ARRANGEDLOVEEPI1

“
Iam done!
”
Finall
y,Ihadgr aduatedf rom high
school wit
hhonor s.Manypar ents
wer ewaiti
ngf ortheirchildrentot ake
pictur
es.Ididn’tlookf ormypar ents.
Theydi dn’
tcomet omygr aduati
on.
Today ,mybrot her,Dav i
d,was
graduatingfrom Har vardLawSchool .
Theywentt her etoseehi sgr aduat i
on.
Gr
owingup,Inevergotsupportf
rom
myparent
ssinceIwasbor n.My
brotherwast hepreci
ouschi
ldinmy
parent’seyes.Hewouldgobey ond
thei
rexpect at
ioni
nacademicsand
athl
etics.Theylov
edhim dearl
y.
Mypar entsplannedtonev erhav ea
chil
daf t
erDav i
dbut,thei
rplanf ail
ed
eightyearsl
ater.Whenmymot her
foundoutaboutbei ngpregnant, she
andmyf at
herwantedt ogetan
aborti
onbut ,
mygr andparentsdi dn’
t
wantthem togetone.Theymanaged
toconv i
ncethem tokeept he
pregnancy.
WhenIwasbor n,
myparentshad
t
houghtofputt
ingmeupforadopti
on.
Mygrandf
athermanagedtoconvi
nce
them t onotdosuchat hing.I
nstead,
mygr andparent
swoul dr ai
semeas
theirveryowngivingmeat tent
ion,
l
ov e,andsupport.WhenIhear dthe
trut
h, Iwasgrat
efulforthem.They
becamemyguar diansandmy
parent s.
Ihadseenmypar ent soverthey ear
s
but,Inevergotcloset othem.Iwoul d
tel
lthem aboutmysuccessesi n
schoolandat hl
eticsbut ,
theynev er
seemedt obei nt
er estedinme.They
wouldboastaboutmybr other’
s
successinfrontofev eryonetohear .
Somet i
mes, Iwonder edwhyt heyhad
mebor n.
Myot herr elat
iveswer edr awnt omy
brotherandmypar entst hanme.
Theywer enev erconcer nedf orme
andt houghtt hatIdidn’texistinthe
family.Ifeltli
keanout sider.My
grandpar entswer edif
fer ent.They
tri
edt oincludemei nev eryt
hing.
Theywer etheonl yfami lytome.
AsDav idgotolderandmor epopul ar
,
mypar entsbecamemor einvolv
ed
withhisli
feandf ame.Heappear edin
magazinesandt hemedi a.Whenhe
wasi nlawschool ,
Iheardthathehad
wasexpect edtobecomeat op
l
awy erbyhisprofessors.Ididn’
tcare
abouthisfame.It ri
edtoliv
emyown
l
ife.
AsIgrewup, Iworri
edaboutmysel f
andmygr andparents.Iacceptedthe
factt
hatmypar entswer enever
goingtobethereforme.Asf orDavi
d,
Iwasn’tt
oosure.Inev erhadan
rel
ati
onshi
pwi t
hhi m.
Itookmydi plomaandwal kedtomy
grandparentswhower ewaiti
ngfor
me.Mygr andfathergavemeasmi l
e
andopenedhi sarmst ome.Iwalked
ri
ghtintothem.“ GoodjobVer a.I
’
m
veryproudofy ou,”hesaidtome.
“Thanky ougrandpa,”Isaidt
ohim
andreleasedhimf rom myhug.
Grandmot hergavemeahug.“ Our
preci
ousVer a.I’
m sopr oudofyou,
”
shesaidt
ome.Wet ookaf
ew
pict
urest
oget
herandmadeourway
tothecar
.
“Weshoul dgooutandcel ebrate,”
grandfathersuggest edt
ous.“ I
agree,”grandmot hersai
dt ohim.{ I
t
woul dbeni ce.}“Doy ouhav ewor k
today ?
”Gr andfatheraskedme.I
wor kedatasmal l cafei
nour
neighborhood.I twasawayf ormet o
helpsuppor tmygr andparents.“No.
Nott oday,”Itoldhi m.
“That’
sgreat,
”hesaidtome.“ Where
shouldwego? ”Iaskedthem.We
weredriv
ingonamaj orst
reetofSan
Franci
sco.“Howabouty ourfavor
it
e
It
ali
anrestaur
ant
,”mygr
andf
ather
suggested.
“Yespl ease,
”Isaidtohi m.My
grandf at
hermadeat urntoanot her
streettodr i
vetoNor t
hBeach.Soon,
wedr oveintot
hepar kinglotofmy
favoriteIt
ali
anrestaurant,Georgio
It
alia.Wegotoutoft hecarandmade
ourwayt otherestaurant.
Whatshoul dIorderthistime?Iwas
walkingabitaheadofmy
grandparents.Mygrandpar ents
walkedslowduet ot heirage.I
sl
oweddownabi tsot hattheycould
catchupt ome.It ur
nedmyheadt o
seeani celooki
ngcardr i
vi
ngintothe
par
kingl
ot.Ni
cecar
.
Oncemygr andparentswer enextt o
me,Iwalkedwi t
ht hem intheirpace.I
openedthedoorf ormygr andpar ent
s
andwalkedinsidet oseemany
peopl
ewhower ewai ti
ngfort hei
r
seati
ntherestaurant.Somany
peopl
e.It
’sgoingtobeami dnight
mealatthi
srate.
Iwast emptedt otel
lmy
grandparentsthatIwoul
dbefineto
eatani cehomecookmeal .Aftera
fewmi nutes,Ifel
tagustofwind
behindme.It urnedmyheadabi tt
o
seeanel derl
ycouplewholooked
veryupperclass.Theel
derl
ymanwho
wasinawheelchai
rlookedatmy
di
rect
ion.I
shelooki
ngatme?
“
Claudi
o?”
Mygr andfat
hertur
nedhisheadt o
seetheelderl
ymanwhohadcal led
him.“Piet
ro?”mygrandfat
hersaida
name.Gr andpaknowhim?The
el
derlymangav ehim asmile.“
Myol d
fr
iend,”hesaidt
ohim.
Mygr andf at
herwalkedov erandgav e
theelderlymanahug.Gr andmot her
andtheel derl
ywomangr eetedeach
other.“I
thadbeenal ongtime,”my
grandfathersaidt
ohi m.Theel derl
y
mannoddedhi sheadi nagoodmood.
“Yes.Ithasbeenal ongt i
me,”my
gr
andf
athersai
dtohi
m.
Theelder l
ymant urnedhi sheadto
me.“Whoi sthis?”theel der
lyman
asked.Iwal kedov ernextt omy
grandfather.“Thisismy
granddaught er,Val
eria.Shelikesto
becalledVer aforshor t.Shehadjust
graduatedtoday ,”mygr andfather
i
ntroducedmet ohisfriend.
Theelderl
ymangav eouthishand.
“Pi
etroMinett
i,
”heintr
oduced
himself
.Ishookhishand.“Ver a
Laurent
i,
”Iint
roducedmy selfhim.
“I
t’
snicetomeety ouand
congrat
ulat
ions,
”hesaidtome.I
gavehim asmi l
e.“
Thanky ou,”Isai
d
t
ohi
m.Imethi
swi
fewhowasMar
ia.
Iturnedmyheadt omygr andparents.
“May beweshoul dleave.Idon’tmi nd
ahomecookmeal ,”Ifi
nallysaidto
them.“ Nonsense.It’
syour
graduation,
”mygr andfathersaidto
me.“ Iknowbut .
.”“
Wai there,”Piet
ro
cutmeof f.
Hewheel edhimselftoawai ti
ngst af
f.
Icouldn’thearhim becausemany
peoplewer et
alki
ngatt hesamet i
me.
Soon, Isawachefcomeoutoft he
rest
aur ant.Pi
etroandthechefshook
handsandexchangesomewor ds.I
guesst heyknoweachot her.Next
thi
ngIknew, t
hechefwast alki
ngt oa
wai
ter
.Af
terawhil
e,t
hewai
terwent
of
fsomewhere.
Pietr
ogesturedusov er.Ifol
lowed
behindmygr andparentsandMar i
a.
Oncewegott ohim,thewai t
er
retur
nedwithsomemenusi nhi s
hand.“Fol
l
owme, ”hesai dtous.I
l
ookedatPi etr
owhowasaboutt o
mov ethewheelsofhi swheel chai
r
himself
.
Itookonehandleandplacedmy
otherhandonhisshouldertolethim
knowt hatIwasbehi
ndhi m.“Letme,”
Itol
dhi m.Hegavemeasmi leand
pattedmyhand.“Thanky ouVera,”he
saidtome.Ipushedthewheel chair
andf
oll
owedt
hewai
ter
.
Wewal kedintoapriv
ater oom.I
pushedhimt otheheadoft het abl
e.
“Thankyou,”hesaidtome.“ Your
welcome,”Isaidtohi
m andsat
betweenmygr andparents.“Youhav e
acaringgranddaughter
,”Pietr
osaid
tomygr andfat
her.
“Yes.Sheisver
ycari
ng,
”my
grandfat
hersai
dtohim.Thewai
ter
passedoutthemenusandlef
tusin
pri
vate.Il
ookeddownatthemenu.
WhatdoIwant ?Iwaschoosing
betweenchickencar
bonara,
shri
mp
scampi,andbakedti
lapi
awithshr
imp.
Soon,
thewai
tercomebackwi
thhi
s
ordercheckbook.“ Hel l
o.I
’
m Mar cel
o
andI ’
llbeyourwaiter.Areyouall
readyt oorder
? ”heaskedus.Asa
star tofourdinner,Pietr
oordered
ev eryoneasal ad.Onebyone, t
he
wai terwr ot
eourent reesfr
om each
per son.Af t
erhef i
nishedwrit
ingmy
grandmot her’
sentree,helookedup
from hi sordercheckbookatmewi t
h
asmi le.
“Whatwoul dyoul i
ke?”heaskedme.
“I
’l
lhavetheshrimpscampi ,
”Isai
dto
him.Hewr otedownmyor der
.
“Anythi
ngtodrink?”heasked
everyone.“
Wineal laround,
”Piet
ro
saidtothewaiter.Iraisedmyhandto
getthewaiter’
sattention.“
Exceptf
or
me.I
’l
lhaveaglassofwat
er,”Isai
d
t
ohim.“Cert
ainl
y,
”thewai
tersaidto
me.
Afterwet ol
dhim ouror der,he
walkedoutoft heroom.My
grandpar entsandtheMi netti
swer e
havingconv ersati
ons.Isatqui etl
y
andl i
stenedt othem speak.Af tera
while,thewai t
ercamebackwi thfour
gl
asses, abot tl
eofwi ne, andaglass
ofwat er.Hepour edthewi netothe
el
der l
yandgav ememywat erbefore
heleftther oom again.
“Howlonghasitbeensincewesaw
eachother?
”Piet
roaskedmy
grandf
ather
.“Iwoul
dsayabout
twentyy ears.Yourgrandsonwoul d
havebeenf ouratthetime,”
grandfathersaidtohim.Ilistenedto
thei
rconv ersati
on.Iguesst heyare
tal
kingaboutol dtimes.Itookasi pof
mywat er.
GrandmotherandMar iawer ehav i
ng
thei
rownconv ersationaboutt heir
husbands.Thewai tercameback
withoursal
adsandourent rees.Ihad
tosaythatdi
nnerwast hebest .After
ourmeal,weor deredtiramisuf orour
dessert
.Yes.Myf av or
itedesser t
.
Oncetheti
ramisucametothet abl
e,I
t
ookabi t
e.Itwasdel
ici
ous.“
Ver ai
s
abeauti
full
ady.Shei
stheperfect
mat chformygr andson,
”Iheard
Pietrosay.Huh?Ilookedupatthem.
“I
ndeed.Rememberourpr omise?”
grandfathersai
dtohim.
“Ofcour
se,”Piet
rosaidtohim.
GrandmotherandMar iast
oppedt hei
r
conver
sationandlookedatthem.
Theyseemedt oknowsomet hing.
Somethingdidn’
tfeelri
ght
.“You
meanaboutt hemar r
iagebetween
them?”grandmothersaidoutloudto
them.
Quickl
y,Igr
abbedanapki
nand
coughedmyt i
rami
suint
oit.Iwasi
n
shock.
Mar
ri
age!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~
[
6/24,00:11]Ndozv oo:
ht
tps:
//chat.whatsapp.
com/
Imj
KmCS
D8w6DzBCJat TfuN

ARANGEDLOVEEPI
SODE2

Istar
edatt heelderly.Theirwords
weresounexpect edt ome.Shock,
anger,andsomedi sappointment
fl
owedt hroughmyv eins.Mylif
ewas
taki
ngadi ff
erentturnt hatwasmade
formemany earsagobef oremybirt
h.
Theplanwasunf ol
dingbef oreme.
“Yes.Idor emembert hatpromi se.Do
youthinkit’st
heper f
ectti
me? ”my
grandfatheraskedPietroforhis
thought.Pietr
onoddedhi sheadt hi
ng
thati
twasaper fectti
me.Icoul dn’t
beli
evemyear s.Theyhadpl anned
formet omar rysomeonewhoIdi dn’t
knowany t
hingabout.
“Sowhendoy out hi
nkt hattheycan
getmar r
ied?”grandfatheraskedhi m.
Istoodupf rom myseat .Ireall
ydidn’
t
thinkthatIwoul deverbe
disrespectfult
omyel dersespeciall
y
mygr andparent
sandhi sfri
end.
“Idon’
twantt
omar r
y…notri
ghtnow,
”
Isaidt
othem.Theylookedatmeas
i
ftheyal readyknewmyr eact i
on.
“Youar en’tgett
ingmar ri
edr i
ghtaway .
Iwast hinkingintwomont hs,”Piet
ro
saidtome.Twomont hs!“Youwi ll
havetomeetmygr andsonandgett o
knowhi m bef or
et heweddi ng,”he
explai
nedt ome.
“I
’m sorr
yt obedisrespectful
and
everyt
hingwhenwehadj ustmetbut,
I’
mt ooy oungtogetmar ried,
”It
old
him str
aightup.Ifeltahandonmy
myhand.Il ookeddownt oseemy
grandmot her
.“Sitdowndear ,
”she
saidtome.Ibr eathedinashaky
breathandsatbackdowni nmyseat.
Thi
sist
oomuch.
“Iwouldli
ketoinvit
eyouthreet
ohis
bir
thdaypartynextweek.He’st
urni
ng
twentyfour
,”Piet
rotol
dus.
Twentyfour!Ididn’
texpecttheage
gap.Idi
dn’tmindat hreetofouryear
di
ffer
encebut ,sixy
eardiff
erence
wasabov emyl imit
.
Twentyfouryearol
dmarrya
sevent
eeny earol
dgir
l?I
sn’
tthata
cri
me?
“Ithi
nki
tisthebestt omar rythem i
n
twomont hs.Verawi l
lbeei ghteenby
then,
”gr
andf athersaidt oPietr
o.
Pietr
oseemedt oli
ket heideaand
hadabigsmi l
eonhi sf ace.“Perf
ect
,”
Pietr
osai
dt ohi m.Grandmot herand
Mar
iadi
dn’
tseem t
omi
ndaboutt
he
mar
ri
age.
Icl
osedmyey
esandl
etoutasi
gh.
Can’tbeli
evethi
s.Idi
dn’
tfinishmy
dessertbecauseIl
ostmyappet it
e.I
couldn’
tbr i
ngmysel
ftoprocessing
everyt
hing.Theyst
art
edtot alkabout
theweddi ngandsomeoldtime
memor ies.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~
Onceathome, Iwal
kedtomyr oom
andclosedthedoor
.Iputmyst uf
f
downont hetabl
e.I
’
llputt
hem away
l
ater.Itur
nedmyheadt othebed.It
l
ookssoi nvi
ti
ng.It
ookmygl asses
offtomakesuret
hatIdi
dn’tscr
atch
them whenIdi
veint
othebed.I
walkedovert
othebedandlaiddown.
Whyi
sthi
shappeningtome?What
wasmygrandf
athert
hinki
ng?
Forsomer eason,Iwasthinki
ng
aboutmypar ents.Idi
dn’twantt
o
categorizemygr andfat
herli
kemy
parents.Hewoul dn’tsi
nktothei
r
l
evel.
Hemusthav
ear
eason.
Iclosedmyey estothink.Wonder
whathei sli
ke.Myl i
feasat eenager
wasov er…toacertai
next ent
.Most
l
ikely,Iwouldn’tbeabletoat tend
universit
y,hangoutwit hfri
ends,and
gooutonmyowni ft
heguywast
he
st
ri
ctandcont
rol
l
ingtype.
Idri
ft
edof
fintoadeepsleept
hinki
ng
aboutmyfut
urehusband.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Twoweeksl
ater
…..
Whatt
owear
?
Iwast ry
ingtopickwhattowearfor
myf utur
ehusband’swedding.I
remember edthathi
snamewas
Adri
an.Ispentthelastt
woweeks
thi
nkingabouthim,wonderingabout
hispersonal
it
yandhi sl
i
fe.Ididn’
t
knowmuchabouthi m.
Lastweek,
mygr
andpar
ent
swer
e
tell
i
ngmesomeoft hei
rmemoriesof
him andthefamil
y.Theyshowedme
pictur
esofAdri
anasababyt oaf our
yearold.Tobehonest ,
hewascute
asachi l
d.Iwonderedwhathelooked
l
ikenow.
Idecidedtowearamar oonwrap
dressthatwentabovetheknees.I
woremybr ownhighheeledsandal
thatwouldmatchthedress.Myhair
wasinabunt hatwasheldwitha
combt hatwasadornedwithcryst
als.
“Thatshoulddoi t
,”Isaidtomy sel
f.I
decidedt owearmygl assesincase
event houghIreal
lydidn’tneedthem.
Iwor ethem f
oraf ashionstatement.I
metmygr andpar
entsatthebott
om
ofthest
airsandgotint
othecar.We
droveof
ftoPietr
o’shome.Iexpect
ed
thatwegetther
eatsunset.
Remember
,youaren’
ttooeager
aboutt
hemarr
iage.
Aft
eranhourdr
ive,
wearr
ivedatthe
gat
esofPiet
ro’
shome.Iwas
sur
pri
sedoutofmymindaboutthe
vi
ewinfr
ontofme.
Pi
etr
oli
vesher
e!
Ishoul
dn’thavebeenver
ysur
pr i
sed.
Hisoutf
itshouldhav
esetanalarmin
myhead.“ Ishoul
dhavet
oldyou,
Piet
rousedt obeaCEOofMinetti
Resort
s,”hetoldme.
Nowhet ell
sme!Whydidn’tIt
hinkof
that
?Howdi dInotmakethe
connect
ion?!
Ihadani deaaboutmyf utur
e
husband.I nmyknowl edge,the
Mi netti
shadt hreeboys.Eachboy
hadt hei rownr eputat
ioninbusiness
andi nt hespot l
ight
.Theol dest,
Mat thewMi nettiwasalreadymar r
ied
toawomannamedAngel awhowas
af ashiondesi gnerofaf amous
It
alianf ashioncompany ,Bel
lezza
Il
lumi nar e.
Thesecondson,
Stephen,wasnot
marr
iedyet
.Ihadheardrumorst
hat
hewasdatingamodelatthe
moment.Hewasknowntohav
ea
ni
cesmilet
hatwomenwoul
dfainti
n
fr
ontofhi
m.Helovedt
odochari
ty
work.
Thel astson,Adrian,
wasnotmar r
ied
eit
her .Hehadar eputat
ionfordati
ng
manygi r
ls.Nopictur
ehasev erbeen
takenofhi mf orsomereason.Many
peopl ehadt r
iedtogethispi
cturefor
years.Nobodyexceptf orafewknew
whathel ookedli
ke.
Grandfat
herdr
ovetothefrontofthe
mansionwhereabutlerwaswaiting
forguest
s.Wegotoutofthecar .The
butl
erwalkedt
owardsus.“Welcome
toMinett
iManor.Youmustbet he
Laurent
is,
”hesaidtous.“Yeswe
are,
”mygr andf
athersai
dtohim.
“I’
m heret oparkyourcarsir,”hesai
d
tohim.Gr andfathergav ehi
mt he
keystopar kthecar .Wewal kedup
thestairsthatledtothehouse.Once
i
nsidet hehouse, anotherbutlerwas
standi
ngneart hedoor .Helooked
muchol derandaboutmy
grandfather’
sage.
Thebut l
erlookedatuswi t
hasmi le.
“Ah.Ibeli
evey ouaretheLaurenti
s.
Everyoneisinthegarden.I’
l
lescort
you,
”hesai dtous.Hewal kedus
thr
ought hemansi ontogettothe
backyard.I
nt hehouse,ever
ything
l
ookedexpensi
ve.
Vases,painti
ngs,andot herit
ems
decorat
edt hemansi on.Thisplace
mustcostaf ortune.Soon, wefound
oursel
vesinthegar den.Thegar den
wasv er
ybeaut i
ful.Fl
ower s
decorat
edt hewhol ebackyard.Light
s
werealreadyli
tsincethesunwas
sett
ing.
Manypeopl ewer etalki
ngtoeach
other.Irecognizedaf ewt obe
i
mpor t
antpeopl efrom dif
ferent
businesses.Iwasst art
ingtobecome
verynerv ous.Iwasget ti
ng
fl
ashbacksofmyf ami l
y.I
twasa
memor ythatIhadkepthi ddeninthe
dept
hsofmymi
nd.
Fl
ashback….
age5….
Itwasmybr ot
her ’
sel eventhbir
thday.
Myparentsinv
itedt hewhol efamily
tocel
ebrat
e.Theyseemedv er
y
happytobeatmybr other’
sbir
thday.
Looki
ngaround, everyonewer e
tal
ki
ngtoeachot herbesidesme.
Iwalkedupt omyAuntSar ahtotal
k
toher.Shewast alki
ngtomymot her.
“AuntSarah?”Isaidhername.Aunt
Sarahandmot herlookeddownatme.
Alr
eady ,mymot herwasn’
thappyto
seemeandi nt
errupther
conversati
on.
“Don’
tyouseeI ’
m busyVal er
ia?Go
away,”AuntSar ahsaidtomei na
annoyedt one.Ifel
ttear
sf ormingin
myey es.Ilookedatmot herwho
seemedpl easedaboutAuntSar ah’s
mannert owar dsme.Theyr eturnedto
thei
rconv ersati
on.Iwal
kedawayt o
fi
ndanot herpersontotalk.
Itri
edt otal
kt oUncleMar t
inwho
wasdr inki
ngsomet hing.“Uncle
Mar ti
n?”Itr
iedt ogethisatt
ention.
“Excuseme, Ineedtotalktoyour
fatheraboutsomebusi ness,”hesaid
tome.Hepushedmeawayf rom hi
m
sot hathecoul dtal
ktomyf ather.
Nobodyseemedt onoticeme.
Iwal
kedtot
hecorneroft
heroom
andl
etthet
ear
sfalldownmyface.
Nobodycaredaboutme.Iwasan
out
sider
.Idon’
tbelong.
EndofFl
ashback…
“
Ver
a.”
Icameoutofmymemor ytoseemy
grandparent
’sconcernedf aces.“Ar
e
youalri
ght?”grandfatheraskedme.
Slowly,
Igavehi m anod.“ Yes.Why?”
Iaskedhim.Mygr andmot hertook
outahandker chi
effrom herbag.
“Youhavetear
ssweet i
e,
”shesai
dto
me.Itouchedmyf acetofeel
somethingwet.Iguessthememory
mademet earup.It
ookthe
handker
chiefandwipedmyt ear
s
away.Luckil
y,Idi
dn’
twearmakeup.
Mygr andfatherwasl ooki
ngaround
thebacky ar
dt ofindPietr
oandhis
wifetalki
ngt oanothercoupl
e.I
recognizedthecoupl efr
om many
diff
erentmedi as.Theyowneda
fi
nancecompanyi nNewYorkCi t
y.t
o
Pietronoti
cedusatt hetopofthe
stairsandgest ur edusov er
.We
wal kedovertot hem whi l
ethecoupl
e
wal kedawayt oanot hercoupl
e.
“Pietro,
”mygr andf athersai
dtohim.
Asagr eet
ing,Pi etr
ohadasmi leand
gav emygr andf atherahug.
Mar i
agav emygr andmot herahug
andgav emeasmi le.“Youlooklovel
y
Vera,”shesai dtome.Igav ehera
small smi l
e.“Thanky ou,
”Isaidina
l
owv oice.Pietr
oandMar iawerevery
dressedupni cel
ycompar edtomy
grandpar entsandI.Theyl ookedvery
formal fortheoccasion.
“Sowher eisAdr i
an?”mygr andf
ather
askedhi m.Adrian!Piet
rolooked
aroundt hegarden.Hegr ewasmi l
e
onhi sface.“He’sri
ghttherecoming
towardsus, ”Pi
etropointedoutt
ous.
Iturnedmyheadsl owlytoseeAdr i
an.
If
eltmysel
ffr
oze.Mymindclear
ed
ofanyt
houghts.Hel
ookednothi
ng
thatIhadt hought
.Hewast al
lerthan
Ihadexpect ed.Helookedfi
vefeet
eleveninchestall
.Iwasaboutfiv
e
feettwoinches.Ididn’
tmindthe
height.
Hehaddi rt
yblondehai rthathad
beenspr ayedandcombedneat l
y .He
wor nagr eysuitthatf
ithisf r
ame.I
couldtellthathewasbui l
tfrom his
size.Heseemedl ikeat y
peofper son
tohav eexperiencewithgi r
ls.
Hiseyeswer emesmerizing.Ifeltmy
heartbeati
ngfast
.Calm downVer a.I
fel
tsomanyemot i
ons.Inev erfelt
manyoft heemotionsbef or
e.Idi dn’t
real
lyknowhowt odeal withthem.I
wasabi
tscar
edoft
hem.
Isnappedmy sel
foutandcomposed
my selfabit
.Ididn’
twanthi mtot hi
nk
badofme.Soon, hewal kedoverto
usgav easmi letohi
sgr andparents.
OnceAdr iansawmygr andfat
her,he
gavemyhi m ahandshake.“Niceto
seey ouagainsir,
”hesai dt
ohi m.
He’sformal.
Mygr andfat
hergav ehim asmile.“Do
yourememberme? ”gr andf
ather
askedhim.“Ofcour se.Youwer ethe
onewhogotmeat oyf ir
etr
uckf or
myf ourt
hbirt
hday ,
”Adr i
ansaidto
him.Grandfathernoddedhishead.
Her
emember
sgr
andf
atherwhenhe
wasf
our
!
Iwassur pr
isedbyt hememor y.I
didn’
thavemanygoodmemor i
es
whenIwasf oury earsold.B” Happy
birt
hdayAdr i
an,”Gr andfathersaidto
him.“Thanky ou,”hesai dt ohim and
huggedmygr andmot her.“Happy
birt
hday,
”grandmot hersai dtohim.
“Thankyou,”hesai dt oherand
l
ookedatme.
Il
ookedi
ntohi
sblueey
esand
dr
ownedint
othem.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~
[
6/24,00:11]Ndozvoo:
ht
tps:
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sapp.
com/
Imj
KmCS
D8w6DzBCJat
TfuN

ARANGEDLOVEEPI
SODE3

Ifeltmy selffreezefrom hisgaze.

