EPILOGUE
FOUR YEARS LATER…
Elsa
“It’s a boy!”
“YES!!” both Marcello and Emma exclaim at the same time when the Confetti cannons pops with a blue colour. Marcello lifts his three year old daughter in the air and they both shriek with joy.
Our first born turned out to be a girl and Marcello was very happy to have become a girl-dad but I know he has also been yearning for a boy even though he has never told me that. The grin on his face right now says it all.
He places Emma on the floor and dashes to lift me of the ground. I share his happiness, congratulating the both of us. He is finally going to have his heir.
“Congratulations, Marcello,” Gabrielle says, and they vigorously shake hands.
“Congratulations yourself, Gabrielle. How is the pregnancy taking you?” Marcello asks him. Rita has had a troublesome pregnancy and it has only five months now. She almost had a miscarriage two months ago but her baby survived by God’s grace after a lot of effort from the doctors.
“We are still moving. It has been peaceful since. I am hopeful it’s going to end well,” Gabrielle responds. Gabrielle is such a a patient and supportive man, Rita is such a lucky woman. Despite the Marcello and Gabrielle’s differences, Marcello is the best man for me. Even though he is a lot to deal with, at the end of the day, he is a loving and caring husband and father.
Rita runs to me with a bright smile.
“Oh my God, Elsa. Congratulations!” she shrieks even though I told her in advance immediately after knowing the baby’s gender. She is so dramatic, and that is why we are best friends.
“Thank you, Rita. I can’t believe we are going to have babies born almost at the same time. This is something I have never dreamed of but , damn it will be so much fun,” she says.
“I know right. I am glad it had to be Gabrielle. You have been married for over a year now but he still can’t stop stealing glances at you,” I tease. We both look back at the same time, catching him red-handed before he quickly turns his attention to Zia. We break into giggles.
“I know. I am equally obsessed with him,” she also turns to give him a glance.
” It’s obvious,” I tell her.
“You shouldn’t say anything yourself. You have been married to Marcello four four years now but don’t act any different either. Those lustful glances you keep giving each other say it all,” she says.
She is right.
I roll my eyes at her.
God save me from these love birds.
“I would like to take my wife away for a long moment please,” Marcello says, holding my hand in his. Rita shrugs and excuses herself.
“What is the matter?” I inquire, looking into his playful eyes. He leans down and kisses me on the mouth.
“Can’t I steal a few minutes of yours without a particular reason?”
“Seriously?”
“There is nothing wrong in that, is there?”
“We just have to make sure this party ends smoothly. You will have me all night and for the rest of forever,” I tell him.
“Okay. I have something to tell you,” he finally says. He just had to make sure he spent a few minutes teasing me.
I sigh.
“Tell me then,” I beckon him.
“Nothing much. I just have some news for you,” he responds.
“What it is?”
“Marco. They found him, in Sardinia. My men have captured him. What do you want me to do to him?”
I look blankly in his eyes. After all these years? Where has he been hiding?
“I don’t know,” I stutter. I really don’t know. After all this time, all the wounds he caused have healed. I don’t even know what to say.
“I will figure out what to do with him later. Right now, I just want to enjoy tonight and have some fun with you,” he says.
“With me? What about our guests?”
“They are family. It’s not like they are strangers here. They will be able to take care of themselves,” he responds, leaning down to kiss me again.
“But the party has just started-”
“I can’t wait. Right now, I want to be with only you,” he whispers.
“Mamma,” Emma’s sharp voice breaks our reverie. We both turn at the same time.
“What is it dear?” I ask, walking to her.
“Can I have some of the candy?” she asks, twisting her dress in her hands , with those big pleading eyes.
“Sure, honey. As long as you promise to brush your teeth after. You don’t want to visit the dentist soon, do you?”
“No, mamma. I will brush my teeth after. I promise.”
“Okay, you go ahead,” I tell her.
“Thank you, mamma,” she shrieks and then darts away with her tiny feet to go have some candy with Rita.
“She looks so much like me. Your genes didn’t even try,” Marcello says from behind me. I turn to find him with a diabolical smirk on his face.
“Wait till your son looks a hundred percent like me,” I promise him. He chuckles.
“You should already know judging from Emma that my kids will resemble me. My genes are strong, you know,” he says, proudly.
“If your genes are so strong, why don’t they keep you company while I go have some candy with Emma and Rita,” I huff, feeling slightly irritated.
“Come on, Elsa. You can’t be mad at me over that. It is just a fact,” he says, grabbing my hand before I walk off.
“Come here, I will soothe your anger,” he says climbing up the stairs, taking me with him.
“By fucking me?” I ask the most obvious question.
“Yes, and we both know it is the best way,” he responds, his voice already raspy.
He knows that very well and so do I. That is one thing we can’t lie to ourselves about.
THE END.