The Italian's proposal

Chapter Twenty-four

Timothy

Timothy saw her standing in the entrance and his heart began to try to escape from his chest and embrace her. She was simply beautiful in her wedding dress. She was without doubt the most beautiful woman he has ever seen and at that moment he was sure, that he chose the best person to be his wife.

Even if it was all a sham.

His parents had freaked out when they found out that she was pregnant by another man, for him, that was not relevant: even knowing that their union was nothing more than a means to an end, he did not feel uncomfortable because Melody was carrying another man’s child in her womb, the fruit of another relationship.

Jealous? Of course, he was. But after she confessed to him that she had never felt that way with anyone. He couldn’t blame her, he himself had been surprised when they made love, it was new, different, transcendental, and magical. He had no idea that he was so in tune with Melody, until that moment.

“You must be crazy!” his mother yelled at him that same night they came home from dinner at his parents’ house.

“Mom, please don’t overreact,” he grabbed the bridge of his nose and wanted to disappear as long as he didn’t talk to his mother that night.

“She’s pregnant! Pregnant!”

“I know mom, you’re not talking about a stranger. I know her. I...” saying anything else was still complicated for him. But he made love to Melody, it stirred something inside him, something in his heart, and he wasn’t yet capable of interpreting it.

“She’s a pregnant woman with another man’s child. I don’t know what you’re trying to accomplish with this Timothy, I don’t know what you’re getting at.”

“Me? Am I getting at something? Mother!” once again he was raising his voice at his mother again. “I resent you talking that way about her. She’s not damaged by being pregnant.”

“I’m not saying that son,” she lowered the intensity with which she spoke to him a little, “I just don’t understand what the hell you’re looking for. This is not what your father and I want for you. You don’t understand what goes with marrying a woman who carries someone else’s child in her womb.”

He hadn’t thought about it, maybe he had, but he didn’t want to give it any second thought. To do so would mean, that he intended to be in the future with Melody, that he intended to bond with her and her child, that he would actually watch over her and be there.

Which was precisely what he promised her.

“Let’s not talk about the future, it’s still many months before the baby is born,” he also couldn’t tell them that the wedding was a complete sham.

They wouldn’t accept her son faking a marriage.

Giving Melody whatever she wanted was easier than eating a red apple at Christmas.

For her he would do anything, and after a month of living with her, of seeing her smile every day, even though her parents and her sister were not part of her life as she was used to, Melody was still looking for a way to smile at the world, at life, to be happy with her son and with what she had at that moment.

That’s why when he saw her looking at veterinary brochures, he thought of helping her to start her own, even if she didn’t graduate, she could start with the premises and then, without hurry, prepare it and get it ready to receive all kinds of clients.

That would help her for a long time, give her a job where she could spend all her time with her son and a better quality of life.

“Timothy,” Hamlet tapped him on the shoulder, causing his thoughts to focus on the now “What’s going on? Something’s going on with your fiancée,” his cousin prompted, looking toward Melody.

He watched her exchange a couple of words with her father, she looked at the chapel, but didn’t see him, it frightened him for a moment.

Then he watched as she turned around and walked out again.

He couldn’t believe his eyes, even what his instincts were screaming, shouting at high pitched voices.

She was getting cold feet.

She was leaving.

mother, who was sitting next to his father in the front row of chairs, stood

faithfully believed that after the argument he had with his mother, they would not show

Melody chose started to play, as she

reporters and gossips were there, people who only came to see

never touched her or tried to

of the shower, of doing hours and hours of exercise, as long as he did not arrive at the penthouse

He really wanted her.

To become more involved, to make love again, would be to dig his own grave, and what he least wanted, was for her to believe that he was taking advantage of her hospitality, that he

the marriage was

months and he would make sure she had a house of her own, money in

the limousine, she had arrived

away from the driver’s

please,” he listened as Melody called out to his driver.

door where Melody entered and opened

there was nothing

wanted to scream out a million

told him without looking at him, though he, despite her

be normal, she

him, on several occasions. She slapped Devina when she thought Devina was setting her up. She defied her entire family by leaving with him, by choosing to leave home and have her

Redford might be many things, but she was no

are you saying that? You can’t leave. You can’t... Melody... you

broken, he could tell it in her voice. She has been this defeated, when she returned from his parents’ house, a

like the title of the famous writer Gabriel García Márquez, he knew that dinner would be a

he agreed

Melody and causing

comforts he had at times wanted to just disappear off the map, to get

at the end of the day, that was what he was

know you need me. God! The press must be going crazy!” he looked up at the chapel, certainly reporters were scattered about

focused on Melody; he

handle and slammed the limo shut. Then he pulled out his

worried about him, even when he didn’t even want his help, “let alone my sister-in-law,” he knew Devina was capable

something to watch

call and refocused on Melody, who was wringing her

her in those days together. When something bothered her, her eyebrows furrowed so much that she looked like she might have a worm over her eyes; when she was happy, her gray eyes sparkled with the same light that her smile cast. When she was anxious as she was at this

it too soon to marry?” he didn’t want to rush her, he couldn’t. Melody was the kind of person, who, if he badgered her with questions, insisting for answers

as he imagined, were full of tears to be shed, and

I saw myself standing

Melody? Where

who doesn’t love me. I don’t care if I lose all the benefits I was going to have with you, I don’t care if I have to beg Doyle for a

he ran his hands over his face in despair. This was not how he pictured his wedding to Melody. Not like this. Not

don’t know if she came,” she said wiping away tears, “I ruined everything. My son unknowingly ruined the relationship with

right. My mother is there, in the chapel.

he wore his suit

was cold outside, he should feel cold, but there was only a terrible fear that made