“Adrian.Thisi sClaudio’s
granddaught erValer
ia.Yourf ut
ure
wife,”Ihear dPietr
osayt ohim.
Adriandi dn’tseem tor eactnegati
vel
y
whenhi sgr andf at
herment i
onthe
wor d“wife.”Hehadasmal l
smi l
eon
hisface.
“Hi,
”hesaidtomeandgav ehishand
outtome.Ilookeddownathishand.
Slowly
,Igavehim myhand.Next
thingIknew,hebroughtmyhand
closeandkissedit
.Istar
tedt
of eel
myf aceburn.Iwasn’
tusedtothe
gesture.
“Um…hel lo,
”Isaidt ohim shyl
y.Atthe
cornerofmyey es, Icoul
dseemygr a
fi
lesmi l
e.“Whatdoy outhi
nkofmy
granddaught erAdr i
an?”my
grandfatheraskedhi m.Iwonder ed
my sel
fwhathet houghtofme.“ I
thi
nkshei sstunning,”Adri
ansaidto
him.Somet hi
ngt oldmet hathe
wasn’thonestabouthi sanswer.
“
Itshoul
dbetimefordinner
.Let
sgo
i
nside,
”Pi
etr
osuggestedtous.The
f
ourelder
lywal
kedaheadofAdr i
an
andI .Wef ol
l
owedbehindthem.I
keptmygazeawayf r
om Adrianwho
keptlookingatme.Itr
iedt
okeep
my selfcal
m.
Soon, wef oundourselvesinthe
dini
ngr oom.Thedi ningrom was
hugewi thal ongtablei
nt hemiddle
ofther oom.Thet ablewassetwi th
expensivepl at
esandut ensil
.Icoul
d
tell
thatwewer egoingtohav ea
mul t
icoursemeal .Theot herguest
s
cameandt ookthei
rseats.My
grandparent sandIwereseat ednext
toMi nett
is.
Iwasaboutt
opul
loutmychai runt
ilI
sawahandgoovermine.If
eltmy
heartski
pabeatandlookedupto
seeAdr i
an’
sfacesocl
osetomine.
“Letme,”hesaidt
omesmoot hl
y.My
facewasburningupagai
n.Igav
ehim
aquicknodandhadhim pull
mychair
outforme.
Wewer ehav inganI t
ali
anmeal .The
server
spour edwi netoeveryone
exceptme.Theser vercameupt ome.
Iheldupahand.“ I
’m under
age.Iwil
l
haveaglassofwat er,
”Isai
dt ohim.
Theservergav emeanodandgotme
mywat er.Iwast heonlyunderage
personinther oom.
Everyonehadanappet
izerf
orthe
fi
rstcourse.WehadAnti
past
o.The
Antipastohadcur edmeats,ol
ives,
anchov i
es,peperoncini
,mushr
ooms,
art
ichokehear ts,
freshmozzarell
a,
andpi ckl
edv egetabl
esinoi
l.
Ever
y onewer einaconv er
sati
on
whil
et heyatet heirmeal.Iat
emy
meal quiet
ly,
listeningtothe
conversati
onofmygr andpar
ents.
Theywer etalkingaboutol dt
imes
fr
om childhood.Ihear dmanyoft hem.
Adri
angoti ntot heconv er
sat
iontoo.
Next,wehadsoup.Ri boll
it
awas
servedtous.Itwasoneofmy
favori
tesoups.ItwasaTuscansoup
thatwasmadewi thstal
ebread,
cannell
inibeans,car
rot,
onion,
cabbageandot hergr
eens.I
twas
thi
ck.Ididn’
tfi
nishmysoupsincei
neededroom inmyst omachfort
he
othercourses.
Wehadcapr esesal adthatwasr eal
l
y
fresh.Wewer ehav i
ngfamilysty
lefor
theentree.Wehadbaccal athatwas
saltcod,raviol
ithatwasf i
ll
edwi t
h
freshri
cottaandcov er
edincream
sauce,pastaal pomodor othatwas
simple,ArancinithatwasanI tal
i
an
deepf r
iedricebal l
,andAcquapazza
thatwaspoachedwhi t
efish.
“Vera.Youarever
yqui
et.Ar
eyou
alr
ight?”Pi
etr
oaskedmewith
concern.Il
if
tmyheadtoseethe
el
derl
ygivi
ngmeaconcer nlook.
Adri
an’sf
acewasemotionless.I
gavethem asmall
smi
le.“Yes.I’
m
fi
ne,
”Isaidtohi
m.Hegav emeanod.
Ipassedtheplateofraviolit
omy
grandmother.“
Here.”Iturnedmy
headtoseeAdr i
anwhowast ry
ingto
passmet heplateofpast aal
pomodoro.Itooktheplat efr
om him.
“Thanks,
”Isaidtohim andscooped
someont omypl at
e.
Ever
yoneonthetabl
ewer eintheir
ownworldofconver
sation.“
So
Adri
an.Whatdoyouthinkaboutthe
marri
agebet
weeny ouandVer a?”my
gr
andfat
heraskedhim.Ilookedat
Adrian.Iwonder
edwhathehad
thoughtthearr
angement
.
Adriantookasipofhi swi neandset
theglassont hetable.Icouldn’
tr ead
hisex pr
essi
ononhi sf ace.“Idon’t
mind.Ilovetheidea,”hesai dtothem.
Hel ookedatme.“ Ialr
eadyl i
key our
granddaughter,
”hesai dwi t
hasmi le
onhi sface.
Myhear tj
umpedwhenhesai dt
he
word‘l
ike.
’Pi
etrolookedatme.
“WhataboutyouVer a?Whatdoyou
thi
nkaboutAdrian?”heaskedme.I
alr
eadytol
dhim myt houghtsonthe
marri
age.IlookedatAdr i
anwhowas
l
ookingatme.Honest ly
,hewasa
goodl
ooki
ngguy
.
Ifel
tmygr andfathersqueezemy
hand.“Iknowt hatyoudon’twantthe
mar r
iage.But,Ithinkthemar r
iage
wouldbegoodf oryou,”Ihear
dhi m
saytome.Idi dn’tknowwhatt ofeel
athiswor ds.It’
sasi fhewast ry
ingto
givemeabet terlif
e.
May
be…he’
sri
ght
.
Pietr
owaswai ti
ngforananswer .“
He
seems…ni ce,
”Isai
dtohiminal ow
voice.Itwasenoughf orhi
m and
everyoneonoursi deofthetableto
hear.Pietrogavemeasmi le.“Heis
verynicegent l
emen.Heisbey ondhis
age,”het oldme.
Adr
ianhadasmi
l
eonhi
sface.
Wonderi ft
hat’
strue.Grandmother
seemedhappyaboutmyanswer .
Mar i
atookasipofherwi nehappi
ly
knowingwhatIhadt houghtabout
hergrandson.Iconti
nuedtoeatmy
dinnerunti
lmyplatewasclean.
Lookingatatt hepeopl
eintheroom,I
noticedsomet hi
ng.Wherearehis
parents?Don’ttheyhaveasayinthi
s
arrangement?Ididn’
tdaretal
kto
them aboutit
.May betheyarebusy
withbusinessorsomet hi
ng.
Afterever
yoneatet hei
rmeal,Piet
ro
tappedhiswineglasst oget
everyone’
sattent
ion.“Ever
yone.I
havet osayt hankyouforcomingto
Adrian’
sbirthdaypartytowishhi
ma
HappyBi rt
hday .HappyBir
thday
grandson,”hesai dtoAdri
anand
everyone.
“HappyBirthdayAdr i
an, ”ever
yone
sai
dt ohim.“ Thanky ouev ery
one,
”
Adriansaidtot hem.Achefcameout
wit
hal argetirami sut hatwas
coveredincandl es.{Iguessi t’
shi
s
favori
tedesser ttoo.}Thedesser t
wasseti nfrontofAdr ian.
“Let
ssingAdri
anHappyBi r
thday
ever
yone,
”Pietr
osai dtothem.
Every
onestart
edt osingthebir
thday
songtohim.Afterthesong,Adri
an
blewthecandles.Ev
eryonecl
apped
thei
rhandsandcont i
nuedwit
hthei
r
conversat
ion.
Thetiramisuwaspassedt oeveryone.
Ihadasmi l
eonmyf ace.Oncethe
ti
ramisuwasseti nf r
ontofme, Iate
aforkful
.Ittast
edlikeaproper
ti
ramisu.Icouldtastethecoff
eeand
thecocoa.Adr i
anwasenj oyi
nghis
dessertwithmor ewine.
Aft
erdessert,every
onel eftthe
mansion.Mygr andpar ent
sandIwer e
get
ti
ngr eadytoleav e.Theywal ked
ustothefrontofthehouse.“ Thank
youforcomingCl audio,”Adriansaid
tohi
m.Mygr andfathergav ehima
smi
l
e.
“YouarewelcomeAdr i
an.I’
m gladto
seethatyouhadgrownupt obea
handsomeman, ”gr
andfathersaidto
him.Adri
angavehim ahug.
Grandmothergavehim ahug.“Thank
youRosa,”hesaidt
omy
grandmother
.“Ofcourse,
”shesai dt
o
him.
Hel ookeddownatme.“ Thankyou
Valeri
af orcoming,
”hesaidtome.
“Yourwel comeAdr i
anandhappy
bir
thday,”Isai
dt ohi
m.Het ookmy
handi nhishand.Hebenddownand
gaveaki ssonmyhand.Hi stouch
sentat i
nglesensati
onupmyar m
andmywhol
ebody
.
Hel ookedupt omewi t
hasmi r
k.
“Seey ouatthewedding,
”hesai dto
me.Igav ehim anod.Het urned
aroundandwal kedint
ot hemansi on.
PietroandMar i
ahadasmi l
eont heir
faces.Mygr andpar
entshadasmi le
ont heirf
acesaswell.
Pietr
oandMar i
alookedatme.“We
will
settheweddi ngandprepare
everyt
hing.Youwi l
lhavetoshowup
atthealtar
,”Pi
etrosaidtome.I
guessI’m notdoingthework.“Okay
,”
Isaidtothem.
Igavethem ahugandwal
kedt
othe
car.Ihadsomanythi
ngst
othi
nk
aboutonceIgothome.Al so,Ihadso
mucht odof orthenextt
womont hs.I
putmyseat beltonandwatchedmy
grandf
atherdriveoutoft
heMi net
ti
proper
ty.
Onceathome, Iwashedupf orbed.I
t
hadbeenal ongnight
.Ichangedinto
mypaj amasandgotundert hecover
s.
Ineverreall
yexpectedAdriantobe
myf uturehusband.Thenagain,hi
s
olderbrotherswerepret
tymuch
taken.
Whatam Igoi
ngt
odo?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~
[
6/24,
00:
11]Ndozv
oo:
ht
tps:
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.whatsapp.
com/
Imj
KmCS
D8w6DzBCJatTfuN

ARANGEDLOVEEPI
SODE4

Twomont
hsl
ater
…..
August
……
Timehadf l
ownbyreall
yquickly.
Mariahadtocal
lmeaf ewtime
aboutmyshoesanddr esssize.She
wasbuy i
ngmyweddi ngdress.Iwas
tol
dthatitwoul
dbeasmal l
privat
e
wedding.Ourgr
andparentswere
goi
ngt
obeourwi
tness.
Ihadbeenpackingmyt hingsi
nto
boxesforthepasttwoweeks.My
bookshadt obeputinboxes.My
cl
otheshadt obefoldedandfi
tint
o
boxes.Every
thi
nghadt obeenput
i
ntoboxesandl abel
edwithmyname.
Theywoul dbesenttoNewYor kCit
y.
Also, whil
eIwaspacki ngmyt hi
ngs, I
hadt omakeaphonecal ltomyboss
Li
ndaRosar ioatthecaf e.Ididn’ttel
l
hert hereason.Shewasv erysadt hat
Iwasqui t
ti
ngbut, shetoldmet hatI
coulduseherasar ef
erencef orj obs
i
nt hef ut
ure.Iwasgr ateful f
or
wor kingwithher.
Lastweek,Ihadt urnedeighteen.I
i
nv i
tedPiet
roandMar iatomy
bir
thday.Mariatri
edt ogetAdr i
anbut,
hewasbusywi thwor k.Hehad
i
mpor tantmeetingstoat t
end.Ididn’
t
mind.Iwashappyt ospendmor e
ti
mewi t
hPietr
oandMar ia.Plus,
Mar i
awantedt odiscusst hewedding
withme.Mar i
ahadev eryt
hingsetup
forme.Ihadt oshowuponmy
weddingday .
Today ,Iwasgett
ingmarriedto
Adrian.ataCatholi
cchurchinSan
Franciscothatt
heMi net
ti
sat tend
sincetheyarri
vedintheUnitedStates.
Ihadspentt hemorninghour sgett
ing
readyf ort
hewedding.Mar i
ahad
hel
pedmewi ththemakeup.Ihadt
o
saythatIdi
dn’tl
ookli
keateenager
.
Mygr andmotherfi
xedmyhair.
“
Let
’sgety
ourv
eil
ony
oushal
lwe.
”
Mygr andmot herwalkedtot het able
wit
hmyweddi ngstuff
.Mar i
ahel ped
mewi thmyweddi ngdress.Ihadt o
saythatthedr esswasv erybeaut i
ful
.
Thedr esstouchedthegr ound.When
Iwalkedar oundtheroom, thedr ess
tr
ail
edbehi ndme.Thet ophal fhad
anofft heshoulderneckli
net hat
showedof fmyshoul derandneckl ine.
Thedr essedhuggedmybody
perf
ect l
yshowi ngoffmycur ves.
Wow.Mar
iamanagedt
ofi
ndadr
ess
t
hatf
itmeper
fect
ly.
WhileMar i
ahel pedmewi t
hmydr ess,
mygr andmot hercamet omewi t
hthe
vei
l.“Letmeputt hisony ou,”she
saidt ome.Car ef ull
y,sheplacedthe
vei
l onmyheadandmadesur ethat
thev eilwassecur ed.Ihadmyhai r
down.Thr ought hev eil
,Icouldsee
thetear sformingi nherey es.Igave
herasmal lsmi l
e.
“Don’tcrygrandma, ”Isai
dt oher.I
reachedov ertoherhandandgav eit
asqueeze.At earslowlymadei t
’s
waydownhercheek.Mar iacame
overtousandgav emygr andmot her
atissue.“Thanky ou,”my
grandmothersai
dtoheranddabbed
herfacesothathermakeupwasn’t
rui
ned.
Mar i
ahandedmemybouquet .The
bouquetwasv erybeautif
ul.“Ihope
youlikethefl
owers,
”shesai dt ome.
“Ido,”Isai
dtoher.Shegav emeabi g
smile.AsIlookedcloseratthe
bouquet ,
Inoti
cedsomet hing.
Sheusedf l
owerst hathadv erydeep
meani ngs.WhiteLi l
l
ymeantpur i
ty,
chastity
,andinnocence.Ast er
sy mboli
zedlove, dai
ntiness,and
trust
ing.Redcar nationmeantdeep
romant i
cloveandpassi on.Purpl
e
tuli
pmeantf oreverlov e.
Shereall
ywant
sust
ofal
lforeach
otherhuh….
.
Knock…Knock….
Iheardthedoorknockandt ur
ned
aroundtoseethedoorcr eakopento
revealaladywhoIdidn’
tr ecogni
ze.
“It
’sti
me,”shesaidtous.
Ner v
ousnessstart
edtospr ead
throughmybody .Icl
osedmyey es
andt r
iedtocal
m my sel
fdown.
Icandot
his.Icandot
his….
.
“
Ver
a.”
Iopenedmyey estoseegrandmother
.
“Let
sgo,”shesaidtome.Igotup
from myseatandproceededoutof
theroom tothechapel
.Icountedthe
stepsandfeltt
henervousnessgrow
asIgotclosertothechapel
.
I
nsomeway s,
Ifel
tthati
twasa
dr
eam andanightmares.I
twasa
dr
eam toseemy sel
finabeauti
ful
weddi
ngdressbut,i
twasa
ni
ghtmarebecauseIwasgoingtobe
gi
ventoamanwhoIwasar r
angedto
bewit
hfortherestofmylif
e.
Soon,wef oundourselvesoutsi
dethe
chapeldoors.Gr
andfatherwast here
towalkmedownt heaisle.Hegav e
meabi gsmi l
e.“
OhVer a.Youlook
beauti
ful
,”hesai
dt ome.Igav ehima
smallsmile.“
Thanky ou,”Isai
dto
hi
m.
Mygr andmotherwalkedovertome.
“I
’l
lseey oui
nside,
”shesaidtome.I
gaveheranodandwat chedherwal
k
tothedoorofthechapel.Itur
nedmy
att
entiontomygr andf
atherwhowas
tr
yingtokeephi scomposure.
“Ready?”heaskedme.Igav ehima
nod.Weposi t
ionedour
selvesinfront
ofthedoor s.Oncethemusi cstar
ted
i
nt hechapel ,
itwoul
dbet hesignal
forthedoor stoopenandf orusto
startwal
kingdownt heaisle.
Grandfatherhadsomet ear
sinhis
eyes.Icouldn’thelpbuttofeel
emot i
onal.Ifeltsad,
rel
ief,
angry,
nervous,
andmor e.Iknewt
hatmy
l
ifewasgoingtochangeonceImarr
y
Adri
an.Soon,Iheardthemusi
cfr
om
i
nsidethechapel.
Thedoor sopenedt orevealt
he
chapel.Thest ainglasswindows
wereshi ningbrightbythesun’sray
s.
Theaisleswer edecor at
edwi t
hbaby
blueri
bbonsandt hesamef l
owersin
mybouquet .Themusi cwaspl ay
ed
fl
uidl
yt hroughtheai r
.The
combinat ionbroughtthefeel
ingof
theweddi ng.
Il
ookedaheadtoseePi
etr
oand
Mari
aonthelef
tsidewhi
lemy
gr
andmotherst
andontheri
ghtsi
de.
Theywerehappyt oseemewal k
downtheaisle.Idi
dn’
tseehis
parent
s.Iguesstheyarebusyto
come.
Infr
ontofme,
Isawhi
m.Adr
ian’
s
appear
ancemademegaspi
nter
nal
l
y.
Ohmy
….
Hemadehi msel fmorehandsome
thanwhenIf irstmethim.Hewor ea
blacksuitwithawhitedressshirt.
Also,hewor eamet all
i
cgreyt i
eand
polishblackshoes.Hishairwas
sli
ckedback.AsIgotcl oser,Icould
seet hathehadshav edtomakehi s
facelookgood.
Icur
sedatmy
sel
f.Don’
tthi
nkt
hathe
l
ooksgoodVer a.He’stheonewho
grandfatheri
sgivingaway.Yourli
fe
i
sbei nggiventosomeoneel se.
Therewon’ tbefreedom i
nthis
mar r
iage.Thisi
sy ournewreali
ty.
Soon, wegottoAdr i
an.Grandfather
gavemyhandt oAdr i
an.“Takegood
careofher,”Iheardhim saytoAdr i
an.
Ifeltt
earsforminginmyey es.“Iwil
l
si
r,”IheardAdriansaytomy
grandfat
her.Grandfat
hergav emea
smi l
e.
Underthevei
l,Igav ehi
m asmall
smilei
nretur
n.Thanky ou
Grandf
atherf
orr aisi
ngme.Thank
youforbei
ngther eforme.Thankyou.
Gr
andfatherstoodnextt
o
Gr
andmot her.Adr
ianandIfacedt
he
pr
iestandwai t
edfori
nstr
ucti
on.
“DearlyBelov ed,wear egather ed
togetherher eint hesignofGod–
andi nthef aceoft hi
scompany–t o
j
oint ogethert hi
smanandt his
womani nhol ymat ri
mony ,whi chis
commendedt obehonor ableamong
allmen; andt herefore–isnotbyany
–t obeent eredi ntounadvisedl yor
l
ightly–butr everent
ly,di
screet l
y,
advisedlyandsol emnly.I
ntot hisholy
estatetheset woper sonspr esent
nowcomet obej oi
ned.Ifanyper son
canshowj ustcausewhyt heymay
notbej oinedt ogether–lett hem
speaknoworf
orev
erhol
dthei
r
peace.
”
Ididn’tturnaroundtol ook.Nobody
wasgoi ngt ostopthe
weddi ng…thoughIwi shedt hat
someonedi dcomeandr escueme.
Afterawhi le,t
hepriestcont i
nuedto
conductt hewedding.Ther i
ngswere
broughtf orwardtous.Wef acedeach
other.Adr i
antookar ing.
“Repeataf
terme,
”thepr
iest
i
nstruct
edtoAdri
an.Adr
ianli
stened
andrepeat
edhiswords.
“I
,Adr
ianMinett
i,t
akeyou,Val
eri
a
Laur
enti
,tobemyl awf
ull
ywedded
wif
e,tohaveandtohold,f
rom t
his
dayforwar
d, f
orbett
er,f
orworse,
for
ri
cher,
forpoorer
,insi
cknessandin
heal
th,unt
ildeat
hdouspar t
,”Adr
ian
sai
dandsl i
ppedtheringont
omy
fi
nger.
Thepriesttur
nedtome.Il
i
stened
andrepeatedthepri
est
swords.
“I,
Valeri
aLaurenti
,takey ou,Adri
an
Minetti
,tobemyl awfullywedded
husband,tohav eandt ohold,fr
om
thisdayforward,f
orbet t
er,forworse,
forri
cher,f
orpoorer,insicknessand
i
nheal t
h,until
deathdouspar t,
”I
saidandslippedtheringont ohis
fi
nger.
“
Youhav
edecl
aredy
ourconsent
beforetheChurch.MaytheLor di
n
hisgoodnessstrengt
heny our
consentandf i
ll
youbothwi t
hhis
blessi
ngs.WhatGodhasj oined,men
mustnotdi vi
de.Amen.Youmayki ss
thebride,
”thepri
estended.
Adri
anli
ftmyv ei
ltor
eveal myf
ace.
Hiseyeswidenforasecondbefor
e
hi
sfaceret
ur nemoti
onless.
Hemustbesurpr
isedaboutmy
appear
ance.
Sl
owly,hel
i
ftedmyfacewit
hhis
fi
nger
sandleaneddowntowar
dme.
Herehecomes.Icl
osedmyey esand
wait
edfort
hemoment .Ihaddreaded
aboutt
heki
sssinceIlear
nedabout
myar rangedmar ri
agetohim.
Honest l
y, Ineverhadmyf ir
stki
ss
wit
hany one.Ihadpl annedtosave
myf i
rstki sstosomeone
speci
al ….nottoAdr i
an.
Icameoutofmyt houghtswhenIf el
t
hisli
psonmi ne.Automatical
l
y,I
ti
ghtenedmygr i
ponmybouquet .I
fel
tmycheeksbur nfr
om thetouch.
Goosebumpsandchi l
lsgoneupmy
arms.Afterawhile,Ir
espondedby
retur
ningtheki
ss.
Afterafewseconds,Ifel
thim
removehi sli
psfr
om mine.Iopened
myey estolookupathimt oseehis
blankface.Iwasn’
ttoosurpr
ised
abouthim enj
oyi
ngit
.Iwasn’
ttoo
exper
iencedwithki
ssi
ng.
Theweddi
ngwasof
fi
cial
l
yov
er.
Wewer
enowhusbandandwi
fe.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~
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ARANGEDLOVEEPI
SODE5

