The Italian's proposal

Epilogue

Melody

One-month-old, Mary Carlenne Giannato Redford was happy, seeming delighted to be surrounded by all her family members, passing from hand to hand, arm in arm, all wanting to caress her and tug on her tiny, blushing cheeks.

Considering it was the first time both families gathered for such an important event as the baby’s first month, Melody was ecstatic to see all the people who were important to her in the living room of her apartment.

This family reunion was taking place after Timothy’s father had come through his second chemotherapy with flying colors, the results were completely favorable, not even a hint of cancer was visible in his lungs and the scans came back perfect and clean.

It seemed like a miracle, and Melody didn’t doubt it. She didn’t doubt it because she knew miracles existed. She knew that despite the circumstances it was possible to have a glimmer of light, because only a miracle explained that a man like Timothy Giannato, decided to be with a woman like her, to forgive her even when he thought she stole that ridiculous amount of money, more than anything else she considered a miracle, the relationship that started to strengthen with her mother and sister. Little by little Lydia was again that important part of her life, the one that she had to recognize that she never stopped being in her heart, because despite not talking to her every day, not seeing her, not feeling her, the love for her mother, even with the anger and pain of betrayal, was still there, because you never stopped loving a mother, just as she knew, and that thought grew stronger, her mother did not stop loving her either; she was just confused and made very bad decisions.

Decisions that almost cost her marriage, Charles Redford being a proud man, a proud and hurting man.

The situation with Lydia got out of control, he did not want to forgive her, if it wasn’t for the intervention of his daughters, nothing would have turned out well between them.

“No,” her father said, when Melody and Allegra joined together to plan a romantic dinner, at a fancy restaurant, a few months ago. “I don’t want to be with her. Don’t force me to forgive her.”

When Melody came out of the hospital after fainting, almost six months ago, when everyone thought she was going to lose her baby, she promised herself she was going to make things right between her parents, she couldn’t let a marriage that has been through so much, that has come out of even more extreme situations, such as the recognition of her untimely pregnancy, she wasn’t going to let bad decisions tarnish all those moments of happiness.

“Dad, please. Don’t make this situation more difficult for us,” Allegra said, confused and saddened. She didn’t understand how it was possible, that a man who loved her mother so much, who adored Lydia as his life, could be so stubborn. “Do you love her?” when Charles nodded, she continued, “then, why don’t you give her a try?”

“Because I’m not ready yet. Because I don’t want to. Because the more I see her, the more I remember how she treated your sister. Don’t you know? Don’t you remember?”

“Of course, I know, dad. But she’s mom. She’s our mother and she’s your wife. There are some things you simply have to let go of and forget. For your own sake.”

Allegra always been the intellectual one with her facility with words. She was proud of the sister she had, for her intelligence and kindness with which she treated other people made her who she was, the best sister she could ever had, and ever wished for.

Even with all the differences they had in the past.

Melody wrinkled her nose in response to her sister’s comment and turned a smile to her father, for although the words her sister said were true, she knew that at the moment Charles Redford was in, they were not what he wanted to hear, they were not what he needed to hear to understand the situation that both sisters were trying to clarify.

“Dad, what she means is, we’re a family. I was the most affected of all, and I forgave mom. I forgave her because I don’t want my daughter to grow up without her grandmother by her side. I forgave her because I know mom didn’t mean to do the things she did, or the things she said. She didn’t support me then, but she’s trying now, the mere fact that she’s trying gives her a point in her favor. Not one, it gives her ten points in her favor,” she took a breath and walked over to her father until she hugged him and gave him a kiss on the forehead. “Dad, because we are children of adversities, we are children of the bad decisions we make. At the end of it all, even though these decisions try to define who we are, what defines us, is our regret, when we make a mistake, and we repent and ask for forgiveness. And mom is sorry.”

Now, that was a thing of the past. Her father had agreed to try, shedding tears, and letting go a little of the anger that had been taking up part of his heart and the feelings he had felt for her mother.

celebrate their daughter’s life and the new opportunity Timothy’s father had to live alongside

she’s the most beautiful girl I’ve

beautiful,” Timothy hugged Melody and deposited a huge

self-consciously,

innocent. “Did I do

green eyes

as she passed Mary

widened, barely her little Mary was a month

even on several occasions, she was about to throw up the towel, but every time she looked at Timothy, she felt happier, and her

she would be part of her son’s life and that she had no choice but

months that followed the wedding, despite the fear and uncertainty, both women began to see each other with

bright and full of joy, she was finally going to marry the man she loved. Timothy’s father’s life was beginning to slip away faster than they imagined and wanted

Although he said nothing to her, Melody was aware of his pain and tried to give him all the support she

short time away from giving birth, her body had grown to great proportions, and she was almost

from pregnancy felt wonderful, even, herself, she felt more confident and beautiful.

she heard Devina say, as she reached over and finished placing a delicate

hair up in a bun, with a few loose,

and plain, as she was

a little pink on your lips,” the makeup artist had told her. “You have beautiful gray eyes, but a little lipstick

it on,”

two women had become inseparable. In Devina she found

comment was without malice or desire to offend Timothy, and that was clear to Melody. Devina had a peculiar

one who got close enough could understand how this

is bigger than

and it doesn’t make you nervous. Getting married is no big

down in the middle of the aisle? How about me embarrassing Timothy

to consider it for a moment and Melody wondered if it was that woman

run off and get married in Vegas?

or me, but because I’ve

“I know.”

get married

going to walk away,”