The Italian's proposal

Chapter 17

Chapter Seventeen

Melody

Devina was smiling and Melody couldn’t believe that, in her hands, was a check for that amount of money.

“Take it,” she told her holding her hands out to her.

“No...I...”

“Don’t say no. No person should be forced into marriage,” her logic was impossible to dispute. But, still, she couldn’t accept that much from a stranger, no matter how much her heart screamed at her that she could trust her.

“You’re right. But I don’t know you. Neither do you know me,” she handed the check back to her and stepped back, “I think we should save lunch for later. I’m exhausted.”

“Melody,” Devina couldn’t believe it, nor could she.

“I just can’t. I really, really don’t know how much I appreciate it. I have no idea how much money you have, nor do I care to know how you got it. That’s not my problem. But you can’t go giving three million dollars to someone you don’t know,” she sat up in bed, she was dizzy, and her head was starting to pound.

“I’m giving you the money you need to get the hell out. To be free,” she followed her steps and sat down next to her. “Look honey, no one should have to suffer and pay for something they didn’t do. The guilty ones, the ones who do harm, those should have a hard time, they should rot in jail. I’m sure you’ve been trying to make Timothy understand that you didn’t do anything, or am I wrong?”

Melody squeezed her temples. She was right. But it was still too much money.

“It’s a lot of money,” she mumbled in annoyance. “It’s too much. I wouldn’t even know how to begin to repay you.” She couldn’t believe she was even considering it. But taking that money was a better alternative than....

She looked at Devina who was watching her determined that she would accept the money.

Would it be possible?

“He sent you,” she told her finally realizing it.

“What?” the redhead stood up from the bed as if it had thorns everywhere.

“You heard me. He sent you, didn’t he? Let’s see if I’m dumb enough to take the money. You want to see if I’ll take off with the money?” she also got out of bed and without thinking she slapped Devina across the cheek.

She almost fell for it, what a fool she had been! She almost had trusted Devina, without knowing her.

“You’re crazy! Insane!” she said, putting her hand on the area that was beginning to redden. “I only came to help you, because I don’t think you stole from Timothy, I’m just trying to help!”

“Crazy? You think I’m crazy? Come near me again and I’ll gouge your fucking eyes out with a fork,” the threat was harsher than she would have believed.

“No one sent me,” Devina told her with flashing green eyes.

“I’m not as stupid as Timothy thinks I am. I’d appreciate it if you’d close the door on your way out.”

She grabbed her side purse that sat on top of the nightstand, the cell phone Timothy had given her earlier that morning, assuring her that he wanted her available at any time of day. She resented the situation as no one could imagine, but it was what she had been dealt.

Or so she thought.

God she hadn’t made a mistake with the redhead, but she would never

at any point,

elevator button, determined to get

there for another

thought she was a thief, well, let him think

from her parents, beg them to listen

start to cry, as the

parents, those who had slammed

it was the only thing he could

said Timothy as the elevator doors

him off guard, and stepped into the elevator. “Tell your sister-in-law she can stick her check where the sun doesn’t shine, damn it the day

eyes, confusion gave way to anger, he turned his face in the direction of the room but couldn’t react in time. The elevator

She was already gone.

****

wandering zombie-like through the streets of Manhattan, an ice cream, and a

in front of the

know how to take the steps now

would he say? What would she say to

death. And the decision of eating the ice cream didn’t help

her arms, running her hands fervently up and

the door to the house that saw

as she

it matter that she didn’t share her decision to have her child, for a second, for a thousandth of a second, she

around her and squeezed her tight. Melody calmed down after a few minutes. “Come on inside Mel. You need to get

into the house, each one’s arms around the other’s back. Melody had missed her mother so much that, in her grief at not receiving her support, she hadn’t

get you a coat,” her mother hurried out

thing made her feel like a stranger in her

her mother let a tear fall as she stroked her head, just like she

you going to get me some chocolate?” suddenly it didn’t feel so good to go to her parents’ house anymore. She was going to get their complaints, their; ‘I told you so you shouldn’t go through with the pregnancy’, ‘you must learn to have responsibilities and

a waste of

her was screaming at her in a Mexican serenade voice, that she had nowhere

cup of hot chocolate, with a little

she was being a wanton

week since you got the hell out of here.

her hands and burst into tears again. She felt like her head

stranger without asking for anything in return,

Lydia!” the voice of Charles Redford flooded through the house, grabbing the

into the living room, startled by the imperious,

in

right, Charles?” she asked since she

as if this one had the news of the

trailed behind her mother; she didn’t want her father to know she was there, at least not when she could

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