Adr
ianandIturnedaroundand
wal
keddownt heaisl
ewi t
hourarms
l
ockedtoget
her.Onceoutsidet
he
chapel,
weunlockedourarmsand
facedeachother
.Ikeptmygazeto
thegroundandthoughtaboutwhat
hadhappen.
“
Congr
atul
ati
ons.
”
Iturnedmyheadt oseet heour
grandparentswal
kingt owardsus.
Pietroshookhisgrandson’shand
whileMar i
agavemeaki ssona
cheekandahug.“ Wel comet othe
family,
”shesaidtome.Igav ehera
nod.
Iturnedaroundandgav emy
grandparentsahug.“Wel ov
ey ou
Vera,”Grandfat
hersaidtome.“Il
ove
youbot h,
”Isaidtothem.Iheldmy
t
earsback.Ipull
edawayandgav
e
t
hem asmi l
e.“Timet
otakesome
weddi
ngpictures,
”Pi
etr
osai
dtous.
Adrianescor t
edmet oaroom wher e
ourpi ctureswoul dbet aken.Our
grandpar entswer egi vi
ngussome
al
onet i
me.Thephot ographerlooked
upatus.“ MrandMr s.Minett
i.It’
san
honort obeaty ourpr esenceaswel l
ast akey ourpictures,”hesaidtous.
“I
ndeed, ”Adr i
ansai dt ohi
m.Ikept
my selfsilentatwat chedt hem havea
conv ersationforaf ewmoment s.
Aft
erthei
rconversati
on,t
he
photogr
apherfi
nishedsett
inguphi
s
camera.“Al
ri
ght.Thenewlyweds
pleasestandinfrontofthecamera,
”
thephotographerinst
ructedus.
Adrianbroughtmei nfrontoft
he
camer aandwr appedhisarms
aroundmewai st
.Hebr oughtme
closertohim sothattherewasno
spacebet weenus.
Automat icall
y,Ipl
acedahandonhi s
chestandhel dmybouquetont he
otherhand.Myf acefel
tabi thot
from histouch.Forceyourselfto
smile.Itriedtosmile.“
Perfect,
”I
heardthephot ogr
aphersaywhi lehe
tookapi ct ur
e.
Wetookaboutfiv
ediff
erentpi
ctur
es.
Nextt
hingIknew,thedayhadwent
by.Ihadtosayt hatthepi
ctur
es
cameoutbet terthanIhadexpect
ed.
“I’
l
lhavethesedev el
opedri
ghtaway,
”
thephotographertol
dus.Piet
rohad
enter
edther oom.
“Letsgoandcelebrat
e,”Pietrosaidto
us.Wewal kedtothecarst hatwere
parkedintheparki
nglot.Surprisi
ngly
,
Ididnotseeanypaparazzi inthearea.
TheMi net
tismustreal
lymadesur e
thatnobodyknewaboutt heweddi ng.
Adri
an’
sdriverwaswai t
ingforus.
Adri
anescortedmet othecarand
openedthedoorforme.Igoti nsi
de
andmadesur ethatmydr esswas
i
nsidethecar.Heclosedthedoor
andwal
kedt
otheot
hersi
deoft
he
car
.
Hegoti nsi
dethecarandwor ehi
s
seatbelt.“
TotheMi net
tiMansion,
”
Adri
ani nst
ructedthedri
ver.“
Yes.si
r,
”
thedriv
eranswer edanddroveoutof
theparkinglot
.Throughouttheri
de,I
stayedquietandlookedoutofthe
window.
Iwatchedthebuil
dingsgobyast he
cardroveupthest r
eet.It
ri
edtotake
i
nt hescenesthatIpassedbyme.I t
wasgoi ngtobethelastti
met hatI
seethem.Tomor row,Iwouldbeona
planetoNewYor kCitywithAdri
an.
Att
hecor
nerofmyey
es,
Icoul
dsee
Adrianlooki
ngoutofthewindowon
hissideofthecar.Ist
il
lwasn’
tused
totheideathathewasmyhusband.
I
nt i
me, Iwouldhavetoacceptt
he
factthatIam marri
edtohim.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~
Onceatt heMi nett
iMansi on, Mar
ia
tookmeawayt oaroom sot hatI
couldchangei ntosomet hing
comf ort
able.Il
ikedtocont inueto
weart heweddi ngdressbut ,i
tfel
t
suff
ocat i
ngifIwor eitf
orl ongperi
od
ofti
me.
Mari
ahadmewearagreyandwhit
e
wr
apdresswi
thmet
all
i
cgreyhigh
heel
edsandals.Iremember ed
something.Il
ookedatMar i
awho
wastyingthedressforme.“ Why
wasn’
tAdr i
an’sparentatt
he
wedding?”Iaskedher.
“Theywer ebusywithbusi
nessin
Asia.Theywerehappyt oknowabout
themar ri
ageandhopet omeetyou
verysoon,”shetol
dme.Igav ehera
nod.Iwonderwhatt heyareli
ke.I
smoot hedthedressdown.
“I
’
llmeety oudownst airs,
”shesai dto
meandl efttheroom.If i
xedt he
dressabi tandshoesqui ckly.Igot
mygl assesandwor ethem.Al most
l
ookl i
keal ibrar
ian.Ididn’tcare.The
gl
assesmademel
ooksmar
t.
Iputmyhai rupi naneatbun.Imade
suretotakeof fmyweddi nggloves
andsliptheweddi ngringontomy
fi
nger.Iwasn’tusedt owearingri
ngs
onmyf i
ngers.Itfel
toddt ome.I
bett
ergetusedt owear i
ngar i
ng.
Theweddi ngringwasador nedwith
diamonds.Sopr icylooking.Iwould
hav ebeenf i
newi thasi mplering.
Afterall
,theringwoul dn’thavemuch
sentimentalvalue.Themar ri
agewas
l
ov elessandar ranged.
“Areyour
eadyVera?
”Ihear
dmy
grandmot
hercal
louttome.It
urned
myheadtoseeheratthedoor
.“Yes.
I
’mr eady
,”Isaidt
oher.Shetookmy
handandl edmeoutoftheroom and
thr
oughthedi f
fer
enthal
lway
s.
Wewal keddownt hestair
stoseemy
grandfathertal
kingtoPietr
oand
Mar i
a.Iturnedmyheadabi ttosee
Adrianwhowaswear i
ngagr eydress
shir
tandbl ackpants.Helookedupat
me.Icoul dn’tr
eadtheemot ionsi
n
hi
sey es.
Oncedownt hestai
rs,Adri
anwalked
overt
omeandwr appedanar m
ar
oundmywai st
.If
eltthechil
lsgo
upmyspi ne.Mycheekstingl
edabi t
.
Whatishemaki ngmef eel?Our
gr
andparentsseemedt oapprovethe
mat
ch.
Wewal kedtothedi
ningroom tosee
thatfoodwassetonthetable.Adri
an
pull
edmychairforme.Isatinmy
seatandwatchedAdriantakeaseat
nexttome.Ihadmanyquest ions
poppinginmyheadabouthi m.
I
nmymi nd,i
nor derforourmar riage
towor k,Iwoul dhav etoknowabout
him.Idi dn’twantt oknowhi mf rom
themedi a’
sper specti
ve.Iwoul d
ratherlearnfrom him direct
ly.Iknew
thatthemedi apor t
raypeople
differ
ent l
y.
Wepassedthefoodaroundthetabl
e
andenj
oyedthemeal.Theserver
s
camewi thwi
neglassesandabottle
ofwine.Iwavedatoneoftheserver
s.
“CanIgetwaterpl
ease,
”Isai
dt ohim.
“Yes.Ofcour
sema’am,”hesaidand
walkedawaytogetmywat er.
Under
age.
Theserv ercamebackwi thmywater.
“Thanky ou,”Isaidandt ookasip.At
thecornerofmyey es,
Icouldsee
Adriantakingasi pofhiswi ne.I
helpedmy selfwithsomesal adand
pennepast a.Iwasn’ti
nt hemoodt o
haveal argedi nner.
Aft
ert
hemeal,thecakewasbrought
tot
hedini
ngroom.“Thisi
syour
weddi
ngcake,
”Piet
rosaidtous.The
weddi
ngcakewasdecorated
el
aborat
ely
.Wow.Thebakerreal
l
y
showedoffhi
sorherski
l
ls.
Ev
ery
thi
ngwassy
mmet
ri
cal
.
“Adri
anandy oushouldcutthecake,
”
Grandfathersuggestedtous.Il
ooked
atAdrianwhogav emeanod.Wegot
upf r
om ourseat sandwalkedoverto
thecake.Ilookeddownatt hecake
carttoseet hecakeknif
ewi tha
cryst
al handle.
IcouldseeGr andmothergett
ing
readytotakepictur
eswithher
camer a.Adr
iantookthecakeknife
andgav etheknifet
ome.It ookthe
knif
einmyhandandwai t
edfor
Adri
antoholdt
heknifewit
hme.He
pl
acedhishandovermyhandand
gotr
eadytocutthecake.
“Ready ?”Ihear
dhi
m askme.If elt
shiversgoupmyspi neandtingl eson
mycheeks.Hehadn’ tspokent ome
untilnow.Igavehi
m anod.If el
thi m
guidemyhandt ot
hecake.Wemade
thefirstcutandwer
eblindedwi th
fl
ashes.
Aftercutti
ngthecake,wehadt he
cakeslicesfordesser
t.Adrian
seemedt ohavealoti
nhi smi ndeven
thoughhewoul dtalkt
ohi s
grandfatherandmygr andfather.I
t
wasi nhiseyes.Hiseyeslookedabi t
di
stant
.
“Well…l
ookatt het i
me.I t
’sti
mef orus
togo,”Grandf athersaidtous.If el
t
mymoodf al
l
.Iknewwhather eall
y
meantt osay.Wegotupf rom t
he
tableandwal kedt ot hefrontdoors.I
helpedmyGr andpar entsweart hei
r
coats.I
twast hel eastthatIcando
forthem foronel astt i
me.
Grandmot
hergavemeahuggoodby e.
“St
ayheal
thVera,
”Iheardhersayto
me.“Iwi
ll
,
”Isaidtoher.Ipull
edaway
andgavemyGrandfatherahug.
Tearswer
eforminginmyey es.If
elt
himrubmybackt ocomf or
tme.
“
Don’
tcr
yVer
a.Behappy
,”Ihear
d
him say.“Iwil
l.Ipromise,
”Isaidto
him.Hepul ledawayandgav emea
smile.Hesitantl
y,Iletgoofhim.
Slowly,t
heymadet hei
rwayoutof
themansi onandwal kedtot
heircar.
Iwatchedthem getintothei
rcarand
dri
veof fi
ntothedarkness.Theywer e
gone.Theylef tmetoli
vemynewl if
e.
Ist
ar t
edtof eeldi
ff
erentemotions.I
fel
tsadness, l
onel
iness,f
ear,and
nervousness.Mynewl if
efelt
…scar y
.
Itur
nedaroundtofacemynewi n
l
awsandmyhusband.“ Wel l
,you
shouldgotoyourroom andgetsome
rest
.Youhaveaf l
i
ghttoNewYor k
tomorrow,
”Mariatol
dme.Igav eher
anod.If
eltahandonmysmal
lback
t
hatmademej umpabit
.
“Let’
sgo,”IheardAdri
anwhisper
softl
ytome.If el
thim pushmyback
thatl
edmet owalkupt hest
air
s.He
usedishandt oguidemet hr
oughthe
mansion.Ihadnoi deawherewe
weregoing.Istil
ldi
dn’
tknowmyway
aroundtheplace.
Soon,wear r
ivedi
nfr ontofadooron
theri
ghtsideofthemansi on.He
openedt hedoortorev ealalarge
room.Iwasv erysur
pr isedaboutt he
view.HehadaKi ngsi zebedwi t
ha
greyblanket
,anoffi
cedeskwi t
ha
duelscreencomputer ,andal arge
bookshel
f.
Ifel
thim nudgemet ogoinsidethe
room.Slowl y,Iwalkedinsidethe
room andlookedar oundtoseet hata
bathr
oom wasconnect edtothe
room Event hought hebathroom was
dark,Icouldseet hatthebathroom
hadal argesizebat htub.
Itur
nedar oundt oseet hatAdr
ian
cl
osedt hedoor .Ifeltr
eall
ynervous.
Hewal kedov ertomeandt ookmy
hand.Instantly,Ifeltati
ngle
sensationgoupmyar m andallover
me.I t
’sprobabl yfrom my
nervousness.
Hepul
l
edmeov
ert
oanot
herdoor
.
Heopenedthedoorandtur
nedt he
l
ightsontorev
ealal
argewalkin
closest
hatwasfi
l
ledwit
hclothes.
Wow.Ireal
lyhavemyownmal lher
e.
Isawt
hattheclosetwassepar
ated
i
ntodi
ff
erentwears.
Hewal kedmet owheremypaj amas
werelocated.“ Pickoneoutandwear
i
t.I’
ll
wai tforyouout side,”hetoldme
beforehel ef
tt hecloset.Iletouta
deepbr eaththatIseemedt ohave
keptinsidethewhol et i
me.I twasa
breathofreliefinaway .WhenI
thoughtaboutt hesit
uat i
on,Ididn’
t
wanthimt ol ookatme……naked.
It
urnedmyat
tent
iont
hepaj
amas.I
couldtellt
hatMar i
ahadthem picked
out.Si
fti
ngt hr
ought hecl
othes,
I
foundonet hatwasabi tmore
conservati
vethantheotherones.The
otherpajamaswer eabit
too…appealingformen.
Aftergetti
ngdr essedi
nmypaj amas,
Iwal kedoutoft hecl
osetandt othe
bathr oom wit
houtseei ngAdr i
an.I
madesur etol ockthebat hr
oom door
sot hatIdidn’tgetanysur pri
ses.I
washedmyf aceandbr ushedmy
teeth.Ishouldshoweri nthemor ni
ng.
OnceIwasdone,Iwalkedoutt
osee
thatAdri
anwasonhiscomputer.I
s
hewor ki
ng?Hedi
dn’
tseem tonoti
ce
thatIwaslookingathi
m.Iwal ked
towardsthebedandgotundert he
covers.Il
aiddowncloset ot
heedge
ofthebedt obesurethatIdidn’
t
touchhim duri
ngmysl eep.
Icouldhearhimtypingonhi s
keyboard.Maybeal ongnight.I
cl
osedmyey esandt r
iedtodrown
outthesounds.Usually,
Icouldn’
t
sl
eepwi thanynoisearoundme.Ilai
d
onthebedwai ti
ngforAdr i
antostop
hisbusi
ness.
Idi
dn’tknowthet i
mebut ,aft
eral ong
whil
e,Ihear
dAdr ianstoptyping.He
mustbedone.Ist art
edtodr i
ftaway
i
ntoadeepsl eep.Iheardheav y
footstepsgoar oundthebedandto
thecl oset
.Iheardtheli
ghtsgoon.I
didn’topenmyey est
oseebecauseI
wasal r
eadyreadytogot osl
eep.
Soon,Iwasattheedgeoff al
li
ng
asl
eep.Idi
dn’thearAdri
ancomeout
ofthecl
osetandwashupi nthe
bat
hroom.Ididfeelthebeddipabi
t.
Hemustbei nbednow.If el
thi
m
adj
ustthebl
anketsot hathehad
mostoftheblanket.
Ididn’
tfi
ghtfort
hebl
anketbecauseI
sl
ippedintoadeepsl
eep.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~
[
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11]Ndozv
oo:
ht
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.whatsapp.
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KmCS
D8w6DzBCJatTfuN

