Anton's Strength

by R. M. Healy

  Hearing the heavy footsteps, he looked over Essie’s head to see Jae, Chan, Sebastian, and Luca around the coffin, ready to lift it and carry it into the church.

  He wanted to help, but his father looked from Anton to Esther and stepped forward with his brother, Tomasso. Meaning Anton wouldn’t have to carry the coffin as planned.

  Anton saw Danielle out of the corner of his eye, staring at him and Essie with hatred, he didn’t make eye contact with her. He refused to let her make this day about her.

  “I’m here now, I’m not going anywhere,” Anton said, as Essie pulled back to begin walking behind the coffin, her head slightly down.

  She didn’t respond, but she didn’t need to. Anton could feel how close she stayed to him, and that was enough. There was a pause by the door while the priest greeted them and led them into the church.

  It was much colder inside than it was outdoors, and Anton felt Essie’s small shiver. He took off his suit jacket as they walked to the front seats and draped it over her shoulders, she whispered a quiet thank you as they took their seats next to Jessica and their mother.

  While the priest did his speech, Anton wrapped his arm around Essie, who silently cried into his chest throughout the funeral. All Anton could see was the photo of her father beside the coffin, watching them, reminding Anton of his promise to the man. He would have looked after Essie with or without him asking, but he would forever be thankful he got the mans blessing before he died.

  Essie didn’t sing along with any of the hymns, and neither did he.

  There were no speeches from the family, and Anton was glad, he didn’t think Essie, Jessica or her mother would be able to handle it.

  After the hymn of farewell, they left the church and waited outside as her father was carried into the hearse which would drive to the other side of the vast graveyard. Still, hardly anyone spoke on the long walk, and when they reached the plot, her father's coffin was already in the position to be lowered into the ground.

  As he was lowered, music played from the hearse and Anton heard Essie’s laugh.

  “Highway to hell?” Anton questioned, himself unable to hide a smile.

  “Dad loved them, his favorite band, I can’t believe he picked this,” she laughed through her tears.

  If her father had meant it to make everyone smile with his choice of song, it had indeed worked, for everyone laughed through the song, the sadness turned into a moment of happiness.

  Essie stepped forward and held her mothers and sister’s hands, saying something only the three of them would hear, and they walked to the edge of the grave. As the three of them said a quiet goodbye, they bent down and picked the soil up with their hands and threw it on the coffin.

  The three of them stayed beside the grave when two men began shoveling the dirt into the hole, and people walked toward the trio to give their condolences.

  “We’re just going to put these flowers on the family grave, and then we will be straight to the reception,” his mother said, eye’s red as she opened her arms to her son.

  “Ok. I’m staying here till Essie leaves,” Anton answered, bending down to hug his mother.

  His family said goodbye, and he looked back to Essie, who stood to talk to Jae’s mother, and father while Jae and Chan spoke to Jessica.

  The few other guests were already walking away besides Danielle, who was, unfortunately, walking toward him.

  “Well, if it isn’t the infamous Anton. Decided to take off your bandage I see,” she commented, turning her nose up in disgust as she looked at his scar.

  “Please go away,” he said, looking at the backs of his family as they walked away, “This is a funeral, not a social event.”

  “Oh please, you think I don’t know you’re doing this for your image? We all saw you with that little Italian girl, stop kidding yourself. Your scabby skin is actually not so bad, makes you kind of rough around the edges.”

  Danielle smiled slyly as Anton took a deep breath, he wasn’t going to react.

  “I don’t know who you are, but I suggest you get a cab home because you’re not welcome at the reception,” Essie said, looking down at the other women with a smile of her own. Anton stood there shocked, he would have never known she was crying just moments ago from her stern voice.

  “Jae invited me, actually!” Danielle pathetically tried to argue as Jae marched over and gripped her by the arm, his face apologetic as he looked at Essie.

  “We’re leaving,” Jae said, turning back to a flustered Danielle.

