“Come in,” Melina says to the person knocking on the door. She didn’t bother asking who it was as she was expecting Kat. Tonight is the gala. Melina is almost done getting ready. She’s wearing a nude one asymmetrical shoulder embroidered tulle dress. She applied mild makeup, and Serena helped her style her hair.
“Just give me a minute; I’m almost done, “Melina says, putting on her shoes. She didn’t want to put them on until it was time to leave.
“Sicuro,” Sure. A male voice says from outside the walk-in closet. Melina’s brows furrow as she realizes it’s not Kat she’s let into her room. She walks out to find out who it is.
Her breath gets caught in her throat as she sees Thomas. He stands in the middle of her room, looking dashing as ever. He’s dressed in a dark blue tux. His tux is perfectly tailored and fits him perfectly. His hair is gelled back, giving him a more serious look, but he still looks as handsome as ever.
Melina locks eyes with him and realizes he has been staring at her. Her cheeks flush as Thomas doesn’t stop staring at her, even though she has caught him.. Melina clears her throat to bring him back to Earth as he seems to have gotten lost staring at her.
“Sei Bellissima,” You look beautiful, Thomas says, walking closer to Melina. She can’t remember the last time Thomas looked at her like this or called her beautiful. Tears well up in Melina’s eyes as she recalls how she learnt those Italian words because he always said them to her. Melina thought she’d never see such a look in his eyes again.
Her sight becomes blurrier as the alluring look in his eyes doesn’t fade. She loved how the words rolled off his tongue with his Italian accent. He sounded sexy as he complimented her.
“Thank you,” Melina says, her heart rate quickening as he stands before her, only a breath away. He takes a loose strand of her hair and tucks it behind her ear. Melina’s eyes close momentarily as his fingers lightly brush her face.
“I got you something,” Thomas says, handing her a box.
“Thank you,” Melina says as she takes the box from his hand. She’s awed by what she sees inside the box. Thomas got her a water drop-black Rhinestone jewelry set.
“Let me help you put it on.” Thomas takes the necklace from the box as Melina turns her back to him, and he places it around her neck. His hot breath fans her neck, and heat begins to fill her body. The desire to back up into him so that the heat radiating from him can warm her body even more grows stronger.
“What do you think?” His hands rest on Melina’s shoulders as they stand before the mirror.
“It’s beautiful,” Melina says, touching the necklace.
“I am happy you like it.” He kisses her cheek before taking a step back from her. Melina’s body craves him back the moment he moves away. She misses the warmth she felt when he stood behind her.
“It’s gorgeous.”
“Not as beautiful as you; let’s go.” Thomas says as he grabs Melina’s hand and walks them out of the room.
***
Melina fears her heart will rip out of her chest because it’s beating so hard against her ribcage. As they walk into the Costanzo hotel, where the charity gala is being held, she can’t believe Thomas’ hand is wrapped around her waist. She’s worried that someone who knows what happened between them will say something that will make Thomas angry with her. Melina sincerely hopes no one speaks about it. She doesn’t want anyone to ruin things between them.
Melina anticipates Thomas finding his mother and leaving her with Kat while he greets his acquaintances, but he doesn’t. Instead, they walk over to them together. Melina recognizes a few of the people they converse with from the time she dated Thomas.
The first half of the night is spent catching up with acquaintances Melina made while she dated Thomas. They’re primarily wives or girlfriends of Thomas’ business associates. She really thought he wouldn’t want anyone they knew to see them together tonight. She’s surprised he didn’t care.
Melina walks to the bar to refill her drink and runs into Kat.
“Hello dear,” Kat says, smiling.
“Hello, Kat.” Melina smiles back and hands the bartender her empty glass.
“You look lovely.” She admires Melina’s entire ensemble.
“As you too.” Kat has on a green asymmetric stretch satin dress with intricate detailing and single-beaded sleeves.
“Thank you, dear. Do you know where Thomas is?”
“He’s standing close to the stage talking to Stefano.” Melina takes a sip of her wine as the bartender finishes refilling her cup.
“Great, he won’t be looking for you for a while,” she says, grabbing Melina’s arm. “Come with me, dear. There are some people who are eager to see you.” She drags Melina away from the bar with her.