ARANGEDLOVEEPI
SODE6

Icoul
dseet hati
twasmor ningunder
myey el
i
ds.Iwiggledi nthebedbut,
somethi
ngwaspr ev entedmef rom
mov i
ngaround.Il
iedv erysti
ll
tolet
mysenseoft ouchcoul dfeelt
hings
forme.Ifel
tsomet hingaroundmy
waist
.
Whati
sthat
?
Sl
eepi
l
y,Iopenedmyey
est
oseet
hat
IwasinAdrian’
sarm.Howdi dt his
happen?!Il
ookedupatAdr i
an’sface.
Helookedverypeacef ulsl
eeping.
Whatam Isay i
ng?!Myf acestartedto
heatupfrom ourcloseness.Ineedt o
getoutofbed.
Slowlyandcar efull
y,Itookhi sarm
offmywai stsothatIdi dn’tdist
urb
hissleep.Hisarm washeav y.{He
mustwor koutal ot.
}Af tertwo
mi nut
es,Imanagedt omov ehisarm
offmywai standcar efull
ygetof fthe
bed.Ipulledthebl anketov erhim so
thathedidn’tgetcol d.
Al
ready,
Iwasper
for
mingmydut
ies
ashiswif
e.
Iwalkedi ntotheclosetandsift
thr
ought hetheoutfi
ts.Ipi
ckeda
whitecami sole,maroonbutton
sweaterwi thav -
neckli
ne,blueskinny
j
eans, andbr ownshoes.Igat her
ed
theout f
itwithmyunder garmentsand
walkedi ntothebathroom totakea
quickshower .
Imadesur etoscr ubandwashmy
hairverywell.Af t
ertheshower , I
dri
edmyhai rt horoughlyandbr ushed
myt eeth.HopeIdi dn’
twakehi m.
“Feelfresh,
”Isai dtomy sel
fafter
brushingmyt eeth.Quickly,Iwor emy
outfi
t.Surpri
singly ,
theout f
itfi
ttedto
myf i
gur e.
Iworemygl assesandopenedt he
doort oseethatAdr i
anwasst i
l
l i
n
bed.Hemusthav ebeenver
yt i
red.
Wor r
yst ar
tedtopopi nmyhead.I
surpresedthef eel
ingandwalkedout
ofther oom tomakemywayt ot he
dini
ngr oom.
I
nthediningroom, Pi
etroandMar ia
wer
ehav ingthei
rbreakfast.Thetabl
e
wassetwi t
hbreakfastitems.I
wal
kedov ertothetable.“Good
morni
ng,”Isaidtothem andsatin
myseat.Theygav emeasmi l
e.
“Goodmor ni
ng.Howdi
dy ousleep?
”
Mariaaskedme.“Fi
ne,
”Isaidtoher
andgotmy sel
fsomeyogurtand
fr
eshfrui
t.Ineverl
ikedtoeataheav
y
breakf
astinthemor ni
ng.“
Adri
ansti
ll
sl
eeping?”Piet
roaskedme.
“Yessir
,”Isai
dt ohim.“Ther
eisno
needforformalit
ydear.Wear efamil
y
now,”heremindedme.That ’
sr i
ght.I
gavehim anodandat emybr eakfast
.
Isawaser verstandi
ngnearby.I
wavedhi m overtome.Hegav emea
smileandwal keduptome.
“Goodmorning.WhatcanIgety ou
ma’am?”heaskedme.Ma’ am?That
makesmesoundabi told.“Iwoul
d
l
ikesomehotmi l
kplease,”Isaidto
him.Hewalkedawayt ogetmymi l
k.
Oncemymi lkcametot hetable,
Adr
ianwalkedint
othedi
ningroom
l
ookingv
eryfreshandcl
ean.
That
’squi
ck.
“Goodmor ni
ng,”hesaidtous.His
grandpar
entsgavehi m asmi l
e.
“Goodmor ni
ng.Didy oustayup
working?
”Mar i
aaskedhi m.“Yes,”he
answeredhismot herashet ookhis
seatnexttome.Yourt ypi
ngkeptme
awake.
Itookasi pofmymi l
k.Mar i
agr ewa
fr
ownonherf ace.“Youdi dn’
tthinkto
bewi t
hy ourwi f
et hantowor k?”she
askedwi thsomedi sappointment .As
Adriangothimsel fapani no(It
alian
wordf orpanini),
aser verwalkedup
t
oAdr
ian.
Adr i
anl ookedupatt heserver.
“Espresso,”hesi mplysaidtohim.
“Yessi r,
”theserversaidandwal ked
awayt othekitchen.Adri
anturnedis
attenti
ont ohismot herwhowas
wai t
ingofananswer .“I
’m abusy
manmot her.Youknowhowi ti
s,”he
saidt oher.
Pietr
osethiscupdownont het able
andgav ehisgr
andsonaser i
ousf ace.
“Adri
an.Youaremar r
iednow.You
needt othi
nkaboutyourwif
ef i
rst
beforeyourwork,
”hetoldhi
mi na
ster
nt one.“
Yessir
,”Adri
ansaidto
hisgrandfat
her
.Atthecornerofmy
ey
es,
Isawhi
mtur
nhi
sheadt
ome.
Idi
dn’tmindhi m workingyest
erday
.
Heseemedt oalway shave
somethinginhismi nd.Ididn’
twant
tobeinhisway .Iratherhavehim
workthantot akecar eofme.Ihad
beencaringformy selfsi
nceI
becameat eenager .Ashiswife,
I
shoul
dbesuppor ti
veofhim.
Imanagedt of
inishmybr eakf
astand
dranktheremainderofmyhotmi l
k.
“Whendoy ouplanonl eavi
ng?”his
mot heraskedhim.Isetmycupatt he
tabl
eandl ookedathi m.Hef i
nished
hisespressoandl ookedathiswat ch.
“
Iwast
hinki
ngi
nanhour
,”het
oldher
.
Onehourunt i
lIreall
ybeginmynew
l
ifeinadif
ferentcity.“Wel
l,
youtwo
shouldgotoy ourroom andget
ready,
”Mariasuggest edt
ous.We
gotupfrom ourseat sandwalkedup
thestai
rst
oourr oom.
Likeyesterday,itwasaqui etwalk.
Hehadhi shandonmyl owersmal l
backandgui dedmebackt oour
room.Hi stouchedf eltwarm but ,i
t
sentshiversupmyspi ne.Oncei nour
room, Adri
ancl osedthedoor .Ikept
mygazeatt hebed.Forsomer eason,
Ihaven’tbeenabl et
ol ookathi m
strai
ghtintheey essi
nceour
wedding.Ner vousnesswaspr obably
thereason.
Ishoul
dpr
obabl
ypack.
Iwasabouttowal ktothecl
osetunt
il
IheardAdri
an’
sv oi
ce.“Youdon’
t
needtopackany t
hing.Youcangoon
ashoppingspreewhenweget
home,”hetol
dme.Home.Thewor d
soundedsoforei
gnt ome.
Tome, homewasSanFrancisco.San
Franciscowasmyhome.San
Franciscowaswher
eIwasr aised
sinceIwasababy.WhenAdr iansaid
‘
home’ ,manyemoti
onsflowed
throughme.Mostl
y,If
eltver
y
confused.
Fort
herestoft
hehour
,Isatont
he
bedthi
nki
ngofthel
i
febefor
e
marri
age.Adri
anwaswor king
t
hroughthecomputer.Soon,myli
fe
i
nSanFr anci
scowi
llclose.Mynew
l
if
einNewYor kwasaboutt obegi
n.
knock…knock….
Icameoutmyt hought
sandl ooked
atthedoor
.Thedooropenedt o
revealMar
ia.“
It
’st
ime,”shetoldus.I
tookashakybreat
handst oodup
from t
hebed.Adri
angotupf rom hi
s
deskandgrabbedhisbri
efcase.
Hewal kedov ert
omeandgui dedme
outofther oom andtothef ront
doors.Piet
rowast herewai t
ingforus.
Atthebot t
om ofthestairs,amai d
camet ouswi thourjacket.Icould
t
ell
thatt
hej
acketwasboughtf
orme.
Adriantookt hej
acketandhel
pedme
eventhoughIdi dn’
tneedanyhelp.
Afterwearingourjacket
s,Mariagave
usahug.“ Takecar e,
”shesai
dt ous.
AfterMaria’shug,wefacedPietr
o.
AdrianandPi etr
oshookhands.
Ibentdownandgav ePietr
oahug.“ I
wishy ouwel l,
”Isai
dtohim.Ifelthi
m
patmyback.“ Thanky oudear
,”I
heardhi m saytome.Ipul l
edaway
fr
om hi m andgav ehim abigsmile.
Event houghIdi dn’
tli
kethe
arrangementt hathemadewi thmy
grandfather,Il
ikedhimingeneral.I
startedtoseehi m asagrandfat
her
f
igur
e.
Wewal kedoutofthedooranddown
thestai
rs.Acarwaswai t
ingf orusat
thebottom.Adri
anopenedt hedoor
forme.“ Thanky
ou,”Isai
dt ohim.He
didn’
trespondback.Igotintothecar
andputmyseat bel
ton.
Adrianclosedt hedoorandwal ked
aroundt heothersidetohisseat.The
driv
ert ur
nedengi neon.Ilookedout
thewi ndowt oseePietroandMar i
a
whowav edatus.Soon, thecar
startedtodr i
veawayfrom the
mansi onandt hroughthestreet
sof
SanFr ancisco.
Iwat
chedt
hehousesgobyt
hecar
.
Di
ff
erentmemor
ieswer
epl
ayedi
n
mymind.
“
Wear
eher
e.”
Ibli
nkedandl ookedar oundt osee
thatwewer eatSanFr ancisco
Int
ernati
onalAirport.Thedoor
openedf orme.Igotoutoft hecar
andwai tedf
orAdr iantogett ome.
Oncehegott ome, hepl acedhis
handonmysmal lbackandgui ded
met hroughtheairport.
Luckil
y,nobodyseemedt onot i
cehim.
Iguessnobodyst i
ll
knowhi st r
ue
appearance.Wewal kedthroughthe
gatesandwal kedupt oajet.TheJet
hadtheMi nett
inameoni t.Hehas
hi
sownpr
ivat
ejet
!
Theplanewasadescentsi zef ora
fewpeopl et ofl
yon.Ilookeddownat
myweddi ngr i
ng.Ishoul
dn’ thave
beentosur pr i
sedaboutt heplane.
TheMi nettiswereweal t
hypeopl e.
WhenIt houghtaboutit,Iwasa
Minet
ti now.
Adr ianwalkedupthenar r
owst air
s
upoft heplanewhileIf
oll
owed
behi ndclosely
.Onceatthet op,we
wal kedinsidetoseetwof l
ight
attendants.Onewasamanandt he
otherwasawoman.Theyl ookedv ery
prof essi
onalwiththei
runif
orms.
“
Hel
l
oMr
.Mi
net
ti
,”t
heysai
dand
bowedt ohimi nunison.Iwatched
thefemal efl
i
ghtattendantwalkupt o
him.Shewasr eal
l
yabeaut if
ul
person.Shehadst ri
kingbrunett
ehair
andgr eeneyes.Herunifor
medf i
ther
perfectl
ythatshowedhercur ves.
“Letmet akey ourjacketforyousir
,”
shesaidt ohim.Adr i
angav ehera
nodandt ookhi sjacketof f
.The
femalef l
i
ghtat t
endantt ookthehis
coatgladlywithabi gsmi leonher
face.I
nmyhear t,Ifeltapinchof
j
ealouslyfrom herf acial
expressi
on.I
wonder edifsheknewofmy
presence…orwhoIwast ohim.
Themal
efl
i
ghtat
tendantwal
kedov
er
tomewi thasmile.Icouldt
ellt
hathe
wasbuiltunder
neathhisunif
orm.He
haddarkbrownhai randdarkbrown
eyes.Tome, hedidn’
tlookt
oobad
comparedt oAdri
an.
“MayIt akey ourcoatma’ am? ”he
askedme.“ Yes.Thanky ou,”Isaidt
o
him andt ookof fmyjacket.Het ook
myj acketfrom myhands.Il ookedat
Adri
ant oseehi m walktowar dsa
seat.Iquicklyfoll
owedbehi ndhim.
Hegest
uredmet osi
tnearthe
wi
ndow.Isatdowninmyseatand
woremyseatbelt
.Hesatont he
ot
hersi
deandputhisseatbelton.
Hecoul
dn’tsi
tnextt
omesi ncether
e
wasnoseatnextt
ome.Wehadt
osi
t
apar
t.
“HelloMr .Minett
i.Thisi syour
capt ai
nSt evenSpizal
ewi thfir
st
offi
cerJor danMi chael.Wewi l
lbe
takingfli
ghtmoment aril
y .Atthi
stime
pleaseputony ourseat belt.Agai
n,
wewi l
ltakef l
i
ghtshortly,”Iheard
from theintercom.
Ihear dtheenginesroarf r
om outsi
de.
Ilookedoutt hewindowt oseethat
thepl anewasmov i
ngt owardsthe
runway .Herewego.Thepl ane
startedtogodownt her unway
i
ncr easingspeed.Soon, wewere
ri
singt ocrui
singalt
itude.
Il
ookedoutthewindowt oseemy
homeof18y ear
s.Ev enthoughI
wouldbeback,i
tfeltli
keIwas
l
eav i
ngmyhomef orgoodt ostar
ta
newl i
fei
nNewYor k.Also,Iwoul
dbe
creat
ingNewYorkCi tyasmynew
home.
By
eCal
i
for
nia.
Pi
ng….
.
Ihear dasound.Itwastoindicate
thatwecoul dtakeourseatbeltoff
.I
didn’ttakemyseatbel
toff.Il
ooked
overatAdr i
antoseethathegot ten
hislaptopoutandstart
edt owor k.
Heal
way
sbusy
.Notsur
pri
sing.
Idecidedtonotdi stur
bhim.The
fl
ightatt
endantsgotoutoft heir
seatsandstartedt odothei
rduties.
Themal efl
ightattendantwalkedup
tome.“ Wouldy oulikeany
thingtoeat
ordrinkma’am? ”heaskedme.
“Waterwoul
dbeni ce,”Isai
dtohim.
Hegav emeasmi l
eandanodbef ore
hewalkedaway .Thef emal
efli
ght
att
endantwalkedov ertoAdri
an.
“Wouldyouli
keany thi
ngsir?
”she
askedhim.Adrianlookedupand
gaveherasmi l
e.
“Winewouldbeni ce,”hetol
dhim.
“Yes.Ofcourse,”shesaidtohi
m wit
h
anallur
ingvoice.Itsoundedasi
fshe
wastry
ingtofl
i
rtorseducehim.I
coul
dseethatAdri
anlikedt
heway
shetal
kedtohi
m.Hi seyesshowedi
t.
Iputmyheaddown.He’ spracti
cal
ly
havinganaffairal
ready!Themal e
fl
ightat
tendantwal kedovert ome
withmywat er.“Hereyougo, ”hesai
d
tome.Igav ehim asmal lsmi l
e.
“Thankyou,”Isaidtohim.
Itookasipofwat
erandl
ookedout
thewindow.
Throughoutt hefl
ight,
Adri
anwas
doinghisworkast hefemalefl
ight
att
endantfli
rtwithhim.Themal e
fl
i
ghtat t
endantaskedme
occasional
l
yi fIneededanyt
hingbut,
Itol
dhimthatIwasfine.Also,
he
tr
iedtohaveaconversati
onswithme.
From t
hequesti
onsthathehadbeen
aski
ngme, Idi
dn’
twantt obe
anywherenearhi
m.
Hisquesti
onswer ewaytoper sonal.
Atthecornerofmyey es,Icouldsee
Adri
anglaringathi
m but,hedidn’tdo
anythi
ngelse.Hekepthisattenti
on
onhislaptopandthefemal efl
ight
att
endantwhowasenj oyinghis
company .
Iguessedthathedi
dn’
tknowthatI
wasmar ri
edtoAdri
an.Idi
dn’
tthi
nk
thatanyoneknewyet
.
Fewhour
slat
er………
Pi
ng…….
“Mr.Minetti
.Thisisyourcapt ai
n
speaki
ng.Pleaseputy ourseatinan
upri
ghtposition.Wewi llbelandi
ngat
JFKInternati
onal Ai
rportshortl
y.
Thanky ouforf l
yi
ngwi thusandhope
youhav eav erygoodday .”
Iwatchedt heplanel andontot he
runway.Ast heplanest art
edt ogli
de
totheairport
,IsawNewYor kCi t
y’s
buil
dingsinthedi stance.Lookingat
theti
me, itwasint heaf t
ernoon.I
bett
ergetusedt othet i
mezone.
Theplanewasabletolandsmoothl
y.
Idi
dn’
tf eel
anytur
bulenceontheway
down.Oncet hepl
anestopped
complet
ely
,Adri
angotupf r
om his
seat
.“Getmyjacketplease,
”Adrian
sai
dtothefemalefli
ghtattendant.
Shegavehim abigsmi leandwal ked
awaybehindthecur t
ains.Themal e
fl
ightat
tendantdi
sappear edbehi nd
thecurt
ainsaswell.Afterami nute,
theycamebackwi t
hourj ackets.I
watchedthefemalef l
i
ghtat tendant
helpAdri
anwi t
hhisjacket .
Simply,It
ookmyj acketandwor ei
t
witheasewi t
houtanyhel p.Atthe
cornerofmyey es, Icoul
dseeher
buttonhissuitj
acketandgott oo
cl
oset ohimt hatt herewasnospace
betweent hem.“ Ihopey ouhada
gr
eatfl
ight,
”Ihear
dhersayt
ohi
min
aseducti
vemanner.
Adri
angav easmi rktoherandl eaned
downt okissheront hecheekst hen
whisperedsomet hi
ngi nhereart hat
madehersmi l
e.Themal ef l
i
ght
att
endantgav emeasmi le.“Ihopet o
seeyouagai n,
”hesai dtome.
IhopeIdon’
tseey
ouagai
n.
Igav
ehi m asmall
nodandf
oll
owed
cl
oselybehindAdr
ian.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~
[
6/24,00:11]Ndozvoo:
ht
tps:
//chat.what
sapp.
com/
Imj
KmCS
D8w6DzBCJat
TfuN

ARANGEDLOVEEPI
SODE7.
..

Wewal kedoutoft heplanetoseea

bl
ackcarwai tingforus.Ifol
l
owed
Adri
andownt hestair
sandt othecar.
Nicecar.Thedr i
veropenedthecar
doorforme.“ Thanky ou,
”Isaidt
o
hi
m andsl i
di nsi
dethecar.Thedriver
cl
osedt hedoorandopenedt heother
doorforAdrian.
OnceAdri
angotinhi
sseat
,he
openedhi
slapt
opandstar
tedt
o
workagain.Hemustbeawor kaholi
c.
Il
ethim workwhileIl
ookedoutt he
carwindow.Soon,thedr
iverdroveus
outoftheair
portandint
ot hemai n
str
eetsofQueens,NewYor kCity.
Ihadnev erbeent oNewYor kCity.
Theci tywashuget hatyoufel
tli
kean
antinanantf arm…f r
om whatIhad
hear d.Ir
eall
ydidn’thav emany
expect at
ionsoftheci ty
.Ihaveseen
picturesthecit
yinmagazi nesand
books.Theci tyl
ookedbeaut i
ful
at
night.
Queenslookedveryni
ce.Isawmany
r
owhousest hatli
nedthestreetsof
Queens.Soon,wehadtogot hr
ough
theQueens-
MidtownTunnel.The
tunnel
goesundertheEastRiverof
NewYor kandoneofthefewway sto
gettoManhatt
an
Oncewewer eoutofthet unnel,I
couldseet hedif
fer
entsky scraper
sin
thedistance.Bef
orewecoul dget
there,wehadt opaythetoll.The
dri
verdr oveuptotheterminal and
paidfort het
oll
.Nowor dswer e
exchanged.
Aswedr ovedownt hest
reets,Icoul
d
seethediff
erenceinarchi
tecture
downthedi f
ferentstr
eet
s.Af t
era
whil
e,t
hebui l
dingsgotbiggerand
tal
l
erinsize.Soon,Iknewthatwe
wer
egetti
ngcl
oset
othehear
tof
Manhat
tan.
Manypeopl ewer eout si
dewalkingin
thest reetsmi ndingt heirown
business.Theyl ookedl i
kebusy
peopl ewhoar ei nahur r
yandi na
rusht ot heirdestination.Theydidn’
t
real
lyr emi ndmeoft hepeoplei nSan
Francisco.I nSanFr ancisco,youwere
l
aidbackandt aket i
met ogettoyour
destination.
Soon,westoppedi nfrontofatal
l
andlar
geapar t
mentbui ldi
ngnextto
theEmpireStat
eBui l
ding.“Weare
heresi
r,
”thedriversai
dt ohim.
Adri
anclosedhislaptopandpacked
i
tinhisbr
iefcase.Hegotoutoft
he
carandof
feredhishandtome.
Iwasabi thesit
antbut,It
ookhis
hand.Hehel pedmeoutoft hecar
andpl acedhi shandonmysmal l
backt oguidemeupt hesmallsetof
stair
s.Wewal kedinsi
dethebuil
ding
tohearnot hing.Theplacewasvery
quiet.
Wewal keddowndi fferenthallways
unti
lwef oundanel evatorthatdidn’t
seem t
omat chthebui l
dingitself
.
Onceint heelevat
or,Adr i
anpr essed
thebut
tonf orthetopf loor
.Iwat ched
asmall scr
eenabov et hebuttons.
[
KeyCar
dPl
ease]Huh?
Adri
ant ookacar doutofhispocket
andinsertedthecardinthescanner.
Theelevatorprocessedthedatain
hi
scar d.
Beep…beep…pi
ng!
[Recogni zeAdr i
anMi netti
]The
elevatorstartedt oli
ftustoour
destinationthatwasont het opfl
oor.
Iwat chedt hescr eenthatshowedus
howf astandt het i
met hatwewoul d
reacht hetop.Icoul dsayt hatthe
elevatorwasgoi ngreall
yfast .
Throught heli
ft,wedidn’
tsayaword
toeachot her.Adri
anseemed
preoccupiedwi t
hsomet hi
ng.Icoul
d
tel
lfrom hiseyes.Hiseyeswere
distant
.Iwonder
edwhathewas
thinki
ng.Al
ways,Iconcl
udedt
hati
t
hadt odowithwork.
Afterthreemi nutes,Ifeltt
heelevator
slowdown.Thescr eenshowedt hat
wewer eatthet opfloor.Oncethe
elevatorsett
leddown, thedoorsopen
toal argebri
ghtr oom.Idi dn’
tthink
thatmynewhomewoul dbev erybig
andspaci ous.
Thewindowswer ehuget hatt
he
madeupawal l
ononesi deofthe
room.Ihadtosaythattheapartment
hadagoodv i
ewofNewYor kCit
y.
Thebigwindowsbr oughtmuch
sunl
ighti
ntotheroom.Icouldsee
roofsofdi
ff
erentbui
l
dingsi
nthe
dist
ance.
Itookast epf or
war dtohaveabet t
er
l
ookoft hepl ace.Isawahuge
swimmi ngpool outside.Theview
fr
om mynewhomewasv er
y
beauti
ful.Surpri
singly,
theplacewas
veryquietevent houghthecitywas
noisyoutside.
Atl
eastIwoul
dsl
eepwel
ltoni
ght
.
Itur
nedmyheadt oseest
air
sthatl
ed
tothesecondf
loor
.Wonderwhat’
s
upthere.
“
Okay
.Letmel
aydownt
her
ules.
”
It
urnedar
oundt
olookathi
m.He
l
ookedv er
yser i
ous.“Fi
rst,donot
bothermewhenIam wor king.I
’ma
busyman.Second, donotev ercome
i
ntomyof fi
ce.Thi r
d,donott alk
unl
essy ouarespokent ooranswera
questi
on.Wheny ouaretalkingtome,
l
ookatmyf ace.Lastl
y,l
eav eme
al
one.Thelastt hi
ngIneedi s
someonet oruinmyr eputation,
”he
sai
dt ome.
Isomewhatexpectedt hismuchfrom
him.Wemaybehusbandandwi f
e,
butwewer en’tmarr
iedcouple
emot i
onall
yandment all
y.Wehadno
feel
ingsforeachother.Thelastt
hing
hesaidhurtmeal i
ttl
ebi t
.Inaway ,I
alr
eadymessedhi sli
feup.
Hewal kedt owardst hestairs.“Fol
low
me, ”hesai dashewal kedupt he
stairs.Ifoll
owedhi m upt hest air
s
anddownahal lway .Wepassedby
manydi ffer
entrooms.I fhei snot
goingt ogi v
emeat our,t
henIguess
I’
l
l hav etolookar oundmy self.
Soon,west oppedinf r
ontofaroom
thatwasnextt oabiggerroom.He
openedthedoort orevealaroom that
wasf i
l
ledwi t
hmyst ufffr
om my
homei nSanFr anci
sco.“Thi
sisyour
room.Myr oom isnextdoor.
Remember ,don’tbotherme,”hesaid
tome.Igav ehim anod.
Hel
ookedathi
swat
cht
oseet
he
ti
me.“ I’
m goingtogoi nmyoffice,
”
hesai dtomeandwal kedaway .I
closedt hedoorbehindmeandsaton
thebed.Her eIwasi nNewYor k.Ina
citythatwasv eryfor
eigntome.My
newl if
ewasal readyadisast
er.
Itookadeepbr eath.Youcanget
throughthisVera.Youdon’tneedto
tel
l y
ouwhatt odo.It ookanother
deepbr eat
handgott ounpackingmy
stuff.Whil
eIunpackedmyst uff,If
ell
uponmyol dphotoalbum.
Iwalkedtothebedwi ththealbum in
myhandsandopenedt othef i
rst
page.Alr
eady,Icouldfeelthetears
for
mi ngi
nmyey es.Thefirstpage
reveal
edmybabypictur
ewhenIwas
atthehospi
tal
.Iwaswrappedi
na
pinkbl
anketandapinkhat
.
Inthepi cture,
mygr andmot herheld
mewi thagent l
esmi l
e.My
grandf atherhadasmi l
eonhi sf ace
andl ookedov ermygr andmot herin
ordert oseeme.Mypar ent
swer en’t
i
nt hepi ctureatal
l.Underneatht he
picture,therewerewor ds.
Val
eri
aLaur
ent
i
August29
12:
08am
5poundsand7ounces
It
urnedt
hepaget
oseepi
ctur
esof
mygr andparentscaringf orme.Of
course,Idi
dn’thavepi cturesofmy
parentsandmybr otherwi thme.My
parentsneverwant edt obenearme.
Itmadesensef ormet ohav e
pict
uresofmygr andpar entsandI
.
Ifl
ippedt hrought hepages.Each
pageshowedmyy earsfr
om youthto
now.Eachpage, Icouldseethe
changesofmy self.Eachpagegav e
mef lashbacksoft hatmoment .Each
pager emi ndedmet heemot i
onsthat
weref el
tatt hetime.
I
nmyey esandmi
nd,Iwaswatchi
ng
myli
fegobyli
keaoldf
il
m.Iwatched
mysel
fgrowupwit
htwolov
ing
grandparentswhosawal i
ttl
egirl
withnosuppor tandl ovefrom her
parent.Ikeptf
lippingthroughthe
pagesoft hephot oalbum.
Soon,Igottothelastpage.Thelast
pagehadmygr aduati
onpictur
e.I
sawthattherewasanenv elope.
Huh?Whati sthat?It
ookthe
envel
opeandopenedi ttoseealett
er
i
nside.Cur
iously,
Iopenedthel
etter
.
DearVer
a,
Bytheti
mey ouar ereadi
ngt hi
s,y
ou
wouldhavestartedanewl if
ewith
Adri
an.Iknowt hatIshouldhavetol
d
youaboutthemar ri
agewheny ou
wereyounger.Iwantedy outohavea
bet
terl
if
ethanwe…y
ourgr
andmot
her
andIcoul
dgivey
ou.
Wet ookyouawayf r
om y ourpar ents
becausewesawt hethingst hatwe
di
dn’tli
keaboutyourparent s.They
di
dn’ttr
eatyouaspartoft hef amily.
Wewant edyoutogrowupi nal ovi
ng
homesowet ookyouandr aisedyou
asourown.
Tobehonest ,Iforgot t
enaboutt he
mar r
iageplanunt i
lIsawPi et
roon
yourgraduationday .Inmymi nd,I
thoughtthatitwoul dbegr eatforyou
tobemar r
iedtoAdr ianbecauset he
famil
ycoul dpr ovidey outhingsthat
wecoul dn’
taf ford.
Ihopet hatyoucanf orgivemeand
yourgrandmot her.Youar eour
preci
ousgr anddaughterandIwoul d
havewant edy outohav eabet t
erli
fe
thanyourpar entsandbr other.Ihope
themar ri
agewoul dbringy ou
happinessandr emov et hetrauma
andpainf rom yourearlychil
dhood.
Wewil
lalwaysloveyou.Takegood
car
eofyoursel
f.St
aystrong.
Lov
eGr
andf
ather
.
Afterr
eadingthelet
ter,Ihel
dthe
l
ettert
omychestandwept .Oh
Grandfat
her…Imissy ousomuch…
NowIhadabet terunder
standi
ng
abouthi
sthoughtsonthemar r
iage
andhi
smot
ivef
orbei
ngmei
ntohi
s
home.
Aft
eraf ewmi nutes,Iwipedmyt ear
s.
Idi
dn’tr
ealizedthatitwasdark
out
side.Itooktheletterandpl
acedi t
i
nthephot oalbum.It houghtt
hatit
wouldbesaf etoputi ti
nthealbum
sothatitdidn’
tgetlost.
Itookthealbum andplacedi ti
nmy
cl
oset.OnceIf i
nishedputti
ngmy
cl
othesaway ,i
twasal ready6:30pm.
Ishoul
dgetdi nnerready.Iwalked
outoftheroom toseet hatthelight
s
weredim but,i
twasbr ightenoughto
see.
Sl
owl
y,Iwal
keddownt
hehal
l
way
anddownt hestair
st oseetheli
ving
room waslitbr
ight.Outsi
dethe
window,thescenewasbeaut if
ul.The
cit
ywasal i
vewithlight
s.Itwasgood
enoughforamov i
eshotora
postcar
d.
Iconti
nuedmywayt othekitchen
andopenedt herefrigerat
ortoseeno
freshfood.Everyt
hinglookedst or
e
bought.“Ir
eall
yneedt ogoshopping
forbetterf
ood,”Isaidoutloud.I
closedtherefr
igeratorandlookedin
thecabinets.
Thecabi
netshel
dplatesthatl
ooked
ver
yexpensi
ve.Ther
ewasnot hingto
eat
.MaybeIshouldordersomething.
Icl
osedt helastcabinet.“
MayIhelp
you?”Iturnedaroundt oseeamani n
asuit.Hehadbr ownhai rthatwas
gell
edback, gr
eyey es,andcleaned
shaved.
Whoi
she?
“Oh.Ididn’
tknowt hatmyhusband
hada…but l
er?”Ididn’tknowwhatt o
say.Themangav emeasmi le.“
Oh.
YoumustbeMr .Minetti’
snewwi fe.
I’
m LorenzoRaouli.Iam hi sassi
stant
athisbusiness,
”hei ntroduced
himselftome.
“I
t’
snicetomeety
ou,”Isai
dtohim.
Hegav emeanod.“Yourhusband
sentmetoseehowy ouweredoing.I
didn’
tseeyouinyourr
oom,”hesaid
tome.Ithoughthewasn’
tint
erest
ed
i
nme.Af teral
l,
heisajer
k.
“Icameint hekit
chentoseeifthere
i
sany t
hingt oeatsi
nceit’
sdinner
ti
me.Doeshecookf orhimself
?I
l
ookedev erywheretoseethathe
doesn’
thav eanythi
ngfresh,
”Isaidto
him.Icouldtellt
hathewast r
yingto
holdhislaughter
.
“Heisbusyf ort
hatbut,hedoes
knowhowt ocook.It
’sjustt
hathe
rar
elycooksathome, ”hesaidtome.
“Thatwouldexplai
ntheempt y
cabinetsandfri
dge.IguessI’
llneed
togot othemarkettomor r
ow,”Isai
d
t
ohi
m.
Lorenzowal kedov ertomeand
presentedmewi thtwodiff
erent
cards.“Mr.Mi nett
iwantedmet ogi
ve
youy ourcreditcardthati
sconnect
ed
tohisbankaccountandakeycar d
fortheapar t
ment ,
”hesaidtome.He
reachedintohi spocketandgaveme
asmar tphone.
“Thisphonehadal lthecont actsthat
youneed,”hesaid.It ookt hephone
i
nmyhands.“ Thanky ouLorenzo, ”I
thankedhim andgav ehi m asmi le.
“Youareverywel come.Pl ease,ify ou
needany t
hing,don’thesitatetoask, ”
hesaidtome.
Igavehim anod.Hegav emeone
l
astsmileandwal kedaway .Il
ooked
downatt hekeycard,cr
editcard,and
thephonei nmyhands.Theyhadmy
nameont hem….mymar r
iedname.
Thisi
sy ourstar
tofanewl ife.
Itookadeepbr eathandlookedat
thecreditcard.Ishouldgotothe
bankt omorrowaboutmybank
accountinCal i
fornia.“
Butfornow…I
needt ofindsomet hingtoeat.
”Does
Adrianwantany thing?Imademy
wayt oAdr i
an’soffice.
Ont heway,
IsawLor
enzowhowas
walkingt
owardsmewit
hafil
einhi
s
hand.Hegavemeasmi l
e.“
Hell
oMs.
Mi nett
i.HowmayIhelpyou?”he
askedme.“ Iwaswonder
ingifAdri
an
want edsomethi
ngspeci
ficf
or
dinner,
”Isaidt
ohim.
“Oh.Mr .Minetti
hadalreadyordered
foodfrom aFr enchRestaurant.He
madesur et ogetyousomet hing.I
’m
headingtot herest
auranttopickup
thefoodr i
ghtnow,”hesai dtome.
“Oh…that’
sni ceofhim,”Isaidtohim.
Hegav emeasmi l
eandl ookedathi
s
watch.“I
ndeed.Well…Ineedtoget
goi
ngnow.Pl easeexcuseme, ”he
sai
dandwal kedpassedme.I
watchedhim walkdownt hehall
way.
Heseemsl
i
keani
ceguy
…much
bet
tert
hanAdr
ian.
Imademywaybackint
omyr
oom
andsatatt
hewi
ndowsi
ll
.
Mynewl
i
fest
art
edher
e.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~
[
6/24,00:11]Ndozv oo:
ht
tps:
//chat.whatsapp.
com/
Imj
KmCS
D8w6DzBCJat TfuN