  “Sorry about that, Essie, I can’t believe she showed up here,” Anton quickly spoke.

  “It was Jae who brought her here, not you,” she said, taking his hand into her own. “Can you wait for me? I just want to say my own goodbye?” She asked as her family walked away, leaving them alone by his grave.

  “As long as you come and do something with me?” He asked.

  “What?”

  “There’s someone I need to say goodbye to as well.”

  It was time for him to let go of his own guilt, to finally go to his sister’s grave.

  As they walked across the graveyard, their feet crunching on the gravel, Esther could see the group of people dressed all in black around several gravestones in the distance.

  “Is that your family?” Esther asked Anton as they drew closer.

  “Yes. Sebastian’s dad had a family plot here,” Anton said, holding his hand out, “Isabella’s grave is here too.”

  Esther took his hand, and he looked down at her with a small smile, and she couldn’t help but smile back.

  “You look far more handsome without that bandage on your face,” she commented honestly. Anton’s confidence was evident, and she loved it.

  He paused and pulled her hand close to his mouth and placed a gentle kiss on the back of it, “Thank you.”

  “No, thank you. I don’t know how I’d have gotten through today without you there.” Esther placed her arms around his neck and kissed him on the lips, his own hands resting on the bottom of her back.

  “GET A ROOM!” She heard Luca shout in the distance.

  “Luca! Shh, we’re in a graveyard for goodness sake!” Rosa said equally as loud.

  Both she and Anton laughed as they stepped away from each other, their hands still entwined as they walked to Anton’s family.

  “You came,” Rosa’s voice broke, and tears fell from her cheeks as she embraced her son, then held out her other arm for Esther. “You don’t know how happy finally seeing the two of you together makes me.”

  Esther didn’t know what they were. They had no official tag on their relationship and hadn’t spoken about the future. But she wouldn’t have to wait long to find out.

  “I called it months ago,” Luca joked as he wrapped his arm around his wife. “I just wondered how long it would take for Anton to grow a pair.”

  Everyone laughed as they stood beside the three gravestones, one was in the shape of a beautiful angel holding a yellow flower, and Esther knew it was Isabella’s.

  “We will tell everyone you’re running late,” Anthony said, wrapping his arm around his wife’s waist, and gently pulling her away from Anton and Esther, “Come on, Rosa.”

  After the goodbyes were done, Esther and Anton stood alone, holding hands in front of the grave. On top of the angel’s head, a bright yellow bird landed and looked at them both, chirping loudly, clearly not shy to be around humans.

  “Yellow,” Anton simply said, stepping closer to the grave, “Isabella’s favorite color was yellow.”

  Esther was very realistic and often skeptical of a lot of things. But at that moment, she felt a shiver as the little bird sat there watching them, chirping merrily.

  “I’ve never seen a bird like it,” Anton said in disbelief. The little bird spread its wings and flew away. “I’d of never have been able to come here without you, Essie. For years I was a jackass to you, and yet you forgave me, you helped me grow as a person.”

  He picked one of the
yellow flowers from the vase on his sister’s grave and stood in front of her, letting out a sigh.

  “Asking you to be my girlfriend doesn’t seem like a strong enough for what you mean to me and I know it’s too soon to ask for anything else. I do know that I’ve fallen in love with you Essie. Your father knew I loved you before I did. I fell for you when we were just teenagers and have resented you ever since for not feeling the same way. I’m a different man now, and I think I can make you very happy. So, how about it? Will you be my girlfriend, perhaps even my wife in the future?”

  He held out the yellow flower to Esther, and a tear fall down her cheek. Anton’s face suddenly turned to panic, and he wiped the tear from her eye.

  “I’m so insensitive. I should have waited till you were ready, not the day you buried your dad. I am so sorry Essie, forget I said anything.”

  Esther shook her head and took the flower. She wasn’t crying for the reasons he thought. Today had started as possibly the worst day of her life, Anton had managed to turn it into something beautiful.

