by Anne Stone
“Sweetheart, we can make it through this together. Promise me that you’ll always love me, because I love you more than life itself.”
There, he uttered the three magical words that he swore he would never say again. There, squatted before Angelina, he came to an understanding of what was right before his eyes. Angelina was his angel that was sent by Tammy. Tammy wouldn’t want him to spend the remainder of his life without someone to love or share his heart with. He was a remarkable man and needed her in his life.
Angelina was speechless and couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Alejandro said he loved her. She had to make sure that she heard him correctly. “Could you repeat that? Did you say what I thought I heard you say…?”
“Yes, Angelina. I love you with all of my heart. I think I’ve loved you since the night of Colleen’s accident. I want to be honest with you. Deep down, I feel responsible for your infertility. I should have been more in tune with what was going on with you. I should have insisted that Gabriella keep me aware of how you were doing. But I can’t look back now. What is, is—we can only move forward and try and deal with the cards that have been dealt. I love you and will stand by your side through whatever we may encounter. Angelina, you mean the world to me. I don’t want to see you unhappy. We can adopt. We’ll do whatever we can to have our own child, one that we can raise together. A child that you can teach how to read and write. You are a fabulous role model, and I want you to be that role model to our children.”
“Alejandro, I’m confused. I don’t understand why you keep referring to having our child… Raising our child. What are you saying?”
He guessed that now was the best time to ask her a very important question. Since he was already on bended knee, he reached for her hand and intertwined it with his. He placed his other hand softly on her cheek. “Oh, Angelina… how I love you. You mean the world to me. I never thought I’d be saying ‘I love you’ to another woman. You helped me deal with my fears… my past… Sweetheart, I love you. I love you for who you are. I love you for the teacher you are. You’ve taught me so much. I think you’d be crazy to give up on the world that means so much to you. We can deal with whatever faces us together. I’ll always be there to support you, support your dreams, support your everything.”
Looking directly into her eyes, he said, “Angelina, will you be the mother of my children? Because I know we’ll have children together. I don’t care that they won’t be borne by you. All I care is that we’ll raise them in a family filled with love.”
She wasn’t exactly sure she if he was saying what she thought he was saying. Then, she heard the magical words, “Angelina, will you marry me?”
Angelina was in total shock. The whole direction of their conversation had done a one-eighty. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words would come. She swallowed deeply and tried to find her voice. “Alejandro, are you sure? Because there’s no going back.”
He nodded.
She saw a tear escape his eye and fall down his cheek. When she saw that tear, she knew he truly loved her and that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. She reached up and brushed the tear aside. “Yes,” she whispered. “Yes, I will marry you.”
He pulled her into a tight embrace and held her. Moving back slightly, he looked directly into her eyes. “You’re my life. Your pain is my pain. Your happiness is my happiness. Your dreams are mine. Together we will make it through whatever obstacles are presented to us because I know our love can survive anything.” He leaned in and kissed her. She embraced him… Oh how she loved him.
He pulled away. “I’m sorry I don’t have a ring for you. I hadn’t planned on asking you to marry me today. I wanted to do it romantically, with candlelight, wine, soft music…”
“This was the perfect setting. It was so unexpected. It took me by complete surprise.”
They would deal with her infertility together and, if needed, she would seek counseling. Today, she was going to bask in the glow of his pronouncement of love for her.
They decided to hold off on sharing their engagement. They wanted to enjoy being in love before sharing it with the world.
That evening, they enjoyed a quiet dinner at his house. “When do you want to get married?” Alejandro asked.
Angelina laughed, “Alejandro, I don’t know. I’m still in complete shock that we’re even getting married. All I know is that I want to enjoy our engagement and take our time. I don’t need to rush into marriage. Even though I know I can’t wait to become your wife, I still need time to fully deal with my infertility before we marry. I don’t want to carry that baggage into our marriage. I hope you understand.”
“I do. I’ll do whatever you want. I don’t care when we marry, just that we do. I love you so much.”
“And I you.”
They finished their dinner. It was getting late. He would have loved for her to spend the night in his arms, but thought better of it. He drove her home and walked her to the door. She asked him in, but he declined.
“See you tomorrow?” he asked.
“Of course. We can discuss our plans as to when we tell our families. You know I’m going to have to stay away from your sister. She’ll see right through me.”
“I know. She’s going to be ecstatic to have you for a sister. I think she’s been praying for that from the moment she officially introduced us.”
“I would agree with that.”
He kissed her and left her standing at the front door. She was glad that her family had already gone to bed and her mother hadn’t waited up for her. She would be overflowing with joy when she learned of their engagement. She’d been dreaming of this day forever, even if there was one part of her dream that would never come true… Being her child’s biological grandmother. She’d have to break the news to her family at some point. She knew she’d have to face the facts squarely and be up front with them before the wedding. She didn’t want to set expectations that would never happen. She was infertile and would never have her own children, but she was forever lucky to have Alejandro in her life. He was understanding and knew the medical reasons behind her inability to have his children.