ARANGEDLOVEEPI
SODE8.
..

Nextday
……
Ri
ng….
Ring…
Smack!
Sleepil
y ,Igotupf rom bedand
walkedov ertothecur t
ains.Iopened
thecur tainstoseet hesunr i
seinthe
distance.That ’
snice.Iwal kedint
o
mybat hroom andwashedupf orthe
day.Thebat hroom waspr etty
amazi ng.Ev eryt
hinginsidewas
expensi ve.
Afterdressingupi nmywhi t
esweater,
bl
ackl eggings,andslippers,Il
ooked
atmy selfinthemi rr
or.Il
ookedv ery
pl
ain.Ididn’tknowi fIcouldadaptto
alavishlif
e.Iwor emygl assesand
walkedoutofmyr oom.
Quietl
y ,
Imademywayt otheki
t chen
andst art
edt omakebr eakfastfor
Adrian.Inthecabinet
s, Imanagedt o
fi
ndbagel s,cof
fee,andcr eam
cheese.Iguesst hesewi l
ldofornow.
Lookinginsidethecabinetsagain, I
foundaket tl
eandacof feefi
lt
er.
Tobehonest ,
Ididn’
tli
kecoffee.
Howev er,Imadecof f
eef ormy
grandparentseverymor ni
ng.They
l
ookedmypourov erbrewmet hod.I
fi
ll
edthepotwi thwaterandsett he
potont hestovetoboil.Whil
et he
kett
leboiledthewater,Igotthefi
lter
andthecof feeready.
Af
terput
ti
ngt
hef
il
teri
nacupand
thegroundcof feeinthefilt
er,I
preparedthebagel .Icutthebagel i
n
halfandtoastedt hem inthetoaster.
Soon,Ihear dthewat erboil
ing.Igot
hekettleandst ar
tedt opourt he
boil
ingwat eroverthecoffeegr ound.
Slowly,t
hef i
nishedpr oductdri
pped
i
nt othecup.Thebagel poppedup
from thetoaster.Itookthehot
bagelsandspr eadcr eam cheeseon
them.Thebr eakf astwassimple.I
reall
yneedt ogot othegrocer
ystor
e
today.
Afterofthethecof f
eewasdone,
I
remov edthefil
terandt
hecoff
ee
ground.Idecidedtomakethecoff
ee
onthestrongside.Iremembered
Adri
andrinki
ngespr essobackinSan
Fr
ancisco.Ihopehel ikest
hecoff
ee.
Isetevery
thingont hetrayand
walkedupt hestair
s.Iremember ed
thathi
sroom wasl ocat
edrightnext
tomyr oom.Iwal keddownahal l
way
toseeLorenzo.Het ur
nedhisheadto
seemeappr oachhim.
“Goodmor ni
ngLorenzo,
”Isaidto
him wit
hasmi l
eonmyf ace.Iwas
happytoseehi m.Hegav emea
smileinretur
n.“Goodmor ningMrs.
Minetti
.Sleepwell?
”heaskedme.
“Yes.Thanky ouforaski
ng,”Isai
dto
him.
Hel ookeddownatt hetraythatIwas
carryi
ng.“Didyoumakehi m
breakfast?
”heaskedme.“ Idi
d.Ishe
i
nhi sroom? ”Iaskedhi
m.Lor enzo
shookhi shead.“Heisinhisoffi
ce,
”
hetoldme.Hei sinhi
sof f
ice!
“Didhesl eeplastni
ght?
”Iaskedwi t
h
concer n.Hegav emeanod.“ Heslept
foracoupl ehoursbeforereturni
ngt o
wor k.Thisisalif
eofaCEO, ”he
explainedtome.Igav ehim anod.“ I
’l
l
escor tyoutohisoff
ice,
”hesai d.
Closely,
Ifol
lowedLorenzoto
Adrian’
soffi
ce.Hisoff
icewas
l
ocat edontheothersi
deofthe
apartment.Soon,wearri
vedi
nfront
ofdoubl
edoors.Al
ready
,Ihadaidea
aboutwhathi
soffi
cewouldlookl
ike.
Lorenzoknockedont hedoort olet
Adrianknowt hatsomeonewasat
thedoor.“Comei n,”Iheardfrom the
othersi
de.Lor enzoopenedt hedoor
andpeekedi nside.“Mr.Minetti
.Your
wifeisherewit hyourbreakf
ast,”I
heardLorenzosayt ohi m.
Istartedtofeelmyhandssweat .
Adriantoldmey esterdaythathe
didn’twanttobedi sturbedbymeor
anything.I
twasoneofhi srul
es.“Let
herinandcl oset hedoorbehi ndyou.
Iwantt otalktoheral one,
”Iheard
Adrian’sordertoLor enz.
Lorenzoopenedt hedoorf orme.
Slowly,
Iwalkedinsideandwas
amazedbyt heoff i
ce.Theof f
icewas
prett
ybigwiththecompanyl ogo
abovethedesk.Ther oom was
spotl
ess.Thefurnitur
emademef eel
l
ikeIwasinaof fi
cebui l
dingandnot
anapartment.
From t
hedesk,Adr i
anlookedatme
deadintheeyes.Istart
edtofeelmy
l
egsshake.Ididn’tmov emyeyes
awayfrom Adri
an.Adriangotupfrom
hi
schairandwal kedovertome.I
wantedtomov east epbackbut,
my
l
egswer eparal
yzedbyf ear
.
Oncehest
oodi
nfr
ontofme,
Ilooked
strai
ghtathischest.Iwastooafrai
d
tolookathim.“ WhatdidIsayabout
botheri
ngme? ”heaskedtomei na
sterntone.Histonefel
theavyonmy
shouldersandmademyhear tdrop.
Icouldn’topenmymout h.“Lookup
atmewhenIspeakt oyou,”hesaid
tome.Hedi dn’tchanget hetoneof
hisvoice.Itookashakybr eathand
l
ookedupathi m.Whenourey esmet,
Icompl etel
yfrozeandt ense.
Icoul
dseetheannoy anceandanger
i
nhiseyes.“Letmeaskonel astt
ime.
WhatdidIsayaboutbotheri
ngme? ”
heaskedme.Hi sannoyanceand
angerwer
egr owingbythesecond.I
for
cedmy sel
ftospeakwi
thout
contr
oll
i
ngmyf ear.
“Y-yousaidt-
t-t
onotb- botheryou,
”I
saidtohim.“Exactly
,”hesai dt
ome.
Het ookthecupofcof f
eeandt he
platebagelsoffthetray.“
Nowget
out.Don’tbothermeev eragaingot
i
t,”hesaidtome.Inoddedmyhead
quickl
yandwal kedoutofhi sroom.
Isetthet r
ayinthekitchenandmade
mywaybacki nt
omyr oom.Oncei n
myr oom, Isatonthebedandf elt
tearsfallf
rom myey es.Iletouta
deepbr eaththatIhadkepti nsi
de
my selff
rom myencount erwith
Adrian.
WhydidIhav
etopai
rwi
thhi
m?He
scar
esmesomuch.
Il
ookedatmyhandst oseethem
shaki
ng.Iheldmyhandst ogether
andtr
iedtocalm myner v
esdown. I
cl
osedmyey esandthoughtabout
mygrandparents.Theywantedmet o
haveabetterli
fethanmypar ent
sand
mybrother.
Thequest
ionwas…wast
hisabet
ter
l
if
e.
Icouldseet heupsanddownsoft his
mar r
iage.Intheend,IdecidedthatI
wantedal if
ewher eIdidn’thav
et o
displ
easemyhusband.Ishoul dn’
t
havet ofearanyt
hingasl ongasI
f
oll
owedt
her
ulest
hathehadsetf
or
me.
Fol
lowtherul
esVer
a.Youcanl
i
ve
thr
oughthi
s.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ithadbeenaf ewhourssincemy
encounterwit
hAdr i
an.Asf arasI
knew, bythet
imeIlefttheapartment,
Adrianwasalreadygonetohi swor k
i
nt hecity
.Ihadplannedtogot ot he
bankandt othegrocerystoretoday.
Rightnow,Ihadjustgot
tenoutofthe
bank.Imanagedt ogetmybank
accounttr
ansfer
redfrom San
Franci
scoandgot t
enanewcr edi
t
anddebitcardundermymai den
name.EventhoughIhadacr edi
tcard
from Adr
ian,
Iratherusemymoney
thantousehisfortunetobuyt
hings.
Wal kingdownt hestr
eet ,
Icouldsee
thedi fferencebetweenSan
Franci scoandNewYor k.NewYor k
wassuperbusywi thpeopl eand
traf
fic.Peopl ewerewal ki
ngupand
downt hestreetwhi
letheyt al
kedon
theirphones, wal
kedtheirdog, or
l
istenedt otheirmusi
c.
Itfel
tdiff
erent.Ist
artedtomissSan
Franciscomor e.Imissedthesl
ow
rel
axf eeloftheneighbor
hood.I
missedt heairofthebay.Iknewthat
Iwouldhav et ogetusedtoNewYor k
andi
t’
sbusi
ness.
Imanagedt of i
ndagr oceryst or
ethat
wasneart heapar t
ment.Itwasv er
y
conv enient
.Insidethegrocer ystor
e,I
tookashoppi ngcartandwal ked
throught heaisletofi
ndt hingsthat
woul dlastAdr i
anandIaf ewday s.
Ispentagoodhourf i
ll
ingt hecart
withproduceandot hergoods.
Tonight,Iwantedt omaker aviol
i
stuff
edwi thr
icotta,parmesan,
spinach,andblackpepper .Forthe
sauce,Iwantedt omakehomemade
mar i
narasaucecookedwi thhome
madesausageandv egetables.
Il
ear
nedmanyr
eci
pesf
rom my
grandmot hergrowi ngup.Iwould
spendhour sintheki tchenwithher.I
t
wasgoi ngt obet hefirstti
methatI
wascooki ngmy selfwithoutmy
grandmot hertastingmycooki ng.
Hopef ul
ly
, Adri
anwoul dli
kemy
cooking.
Onceatthecashier
,Iwatchedthe
scr
eentoseethecostoft hetot
al
amountgoup.Ishouldgeta
membershipcard.“Yourtot
alis
$102.
98.Doyouhav eamember shi
p
cardwi
thus?”theladyaskedme.
“No.MayIsignupforoneplease,
”I
sai
dtoher.Shegavemeaf orm and
pen.Qui
ckl
y,Ifi
l
ledthefor
m withmy
i
nformationwhileshegotthebags.
“CanIgetreusablebagsplease,”I
saidtoher.Shegavemeanodand
workedont hecashregist
er.“That
wil
l i
ncr
easet hetot
alto$110.98,”
shetoldme.
“That’
sfine,
”Isai
dt oher .Igaveher
theform andgotamember shipcar
d.
Imanagedt ogett hepricedownt o
$80.97.“Cashorcar d?”thelady
askedme.“ Debit
,”Isaidt oher.I
l
ookedi ntomywal letandgotmy
debitcard.
OnceIpaidever
ythi
ngandgotmy
bags,Iwal
kedoutofthegr
ocery
stor
eandtotheapartment
.Thewal
k
wasn’ttoobad.Onceinsi det
he
apartmentbuil
ding,
Iwal kedi
ntothe
elev
atorthatwasspecifictoget
ti
ng
tomyapar tmentbuil
ding.
Ipr
essedt
hebut
tonf
ort
het
opf
loor
.
[KeyCar
dPl
ease]It
ookacardoutof
mybagandinser
tedthecar
din
scanner
.
Beep…beep…pi
ng!
[RecognizeValeri
aMinetti
]The
elevat
orstartedtomov e.Isetthe
groceryont hegroundandst r
etched
myar ms.Nextt i
me…l essgroceri
es.
Thescr eenshowedmet hatIwas
almostatt hetop.Igr
abbedt he
groceri
esandwai t
edfortheelevator
t
oreacht
heapar
tment
.
Soon,Iarri
vedatheapartment.I
carr
iedthegroceri
esintheki
tchen
andstartedtoputthegr
oceriesaway.
Imadesur etothrowawayany thi
ng
expi
redinthetrashasIdidn’
twant
anymoldgr owinganywhere.
I
ttookmeagoodthi
rt
ymi
nut
est
o
putt
hest
uffaway
.
Gr
umbl
e
Iplacedmyhandonmyst omach.
“That’sr
ight.Idi
dn’teatany t
hing
yet.
”Iwal kedovertot hefr
idgeand
grabbedsomest uffforagril
led
cheesewi thbasilandt omatoes.I
want edsomet hi
ngsimpl efornow
si
nceIwasgoi
ngt
omakeabi
g
di
nner
.
Aftergril
l
ingt hecheesesandwi ch,I
startedtoeatmyl ightlunchwi tha
cupofwat er.AsIat emyf ood,I
l
ookedar oundt heapar tment.Itreal
ly
feltemptyandl onely.I
fapi ndropped
ont othefeel,aper soncoul dhearit
ont heothersi deoft heapar t
ment .
Ishouldreall
ythinkofsomet hingto
do.Somet hi
ngclickedinmyhead.
“That’
sright…di
nner .Thatshould
keepmebusyunt i
l…dinner
.”Ifi
nished
thelastofthegril
ledcheese
sandwichandcl eanedt hedishes.
Af
tert
hedi
shes,
Imadesur
etocl
ean
t
hecount
er.
“
Nowl
et’
smaket
hepast
asauce.
”
Igrabbedt
hesomeingr
edi
ent
soutof
thefri
dgeandst
art
edtomakethe
sauce.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~
Fewhour
slat
er…….
“
Tast
esgood.
”
Imanagedtofini
shmakingthe
rav
iol
isanhouragoandkeptwor ki
ng
onthesauce.Thesaucetast
ed
bett
erovert
ime.Every
thi
ngwas
madef r
om scrat
ch.Soevery
thi
ng
wasgoingtotasteext
ragoodand
f
resh.
“Justtwentymoreminutesandit’
s
done.”Isetthespoondownand
l
ookedatt hetime.I
twasal most
dinnerti
me.Ihadsetdinnerbetween
sixandseven.WonderwhenAdr i
an
i
scomi nghome.Inev eraskedhim
whenhewascomi nghome.
But,Icouldn’
tspeakt ohim atal
l
unlessIwasspokent o.Iwalkedover
tothelivi
ngroom andsatdownon
thecouch.Wi ththeremot econtr
ol,
I
tur
nedt hetelevi
sionont oseewhat
showswer eonatt hehour.
Ihadtosayt
hathehadal
mostev
ery
channel
youcanthi
nkof
.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fourhour
slat
er……
FourhourshadwentbyandIwas
waiti
ngpati
entl
yforhim.“May behe
i
swor kingl
ate.
”Ishoul
dhav eknown
abouthisworkethi
csfrom thestar
t.
Hewor kedl
ateonourf i
rstnight
toget
herinSanFranci
sco.
Twohour sago, Idecidedtomake
mysel fdinnerandmakeapl atet
hat
Adri
ancoul dheatupi nthe
microwav e.Ihadt oeatdinneral
one.
Ther avioli
st astedgreatbut,i
twould
havet astedbet terifIhadsomeone
toeatt hem wi thme.
IpackedAdr
ian’
sfoodi
nthef
ri
dge.I
di
dn’tknowifhewasgoingt
oeati
t.I
hopethathewouldeatt
hem.
Rightnow,Iwasont hecouchdoi ng
somer esearchonuniver
sit
iesand
coll
egesonmyl apt
op.Ihadplanned
togot ocoll
egebeforeIgotmarried.I
thoughtmay beIcouldatl
easttake
someonl i
neclassesandslowlygeta
degree.
Ishoul
dwaitf
orawhi
l
ebef
ore
enrol
li
ng.
Aft
erafewmorehours,Iwentt
obed
wit
houtwai
ti
ngforAdri
antocome
home.
—————————————–
[
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D8w6DzBCJat TfuN

ARANGEDLOVEEPI
SODE9.
..