  “No, don’t take it back. I want that Anton. Being here proves why we shouldn’t wait. I know how I feel about you, and I want to have a future with you too. I love you.”

  And despite the fact Esther knew it was kind of strange that the first time they said I love you to each other was in a graveyard, she knew it was the right time.

  Epilogue

  Anton looked down at Essie as she slept, and he felt like the luckiest man in the world. It had been two days since he’d asked her to be his girlfriend and they hadn’t had any time to themselves alone until now, and Essie was so exhausted she fell asleep as soon as they got into bed together.

  She’d been asleep for at least twelve hours, and Anton had been watching her for the last ten minutes as she slept peacefully. Last night when she was in his arms, she cried into his chest as she drifted off to sleep, and Anton felt powerless. He hated that he couldn’t take away her pain, but he knew she had the strength to get past this.

  After she’d stayed at her mother’s the last two nights, he’d persuaded her to stay at his house. His mom and dad had discussed transferring the house to him, but he wanted to pay them for it, not have it as a gift. Initially, they were against the idea. However, Anton’s dad finally agreed.

  So in under a month, the farmhouse and all the land around it would be his. And hopefully, in a few more months, Essie’s too. On the one hand, he knew it would be foolish to rush things, on the other, he knew how he felt about her, and life was short, why waste more time?

  Tucking her under the blanket and kissing her warm cheek, he got out of the bed and walked through the empty house. When his parents first bought the farmhouse, they wanted to fill it with loads of children and have a large family. Sadly, his mother had a difficult pregnancy with Isobella and couldn’t carry another baby.

  Did Essie want children? He wondered. Anton wanted to have a big family, loads of little children running around, to care for each other as his family did for him after his accident.

  He’d decided to finish this restaurant for his parents in Italy and then leave Romano’s business. He didn’t want to take away the company from Essie, she’d been the one to make it what it was.

  Once he finished his business degree, he’d think about what the future held.

  The large room had a cold chill, so he lit the fire. He sighed as he looked at what food was available in the fridge, Anton wasn’t sure what Essie liked for breakfast, he did know she hadn’t eaten since yesterday evening and would be hungry.

  Since seeing how thin her body had become, he planned to make sure she put on all the weight she’d lost the last couple of months.

  Picking out all the ingredients he needed, he got to work on making something she couldn’t refuse.

  “Morning,” Essie mumbled as she walked in the kitchen, his black dressing gown swapping her. Her hair was in a bun atop of her head, and her skin was pale without makeup. Essie still looked perfect to him, her freckles and big eyes, making her seem vulnerable and innocent.

  “You look adorable,” he commented as he picked up the coffee’s he’d made, “Here, take a seat, I am cooking us breakfast.”

  “Is all of this just for us?” She asked as she took her seat in front of the fire at the table.

  He’d prepared the table, and he had to admit, he’d gone overboard. He had put out a selection of juices, coffee, milk, a bowl of mixed cut fruit, bread rolls, and he was still cooking the main dish.

  “Yep, so you better get started,” he joked as he put the poached eggs on ham, pureed avocado, and toasted bread. Lastly, he finished it by topping with diced tomato, onion, and herbs.

  He put the plates down and sat in front of Essie, watching her face to see her reaction.

  “Wow, this looks better than the one we serve at the restaurant, how did you know it was my favorite?” Essie asked animatedly as she picked up her cutlery.

  “I didn’t. It’s my favorite, I hoped you’d like it too,” Anton commented as Essie already started eating, clearly starving. He couldn’t stop his smile as he saw how enthusiastic she was about it.

  She closed her eyes as she took a bite of the food and let out a low moan. Anton watched her lips as she put the food in her mouth, and he found it strangely erotic.

  “You’re actually a better cook than your mom and the chef at Romano’s,” Esther said as she took another bite of the food.

  “Thanks. I wanted to talk about Romano’s actually. I won’t be working with you. I am going to quit after this project in Italy is finished. It’s all yours, you made it what it is,” he told her.