Angelina went to bed but couldn’t sleep. She tossed and turned for well over an hour when she decided to give Alejandro a call. He answered immediately.
“Can’t sleep?” he asked.
“How did you know it was me? The phone didn’t even ring”
“Because I was getting ready to call you. I can’t sleep either.”
“Alejandro, I just want to say that I love you so much. I’m so lucky to have you in my life…”
“Angelina, I feel the same way.”
“We have so much to think about. My mind keeps spinning…”
“I know, so does mine.”
“How about I come over early and we’ll start trying to answer some of those questions together?”
“Sounds like a plan. I better let you get some beauty sleep. Not that you need beauty sleep at all, since you’re already so beautiful to me. I love you unconditionally.”
Angelina chuckled, “I know you do, and I love you, too.”
They said their goodnights. Angelina was the happiest she’d been in so long. She just hoped that she could make Alejandro happy, knowing that she couldn’t bear his children.
Chapter Eighteen
Angelina awoke with an intense headache. She jumped into a hot shower to try to relieve it, then dressed and joined her family in the kitchen. Rubbing her hand across her forehead, she tried to drink a cup of coffee.
“Angelina, you okay?” asked Wyatt.
Wearily, she looked up at him. “Yeah, I just have a monstrosity of a headache. That’s all.”
“What time did you get home?”
“It wasn’t too late.”
“What did you and Alejandro do yesterday?”
Angelina’s thoughts drifted back to the perfect day that it had been. She replayed everything… Walking through the gardens, their conversation, and,
to top it off, him asking her to be his wife. What a day!
“Angelina?” Colleen placed her hand on her sister’s arm.
She drifted back to the present. “What did you say?”
Wyatt repeated his question.
“Oh, we walked around the Botanical Gardens. The roses were in full bloom. It was beautiful.”
“Maybe you have such a headache from being outdoors… Could be allergies.”
“That’s true.” Angelina knew better than that, though. It wasn’t from being outdoors—her headache stemmed from lack of sleep. She was lucky if she’d gotten two hours of sleep last night. She was just too excited. Her life was going to change shortly. She was the luckiest woman in the world, in love with a wonderful man. Angelina tried to finish her coffee, but couldn’t choke it down. She threw the contents down the drain, washed her cup, and placed it into the dishwasher. She reached for her purse and withdrew her keys.
“Where’re you off too?”
“Alejandro is off today. I told him I’d come over this morning.”
“Weren’t you just with him?” her brother asked.
“What’s it to you?” She waved goodbye and headed out the door.
Her parents sat at the table, shaking their heads. They both knew something was up with their daughter, especially when she didn’t finish her coffee.
Angelina pulled up at Alejandro’s. Before exiting the car, she rested her forehead on the steering wheel. She hadn’t had a headache this bad in a long time. She knew she needed to put a smile on her face when he answered the door. If only she could. Slowly, she exited the car and walked up the sidewalk. She didn’t even get a chance to ring the doorbell when the door opened in front of her.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Nothing, why?”
“Don’t lie to me, Angelina. I saw you sitting in the car with your head resting on the steering wheel.”
“Oh,” she said.
He grabbed her hands and pulled her into the foyer. Quietly, he closed the door and pulled her into his arms. He kissed her forehead, then led her towards his bedroom. She didn’t resist. He brought her to his bedside, then squatted down to remove her shoes. All the while, nothing was said between them. She laid down and he joined her. Pulling her into his arms, she placed her head on his chest. He stroked her hair, then massaged her temples. No words were needed.
After they laid there for a while, he spoke, “Better?”
She nodded into his chest.
“What’s wrong?”
“Killer of a headache.”
“Did you take anything?”
“No. I thought it would go away, but it’s only gotten worse.”
Alejandro got up and went to the bathroom where he retrieved a pain killer for her. He handed her the pills and a glass of water. She downed it, then he rejoined her in bed.
“Thanks,” she said.
He nodded. “Go to sleep. We’ll talk when you wake.” He held her until she fell asleep. He considered himself the luckiest man alive. He was holding his future wife in his arms—a moment he thought he’d never experience again. As he looked at her, he realized that he would never tire of watching her sleep. She was so beautiful. She was his and he’d never let her go. Whatever their issues were, they would face them together along with the help of their families. He would see to that.
He decided to let her sleep, so he rose and went to his study. He’d read some medical journals until she woke, and then they’d talk. He sat at his desk with his back to the doorway, staring out the bay window that overlooked the backyard. With his forefinger on his temple, he watched a bird taking a bath, a squirrel scampering up the oak tree while a rabbit was gnawing away at the grass… Deep in thought.
She watched him from the doorway, wondering what he was thinking. She’d slept for several hours before waking alone in his bed. She laid there smelling his cologne on the sheets. As she rolled over, she saw his pillow. She pulled it into her arms and squeezed it. Soon she would be sharing his bed with him. She’d be lying in his arms and awakening to his warm touch. Oh, what a dream… a dream that she couldn’t wait to come true.