Nextday
…….
.
Iwokef eelingenergizedandr eady
fortheday .Firstt
hinginthemor ni
ng,
InoticedthatAdr i
andi dn’
tcome
homebecausehi soffi
cewasempt y
.
Also,hisrav i
olidi
nnerwasst i
llinthe
refr
igerat
or .Ideci
dedt oleavethe
plat
eint hefri
dgeforanotherday.I
f
hedidn’tplantoeatthefood,I
’l
lhave
toeatitforlunchonthenextday.
Today,Iwantedtogosi teseeingand
gettoknowmynewnei ghborhood.I
madesur etodressnicelyandgot
ever
ythingsothatIdidn’tgetlocked
outoftheapartment.{ShouldIleave
anote?}“It
hinkhewoul dbeabl et o
fi
ndme.Hepr obabl
yputat r
acking
devi
ceinmyphone. ”
Iwalkedintotheelev
atorandrode
downt othelobby.Onceoutofthe
l
obby ,Iwal
keddownt hestreet
thr
ought hecrowdofpeople.The
str
eetswer el
ivel
ywithpeopleand
cars.Thest r
eet
swerepackedwit
h
carst hatweret
ryi
ngt
ogettothei
r
destinati
on.
Alongt hestr
eet,peoplewoul dgoi
n
andoutoft hestores.Manywomen
walkedi nt
otheclothingstores
becauset heywerewel lknown
brands.Theout f
itswere
amazi ng…but,t
hepr i
ceswer e
outrageous.
“At
wohundredandfi
ft
yei
ghtdol
l
ar
bel
t!
.Not
hankyou.”
Qui
ckly,Icover
edmymout hand
wal
kedawayf r
om thest
orebefore
anyonecouldnoti
cemyexpression.
Thebrandstorescouldr
eal
lyput
someoneintobankr
upt
cy.Tome,
brandst
oresneverr
eal
l
ycaughtmy
eyes.
Wal ki
ngdownt hest r
eet,Ifounda
bookstorethatwasf il
ledwithpeople.
{Mustbeapopul arbookstore.}I
decidedtogoi nsidetoseewhyt he
placewaspopul ar.OnceIst epped
i
nt othebookstore,Icouldseewhy
peoplewereinside.
“
Wow.
”
Theplacewashuge.Thebooksf i
ll
ed
thewallsoftheshop.Atthecorner,
ther
ewasal i
ttl
ecafewherepeople
couldbuysomet hingtodri
nkwhile
theyreadtheirbooks.Ev
eryt
hingwas
v
eryor
gani
zed.
“
MayIhel
pyou?
”
Iturnedmyheadt ot hevoicetoseea
el
der l
ymanatt hecashier.“Oh.I
don’tneedhelp,”Isaidtohi m wi
tha
smi l
e.Hegavemeasmi l
eandanod.
“I
fy ouneedhel p,comet omemy
dear ,
”hesai
dt omeandr etur
nedhis
attenti
ontoacust omerwhowas
buy i
ngabookcal led“ HowToGet
GirlsYouDesire.”
{
Okay
……}
Ist
art
edtowalkt
owar
dtheeast
ern
wal
lofbooks.
“
Let
’sst
arther
eandwor
kar
ound.
”
Thesect
ioncont
ainedhi
stor
ical
and
tr
avel
books.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“
Ican’
twaittor
eadmynewbook
whenIgethome.”
Iprobabl
yhadspentt wogoodhour s
l
ookingaroundt hebookstore.I
managedt ofi
ndsomehi stori
cal
fi
cti
onandf i
cti
onbookst hatcaught
myat t
ention.Thestor
eownergav e
meadi scountont hebookssi nceI
wasaf ir
stt i
meratthestore.After
thebookstore,Ihadspenttime
l
ookingatt heotherst
orest hathad
caughtmyat t
enti
on.
WhenIgothome,
Iwal
kedt
othemai
l
boxt oret
ri
evethemail
.Ihadt osay
thattheboxwasf i
l
ledwit
hletter
s,
pamphl et
sandmagazines.“Lookat
allt
his.
”{DoesAdri
aneverlookathis
mailbox?}It
ookthemailandwal ked
totheelevat
or.
[KeyCardPlease]Igotmykeycard
andinser
tthecardinthescanner
.
Beep…beep…pi
ng!
[RecognizeValeri
aMinet
ti]Asthe
elevat
orlift
edmeup, It
ri
edadj ustmy
holdont hemai l
.Ihadt
osayt hathe
musthav enotcheckedhismai lforat
l
eastaweekort wo.Therewereso
manyl etter
sandmagazines.{Does
hereallyworryabouthi
simage? }
OnceIreachedtheapart
ment ,I
walkedtotheki
tchentosortthemail.
Mostofthelett
erswereforbusiness
whil
eotherswereadvert
isements.
Soon,Igottot
hemagazi nes.One
magazinecaughtmyattenti
on.
TheyoungestMi
net
tiBachel
ort
ied
theknot
s!
Rumor shadspreadaboutt he
possibil
i
tiesofAdr i
anMi netti
marriage.Accordingtosour ces,
he
hadtiedtheknot swhilehewas
vi
sit
inghisparent sinSanFr anci
scoa
coupleweeksago.Thel uckywoman
hadnotbeeni dent i
fi
edyet.
{
Nobodyknowsmey
et.
}
Reli
efcoursedthr
oughmybody .I
real
l
ydidn’twanttobean
i
nconveniencetoAdri
an.Aftersor
ting
themail
,Iwalkedtohisoff
iceandset
themagazinesdownonhi sdeskwi th
hismail
.Hewoul dwanttolookatit.
AsIwal kedoutofhi soff
ice,Isaw
Lorenzowhowal kedtowardsme.
“Hell
oLor enzo,
”Isaidwithasmi leon
hisface.Hegav emeasmal lsmile
andbowedt ome.“ Hell
oMr s.Minett
i.
Howar ey ou?”heaskedme.
{
Mrs.Mi
net
ti
.}
“I
’
mf i
net hankyou.Please,
call
me
Vera,
”Isaidtohim.Thewayhesaid
mymar ri
ednamef eltveryf
orei
gnt
o
me.“Ofcourse,
”hesaidtome.“I
di
dn’
thearyouwal ki
n.MayIask
whatyouaredoinghere?
”Iasked
hi
m.
“Iam heretogetyourhusband’smail
.
Hehadbeenexpect i
ngal et
terfr
om
theCEOofat r
avelcompanybasedi n
It
aly.Hethoughtmay bethelett
erhad
arri
vedathishomeandnotathi s
offi
ce,”heexpl
ainedtome.
{
Atr
avel
company
?}
“I
sitf
rom JourneyFlight?Ididrecal
l
seei
ngamai ll
etterofit.Iplacedhis
maili
nhisoffi
ce,”Itoldhim.Lorenzo
gaveoutasighofr el
ief.“Thankyou.
Normall
y,Mr.Minetti
’sbusiness
l
etter
saremail
edt ohi
soffi
cebut
,on
rar
eoccasi
ons,theyaremail
tohi
s
home,”heexpl
ainedtome.
“Thatmakessense. ”Hegav emea
nod.“Howi sAdrian?”Iaskedhim.I
hadn’tseenhim athomef orawhil
e.
“Hehadbeenbusywi t
hwor k.He
probablywon’tbecomi nghomeunt il
heget sadealwithar ealestat
e
agencyf orapropert
ydowni nSan
Diego,”hetol
dme.
{
Probabl
yanewr
esor
t.
}
“Alr
ight
.Youshouldhurr
yandgett he
l
et t
ertohi
m.He’sprobablynott
he
kindofpersontokeepwaiti
ng,
”Isaid
tohim.Hegav emeanodandwal ked
passedme.Il
etoutdeepbreat
hand
conti
nuedmywaytomyr oom to
readmynewbooks.
“
IguessI
’
llbeeat
ingal
onef
ora
whi
le.
”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~
Oneweekl
ater
……….
Adri
anhadn’treturnedhomef ora
wholeweek.Ibecamemor eworried
abouthim.Ofcour se,Idi
dn’tdareto
cal
lhim oranythi
ngbecausehi sr ul
es
keptpoppingupi nmyhead.Lor enzo
hadn’
tcomeandcheckt hemai l
soI
checkthemai l
andpl acethem in
Adri
an’soffi
ce.
Asf orme, Ihaddeci dedt oenroll i
nto
auni versi
tyinNewYor k.Ofcour se, I
plannedt ot akeacoupl eofonline
classesf oreachsemest ersot hatI
couldf ocusonmyhousechor es.
Also,Iwant edt oseetheamountof
school wor kthatIhadt odof oreach
class.Icouldcar elesswhatAdr ian
thoughtaboutmydeci si
on.
Today ,
Iwasi nar eal
lygoodmood
thatIhadf orgottenaboutAdr ian.I
wasn’tgoingt olethimr uinmyl if
e.I
hadspentagoodt wohour sinthe
neighborhoodandgoi ngt othe
grocerystoref ormoref oodt ofil
li
n
thepantryandf r
idge.Thedoor st o
theelevatorsopenedt orevealmy
apart
ment
.“Homesweethome,
”I
sai
dandsetmygoodsdownonthe
couch.
“
Wel
lhel
l
other
e.”
Igaspedandt urnedar oundtothe
dir
ecti
onofthev oicetoseeaman
wholookedf amiliar.Hisdarkhai
r
wasdowncasual .Hehadsome
faci
alhai
r,butitwasv erycl
ean.His
eyeswerebrownandf amili
ar.
“I
’m surpr
isedt hatyoudon’ tseem t
o
knowme, ”hesai dt ome.Icoul dn’
t
seem topr ocesshi sappearance
becauseIwasbl indedbyf earand
fr
ighttoev enthinkaboutthei dent
it
y
ofthepersoni nf r
ontofme.
{Howdi
dhegeti
nher
e?!Ineedt
o
cal
lAdr
ian.
}
Quickly
,Ireachedformyphonei nmy
bag.“Notsof ast
,”Iheardhi
m sayto
me.Hegr abbedmyar mt opr
event
mef rom gett
ingmyphone.Het ook
mybagandt osseditacrossthe
room.{Mybag. }Het ur
nedhisfaceto
meandgav emeasmi rk.
“
Aaaaahhhh!
”
Quickly,hecoveredmymout hwit
h
hishand.Istruggledtogethishand
awayf rom mymout h.Hedidn’
tseem
tonoticethathecov eredmynose
too.“Letmeexpl ainsomethingto
you,”hesaidtomecal mly
.Ididn’
t
knowwhatt
othi
nk.
Icoul
dfeel
thel
essoxy
gensi
nmy
l
ungs.
“
Mat
hew!Whatar
eyoudoi
ng!
?”
Het ur
nedhi sheadtothestair
s.I
tur
nedmyheadsl i
ghtl
yenought o
seeawomanwhol ookedli
kea
model .Shehadlongfl
owingbl ond
hairanddar kbl
ueeyes.Shehada
sli
mf i
gur ebut,
shewascurv ytoo.
{
Shel
ooksf
ami
l
iar
.}
Shemadeherwayt owardusquickl
y.
Matt
hewr emovedhi shandfr
om my
mouth.Ibackedawayt othecor
ner
oft
hekitchentry
ingtocatchmy
breath.Oncemybackt ouchedt he
wall,
mybodydi dn’twanttorespond.
Mybr eathingwassounevent hatI
knewt hatIwaspanicki
ngnow.The
womanl ookedatme.
“She’spanicki
ng,”shesaidwi th
concernandwal kedtowardsme.“ I
’m
Angela.Yoursister-i
n-l
aw,”she
i
ntroducedher selftome.“Oh. ”I
couldfeelmy selfrel
axabi tand
turnedmyat tentiontotheguy .{
That
meanst hismustbeMat t
hew.
Adr i
an’
sbrother.}
Idi
dn’trecognizehi
m becausehis
hai
r.Hisey ebr
owsf r
ownabi t
.“Sorr
y
i
fIscaredy ou.I’
m Matt
hew.Adrian’
s
olderbr
other,”heapologi
zedtome.I
wipedmyey estofeelmoist
ure.
{Mustbef r
ightthefri
ght.
}Il
etouta
shakybreathofr el
i
ef.
“I’
m Val
er i
abut ,cal
lmeVer aandit’
s
okay.Ididn’tknowt hatyoutwower e
coming,”Isaidt ohim.Hegav emea
nod.“SoI ’
m guessingt hatAdri
anhad
wenttowor k,
”hesai dtome.Igave
him anod.Idi dn’tt
ellhimthathe
didn’
tcomehomef rom wor ksi
nce
theotherday .
Angel
atookmyhandandl edmet o
thel
iv
ingroom.Oncewesatdown,
Angel
agav emeasmile.“
It
’ssonice
tohaveasist
eri
nlaw.Idi
dn’tt
hink
thatIwoul dgetonesosoon.Iwould
havet houghtthatSt
ephenwouldget
mar ri
edandhav eawif
ebef
ore
Adrian,”shetoldme.
“That…makessense, ”Isaidtoher.
Hersmi l
eshor t
enabi t.“
Thismustbe
veryconf usingforyou…especial
ly
sincey oucamef r
om a…y ouknow…”
Shedi dn’twanttosayany t
hing
offensive.“Youmeannotso
l
uxur i
ousbackgr ound? ”Shegaveme
anod.
“Ifeelsomanyt hi
ngs.Imean…I’
m an
eighteenyearol
dgirlwhojust
graduatedfrom hi
ghschool,t
oldt
hat
Iwasar rangedtobemar r
iedtoaguy
whoIdi dn’
tknowmuchabout,and
l
ivefarawayf r
om t
heonl
yfamilyI
know,”Isai
doutevery
thi
ngthatI
hel
di nsi
de.
“Itsoundscrazytoyou.Wegeti t,
”
Mat thewsaidtome.“Yesbut ,I’
m
tryi
ngt omakeitwork,”Isaidtohim.
Hegav emeasmi le.”
Ihav eafeeli
ng
thaty ouareagreatmatchf orhi
m.
Youj ustneedtotakethingsonestep
atat ime,
”hesaidtome.
Igav
ehi
m anodi
nagr
eement
.
“So,
wereyouplanningonmaking
somethi
ngfordinner?
”Angelaasked
me.{That
’sr
ight.
}“Oh.Iwasplanni
ng
tomakesomeeggpl antpar
mesan
but,
Idon’tt
hinkIhavet
het
imenow,
”
Ihonest
lysai
dt oher
.
Freshtomatosaucewasgoi ngto
takealongti
met hatIdidn’thave
nowduet othem sur pri
singme.“ You
cookfoodeveryday ?”sheaskedme.I
gaveheranod.“ Ilovecooki ng.I
l
earnedeveryt
hingf rom my
grandmother
,”Itoldher.
Shegav emeasmi l
e.“
Yourcooking
mustbeamazi ng.Adri
anmustlov e
yourcooki ng,
”shesaidtome.Ifelt
myf acef rown.{I
fhewaseverat
home…}“ DidIsaysomethi
ng
wrong? ”sheaskedwi t
hconcernin
hervoice.
“
Uh…”
“What’swi t
hthef ace,
”Mat t
hew
askedwi thsomeconcer n.Iletouta
sighandl ookedathi m.“
Hehasn’ t
beenhomef orov eraweek.Iwould
l
eav ehisporti
oni nthefr
idgebut,
theyarenev ereaten.So,Iendup
eati
ngt hem forlunchthenextday,”I
explai
nedt ohim.
Hisgr i
ptightenedonhi sknees.
“Whatani diot,
”Mat thewconcl uded.
Hel ookedmad.“ I
t’
sokay .Iheard
thathewast ryi
ngtogetadeal t
oget
theproper t
ydowni nSanDi ego,”I
explainedtohim.“ But,i
ttakesmor e
thanaweek?Heusual l
yfini
shorget
thedeali
nafewdays.Whatcoul
dhe
possi
blybedoi
ng?
”hesaidtome.
Now, hegotmyat tenti
on.{Ifthat’
s
true,i
she….}Ishookmyhead.{ No
thatcan’
tbe.}“Hemi ghtber eall
y
busythisti
me.Younev erknow, ”
Angelasaidtohim.Mat thewshook
hishead.“He’samar ri
edmannow
anddoesn’tseem tobecar ingf orhi
s
wi f
ewell,
”hesaidtoheri nabi tof
anger.
“It
’sfi
nereal
l
y,”Isaidtohim.Iwasn’t
goingtogetmadatAdr i
an.Mat t
hew
tookadeepbr eathtocalm downand
gav emeasmal lsmile.“
Your eal
ly
l
ookatt hebri
ghtsideofthingsdon’t
y
ou,
”hesai
dtome.
Ishruggedmyshoul ders.“Iguess.”I
gotupf r
om thecouch.“ Ibett
erstart
makingdinner.Youtwoar ewelcome
tojoi
nme, ”Isaidt
ot hem.Theygav e
meanod.“ Wewouldl ovet o,
”
Mat t
hewsai dtome.Happi ness
washedov erme.
“Iam t hi
nkingofwi l
dmushr oom
ri
sottoandmay besteak.Ialready
hadt hem mar inati
ngsinceear lyt
his
mor ning.Itshouldbef i
net oeat
today ,
”Itoldthem.Angel aand
Mat thewst oodupf rom thecouch.
“I’
l
lhel p,
”Angel aoff
eredt ome.
“
Thatwoul
dbegr
eat
,”It
oldher
.“I
’
m
goingtomakeabusi nesscal ltosee
howt hi
ngsaredoing,”hesai dto
excusehimself
.“Alr
ight,
”Isai dto
him andwalkedint
ot hekitchento
getstar
tedonther i
sotto.Angela
fol
lowedbehindme.
———————————————-
[
6/24,00:11]Ndozv oo:
ht
tps:
//chat.whatsapp.
com/
Imj
KmCS
D8w6DzBCJat TfuN

ARANGEDLOVEEPI
SODE10.
..

“
Dinneri
sdone.
”
Imanagedt of i
nishthedinnerina
ti
melymanner .Al so,Imaderoast
ed
herbpotatoesandsomesal adwith
It
ali
andressing.Angel awashelpi
ng
withplat
ingthefoodi nafamil
ysty
le.
Mat t
hewhadwentof fsomewhere.
AsIsetthet abl
e, Iheardthefr
ont
dooropen.
“ThatmightbeAdr i
an,”Angelasaid
tome.Igav eheranodandwal ked
overtothefronttoseethatitwas
Adrianwhohadwal kedi nt
ot heroom.
Myhandswer eshaking.Ihadn’tseen
AdrianforawhilesoIwasabi t
nervous.It
urnedatthecor nertosee
himt her
e.
Hedi dn’tl
ooklikehehadbeen
stayi
ngi ntheof f
iceforalongtime.
Infact,helookedr eadytogot owor
k.
Hisclotheswer esmoot hwi t
hno
wrinkles.Hishairwasnoti namess.
Hehadnof aci
alhairshowing.
Hesi mplywalkedawayt othestair
s
wit
houtlookingatme.Mymoodwent
downabi t.It
ookadeepbr eat
hand
walkedbacki nt
ot hekit
chentofini
sh
sett
ingthetable.Itookthebowlof
ri
sottoi
nmyhands.“ Didheseey ou?”
sheaskedme.
Whatshoul
dIsay
?
“Adr
iani
shere.Hesai
dthathewi
ll
be
downinabit
,”Matt
hewsaidandt
ook
ther
isott
obowl fr
om myhands.“You
don’
thavet ohelp.Youaretheguest
,”
Isai
dtohim asIt ri
edtotakethe
bowlfrom him but,hewastal
lert
han
me.
“I
t’
salri
ght.I’
my ourbrot herinl aw.
I
’m supposetohel pmyl i
ttl
esi ster,
”
hesaidtomeandwal kedt ot he
di
ningtable.“Thatgoesf ormet oo,
”
Angelasaidasshewal kedpassed
mewi ththesaladbowl andt hepl ate
ofsli
cedsteaks.
Itookt
heplateofroastedpotat
oes
andwalkedtothediningtabl
e.We
satdownandwai t
edf orAdri
anto
cometodinner.Matthewwalkedto
thewineshelf
.“Ishouldgetsome
water,
”Isai
dtot hem andgotup
from t
hetabl
e.“I’
llgogetthem,
”
Angelaoff
eredtome.
“No.I’l
lgo,”Isaidtoherandwalked
tothekitchent ogetsomewat erfor
everyone.Aftergetti
ngthewaters,I
walkedt othetabletoseeAdrianwho
wasaboutt otakehisseat.Hehad
changedi ntosomemor e
comf ort
ableclothesbut,t
heywer e
sti
llabitformal l
ikehisworkcl
othes.
Het
urnedhi
sheadt ome.Ilowered
myheadandwalkedtothetablewit
h
t
hetr
ayofwaters.Waterwasplaced
i
nfr
ontofever
yone.“Thankyou,”
Angel
asai
dtome.“Yourwelcome,
”I
sai
dtoherwi
thasmallsmi
le.
Iplacedt het r
aynearbyandtookmy
ownseat .Adriandi
dn’thel
p.Mat t
hew
noticedi tandsaidtheprayer
.“Thank
youf orthef ood,
”wesai dinuni
son
andst ar
tedtopasst hefoodaround.
Afterev eryonehadfoodont hei
rplat
e,
west art
edt oeatandIcouldtel
l t
hat
Mat thewandAngel awasenjoying
thef ood.
“Thisi
samazing,
”Matthewsai dand
l
ookedatmewi thabigsmi l
eonhi s
face.“
Thankyou,
”Isai
dt ohim.“I
wishIcancookasgoodasy ou,”
Angelasai
dandtookabi t
eoft he
r
isot
to.“
Whatdoyouthi
nkAdri
an?
”
Matt
hewaskedhi
sli
tt
lebrot
her
.
“It
’sgreat,
”hesaidwithasmi l
eon
hisface.Ifel
tmyhear tswell.He
l
ikedmycooki ng.Itwast hefir
stti
me
thathewast ast
ingmyf ood.Angela
andMat t
hewgav eeachot herasmile
andcont i
nuedtoeatthei rf
ood
happil
y .
MatthewandAdr i
antal
kedabout
busi
nesswhi l
eAngelaandItal
ked
aboutmar r
iedl
if
e.Shewastell
ingme
howMat thewwouldberomantic
ever
ymont h.Hewouldplan
somethingromanti
cforher
.I
wonderedifAdri
anwoulddo
somet
hingl
i
ket
hat
.
“Thatremi
ndsme.Wher eareyout
wo
goingforyourhoneymoon?”Angel
a
askedAdrianandI.Tobehonest,I
didn’
tknowi fweweregoingtogoon
ahoney moonbecauseAdr i
anwas
verybusywithhiswork.Pl
us,he
didn’
tseem toli
keme.
“
GreatBr
it
ain.
”
Il
ookedatAdr
ian.I
sheser
ious?
Matthewdi dn’
tseem tobeli
ev ehim.
“WhytheGr eatBrit
ainofallplaces?”
heaskedhi m.“Well,Il
ovethehi st
ory
ther
e.Iwantt ogoexpl or
esome
hist
ori
calsitesandgot oafew
museums, ”Adriansaidandt hen
l
ookedatme.
Doeshewantmet
opl
ayal
ongor
somethi
ng?
“Whatabouty ouVera?”Angel aasked
me.“Um…”“ Shehadbeeni nterest
ed
i
nEnglishhistor
ysinceshewasa
l
itt
legi
rlandwant edtogot here.
That’
sthemai nreasonwhyIpl anned
forustogot her
e,”heexplainedt o
them.Ididn’
tknowwhatt ot hink
especi
all
yatashor tnoti
ce.
Iwassur pri
sedthatheknewmy
i
nteresti
nEngl i
shhi st
ory.England
wasoneoft heplacestogot oonmy
bucketli
st.Inevertoldhi
m abouti t
.
Doeshewantourmar ri
aget o
actuallywork?Iwasabi texci
ted.
“That’ssoundsgood.Ican’twaitt
o
seepi ctur
es,”Angel
asaidtous.
Adrianhadasmi l
eonhi sfaceand
continuedtoeathisdinner.
“Sowhenar eyouguy sgoing?”
Mat t
hewaskedus.“ I
naf ewday s.I
alr
eadybookedt hehotelandplanned
thewholetwoweekst her
e,”Adri
an
saidandtookasi pofhiswine.Ina
fewdays!Ican’twait
!
Ther
estoft
heev
eni
ngwaspl
easant
.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~
Fewday
slat
er…….
“
DidIf
orgetany
thi
ng?
”
Today ,
wewer egoi ngt
otheai rport
tofl
yt oEngland.Wewer egoingt ofl
y
from JFKInternati
onalAi
rportto
HeathrowInternati
onalAi
rport.I
neverhadf l
owni naplanelonger
thanthreehour s,
Knock…knock….
.
Whocoul dthatbe?Iwalkedt ot
he
doorandopenedi tt
orev ealLor
enzo.
“Arey our
eadyVera?”heaskedme.
“Yes.Iam,”Isai
dtohim and
proceededtograbmyl uggage.“I
’l
l
getthatforyou,
”hesaidt omeand
tookt hel
uggageoffmybedwi t
hno
problem.
“Fol
lowme,”het oldme.Ifoll
owed
him outofmyr oom tot
hel i
vi
ng
room whereAdr i
ansatwithhis
l
aptopopen.Looksl i
kehei sdoi
ng
businessasusual.Aswewal ked
downt hestai
rs,Adri
anclosedhis
l
aptopandst oodfrom t
hecouch.
“Let’
sgetgoing.Wehavebusi nessto
attendto,
”hesaidtoLorenzo.Iwas
confused.Busi
ness?“Yes.Ofcour se
sir,
”hetol
dhim.Wewal kedintot he
elevat
orandwai t
edfortheelevator
togodown.Ihadmanyt houghts
comet omyhead.
Whatdi
dhemeanbybusiness?
Ar
en’
twegoi
ngtoourhoneymoon?
IlookedupatAdr ian’sey estosee
thathehadt hedistantlook.Hewas
deepinthought.Iletoutabr eathand
waitedfortheel
ev atordoor stoopen.
Oncet hedoorsopened, wewal kedto
thecarthatwasint hef ront.
Ifel
tsomeone’shandonmyback
thatmademej ump.Iturnedmyhead
abittoseethati
twasAdr i
annextto
me.Hehelpedmei ntothecarbef or
e
hegotinsi
dehimself.Lorenzosatin
thefr
ontwiththedri
ver.
OnceAdri
ansatinhisseat,
he
openedhi
slaptopandstar
tedt o
workagai
n.Iknewtonotbot herhi
m
wit
hhisworkoranythi
ng.Ireachedin
mybagandst ar
tedtor
eadoneofmy
newbooks.Thebookwasaromance
bet
weenar i
chmanandapoor
womanwhowasar r
angedt
obe
marri
ed.
Inaway ,i
tasli
keme.Iwasf r
om a
poorf amil
yinaway .Adrianwasfrom
arichf amil
y.Ourgrandparent
shad
arrangedourmar ri
age.Wegot
mar ri
edwi t
houtcomplaintstoour
grandparents.Iwonderedifwewould
hav eahappyendingl i
kethebook.
Wegottotheai
rpor
tabitlat
erthan
weshoul
dhavebecausethetraf
fic
wasver
ybad.Adri
anhelpedmeout
oft
hecarandpl
acedhishandonmy
backagai ntoguidemet hr
ought
he
ter
mi nal.Ikeptmyheaddownandlet
him guidemet oourpl
ane.
Ididn’
twantt olookatthefacesof
peoplear oundus.Wi llt
heyknowmy
connectiont oAdr i
an?Nobodyknew
myf aceorany thi
ng.Themedi aonly
knewt hatAdr ianwasmar ri
edbut,
theyhaven’ tdi
scov er
edmyi denti
ty
yet.
Soon,wegottothegate.Theladyat
thefr
ontgaveusasmi le.“
Hello.
Welcome.Pleaseletmeseey our
ti
cketandpassportpl
ease,
”shesaid
tous.Thethoughtpoppedinmy
head.Mypassport!If
orgot!
}
Iwasabi tafr
aidtosayany t
hingnow.
Mypasspor twasathome.Inev er
broughtmypasspor tany
wher e
becauseIneverflewoutofthe
countryi
nmyl if
e.TheonlytimethatI
usedmypasspor twasatt hebank
whenIopenedmybankaccount .
Withabitoff ear
,Il
ookedupat
Adri
anwhor eachedi
nt ohisbri
ef
caseforhispassport.Ifel
tbadthati
f
Isaidanyt
hingnow, wewoul dbelate
forourhoney moon.NextthingIknew,
Isawsomet hinginhishands.Hehad
twopassports.
“Herei
smineandmywi fe’
s
passpor
tsandt
icket
s,”hesai
dtot
he
l
ady
.Howdi
dhegetmypasspor
t?
Theladygavehi
m asmi leandtook
thepassport
sandticket
sgladly
.I
l
ookedov ert
hecounterabittosee
thatmypassportwasbrandnew.
Mynewpasspor thadmynew
surname.Whendidhegett hatmade?
Itt
akesacouplemonthst ogetanew
passpor
t.Af
terafewmi nutes,she
gavehimthepassport
sandt icket
s.
“Haveagoodfli
ght,
”shetoldus.
Adr ianputthepassportsawayinhi
s
briefcaseandwecont i
nuedourway
tot heplane.Wewer etaki
ngthe
privatejet
.Adrianhadmegoupt he
stairstotheplanefi
rstandfol
lowed
behindme.Onceinsi
detheplane,I
recogni
zedt
hefli
ghtatt
endants.
Thef emalefl
ightat
tendanthada
hugesmi lewhenshesawAdr i
anwho
wasbehi ndme.Themal ef l
i
ght
attendanthadahugesmi leonhis
facewhenhesawme.Igotacr eepy
shivergoupmyspi ne.Theybowedto
us.
“WelcomebackMr .andMr s.Minet
ti
,”
theysaidinunison.Shy l
y,Igavethem
asmi l
e.Theywal kedov ertousand
tookourjackets.Adriantookhisseat
andItookmi neatt heopposi t
eside
oftheplane.Immedi atel
y,heplaced
hisbri
efcaseont heseatnextt ohim
andst
art
edt
owor
konhi
slapt
op.
Quietl
y,Itookabookoutofmybag
andstartedt oread.“MayIgetyou
anythi
ng? ”Ilookedupt oseethe
malefli
ghtat tendant.“
Notri
ghtnow.
Thanky ouf orasking,
”Isai
dand
tur
nedmyat t
entionbacktomybook.
Pi
ng….
“HelloMr .andMr s.Minett
i.Thi
sis
yourcapt ainStevenSpizal
ewi t
hf i
rst
offi
cerJor danMi chael
.Wewi ll
be
takingfli
ghtmoment ar
il
y.Atthisti
me
pleaseputony ourseatbel
t.Again,
wewi l
ltakefl
ightshortl
y.”
Ipl
acedmybookonmyl apand
buckl
edmyseat
bel
t.OnceIbuckl
ed
mybel t,
Itookmybookoutofmybag
andst ar
tedtoread.Soon,Ihear
dt he
roaroftheenginesthatweretur
ned
on.Thepl anestar
tedtomakei t
’s
wayt otherunway.
Ilookedoutofthewindowt oseet hat
wewer eont herunway.Lucki
ly,
nobodywasi nfrontofus.Soon, t
he
planedrovedownt herunwayt oget
somel i
ft.Neart
hemi ddleofthe
runway,Iknewthatwer eweren’ton
theground.
Pi
ng…
Thesoundindi
catedthatwecoul
d
takeourbel
tsof
f.Ididn’
tdar
etotake
mineoff.Amemor ycametomind.A
memor ythatInev
erwant
edt
o
exper
ienceeveragai
n.
Fl
ashback…
Age8….
Wewer eonaf l
ighthomef r
om
visi
tingmyf ather’
sbr ot
heri
nSeattl
e.
Mypar entssatwi thmybr ot
heron
themi dsect
ionoft heplaneinfi
rst
class.Isatwi t
hacl osefamil
yfr
iend
Mar gar eti
nt heeconomysect i
onof
thepl aneatt hewi ndowseat.
Mypar entsknewhersi ncetheir
chi
ldhood.Shewasmybr ot
her ’
s
godmot her.Sheknewofmysi tuati
on
wit
hmypar ents.Shewoul
dspend
moretimewi thmet hanmybr other
.I
sawherasamot
herf
igur
e.
“LadiesandGent lemant hisisy our
fl
ightatt
endantspeaki ng.Wear ein
ourfinaldescent.Pleaseputy our
seatsinanupr ightposition.Also,
pleaseputy ourseatbelton.Wear ein
ourfinaldescent.Thanky ouforfly
ing
withusonAmer i
canAi r
lines.We
hopet omanyofy ouf l
yingback
home. ”
“Wear ealmosthomeVer a,
”Margar
et
toldme.“ Yay.
”Iwashappyt hatt
he
planewoul dlandsoon.Ireal
ly
wantedt ogohomeandr eadsome
bookst hatIhadgottenfrom my
fri
ends.“Howl ong?”Iaskedher.
“Aboutfi
fteenminutes,
”shesai dto
me.Igav eheranodandr etur
nedto
myat t
entionatthemagazi neinmy
hands.Intwomi nut
es,Ilookedout
thewindowt oseethattherewer e
dropl
etsont hewindow.
Itwasspri
nkl
ingoutsi
de.Idi
dn’tt
hink
anythi
ngofit
.Iret
urnedmyattenti
on
tothemagazine.
Idi
dn’
tknowhowl ongIwasr
eadi
ng.
Nextt
hingIknew…..
BOOM!
!!
!!
!
Everyonestartedtoscream
throughoutthefuselage.“Getdown!”
IfeltMargarettr
yingtobendov erme
sot hatIwouldn’
tgethur tfr
om the
bagsandotheri
temsthatwer
e
stor
edint
hecompartmentsabov
eus.
Icouldfeelthatthefuselagewas
twir
li
ngar oundandnextt hi
ngIknew,
wef el
tahar dlanding.Once
everyt
hingset t
leddown, Margaret
removedher selfof
fofme.Il ooked
downt oseet hatmybel thad
unbuckleditsel
f.
“Weneedt ogetout,
”shet oldmeas
shetookahandker chiefandcov er
mynoseandmout h.Thecabi nwas
fi
ll
ingwithsmoke.Iwasi nshockt o
sayanything.Ever
yonei nthecabin
start
edtoev acuat
ef r
om t heplane
fr
om thebacki npanic.Mar garet
managedtounbuckl
eherseatbelt
unl
iketheot
herswho’
sseatbelt
buckl
eswerejammed.
Shegotupandgotmeoutofmyseat .
Sheguidedmeoutoft heplane.I
couldseethattherewasawhol eon
thebackofthepl aneandthecabi n
wasabi tdark.Whathappent othe
tai
l?“Weneedt okeepmov ing,”she
remindedme.
Aswewal kedt hroughtheopening,I
couldseethattheendsoft hewires
weresparking.“Keepmov i
ngVer a.
It
’salr
ight
,”IheardMargaretbehind
me.Iclosedmyey esandkept
mov i
ngunt i
ltheli
ghtfr
om the
out
sidebl
i
ndedmyey
es.
“
Wear
eout
!”
Onceoutside,It
ookadeepbr eathof
freshwetair
.“Comeon.Weneedt o
getawayfrom theplane,
”Mar gar
et
remindedme.Wewer en’
toutof
danger.Wecont i
nuedourwayof fthe
runwayandont oanearbyhil
l.Luckil
y,
Igotawaywi t
hsomescr apesonmy
l
egsandar ms.
Il
ookedatt heplanet oseethat
peopleweresl i
dingdownt heescape
sl
ides.“Whereismom anddad.
Where’sDav i
d?”Ev enthoughthatI
wasn’tcl
oset othem, Iwaswor r
ied
aboutthem sinceIwasn’ twi
ththem.
Sirensoft hefir
et rucksfil
ledmyear s.
Peopl ewer esti
llev acuati
ngtheplane.
Thesmokewasr isingintheair.I
couldseel itt
lebitsoff l
amebehi nd
thepl anefrom myv iew.Oncet hefi
re
truckswer ethere, t
hef i
refi
ghters
coor dinat
edev eryone.
Sti
ll
,Ididn’
tseemypar entsanywher e.
Asecur i
tyoff
icerwalkedupt ous
withblanket
sinhishands.Hegav e
oneblankettoMar garetwhilethe
othertome.Mar garethelpedwr ap
theblanketar
oundme.Idi d’real
ize
howcol dIwas.
“
Youneedtogetonthebusthatis
r
ightatt
hemiddl
eoftherunway.I
t
wil
ltakeyoutotheter
minalwhere
youcanf i
ndyourl
oveones,
”he
i
nformedus.“Thankyouoff
icer,
”
Margaretsai
dtohim.Wewal kedwit
h
manyoft hepeopl
etothebus.
Onceatt hetermi nal
,wewere
escort
edt oar oom whereeveryone
wereget t
ingrefreshmentsand
waiti
ngwai t
ingforsomenews.
“Margaret!
”Wet ur nedourat
tenti
on
tothevoice.Itwasmymot herwith
tear
sinherey es.
Sheranstr
aighttoMargaretand
gaveherahug.“Areyoualri
ght?
”she
askedher
.Ilookedbehindmymot her
toseefat
herandDav i
d.Theywalked
uptous.“Yes,
I’
mfine.Ver
aistoo,
”
shetol
dthem.Theydidn’
tseem
concer
nedaboutme.
Davidgavemeasmal l
smil
eand
tur
nedhisatt
ent
ionbackt
oMargar
et.
EndofFl
ashback….
.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~[ 6/
24,00:
11]Ndozvoo:
htt
ps:/
/chat
.whatsapp.
com/
Imj
KmCS
D8w6DzBCJatTfuN