  She froze with the fork just inches from her mouth and looked surprised at his words.

  “Why?” She asked.

  “Because you deserve it. I don’t want anything to affect our future, and I know how passionate about Romano’s you are, it’s yours,” he said honestly as he began to cut his own breakfast.

  “No. I’m going to need you with me at Romano’s, I have plans, and I can’t do them without you,” she firmly said and then carried on eating as if it was the end of the conversation.

  “What plans?” He questioned as he took a bite of the food.

  “I love Romano’s, and I want to help with its future and development, but I want to start my own restaurant, a Korean restaurant,” Essie answered, not making eye contact with Anton. He thought it was a fantastic idea.

  “With your experience and knowledge, you can do anything you put your mind to. If you want to stay a part of Romano’s then we will make that possible,” he replied. “I’ll support you the whole way.”

  “You really believe that? It’s something I’ve always wanted, and I don’t want to make excuses anymore. I never wanted to abandon Romano’s, but now you’re there, I feel confident taking a step back to peruse my dreams. Bedside’s, its named after your family, not mine,” she joked, finishing the last bit of food on her plate.

  “A name I hope you’ll share with my soon, Essie Romano, it sounds perfect,” he commented as he reached his hand across the table to take hers. “We have so much to learn about each other, to experience together.”

  He saw Essie’s lip turn up at the edge and her eyes light up, “how about we make another experience together? Right now, in your bed?”

  Anton swallowed and raised his eyebrows, he was taken aback by her directness. He liked it. A lot.

  “Come on then,” he challenged her, tilting his head to the side.

  She grinned and took the lead, walking away from the table and winking at him as she walked away.

  Standing in front of Anton’s bed, Essie dropped the gown to the ground exposing her naked body. Despite the fact her bones were slightly more exposed than they should be, she turned Anton on more than anyone else ever had. Her long legs, small perfect breasts, and hourglass figure were enough to make any many crazy.

  “I’m the luckiest man alive,” he whispered as he walked towards her, his eyes wer
e drawn down to lips as she flicked her. Reaching out, he pulled her body towards his own and bent down and claimed her lips.

  Essie’s hands were urgent as she ran them down his chest, and her mouth felt firm as she desperately forced her tongue through his lips.

  They stood together for a few moments, the carnal passion between them undeniable. Anton pulled back and looked down at her confused face, her breathing was ragged, and he had to catch his own.

  “We don’t need to rush, I’m not going anywhere,” Anton said as he held her waist.

  “I know that. I just want you so badly,” Essie admitted as she pulled back from him to lay on the bed in front of him, a seductive grin on her face as she gestured for him to come and join her.

  It was something Anton understood, he wanted her just as much, if not more. He stripped himself of his clothes and picked a condom from his bedside cabinet. He’d never had sex with a woman here, and he was relieved he’d put them there last week.

  As he climbed on top of Essie, he felt her body shiver and heard the loud sigh that fell from her lips.

  “What’s wrong?” He questioned as he felt his pulse racing, his hard length just inches from her opening.

  “Nothing. I just can’t believe this, us,” Essie said, her hand reaching out to touch his face, her fingers brushing across his scars.

  “Is that a bad thing?” He asked, brushing her long black hair from her face as she looked at him.

  “No. It’s just crazy how much can change in a year, I wouldn’t have thought this is where I’d be, but I wouldn’t change it for anything,” she explained, lovingly staring into his eyes.

  “Neither would I,” he replied, bending back down to kiss her. She took the condom from him, and she put it on him, leaving his hands free to roam her body.

  When she used his dick to rub her clit, he almost growled in pleasure. He took over, thrusting his length up and down, watching Essie as she bit her bottom lip, her eye’s rolling back in ecstasy.

  He sat up and slowly thrust inside of her tight opening, and the noise that came from her lips was taunting to Anton, he could have been done in seconds, but he wanted to make sure she enjoyed it as much as him.