She approached him. He remained in his own world. She wrapped her arms around his neck and brushed a kiss on his cheek.
“Feel better?” he asked.
“Much. Thanks for that. I just needed a little sleep.”
“I take it you had a sleepless night?”
“What do you think? Of course, I did. I couldn’t get yesterday out of my mind. It was… It was magical. I can’t believe you asked me to marry you. I’m still in shock. I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy in my entire life.”
He spun around and pulled her onto his lap. “Ready to have that chat?”
She snuggled deeper into his arms. Nuzzling his cheek, she nodded. “Now?”
“What else do you have—”
Before he could finish his thought, the phone rang. It was his mother. She wanted to know what he was doing.
“Angelina’s here and we’re just talking. Why?”
“Why don’t the two of you come over for a late lunch? The whole family will be here.”
He relayed his mother’s request, and Angelina nodded her head in approval.
“How about we come over in the next hour or so?”
“Sounds great, I can’t wait to see you both.”
Alejandro hung up the phone. “Sorry about that.”
“Why are you sorry? I enjoy being around your family. This way I can get to know them better.”
“I know, but we planned on discussing our future and all…”
“We can do that another time. It’s not every day that your mother invites you over to have lunch with the family.”
They arrived at his parents’ house an hour later. As they exited the car, they could see the family gathered around the pool in the backyard. Alejandro ushered her through the gate, announcing their presence as it closed behind them.
“Are we missing anything?” Alejandro asked.
Maria pulled Angelina into a welcoming hug while his father shook Alejandro’s hand. “It’s so good to see you, dear. I’m happy you could join us.”
“Thanks for inviting us.” Alejandro pulled out a chair for Angelina. She seated herself next to his brother, Alec. It was a little warm, but not too bad for a summer day. Alejandro’s father was grilling by the pool. Angelina wanted to help Maria and Gabriella prepare the remainder of the meal, but they wouldn’t allow it. They wanted her to sit and get to know his brothers.
They’d been sitting for a while when Alejandro came up behind her, leaned down, and whispered in her ear, “How are you feeling?”
“Fine.”
“No more headache?”
“It’s better, but not totally gone.”
Alejandro went inside and came back with another round of pain killers and a glass of water. “Here, take these.”
For the second time that day, she complied and took his medication. She nodded her thanks.
Maria appeared with a plate of fruit. “You’re not feeling well?”
“Just a headache. I’m fine otherwise.”
“Maybe you should go inside and get out of the heat.”
“I’ll be okay.”
Gabriella joined her friend at the table. She kept staring at Angelina. She could tell that something was different about her, but couldn’t determine what it was.
They enjoyed their lunch, but when afternoon storms threatened, they went inside. Alejandro joined Angelina on the couch, placing his arm around her shoulders.
“What’s new?” inquired Gabriella.
“Not much. Just trying to relax. It was such an exhausting year for me that I need to take a little time and chill out. Soon, I’ll start planning for next year.” Planning, she thought. Not only planning for the school year, but her upcoming wedding. Boy, she and Alejandro really needed to talk. She didn’t know how long she could keep their engagement from his sister. She was her
best friend and Angelina wanted to share her exciting news. Maybe they could discuss their plans on the way home. Alejandro was on service the entire next week and she would hardly see him.
They said their goodbyes to his family. Alejandro opened the passenger door and Angelina eased into her seat. Just before he closed the car door, he reached in and gave her a soft kiss on the lips. “I’ve wanted to do that since we got here. You look so beautiful.”
He closed the door and walked around the car. As he did this, he noticed Gabriella peeking out the front window. They needed to talk today about their future before Gabriella confronted him.
“That was fun,” she said as he started the engine. She reached for his hand. “Alejandro, we need to talk about when we’re going to tell our families.”
“I know. Gabriella kept looking at me like she’d already figured something out. I caught her looking out the window as I helped you into the car.”
“She’s pretty perceptive.”
As he pulled the car into his garage, he asked her to join him on the patio. He retrieved cool drinks from the kitchen while she settled at the patio table. When he joined her, he dropped a kiss onto her head and sat down.
“While I was inside, I checked my calendar. Do you think you can wait until the Fourth of July?”
“For what?”
“Our announcement.”
“That’s only two weeks away. Why?”
“I thought I’d have a barbeque to celebrate the holiday. We’ll invite both of our families. This’ll be ideal since I haven’t had a party since I moved back. What do you think?”
“That’s a great idea.”
“I’ll call your mom and invite your family. Okay with you?”
“Yeah. We’ll have to go shopping.”
“I need everything,” said Alejandro. “Do you want to go shopping next week after I get off? Let’s plan on Friday evening, dinner and shopping.”
“Sounds like a winner to me.”
Chapter Nineteen
Alejandro called Angelina’s house the following morning. “Jackie, hi. It’s Alejandro. How are you this fine Monday morning?”