ARANGEDLOVEEPI
SODE11

“
Ma’
am.
”
Icameoutofmymemor iesand
l
ookedupt oseethemalefli
ght
att
endantinfr
ontofme.“Doy ou
needanythi
ng?”heaskedme.DoI
needsomet hi
ng?Il
ookedatmy
watchtoseethatIhaddaydreamed
forafewhours.
“Um..
aglassofwat erwithasliceof
l
emonwoul dbeni ce,
”Itoldher.He
gavemeasmi le.“Cert
ainly
,”hesaid
tomeandwal kedaway .DidIreall
y
daydr
eamedthatl ong?Ilookedov er
atAdri
anwhowasf li
rt
ingwi t
ht he
femal
ef l
i
ghtattendant.
Myhear
tfel
tcr
ushedf
rom t
hesi
ght
.
Li
stenVer
a.Hedoesn’
tlov
eyou.He
doesn’
thav efeeli
ngsforyou.You
shoul
dn’thavef eel
ingsf
orhim.Il
et
outaquietdeepsi ghandretur
ned
myat t
enti
ont omybookandwai t
ed
formywat er.
I
nmyhear t
,If
eltsomehopethathe
hadfeel
ingsforme.Wewer egoi
ng
toourhoneymoonaf t
eral
l
.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~
“Mr.Minet
ti
.Thi sisyourcaptai
n
speaki
ng.Pleaseputy ourseatinan
upri
ghtposit
ionandbuckl eup.We
areinourfi
nal descent
.Wewi l
lbe
l
andingatHeat hrowInter
nati
onal
Air
portshort
ly.Thanky ouforfl
ying
wi
thusandhopeyouagai
nont
he
waybackhome.
”
Thef l
i
ghtwasv er
ylong.Idi
dn’
tget
anysleep.Tobehonest ,Idi
dn’
tli
ke
sleepi
ngont heplanebut,Iwas
exhaustedfrom beingawakeforover
tenhours.Iclosedmybookand
packedev er
ythinginmybag.
Lookingoutoft hewindow, the
runwaywasi nview.Almostt here.I
satupi nmyseatandcl osedmyey es.
Ast hetimewentby ,Icounteddown
i
nmyhead.5- 4-
3-2-
1.Nextthi ngI
knew, Ifel
ttheplanejerkfor
war da
bit
.Wehadl andedont herunway
safely
.
Ilookedoutofthewi ndowt oseet hat
theplanewassl owingdownont he
runway.Itdidn’
ttaketoolongf orthe
planetocomet oacompl et
est opat
theendoft herunway .Theplane
taxi
edt oaterminalforpri
vatejets.
Bi
ng….
Thel i
ghtsforthebel t
scameon.I
unbuckledmybel tandgotupf r
om
myseat .Ihadt osayt hatmylegs
neededsomest retchingbut
,Iknew
thatIshouldn’ti
nf r
ontofthefli
ght
attendants.Imightembar r
assAdrian.
Adri
angothi
sbr i
efcaseandwal
ked
neart
heexit
.Imademywaynextt o
hi
m whil
ethefl
ightatt
endant
sget
ourjackets.Themalef
li
ghtatt
endant
gotmyj acketforme.“
Hereyouare
ma’am,”hesai dtome.
Igav ehim asmal lnodandtookthe
j
acket .Igotthejacketonmy sel
fev en
thoughhewast r
yingtohel
pme.The
fl
ightattendanthelpedAdri
anwi t
h
hisjacket.Iwalkedtotheexittofeel
thecol dbreezeofEngland.
Her
eIam.
Lookingbel
owme, Icouldseethata
carwaswai t
ingforus.Adriangav e
meal it
tl
enudgef orwards.Iwalked
downt hest
airsandt othecar.The
dri
veropenedthedoorf ormeandI
sl
ippedinsi
dewithease.
Adri
ansatontheothersi
de.Lorenzo
sati
nthefront
.Immediat
ely
,het ook
hisl
aptopoutofhi
sbagandst arted
towork.
Maybehewantst
ogetaheadsot hat
wecanhaveti
metoget
her.Thecar
st
artedtomov
eanddri
veoutofthe
ai
rport
.
“Wher et
osi r?”thedr
iverasked
Adrian.“
Bucki ngham Palace,
”Adrian
tol
dhi m.Ilookedoutoft hewindow
andwat chedt hescenerygoby .I
t
wasamazi ngt hatIwasher e.London
almostremi ndedmeofNew
York…everyonewasbusy .
I
nthemai
nst
reet
sofLondon,
ther
e
weresomanypeopl e.Iwasn’ tt
oo
surpr
isedaboutthetraff
ictoo.Some
str
eetswerewayt odiffi
cul
ttoget
thr
ough.but,t
hedrivermanagedt o
getaroundthetr
affi
cv erywell.
Soon,wewer enearBucki ngham
Palace.Thebuildi
ngwasamazi ng.
Thedr i
verparkedthecarnott oofar
from t
hepalace.Adrian,Lorenzo,and
Iwalkedupt othegates.Icouldsee
theguardsinthefrontofthedoor sof
thepalace.
“Lorenzo,getthecameraready,
”
Adriantoldhim.“Yessi
r,
”Lorenzo
saidandt ookthecameraoutofhis
bag.Adr i
antookmyhandandwal ked
i
nf rontoft
hegateentrance.“Ready,
”
Lorenzosaidtous.Adri
anwr apped
hisarmsaroundmywai standpull
ed
met owardshim.Icouldfeelt
he
warmsandt i
ngl
esfrom hishandson
mywai st.I
twascomf orti
ngagainst
thecoldweather.
Whatshoul
dIdo?
Subconsciousl
y,Iplacedmyhands
onhischestandr estmyheadov er
hi
sheart.Icouldfeelandhearhis
heartt
humpagai nsthischest.I
wonderwhathef eelsf orme?Imade
suretosmi l
eatthecamer a.
“
1-2-
3.”
Cl
i
ck!
Adri
anpull
edmeawayf rom him
gentl
yandwai tedforLorenzoto
showhimt hecamer a.Thepicture
cameoutreallynice.Icoul
dseet hat
Adri
andidn’tsmilewidebut,itwas
enoughtoshowt hathewashappy .
“Okay.Let
’sgo,
”Adriansai
d.We
walkedbacktothecarandtoldt
he
dri
vertotakeustothehotel
.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Adri
anhadr eall
yspental otof
moneyf orahotel.Heendedup
gett
ingasuiteatal uxuryhotelinal
l
ofLondon.Thesui t
ewasl ocatedon
thehighestf
loorsoft hehoteland
hadagr eatvi
ewoft hecit
y.
Every
thi
ngi
nsi
dewastopqual
i
ty.I
washappyt
oseethatt
her
eweretwo
beds.
Iwalkedovert
othewindowand
openedthecurt
ainst
oseethatvi
ew.
IcouldseeBucki
ngham Pal
aceand
theLondonBri
dge.
Wow.
“Lor
enzo.Weneedt ogetgoi
ng.You
knowt hatIhatetobelat
eata
meeting,”Adri
antol
dhim.Iturnedt
o
l
ookatAdr i
an.“What?
”Meeting?
Lorenzogavehim anod.“Ofcour
se
si
r.I’
llgett
hecarready
,”hetol
dhim
andwal kedoutofther
oom.
Adriangothi sbriefcaseandlooked
atme.“ Your eal
lythinkthatwewould
comeher ef orourhoney moon?You
aresodel usional,
”het ol
dme.Iwas
speechless.Allthistime,Ihad
thoughtthathewant edourmar ri
age
towor k.
Hewal kedt ot heforandopeni tabit
.
Beforehewal kedout ,
hel ookedat
me.“ Mysol epur poseist odo
businessher e.Nott ospendt ime
withapoorgi rll
ikeyou,”hetoldme.
Hisey eswer esocol dwhenhesai d
thewor ds.Icoul dfeeltearsforming
i
nmyey es.Myhandsshookf rom the
feel
ing…. ofr
eject i
on.
“Youcanhav efunhereony ourown.
Remember ,don’tbot
hermewhenI ’m
hereandany wherefort
hatmat t
er,
”
hesai dandwal kedoutoftheroom.
Hecl osedthedoorbehindhi msel
f
withoutlookingatmeagain.
OnceIknewt hathewasgone, Isl
id
downont hefloorandl etthetears
fal
l.Hedoesn’ twantme.Hedoesn’ t
wantthingst owor k.Hewasr ight
aboutonet hing.Iwasn’ tari
chgi r
l.I
wasapoorgi rl
.Agi r
lwhowas
unwantedbyherf amilyexcepther
grandparents.
Idi
dn’tknowhowlongIwasont he
fl
oorbut,whenIwasdonecr
ying,I
couldseethati
twasalreadynight
.
Slowly
,Igotupfrom t
hefloorand
l
ookedoutt hewindow.Itookmy
gl
assesofftogetabetterlook.
Thecit
ywasf i
ll
edwithl
i
ght
s.Onthe
Londonbri
dge,Icoul
dseet
hati
twas
fi
ll
edwithcar
s.
Youknowwhat
.Iwi
l
lhav
esomef
un
onmyown.
Iwasn’
tgoingtolethi
m getmedown
onmytriphere.
“
Star
ti
ngwi
thdi
nner
.”
Igotmybagandwal kednott
he
bathr
oom tochangeint
osomenice
cl
othes.Si
nceitwascoldout
,I
decidedtowearsomewar m ski
nny
j
eans, awhi
t etur
tlenecksweaterand
agreyscarf.Imadesur eto
str
aightenmyhai rdownandwash
myf aceofdriedtears.
Iappliedli
tt
lemakeupandl ookedat
my selfint
hemi rror
.Ilookedlikea
diff
erentpersonwi t
houtmygl asses.
“ShouldIleavemygl assesher e?”I
onlywor emygl assesbecauseI
want edtolooksmar tandnotnot i
ced
byany one.“I
’l
lj
ustweari t.Protect
myey esfr
om thewi nd.”Iworemy
blackf r
amedgl asses.
.
Outoft
hebat
hroom,
Igotmywhi
te
trenchcoatandbrownhighheeled
booksthatIhadpacked.Ionl
y
packedthem becauseIhadthought
thatIhadtolookacert
ainwaywhen
Adr i
anwasaroundotherpeopl
e.
OnceIwasset,Igott
hehot
el key
fr
om t
henightst
andandwalkedout
wit
hmypur se.
Her
eIcomeLondon.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Oneweekl
ater
……
Iwasreall
yenjoyi
ngmy selfi
n
London.Every
day,Iwouldspend
mostofthetimeatapar ti
cul
arar
ea
oftheci
ty.Yester
day,
Ispentthe
whol
edayatWest minsterAbby
.
West
mi nsterAbbywaspl acewhere
t
hecoronat i
ontookplaceaswellas
t
heweddi ngoftheroyals.
Thefoodwasv eryi
nterest
ing.ihad
somef ishandchi ps,engli
sh
sandwi ches, Sundayroastandot her
knownengl ishfoods.Ofcour se,Ihad
someheal thyfoodsl i
kesaladwhi l
eI
washer e.Ihadsomegr eatteaand
snacks.Thesconeswer emy
absolutef avorit
e.Theywer eflaky
andbut tery.Victori
ancakeswer e
goodt oo.
Itookmanypi
ctur
es.WhenIget
home,Iwant
edtomakeascrapbook
ofmyadv
ent
urei
nLondon.
Ihadn’tseenAdr iansi
ncehehadl ef
t
mei nt hesuit
e.Hehadn’ tcall
edme
toseei fIwasokay .Ifi
guredt hathe
hadhi sownsui tesomewher einthe
hoteloratadi ff
erenthotel.Lorenzo
hadn’tbeenar oundaswel l.Sti
ll
,Ifel
t
hurtfrom hiswor dsaweekago.
Today,Iwaspl anningtogot othe
TowerofLondon.Iknewal otof
hist
oryaboutt hetower.Also,I
wantedt otryYorkshir
epuddi ng
somewher einthearea.Idressed
verypl
ainlyandl ookedatmy selfi
n
themirror.Il
ookedal r
ight.
“
Ibet
tergetgoi
ng.
”Iwal
kedoutof
thesuit
eandgotat axit
otheTower .
“Ist
hisyourfi
rstti
meher einLondon
ma’am,”thetaxidr
iveraskedme.
“Yesiti
s,”It
oldhim.Icouldseea
smileonhisfacefrom hisrearmi
rror
.
“Welcomet oLondon,”hetoldme.
“Thankyou.”
Onceatt
hetower,
Igotoutandmade
mywayclosert
othebui
ldi
ng.
Buzz…buzz….
Huh?
Itookmyphoneoutandl ookedt o
seethati
twasf r
om Adr
ian.What
doeshewant ?I
twasthef i
rstti
me
thatheevercal
l
edme.Ianswer ed
thephone.“Hel
l
o?”“
Wher ear eyou?”
Hesoundedabi
tir
ri
tated.Ther
ewas
noconcer
ninhi
svoice.
“I’
m attheTowerofLondon,”It
old
him.“Stayrightther
e.I
’
llbet
her
eina
fewmi nutes,”hetol
dmeandhungup.
Huh?
Idi
dn’
twai
ttool
ong.
Adrianmanagedt ofindmewi t
hno
problem.Lor enzowasr ightbehi
nd
me.Imethi m hal f
way .“ Whatareout
doingher e?It houghtt haty ouwerein
abusi nessmeet i
ng,”It oldhim.Ihad
thoughtt hatIwoul dn’tseehi mf or
thewhol et r
ip.Somet hi ngtoldme
thathewasn’ thereforme.
“Weneedt otakemor ephotosso
thatwecanpr ovethatwewer eon
ourhoneymoon. ”Thoughtso.Igave
him anod.Het ookmyhandand
guidedmet othetower.Lorenzo
foll
owedbehindusandt ookphot os.
Aswewal kedthroughthetower
,I
l
ookedar oundi namazementbut,I
wasabi tscaredthatIwouldruni
nto
aghostorsomet hi
ng.Therewere
stor
iesaboutt heplacebei
nghaunted
bythosewhower eexecutedint
he
courty
ardoft heplace.
Occasionall
y,IstoodclosetoAdri
an
but,nottooclose.Inmymi nd,If
elt
thatIcouldn’
ttrusthi
m.I naway,I
star
tedt onotbel
i
eveinhiswor ds
aboutourcommi tmentinthe
mar r
iage.But,
Iwasgoingtotryto
staytrut
hfuli
nthemarriageevenif
myhappi nesssuff
ers.
Wespentaboutanhourwal king
aroundandt akingphot osatv arious
spots.Onceout si de,
Adr i
anl etgoof
myhandandl ookedathi swat ch.
“LetsgoLor enzo.Wehav eameet ing
i
nt hir
tyminutes, ”hetoldhim.“ Yes
sir,
”Lorenzosai d.Theywal kedaway
from mewi thoutawor d.
Ilookeddownatmyhand.Icoul
dst
il
l
feelhim.
Hedoesn’
twanty
ou.Don’
thav
e
f
eel
i
ngsf
orhi
m.
Il
etoutabreat
handconti
nuedmy
j
ourneyi
nthesurr
oundi
ngarea.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ri
ng…r
ing….
Iopenedmyey esslowlyt
oseethati
t
wasstil
ldarkout
side.Onthecl
ock,i
t
sai
dthatitwas2:23am.
Whocoul
dbecal
l
ingr
ightnow?
Slowly,
Isatupandturnedt heli
ght
s
on.Whent hel
ampl i
tup, Icl
osedmy
eyesimmediatel
y.Il
etmyey es
adjustt
otheli
ghti
ngoft her oom.
Igotmyphoneandanswered.
“Hel
lo?
”Ianswer
edsleepi
l
y.“I
sthi
s
Valeri
aMi nett
i?”Ididn’tr
ecognizethe
voice.“Yes.Thi
si sshe,”Ianswered.
“ThisisDr.MartinDwi ght,
”Iheard.
Hewasmygr andpar ent’
sdoctor.
“Oh.Hello.Idi
dn’trecogni
zeyour
voi
ce,”Itoldhim.Irubbedmyey es.
“I
’m sorr
yt ohavewokeny oubut ,I
havesome…t err
iblenews,”hetold
me.Ter r
iblenews?“ Whatisit
?”He
gotmyat t
enti
ont hatIwasnow
compl et
elyawake.
Ihear
dasi
ghont
heot
hersi
de.
“I
’m sorr
ytosaybut
,you
grandparent
swereki
ll
edinan
accident
.”
Mymi
ndwhenbl
ank.If
eltt
hephone
sl
i
pfr
om myhand.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~
[
6/24,00:11]Ndozv oo:
ht
tps:
//chat.whatsapp.
com/
Imj
KmCS
D8w6DzBCJat TfuN

