained that a man like Timothy Giannato, decided to be with a woman like her, to forgive her even when he thought she stole that ridiculous amount of money, more than anything else she considered a miracle, the relationship that started to strengthen with her mother and sister. Little by little Lydia was again that important part of her life, the one that she had to recognize that she never stopped 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 never stopped loving a mother, just as she knew, and that thought grew stronger, her mother did not stop loving 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 hurting man.

The situation with Lydia got out of control, he did not want to forgive her, if it wasn’t for the intervention of 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 fancy restaurant, 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 thought she was going to lose her baby, she promised herself she was going to make things right between her parents, she couldn’t let a marriage that has been through so much, that has come out of even more extreme situations, such as the recognition of her untimely pregnancy, she wasn’t going to let bad decisions tarnish all those moments of happiness.

“Dad, please. Don’t make this situation more difficult for us,” Allegra said, confused and saddened. She didn’t understand how it was possible, that a man who loved her mother so much, who adored Lydia as his life, could be so stubborn. “Do you love her?” when Charles nodded, she continued, “then, why don’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 remember how 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 things you 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 she had, for her intelligence and kindness with which she treated other people made her who she was, the best 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, for although 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 the situation 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 forgave her because I don’t want my daughter to grow up without her grandmother by her side. I forgave her because I know mom didn’t mean to do the things she did, or the things she said. She didn’t support me then, but she’s trying now, the mere fact that she’s trying gives her a point in her favor. Not one, it gives her ten points in her favor,” she took a breath and walked over to her father until she hugged him and gave him a kiss on the forehead. “Dad, because we are children of adversities, we are children of the 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. And mom is sorry.”

Now, that was a thing of the past. Her father had agreed to try, shedding tears, and letting go a little of the 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 live alongside 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 hope we have at least three more grandchildren soon.”

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

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

Gradually, Carlota assimilated the news, understanding that she would stay, that she would be part of her 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 see each other with different eyes, offering their support, as much in Melody’s pregnancy as in Timothy’s father’s illness.

Melody remembered feeling Timothy so close to her, the moment she looked at herself in the mirror on her 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 to give 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 giving birth, 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 her hairdo.

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 gray eyes, 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 to offend 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 fingers nervously.

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

“How about me falling down in the middle of the aisle? How about me embarrassing Timothy in front of his parents?” Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

“Everything you’re feeling is normal. At least I think so,” she seemed to consider it for a moment and Melody 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’ve never 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,” Devina said 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 she needed.

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 she was loved, and her marriage to Timothy was right.

“Let’s get you married!” shouted Devina clapping her hands repeatedly and causing both sisters to pull away 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 loved each 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 him there 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 name to the baby, he could adopt her at a certain time, since Richard gave up his parental rights, and without any 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 see the girl.

It was a cruel but a necessary thing to do, she cried for days, because she felt that she was taking away her daughter’s chance to know her real father, but she did not want a person so troublesome and malicious, so greedy and eager to get money, to seek advantages in every situation, as she was to Richard. For her daughter, her real father would be Timothy. Not because she would not tell her the truth about her birth, because she would when her daughter was old enough to understand the situation, but, because it would instill in her, the love and respect for the man she loved so much and who she was sure would love her daughter for life, because as Timothy said, that baby was more his than 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 she wanted more boys, she was eager to have them, to carry Timothy’s child in her womb, to give him even more 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 best thing in her life.

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