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.

prayed to God she hadn’t made a mistake with the redhead, but she would never trust anyone lightly again. She trusted her brother-in-law for years and look at the

call out to her at any point, she

pushed the elevator button, determined

stay there for

thought she was a thief, well, let him think so

Even if she had to borrow from her parents, beg them to listen to

to cry, as the elevator

her parents, those who had slammed the

only thing

going?” said Timothy as the elevator doors opened and he saw her

I’m sick of you, I’m sick of you not believing me!” she shoved him, catching him off guard, and stepped into the elevator. “Tell your sister-in-law she can stick her

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

She was already gone.

****

an ice cream, and a pack of popcorn in her stomach, Melody

front of the

take the steps now

she say to make

the ice cream didn’t

running her hands fervently up

are you supposed to wait in there?” Lydia Redford opened the door to the house that saw her grow.

to cry again, as

share her decision to have her child, for a second, for a thousandth of a second, she wanted refuge in familiar arms. Ones that had cared for her and protected her all

arms around her and squeezed her tight. Melody calmed down after a few minutes. “Come

other’s back. Melody had missed her mother so much that, in her grief at not receiving

mother hurried out of the living room and Melody

made her feel like a stranger

fall as she stroked her head, just like she used to do when Melody was a little girl. “How did you get so much worse

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

a

still, a part of her was screaming at her in a Mexican serenade voice, that

from her and poured the cup of hot chocolate, with a little cinnamon on top, just

put cinnamon on it,” she was being

hell out of here. Not ten years,”

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

saw something different in him, a willingness to help a stranger without asking for anything in return, a genuine and sincere look. He condemned lies and hated to

the voice of Charles Redford flooded through the house, grabbing the

the living room, startled by the imperious, frightened tone her father had

in

wrong? Are you all right, Charles?” she asked

the newspaper in his hand, holding it as if this one

she didn’t want her father to know she was there, at least not when she could tell he

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