“Who?” Melina asks as she walks alongside Kat.
“You will see,” Kat says, smiling.
Kat leads them to a small group of three women. One of them is facing Melina, while the other two are backing her. The lady is holding a beautiful baby girl, but Melina has no idea who she is.
“Ladies, see who I found by the bar,” Kat says. The ladies turn to face Melina.
“Melina,” the two women exclaim, excited to see her.
“Aurora, Melissa, oh my God, it’s been ages since I last saw you both,” Melina says, pulling them into a hug.
“Likewise,” Aurora says as she wraps her arms around Melina. She has blue eyes, brunette hair and a round face. She and Thomas resemble each other because they both look like their mother.
“I have missed you,” Melissa says, hugging Melina tighter. She has green eyes, a pointed nose, and pitch-black hair.
“Me too.” Melissa and Melina grew to become good friends when Melina dated Thomas as their ages are so close. Melissa is twenty-two and four years younger than Thomas. They drifted apart after she stole her brother’s money.
“How are you both doing?” Melina asks, pulling away from them.
“Great, how about you?” “Mama told us what happened,” Aurora says, with pity in her eyes.
“I am doing fine; you don’t have to worry about me.”
“That’s good to hear,” Melissa says, softly smiling at Melina. Melissa is about to say something when the baby in the arms of the unknown woman starts crying.
“I can’t believe I forgot to introduce you. Please forgive me, dear,” Kat says to the unknown lady.
“It’s fine, Kat,” the lady says, smiling as she tries to calm her baby.
“Melina, meet Andrea, Stefano’s wife. This is his beautiful daughter, Elda.”
“Hello, it’s nice to meet you,” Melina says, extending her hand for a handshake, but Elda, her baby, clasps Melina’s little finger.
“It’s nice to meet you, too.” Andrea smiles and attempts to take her baby’s hand away from Melina’s, but Elda refuses to let go. “Sorry about that,” she says, trying again to take Elda’s hand away, but she holds onto Melina’s tight.
“It’s fine.” “If you don’t mind, I’d love to hold her.” Melina adores babies and considers them to be the cutest beings on the planet.
“I don’t mind at all.” Andrea exhales as she hands Elda over to Melina, who glides into her arms with ease.
“Hello, cutie,” Melina says, smiling at her, and Elda reciprocates.
“Wow, I have never seen her accept someone she didn’t know so quickly before. You must be good with babies.”
“You could say that,” Melina says as she turns to face Elda. She makes funny faces to make Elda laugh; her adorable baby laugh fills the entire room. It only stops when the MC announces that the auction is about to begin. Andrea tries to take Elda back, but she refuses to go to her mother. Melina tells Andrea that she doesn’t mind carrying her during the auction.
They make their way to their tables and take their seats. Thomas joins Melina at the table and says nothing as he notices her with Elda. He only smiles at them and kisses their forehead.
Halfway through the auction, Melina realizes Elda has fallen asleep in her arms. She calls Andrea’s attention to let her know. They’re all seated at the same table.
“I can’t believe she slept in your arms,” Andrea says as she extends her arms to take Elda from Melina.
“I also can’t believe it, too.” Melina hands Elda back to her mom.
“I bet you will be an amazing mother when you have your own kid.”
Andrea’s statement makes Melina’s heart clench in her chest. Her words could’ve been true if only Melina had carried them to full term twice. Tears sting the back of her eyes, imagining how her first child would’ve played with their cousin tonight but was never given the opportunity.
Melina feels someone grab her hand under the table and squeezes it tightly. She knows it’s Thomas even without looking. Melina can never mistake his touch against her skin. She squeezes back tightly, trying to keep her tears from falling. Nobody understands her grief over the loss of her children better than Thomas. After all, he’s their father, and he’s as hurt as she is.
“I believe so, too,” Thomas says, kissing Melina on the cheek. She closes her eyes and embraces the feeling of his lips against her skin. A tear falls from her eyes, and Thomas quickly wipes it away. Melina truly wishes her babies were alive. She misses them despite only knowing them for a short time. They will always be a part of her.