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.

but she would never trust anyone lightly again. She trusted her brother-in-law for years and look at the situation he got her

didn’t call out to her at

elevator button, determined to get

couldn’t stay there for

thief, well, let him think

if she had to borrow from her parents,

made her start to cry, as the

going to beg her parents, those who had slammed

was the only thing he could

think you’re going?” said Timothy as the elevator doors opened and he

sick of you, I’m sick of you not believing me!” she shoved him, catching him off guard, and stepped into the elevator. “Tell

his face in the direction of the room but couldn’t react in time. The elevator doors closed just as he went to try

She was already gone.

****

through the streets of Manhattan, an ice cream, and a pack of popcorn in her stomach, Melody finally arrived at her

front of the

the steps

say? What would she say

the decision of eating the ice cream didn’t help her at all. But she was

warm her arms, running her hands

Redford opened the door to the house that saw

again, as she

for a second, for a thousandth of a second, she wanted refuge in familiar arms. Ones that had cared for her and protected

her mother wrapped her arms around her and squeezed her tight. Melody calmed down after a few minutes. “Come on inside Mel. You need to get warm. You’re

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

a coat,” her mother hurried out of

thing made her feel like a stranger in her parents’

how skinny you are!” her mother let a tear fall as she stroked her head, just like she used to do when Melody was

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

was a waste of

of her was screaming at her in a Mexican serenade voice, that she had nowhere else to go, at least

the cup of hot chocolate, with a little cinnamon on top, just

it,” she was being a wanton

hell out of here. Not ten years,”

tears again. She felt like

she saw something different in him, a willingness to help a stranger without asking

voice of Charles Redford flooded through the house,

the living room, startled by the

in her mother’s

all right, Charles?”

his hand, holding it as if this one had the news of

she was there, at least not when she could tell he was so angry. She who was already a

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