Mena
“Look, Mommy, it’s pink!”
Watching her excitement filled my heart with warmth.
“Is it for me? Can I open it?” Naty asked eagerly. “Is this the thing that’s better than the candy ring?”
Flustered, I looked at Alessio as he took the box from her. “I will open it for you, and while I do that-there’s something I want to ask you,” Alessio spoke tenderly. He took Naty’s hand across the table, and she smiled at him.
I relaxed in my chair, wondering what he was about to ask her.
“I’m not good at speaking,” Alessio began, “But I want you to know that what I’m going to tell you comes from the bottom of my heart,” his voice was sincere.
Naty nodded, giving him her full attention as her eyes turned wide.
For a moment, the air filled with silence as Alessio paused, thinking about his words.
“Naty,” Alessio said, nervously. “Having you and your mommy in my life is one of the best things that ever happened to me. I love everything about you, I will always be there for you-and I will do my best to raise you, care for you, and be your dad if you’ll allow me-”
“Yes! You’re already my Daddy!” Naty’s face lit up with a smile.
Alessio’s widened as well as he released a breath and opened the small box, revealing a beautiful pink ring.
He slipped the ring onto her finger, and it fit perfectly. Everything was perfect.
I watched, speechless as tears started to prick at the corners of my eyes. The scene in front of me was more than just touching. The words he said to her, what he did for her, their bond-meant the world to me.
Alessio squeezed Naty’s hand while she looked at her ring. “I love it,” Naty squealed. “It’s beautiful. Thank you, Daddy!”
“No, thank you,” Alessio chuckled.
This time I had to interfere, “No seriously, thank you,” my voice cracked as it became impossible to hide my tears.
I quickly cleared my throat, trying to compose myself. Controlling my emotions had never been my strongest suit, and this pregnancy made everything worse.
“I’m sorry. I should’ve bought you something as well,” Alessio spoke after he had been observing me for a while.
I shook my head, wiping away a tear with the back of my hand. “No, you’ve already given me more than I could ever ask for. Don’t worry about it.”
Alessio frowned. “It was just a joke, but you’re so…” He trailed off, reaching into his pocket. Then he stood up from his chair.
I watched him closely, and the second he pulled out another box and walked closer-I began to realize what all of this meant.
He was going to propose to me…
My heart skipped a beat as he got down on one knee. From that moment, everything else faded away. It was just me, Alessio, the box, and the question he was about to ask me.
I tried to keep a poker face, but my lips had already curled into a wide smile. “Jimena,” Alessio broke the silence. “I know you’re not one for big scenes or too much attention-”
“You’re right, I’m not!” I laughed through the tears that had started to roll down my cheeks. “I mean, I’m sorry-please continue!”
“Which is why I wanted this moment to be the way you like it, simple and quiet-and I love that about you. I love everything about you.” Hearing Alessio pour out his feelings, something so rare, made the moment even more special.
“Please believe me when I say, you deserve the world and everything in it, and I know and I promise I’ll give you that,” he said, his eyes locked on mine.
He then opened the box he held in his hand, and my gaze fell upon the ring inside. It was pink, just like the one he had given Naty, my favorite color.
I waited for him to ask me the question, and then he did.
“Will you marry me?”
My voice got stuck in my throat, but I knew my answer without a second thought.
“Yes, you have to say yes, Mommy!” Naty exclaimed.
“Yes!” I laughed through my tears. “Yes, I will marry you!”
Alessio smiled with relief as he carefully slipped the ring onto my finger. Once it was secure, I couldn’t hold myself back. I helped him up from his kneeling position and hugged him tightly while my heart raced with joy.
I pulled back just a little to look into his eyes-those deep, loving eyes. He reached up, his thumb gently wiping away my tears. “I love you,” he whispered.
“I love you too.”
Alessio gave a quick glance over my shoulder. “You might want to close your eyes for this part, Naty.”
I turned just in time to see Naty making a disgusted face before covering her eyes with her hands. Chuckling at her reaction, I returned my focus to Alessio. He reached for the back of my head, pulled me closer-and then connected our lips.
The kiss was long, intense, and I poured all my love into it. Only when we had to catch our breaths did we pull away, our foreheads touching. Alessio’s hand gently cupped my jaw, his thumb softly tracing my skin. He drew in a long breath. “I can’t believe you’re-”
“Real?” I finished for him. “I know.”
~The End~