Chapter 33: Epilogue


    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.


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    This family reunion was taking ce after Timothy’s father hade through his second chemotherapy


    with flying colors, the results werepletely 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 exined 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 rtionship 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 n 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 hase 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’sment 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 rify.


    “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.


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


    alongside his beloved Carlota and their son.


    “I think she’s the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen,” Lydia said.


    “Her mother is beautiful,” Timothy hugged Melody and deposited a huge kiss on her lips.


    “Sweetie...” she whispered a little self-consciously, as her parents were there.


    “What?” he yed innocent. “Did I do something wrong?”


    His green eyes shed mischievously.


    “Let him love you. These moments are the best,” Carlota told her as she passed Mary to her. “I hope


    we have at least three more grandchildren soon.”


    Melody’s eyes widened, barely her little Mary was a month old, and already Carlota was thinking of


    more grandchildren.


    She reckoned that her husband’s family was not going to ept her daughter’s birth and marriage to


    Timothy that easily. They were a prominently wealthy family, owners ofrgepanies and a


    recognized family name, they had an image to maintain, and even on several asions, she was


    about to throw up the towel, but every time she looked at Timothy, she felt happier, and her heart was


    reassured, because she knew that he loved her, and that was enough. His love would break any kind of


    barrier between his family and her.


    Gradually, Carlota assimted the news, understanding that she would stay, that she would be part of


    her son’s life and that she had no choice but to learn to value and love her.


    The months that followed the wedding, despite the fear and uncertainty, both women began to see


    each other with different eyes, offering their support, as much in Melody’s pregnancy as in Timothy’s


    father’s illness.


    Melody remembered feeling Timothy so close to her, the moment she looked at herself in the mirror on


    her wedding day, her face was 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 it to. His father-


    inw was deteriorating and there was nothing that money or caring could do.


    Timothy suffered in silence. Although he said nothing to her, Melody was aware of his pain and tried to


    give him all the support she could. Only a miracle could save him.


    She smiled at her reflection; she was going to marry Timothy. She was a short time away from giving


    birth, her body had grown to great proportions, and she was almost unrecognizable.


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


    “Ready?” she heard Devina say, as she reached over and finished cing a delicate tiara on her


    hairdo.


    She wore her hair up in a bun, with a few loose, wavy locks.


    Her makeup was simple and in, as she was never fond of the extravagant and oundish.


    “At least let me put a little pink on your lips,” the makeup artist had told her. “You have beautiful gray


    eyes, but a little lipstick would suit you perfectly.”


    “Yes,e on. Put it on,” Devina answered for her.


    In those months, the two women had be inseparable. In Devina she found more than just a friend.


    “You look beautiful. That idiot is so lucky to have you,” thement was without malice or desire to


    offend Timothy, and that was clear to Melody. Devina had a peculiar way of showing affection.


    Only one who got close enough could understand how thisplex redhead thought and felt.


    “I’m just dying of nerves. I think this is bigger than me,” she confessed, as she wrung her fingers


    nervously.


    “Big? Big you have the belly, and it doesn’t weigh you down, and it doesn’t make you nervous. Getting


    married is no big deal.”


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


    his parents?”


    “Everything you’re feeling is normal. At least I think so,” she seemed to consider it for a moment and


    Melody wondered if it was that woman ever feared.


    “You didn’t panic? You didn’t want to run off and get married in Vegas? Just you and Hamlet?”


    “Yes. I wanted to run away. But not because I thought it might embarrass him or me, but because I’ve


    never been one for big weddings. And marrying a Giannato entails that and more.”


    “I know.”


    “Then stop wasting your time. Enjoy this moment. I don’t think you’re going to get married again.


    Neither that you’ re going to walk away like the first one...”


    “I’m not going to walk away,” she interrupted her.


    “I know. You’re in love and now he loves you back and you know it.”


    The door rang at this moment and her sister stepped through the summarily threshold with bright,


    excited eyes.


    “I can’t believe my little sister is getting married already. My little sis going down the aisle.”


    “Let’s see you calm her down. Your sister is going to eat all her nails and ruin her manicure,” Devina


    said immediately upon seeing Allegra arrive.


    “It’smon to be afraid. You just have to remember that you love him. And most of all, he loves you.”


    She took several breaths and let the air out and her sister hugged her, conveying the strength she


    needed.


    Devina was an excellent friend, but she didn’t give as much affection as Melody needed.


    She felt like a machine craving love. Like every day she needed to be constantly told how much she


    was loved, and her marriage to Timothy was right.


    “Let’s get you married!” shouted Devina pping her hands repeatedly and causing both sisters to pull


    away from the fright of the sound of pping palms colliding.


    Everything went perfectly that day. Their wedding day, the real one, the one when both genuinely loved


    each other, she and Timothy, the one they would never forget.


    Timothy hired a whole team of photographers to make his daughter’s first month memorable.


    Melody would never tire of telling him how much she loved him and how happy she was to have him


    there with her, to have given her daughter hisst name, Mary would be the happiest baby in the world.


    They consulted with awyer, the truth was that Timothy by marrying Melody could give hisst name


    to the baby, he could adopt her at a certain time, since Richard gave up his parental rights, and without


    any money offered by the two of them.


    The man decided to get out of their lives for good, but since she would doubt his word for a long time,


    she asked Timothy and thewyers he had to make him sign a document surrendering the right to see


    the girl.


    It was a cruel but a necessary thing to do, she cried for days, because she felt that she was taking


    away her daughter’s chance to know her real father, but she did not want a person so troublesome and


    malicious, so greedy and eager to get money, to seek advantages in every situation, as she was to


    Richard. For her daughter, her real father would be Timothy. Not because she would not tell her the


    truth about her birth, because she would when her daughter was old enough to understand the


    situation, but, because it would instill in her, the love and respect for the man she loved so much and


    who she was sure would love her daughter for life, because as Timothy said, that baby was more his


    than hers. Thatment would make her happy for the rest of her days.


    She had found the man of her life, one who loved her and who loved her daughter, one she could trust,


    that if at any time she were gone, Mary wouldn’t need anything.


    While standing there, with her family holding her and caring for her, she did not say aloud that she


    wanted more boys, she was eager to have them, to carry Timothy’s child in her womb, to give him even


    more happiness.


    Their love broke barriers, it came to make them happy. To unite them more than in holy matrimony.


    That which came as an agreement between them, a charade, and a sham marriage, became the best


    thing in her life.


    Now she could not imagine being with anyone but Timothy Giannato, the man who, with his warmth


    and love, made her believe in real love.


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