The Italian's proposal

Chapter Twenty-nine

Melody

One week later

Melody was getting used to the new rhythm of life, which went hand in hand with her new title of Timothy Giannato’s fiancée, a title that this time was real, she wanted it to be true with all the feelings and love they both deserved and had for each other. Things improved wonderfully between them, the days had passed and now it was only a distant memory the moment when she left the chapel and decided to go back on the agreement, they both had made.

She remembered how that night, when she finally managed to tell Timothy how she felt about him, how much she wanted him, how much she loved him. How foolish she was to run away, to not give him a chance to tell her whether he loved her or not. Though deep inside, she suspected that, if she had done so at the time, perhaps the decisions and events would not have been favorable to either of them. Perhaps, if Timothy did not have the opportunity to analyze himself and realize how much he missed her, and she, for her part, did not have the courage to say what she felt, they would both be without each other, because of resentments and lies.

She felt his hand placed on her abdomen, which was slowly beginning to bulge. She was no longer the flat girl he met in the coffee shop, now her baby was growing stronger, blossoming inside her.

The magic of feminine nature, she was experiencing it and she felt ecstatic constantly, because next to her in bed, she had a man who genuinely loved and wanted her, one who was willing to give anything to see her happy, and it filled her heart with joy, she knew she could count on Timothy no matter if it rained, thundered, or stormed. He would be there, like a knight in shining armor, like a fulfilled and satisfied man, like a future husband, happy and ready to do anything for her.

And still in that life she was just starting to live, she still had the doubt that, at any moment, she would wake up from this dream and all the happiness she felt would vanish like a balloon being pricked with a sewing needle.

She was afraid.

A fear that every night prevented her from sleeping. She feared losing everything.

Maybe it was the typical fear commonly felt when you were happy, when you thought you had everything, and you were unable to deserve it.

Melody never hurt anyone, but that didn’t stop her from thinking that she didn’t deserve so much love from a man she barely knew.

What gripped her heart the most, what filled her with indescribable pain, was that she had not yet had the opportunity to meet her future father-in-law, to see her with the same eyes that she saw her son, with all the love and devotion that he offered her, with all the affection and disposition that Timothy had for him. She was saddened by the situation and the illness he was going through. She knew from her own experience, the pain that it caused in the family, when someone was diagnosed, that cancer was a horrible disease much worse than AIDS. AIDS gave at least the time to be with their loved ones, getting worse little by little, but in the end, they could last many more years of life, sharing with their loved ones.

But cancer, cancer was something Melody dreaded, it took her grandmother from her when she was just a girl.

That’s why she felt Timothy’s pain and his despair that week.

The day after she went to his apartment, out of her own desire and Devina’s hidden intentions, she confessed to him the situation her family was going through and why her mood was so explosive and changeable. She noticed it at first when she woke up and saw him looking out of the penthouse window.

He was looking at the emptiness, his green eyes full of tears, this worried her, and she thought for a moment that he regretted being with her, of having accepted her and having her in his life forever.

“Babe, what’s wrong? Please talk to me. Tell me what’s wrong and how I can help you,” she wrapped her arms around him hugging him tightly and squeezing herself close to him, trying to convey the strength she believed he needed at that moment. “You’re sad. You’re gone. You’re not with me. You got out of bed too early and now I find you here, staring at nothing. Forgive me if I worry myself senseless, but it’ s just that, after what we’ve been through, it scares me that you’ve regretted it.”

“Never in my life I’ll regret being with you. What I feel for you, I’ve never felt before and I don’t want to see you disappear again, because I’ll die right then and there. I can swear to you here, before a priest or before God himself coming down to earth, that I will love you for the rest of my life.”

Melody squeezed him tighter and felt Timothy’s warm hands wrap around hers and pull her arms a little tighter, pressing her closer to his back.

“I love you too. I love you, and I really don’t plan on leaving. I’m going to be here with you for whenever you need me, for whenever you don’t think you need me, but you still do, I’m not going anywhere, because you gave me a chance and I don’t plan to waste it. Neither of us should waste it.”

“It’s my father. On the day of the wedding, he confessed me... he confessed...” Timothy’s words were lost. She felt his body tighten and she didn’t know what to do, she didn’t know what to think, because she didn’t know what was happening and more than anything, she felt the pain in every agitated breath Timothy exhaled.

She stayed there hugging him until he could speak again, she didn’t force him to do anything else, when she realized that his father was involved, and when by the tone of voice Timothy used, something was happening, whatever was going on with his father, it was something delicate, something that affected Timothy very much.

“He has cancer, lung cancer. It’s stage two. I’ve been seeing doctors for two days. Tomorrow I have an appointment with one of the best specialists to see how compromised his organs are, to see how much damage it has caused to his body. But the fear is killing me Melody. The fear of losing him... It’s that...” his voice broke again, and Melody felt the same pain and suffering come over her, she already experienced it and knew what it felt like to have a loved one on the brink of life and death.

about losing either of her parents. Even if she didn’t talk to her mother yet, she still

hoarsely. She released her strokes and made

me,” she

words you throw in the air and, it might happen, but it might not. I must be aware, and I must be aware that anything can happen, and one

what to say to him, she knew there was no way to reassure

ready to lose my father. I spent days hating him and thinking he was a caveman and old-fashioned. Convinced he was forcing me into marriage so I could

not your fault feeling that way,

he said more forcefully. “It’s my fault for judging him, for not understanding his actions. I hated him and blasphemed against him, not knowing that all he wanted was what was best for me, in the event of his absence. Now I only want to find a way to save him, to keep him for more years, for more time, so that he can meet my children. And none of that

on yourself like this. You didn’t know he was sick; you can’t blame yourself for isolating yourself,” even though she was trying to

more for the things you believed, than the

don’t understand,” he pulled away from her arms and began moving around the room, frantically

she told him empathetically. “I’m trying, but I can’t help you while you keep blaming yourself and carrying that weight. Your father is alive, he’s still here with you, try

“Mel...”

him like this. “You have to look to the future. Stand your ground, find the best specialists, do everything in your power. That’s what you must do as his son. Wallowing in the pain

with crossed eyebrows and a frown. He was silent for a moment, and Melody

reason, but she

are you apologizing for? You didn’t do anything wrong,” he walked over to her

said as she let herself be wrapped up and snuggled next to him. Her heart wouldn’t stop beating fast being next

you like that because I can’t figure out how a woman as special and strong as you came

than you think you are, Timothy

like I’m in school,”

“Copying my words?”

and then pointed to his heart; “and mostly, here, in my heart. These are things

to have him by her side. “I’m the

near Gia’s stunning blonde, her stomach churned, and she

to her, the marriage information leaked out, and not by saying nice things about

about someone who is irrelevant in

“I just don’t understand...”

have to understand. I

your parents,” that was a pending issue. She was sure that

“I will.”

about us? Did you

would never do anything like that. I told you that time. That was an agreement between you and me. I got carried away and told Hamlet, but I really didn’t care to tell anyone else about our deal. It was always something

she smiled at the thought of the intense

that one,” he let out a sigh. “But I’ll always be grateful to her, because thanks to

believe that four pairs of eyes see more than

as he caressed her belly and hugged her,

he whispered to her in a hoarse voice half awake. “Is

I woke you up. Everything’s fine,” she said quickly.

I thought we should go shopping...” the knock on the

was strange, Paula never interrupted

a calm voice, as