The Italian's proposal

Timothy Giannatto

Timothy watched the young mother-to-be with curiosity. She walked beside him, slowly, murmuring so softly that he could not understand what she was saying, at first, he thought she was talking to him, then he realized that young Melody was talking to herself. He was used to the frivolous women of movies and television, the ones who preferred to dress up than being comfortable, or the ones who preferred to keep up an appearance than live happily. He had a feeling Melody didn’t care at all how much money he had in his pocket.

“Have you cleared up your issues?” he didn’t know why she caught his attention. She was a fairly plain and simple girl. Petite size, big gray eyes, intelligent gaze, and Jet-Black hair that reached her waist. There were thousands of women like Melody from the coffee shop, but none, for some reason he couldn’t figure out, had ever captivated him as much.

“Who?” she asked, as she entered the clinic.

“You and your inner self. You seemed to be having a very heated and interesting discussion.”

“Don’t make fun of my little Italian.”

“You called me little Italian?” he couldn’t believe the coolness with which that woman expressed herself. He had a feeling that, if he spent a day alone with her, locked in a house, he was likely to end up gagging her.

“Would you rather Italianate? It’s really all the same to me. You think you’re funny and smart, you’re going to tell me you’ve never seen someone talking to themselves?”

“I’m not saying I haven’t seen anyone; I’m saying it’s crazy.”

She glared at him and grumbled something about poking his eyes out.

The woman had a wild spirit, and he should applaud her for that. But instead, he preferred to keep attacking her. That was more fun for him.

“I’d even go so far as to say it’s a basic principle for taking someone to the psychiatric ward,” he commented as if referring to the weather. “Good morning,” he approached the hospital reception desk and smiled at the receptionist.

“Good morning. How can I help you?” Timothy watched as the woman looked him up and down, he must have been quite a sight, soaked in coffee all over his shirt, quite different from how he normally looked, all neat and tidy.

“The young lady is pregnant, and we need to see Dr. Troy to confirm that everything is okay.” The woman looked at the computer for a moment and responded by informing him that the doctor was seeing another patient.

“It doesn’t matter. Just get me checked out in the ER I got it,” Melody placed a hand on his arm and Timothy froze for a moment as he felt a rush of electricity go through his entire chest.

“No,” he said after a few seconds. “Let Dr. Troy know that Timothy Giannato is here and that he expects to see him right away.”

“Sir...”

“No. Call him and tell him to come in,” he interrupted the russet-haired, brown-eyed woman who was watching him somewhere between shocked and uncomfortable.

He was one of the main shareholders of the maternity ward. His family had donated millions over the years so that no woman would have to go through any kind of need when it came time to have her child. He took his role as an important man, as his cousin Hamlet used to call him, quite seriously.

“I don’t want to cause you any trouble,” he heard Melody speak to him. She looked at the receptionist and him one at a time. She was uncomfortable too. It all showed on her face, in the way she wrung her hands and how she looked with her eyebrows crossed at the woman behind the counter.

“You don’t bother. I told you I was going to help you and I will. I brought you here, it’s only fair that you be seen by the person I trust, and I know will tell us if all is well with your son.”

“You don’t have to stay.”

matter what you say, and I don’t care what you say,” he flatly refused to leave her alone. He could feel her so helpless and inexperienced; it gave him indigestion just thinking about leaving

going to be no place better cared for and protected than a

wait for him in his office if you like. Do

think we can get there on our own,” he had been to Troy’s office countless times. Not because he was pregnant, but because the two of them had practically grown

then the cell phone rang, and he had to excuse himself for a

he said as he hit accept.

he immediately recognized as

to stop

told you I don’t give up easy honey,” she purred. At another time in his life, in another hugely different time, that tone might have made him hard up to his toes, but after seeing her be able to deny it, the only thing it caused him

going back.”

he no longer believed her at all. His

me with teach you that? Ask him to see, I’m sure he knows more than

that my darling. That was nonsense. A little

went away for a few days!” he

herself was going to make Timothy’s anger vein burst, the one that throbbed and

shouted and slammed

the best thing he had to distract him. It had been a while, weeks since he had done anything but drink in the evenings, attend his daily duties at the family

Mr. Giannato’s family, they donate a lot of money every year for the maintenance of the entire center,” commented the woman who was in her late forties, with a brown bow tie and droopy eyes adorned with thick horn-rimmed

see what the girl had to say about him. He was sure she had seen him; he and his family were one of the most affluent Italian families living in the United States, consequently, they were photographed by the television media several times a week. From cocktail parties and gatherings, to auctions and charity events. One small difference between his parents and

my entire life, didn’t you see the stain on his shirt? That was me and me alone. Do you think I’d be the token

the woman seemed to see herself as needing to lift Melody’s spirits, Timothy thought. But he didn’t think she needed it.

she tugged a little at the blouse she was wearing, and he found it most

his head dumbfounded at the effect this girl had on

almost burst out laughing when he saw the guilty look on both of their faces. “What?” he played innocent.

“Shall we get going now? I promised Doyle I’d be

himself for such a statement. He was not a man to meddle

kill myself. It’s a job. If I don’t work, I don’t generate money, if I don’t generate

die,” he completed, raising his eyes

girl was a real handful.

affirmed with a smartass face. “I die. You know

I’ll tell you that,” he

have the heart to die for anyone.”

chest. She was

“I’m sorry.”

more than you eat,” he told her feeling his momentary anger melt away just by looking

me I don’t

going to find something

you meant. You don’t know what it’s like to be pregnant.