ARANGEDLOVEEPI
SODE12

From whatIcoul
dremember ,
Lorenzowalkedi
ntomyr oom t
o
checkonme.Hedi dn’
tseem toknow
whathadhappened.Istr
uggledto
r
epeatwhatDr
.Dwi
ghthadt
oldme.
OnceIt
oldhi
m,hecal
l
edAdri
an.
Adri
anhadcancel edmanyofhi s
meetingsinLondonsot hatwecoul d
fl
yhomei nafewhours.WhenAdr ian
sawme, hedidn’
tdomuch, buthe
madephonecal l
stohisfamilyt
hat
wewer egoi
nghomeear l
yandgot o
SanFr anci
scotomakear rangements.
Whenmyphoner ang,
heanswer ed
thephonef orme.Icouldn’
treal
ly
speakt oanyone.
Today,
wewer einSanFranci
scot o
makefuner
alarr
angements.Also,I
wastol
dthatalawyerwasgoingt o
speaktomeaboutmygr andparent’
s
wi
ll
.Appar
ent
ly,
mygrandparent
shad
di
vi
dedmuchofthei
rfor
tuneand
ot
heri
temsamongmeandmyf amil
y.
“
Val
eri
a.Thel
awy
eri
sher
e.”
Itur
nedmyheadt othedoortosee
Mariatherewit
hconcer nonherface.
Current
ly,Iwasinourr oom att
he
Minetti
sinSanFr ancisco.Sl
owly,I
gotupf r
om thebedandwal kedout
oftheroom withMar iaatmyside.
Wewal kedt otheli
v i
ngr oom tosee
AdrianandPi et
rowi t
ht hel awyer.Of
course,Piet
romanagedt ogetthe
company ’sl
awy erpresent .OnceI
enteredtheroom, everyonest oodup
andt ur
nedtheirattenti
ont owards
me.
Igavethem asmal lsmileandwal ked
overtoAdrian.Hedidn’tshowmuch
emot i
onsinhiseyes.Hegav emea
smallembraceandhel pedmesi t
downnextt ohim.Thel awyersat
downi nfr
ontofus.“ Hell
oMr s.
Minetti
.Mynamei sSer gioRoff,
”he
i
ntroducedtome.“ Hell
o,”Isaidto
hi
m.
“Fi
rst,Iwouldli
ketosaythatIam
verysorryforyouloss,
”Mr .Roffsai
d
tome.If orcedmyselftogiveasmal l
smileandhol dinmyt ear
s.“Thank
you,”Isaidinalowv oi
ce.Hegav e
meanodandpul l
edoutapi leof
paperf
rom hi
sbr
iefcase.I
twast
hei
r
wil
l.
“Accor
dingt oyourgrandpar ent’
swi l
l
,
theyhavenamedy outhe
benefi
ciary,
”hesaidandhandedme
thewil
l.Thewillcontai
nedmuch
i
nformat i
onaboutt hedist
ributionof
thei
rmoney .Accordingtothewi l
l,
theywereleavi
ngmet hemaj ori
tyof
themoney .Iwasn’ttoosurpr i
sed.
Eversi
ncemygr andparentst ookme
i
ntotheirhome, t
heycutt heircontact
withmypar ent
s.
Lookingdownt hewil
l,
IsawthatI
wast oinheri
t$300,000.My
grandfatherusedtoownaf ur
nit
ure
bui
ldi
ngcompany.Hesoldthe
companyacoupl
ey ear
sbefor
ethey
hadbroughtmei
ntothei
rhome.
Iconti
nuedt olookdownt hewil
l.“
My
parentsareinheriti
ng$10,000each
andmybr otheri
si nher
iti
ng$30,
000,”
Isaidloutloud.“Yes.From my
understanding,t
heywant edtobe
surethatyouwi l
l betakencareof,
”
hetoldme.Igav ehi m anod.Oh
Grandpa.Gr andma.
“Doesherfamilyknowaboutt he
wil
l?”Adri
anaskedMr .Roff.Iwas
thi
nkingthesamet hi
ng.Surely,
they
wouldbenot i
fi
edabouttheirdeath.
Afteral
l,
theyweremymot her’
s
parent
s.Mr.Roffgavehim anod.“ I
havetosaythattheywer en’
ttoo
happyabouttheinheri
tance.They
expectedt
hattheywoul dinheri
tthe
majori
tyofthemoney ,
”Mr .Roff
explai
nedtous.Iletoutasigh.
“
I’
m notsur
pri
sed.
”
Icont
inuedt
oreadt
hewi
l
l.
Inther estoft hewill
,my
grandpar entswant edtobebur i
ed
togethersomewher eofmychoosing
andmaket hef uner
alarrangement
s.I
l
ookedatPi etr
oandMar ia.“
Doyou
knowanypl aceswher eIcouldbur
y
them? ”Iaskedt hem.Tobehonest ,
I
hadnoi deaaboutbur ial
s.
Piet
roandMar i
alookedateachot her
andlookedbackatme.“ Wecanbur y
them atTheItal
ianCemet eryin
Colma.Iknowt hatmywi feandI
wouldbeburyt here,
”Pietrosaidto
me.Igav et
hem anod.“ Ithi
nkthat
wouldbeani ceplace,”Itoldthem.
Adriangent l
yt ookthewi l
l i
ntohis
handandl ookedt hr
ought hepages
carefull
y.“I’
l
lhelpmaket hef uneral
arr
angement s.Afterall
,Iam y our
husband, ”het ol
dme.Igav ehima
nod.Thi sisnotl i
kehim.Hei sjust
acti
ng.Henev erbeeninv olv
edwi t
h
anythinginmyl i
feunlesshewasi n
fr
ontofhi sgrandparents.
Hisgrandparentsnoddedi n
agreement.IlookedatMr .Roffwho
waswai t
ingpat i
ently.“
Ist
here
anythi
ngelset hatIneedtoknow?”I
askedhim.“Yes, ”hesaidand
reachedint
ohi sbr i
efcaseandpull
ed
outsomemor edocument s.
“Thehouse.Accordingtothewi ll
,i
t’
s
tobegi v
entoyouandy ouar etouse
thehouseinanywayy ouwi sh,”he
toldmeandplacedt hedocument si
n
frontofme.Adri
anr eachedov erand
tookthedocumentsi nhishands.The
househadsomanymemor ies.I
hatedtoseetheplacebesol doff
.
Also,Idi
dn’
twantt hefurni
turetogo
tothedump.
IlookedatAdr ianwhol ookedatme
i
nt ensely.“May beI’
llrentitouttoa
nicef amily.Also,Iwouldl ovetohave
thef urni
turethatmygr andfatherhad
builtformei nNewYor k.Theybuilt
thef urni
turespeci f
icall
yformesi nce
Ihadmov edintotheirhome, ”Itol
d
him.Hegav emeasmal lnodand
returnedhi sattenti
ont othewi l
l.
Iguess…hei
sreal
l
ygoi
ngt
ohel
pme.
Sinceourmarri
age,Icoul
dfeel
happinessandrel
i
ef…evenifi
t’
sonl
y
forashortwhil
e.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~
Funer
al
TheI t
ali
anCemet er
ywasav erynice
placetobur ythem.Adr i
anandIwent
thereaf ewday sagotomakef uneral
arrangement s.Wehadt ochoose
fl
owerar rangements,casketdesign,
fi
lloutthedeat hcer
tif
icates,
and
otherthings.
Thewor kersgaveusat ouroft
he
placeaswel lasthechapel
sforthe
funeral
.AdrianandIchoseachur ch
setti
ng.Mygr andpar
entswouldbe
buriednexttoeachotheronthe
newerpar tofthecemetery
.
Today,wewerehav i
ngthefuner
al.
thecasketsst
oodinfrontoft
he
stai
nedglasswindows.Thestai
ned
glasswindowpor tray
edani mageof
ascenef rom thebibl
e.Luckil
y,t
he
sunwasoutt hatthewindowswer e
shini
ngbr i
ghtlyontomy
grandparentspeacefulfaces.
“
Theyl
ookpeacef
ul.Don’
tthey
.”
Iturnedmyheadt oseet hatMar i
a
stoodnexttome.“ Yes. ”Ilooked
backatmygr andparents.They
weren’ti
nanypai n.Ov erthepastf ew
days,Iconvincedmy selfthatthey
wereokay .Theywerei nabet ter
pl
ace.Ididn’twantthem t owor ry
aboutmeany more.
Afterafewmi
nut
es,Il
ookedov
ert
o
theentr
ancet
oseeAdri
anwhowas
greetingtheguest.Hehadbeen
extremelyhelpfult
ome.Het ookti
me
offfrom worktohelpmewi ththe
funeralandotherthings.Hewas
provinghimselftobear eli
able
husband.
Wedeci dedt ohav easmal lfuneral
withonl yaf ewf r
iends.Sof ar,
Adrian’sf r
iendshadcamef or
suppor t.Ii
nv i
tedmygr andparent’s
oldfriendsNi kosandTheodor a.They
weredev astatedbyt henewsand
want edt ocomet osuppor tme.Fr om
whatIhadhear d,Adrian’
spar ents
werecomi ngt oo.
Mypar
ent
shadn’
tar
ri
vedy
et.
Theodor awalkedupt ome.“ Where
areyourpar ents?Sur el
y,theywoul d
beher ebeforeanyofus. ”Tobe
honest,Ididn’tknowhowt oanswer
her.Ihadn’thear dany t
hingfrom
them sinceIrecei vedthewi l
l.Iknew
thatMar i
ahadt alkedtothem af ew
daysagoaboutt hefunerallocati
on.
It
urnedmyheadt
otheent
rance.
Theret
heyare.Mypar ent sandDavi
d
werefi
nal
l
yher e.Icouldseet hat
someoneelsewaswi tht hem.Itwas
awomanwhost oodv erycloseto
Davi
d.Whoi sshe?
“
Youshoul
dgogr eett
hem,”Mar
ia
t
oldmesoft
ly.Il
etoutadeepbr
eath
andwal
kedsl
owl
ytot
hem.
Spaceandt imeseemedt ohave
sloweddownar oundme.Myhear t
thumpedwi thever
ystep.Sl
owly,
noisesaroundmedi eddown.I
couldn’
thearanyonespeak.They
spoketoNi koswhil
eIapproached
them.
OnceIwasclosetot hem,Ist
ood
t
herewit
houtlooking,wai
ti
ngfor
t
hem toacknowledgemypr esence.
IcouldhearNikoswhogav ehis
condolencetothem.“Oh.Valer
iais
here.I
’l
lleav
ey oufornow.Ibeli
eve
thatyouwouldwantt otal
ktoher ,
”I
heardandhewal kedaway.It’
stime
Valer
ia.Youneedtosaysomet
hing.
HereIgo.Iforcedmysel
ftogr
eet
them.
“
Hel
l
o.Mot
her
.Fat
her
.Dav
id.
”
Idi
dn’
tlookthem i
ntheeyebut
,I
knewthatt
heywerelooki
ngdownat
me.
“Valeri
a,”Iheardmyf at
hersaymy
name.Hi svoiceheldsome
disappointment .Ididn’
tknowwhatt o
sayt othem tobehonest .Sl
owly,Il
i
ft
myheadt oseet hem.Wow.They
reall
yagedabi tsinceIlastseen
them.
Myparent
sst ar
tedtoshowageon
t
hei
rfaces.Icouldseethewr
inkl
es
ont hecornersoftheireyes.Father
startedt
ohav ef r
ecklesofgrayhair
onhi shead.Mot herseemedt ohave
dyedherhai rconsideri
ngthatthe
hairwasav ibrantbrunett
e.
Dav i
d…. well
…hebecame
mor e…handsome.Hehadcer t
ainl
y
grownt al
l
erandhadmuscl e.Hewas
welldressedf orthefuner
al.Icoul
d
tel
lthathewasmaki ngmoneyi nhis
career.Hisey eswer et
hesame
shadeofbr own.Ofcourse,his
appear ancedidn’tcomparetoAdrian
i
nacer tai
next ent.
Dav
idgav
emeasmal
lsmi
l
e.
“
Val
eri
a.Thi
sismyf
ianceeRosa.
”
Rosawasav erybeautif
ul woman.
Shehadaslenderbuil
t.Herf acewas
per
fectwi
thnoi mperfecti
on.She
wassimplyperf
ect.Shemusthad
gott
enanapprov al
ofsomesor tfr
om
myparent
s.IfIwereint heirshoes,I
wouldwantsomeonebeaut iful
t o
matchwit
hDav id.
“I
t’
snicet
omeety ou.Iwishedwe
metunderadif
ferentci
rcumstance,
”
shesaidt
ome.Igav eherasmal l
nod.Maybe…never.
“
Val
eri
a.”
Il
if
tmyheadt omyleftt
oseeAdri
an
whostoodnextt
ome.Hegav emea
small
smileandwrappedhi
sarm
aroundmywai st
.Instantly
,Ifel
t
shiver
sgoupmybodyf rom the
touch.Myfacefelthot.Sti
ll
,Iwasn’
t
usedtohistouches.
“Howar ey oufeeling?”heaskedwith
concern.“Alri
ght,”Ili
edtohim.I
wasn’talri
ghtatal lwithgood
reasons.Nowt hatmypar entswere
hereandseei ngAdr ian,Ir
eall
y
wantedt odowashi deunderarock
orsomet hing.
.
Mymot herl
ookedatAdrianwi th
curi
osit
y.“
Whoar eyoumayIask? ”
mymot heraskedhi
m.Adr ianlooked
ather.“
I’
m Adri
anMinett
i.I’m
Valer
ia’
shusband,
”heint
r oduced
himsel
f.Icoul
dseesur
pri
sei
nmy
famil
y’
sey es.
“Whatdoy oumeanhusband?How
comewewer en’tinformedaboutt he
mar r
iage?Wenev ergav eourconsent
formar r
iage,”myf athersaidoutl
oud
thatev eryonet urnedt hei
rheadsto
us.Ist artedtof eel v
ery
uncomf ortable.Iwasconf usedasto
whyhewasangr yaboutourmar r
iage.
Ididn’tthinkthathewoul devencare
whatIdi dorany t
hing.
Il
ookedatAdr iantoseehowhe
woul
dr eactandr espond.“Wegotten
marr
iedonceshehadt ur
ned
ei
ghteen.Therefore,shedidnotneed
yourconsentt
omar ry
.Shei
sherown
person.
”hesaid.Heseemedtobe
giv
ingmyf at
heraglarei
nhi
seyes.
“St
il
l…Youshoul dhav easkedus
aboutthemarriage,”mymot hersai
d
tohim.Shedidn’tlookhappyeither
.
Adri
anjustst
ar edatmypar ents.He
seemedannoy edbyt hem.
“
Adr
ian.
”
Weturnedourheadst
othev
oicet
o
seet
womor epeople.
“
Fat
her
.Mot
her
.”
TheywereAdri
an’sparent
s.Inev
er
sawpict
uresofthem athomebut,i
didseeafewphotosandaf amil
y
port
raiti
nPetro’
shome.Adr ianhad
gott
enmostofhi sfat
her ’
sfacial
feat
uresexcepthiseyes.Hehad
gott
enhiseyesfrom hismot her.
Theystoodnextt ousandl ookedat
mypar ents.Icoul
dfeelthetensi
oni n
theair
.“Ithasbeenawhi le,
”Adri
an’s
fat
hersaidt omypar ent
s.Mypar ents
gavethem anod.“ Yes.I
thasbeen, ”
myf at
hersai dtot
hem.
Istar
tedtofeelabi
tuncomfor
table
thatIwashavingtr
oubl
ebreat
hing.
ItookAdrian’
shandoffmywaistand
turnedmybodyt ohi
m.“Excuseme.
I’
m goingtogototherest
room
quick,
”Isaidl
owenoughforhimto
hearandwal
kedawayqui
ckl
ybef
ore
theysai
dawordtome.
.
Oncei nt herestroom,Iwal kedov er
tothesi nkandhel dont otherim.I
tookdeepbr eathstotrytocal m
my selfdown.Thi sistoomuch.I t’
s
toomuch.Mypar entswer eherewi t
h
Adrian’sparents.Mymi ndwasf i
ll
ed
withmanyt hought st
hatIcoul dn’t
pullmyt houghtst ogetherletalone
clearmymi nd.
Nextt
hingIknew,
Ihear
dthedoor
open.
“
Arey
oual
ri
ght
?”
Il
ookedf rom themi r
rortosee
Adrian’smot her.Shelookedv ery
concer nedforme.Il etoutadeep
breathandl ookedather .“I
’
m…I ’
m
j
ustnotr eal
lytaki
ngt hi
ngsv erywel
l
,”
Itol
dherhonest ly.Shegavemea
smal lsmi l
eandanod.
“Iam verysor r
yfory ourl ossdear,”
shesaidt ome.Ir et
ur nedthenod.
“Thanky ou.”Shet ookaf ewsteps
closer
.“Ishoul dIntroducemy self.I
am Adrian’smot her, Eli
sabett
a,”she
saidtome.“ I
t’
sni cet ofi
nall
ymeet
you…um…”
“
Youcancal
lme“mother
.”Youare
mar
ri
edtomysonaft
erall
,”shesai
d
tome.Igaveheranod.“Okay.
”She
walkedovert
omeandt ookmyhand.
“Come.It
’sti
mefort
hefuneralt
o
star
t,
”shetol
dme.
Ididn’tf eelnervousaround.Her
handswer everycomf ort
inglikea
mot hercomf orti
ngherchi l
d.
Eli
sabet tahelpedmeoutoft he
restroom andi ntot
hechapel where
every onewer ewai t
ingforthef uner
al
tostar t.Shewasr i
ghtbymet he
whol et i
me.
Icoul
dreal
l
ycal
lhermymot
her
.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Backathomei
nNewYor
k
Idi
dn’tknowhowmucht i
mehad
passed.Ifel
tver
yempt
yinsi
de.
OnceIhadgot tenhome, Ist ay edin
myr oom andlookedoutoft he
window.Memor i
espl ayedt hr ough
mymi nd.Icouldrememberonegood
memor yforeveryy earthatIhad
knownthem andmor e.Ifear edt hatI
wouldstartt
of orgetthememor ies.
Theyar
egone.They
’rer
eal
l
ygone.
Idi
dn’
tthi
nkthatIwoul
dfeel
so
al
one…agai
n.
Knock…knock….
Icameoutofmythought
sand
l
ookedatmydoortoseeLor
enzo.He
gavemeasmal l
smi l
e.“Mr.Minett
i
wouldli
ketoseey ou,
”hetoldme.
WhatdoesAdr i
anwant ?Igotup
from myseatandwalkedoutoft he
room wi
thLorenzo.
Idi
dn’
tknowwhatt
oexpect
.
“Mr.Mi
net
ti
.Yourwi
feishere.I
’l
l
l
eaveyout
owi t
hpri
vacy,
”Lorenzo
sai
dandexcusedhi
mselfout.
Adrianwaslookingoutofhi swi ndow
thathadagoodv i
ewoft hecity.Once
Iheardthedoorclosebehi ndme.I
tookafewst epsforwardunt i
lIwas
half
wayt ohi
sdesk.Al lIcouldhear
wasnot hi
ng.Ther oom was
soundproof.
“Doy ouknowwhyImar r
iedyou?”I
heardhim askmewi t
haser i
oust one.
Hisvoicescaredmeabi tbut,It
ri
ed
nottoshowmyemot ion.Il
ookedup
from hisdeskandstraightathiseyes.
Thatansweri ssimple.“Becauseour
grandfather
sarrangedit.
”Ianswer ed
him.Hegav emeanodonmycor rect
answer .
“Exact
ly.Ourgrandf
ather
sar
ranged
ourmarr i
age.
”
Hewalkedar oundhi
sdeskandst ood
i
nf r
ontofme.Wewer etwofeet
apartf
rom eachother
.Heputhis
handsinhi
spocketandl ookeddown
atme.“Nobodysaidthatwehav eto
l
ikeeachother.Oncemygrandf
ather
passesaway,I’
m goingt
ogeta
div
orceandleaveyouwithnot
hing.
”
I
shet
hreat
eni
ngme?
Iwasget t
ingabitangr y.Somany
questi
onscamei ntomyheadnow.
“Wheny ourgrandfatherpassesaway ?
Youcouldhav ebackawaybef orethe
weddingorev enwhenwehadmeton
yourbir
thday.Whydi dn’tyouback
outthen?!
”Angergr ewbyt hesecond.
“I
fIhadbackedoutbeforethe
wedding,mostl
i
kely,mygrandfat
her
wouldn’
tseemef i
ttorunhis
companyandwoul dhavefi
redme,”
heexplai
nedtome.Iwasabi t
shockedbyhiswords.Fr
om whathe
wassaying,
hewasusi ngmeinorder
tomakesurethathesecurehi
splace
i
nhisgrandfat
her’
scompany.
“Mar r
iagedoesn’ tneedlove.It
’s
basicallythejoini
ngoft wopeopl ei
n
theey eoft helaw.Itdoesn’tmean
thatyourpar tnerhavetobet here
withyou24/ 7.Amar ri
agecer t
ifi
cate
i
sapr oofofmar r
iage.Acont r
actthat
twopeopl earejoinedtogether.I
na
way ,i
t’sjustli
kebusiness,”he
explainedhi sviewtome.
Cl
osi
ngthegapbetweenus,he
wal
keduptomeandl eaneddownto
myeart
owhispersomewor ds.If
elt
f
rozent
othegr
ound.
“Besides,Iwoul
dneverfal
li
nlovet
o
agi r
lwhoi sanobody.Anobodywho
shouldhav enev
erbeenbornand
existinthi
sworld.
”
Ifel
tthewarmthgets—-doutofmy
body.Ihear
dhim walkpastmeand
outthedoorwi
thoutlooki
ngback.
Slowly,
Ifel
tmyselfsi
nktothe
groundandontomyknees.At ear
sl
iddownt omycheek.Ishouldhave
neverbeensosurpri
sedbyhiswords.
Iwasnev
ergoi
ngt
ofeel
lov
edand
want
edbyhim.
———————————————-
[
6/24,
00:11]Ndozv
oo:
ARANGEDLOVEEPISODE14

Foury
ear
slat
er…….
Ithadbeenf ouryearssi nceIhad
enroll
edintouniver
sity.Myl i
fehad
changedsomuchf orthebet ter
ment al
lyandphy si
call
y .Universi
ty
hadkeptmebusyandmymi ndoffof
mymar ri
ageli
fe.Universitywasmy
stressrel
ief
.
Inst
eadoft aki
ngonl i
necour ses,I
decidedtoattendclasses.Ev er
yday,I
tookfourtofivecl
assesexceptt he
weekends.Iusedt heweekendst o
studyanddomyr equiredreadingfor
mycl
asses.Iwasaf
ull
timest
udent
.
Adriandidn’tknowaboutmy
activi
ti
esathome.Hewasnev er
home.Iwoul dleaveanotestating
mywher eaboutsbut,honesty,
they
wer eli
es.Iwoul dwri
tethatIwasat
themov iesorwal ki
ngaroundt he
neighborhood.Somet imes,Iwould
getaphonecal lfr
om Lorenzo.
Onoccasi ons,
Adr i
anandIwer e
supposet ogot ofamil
ygat heri
ngs
thatonlyhappenonceay ear.Adrian
wouldexcusehi mselfbysay i
ngt hat
hehadschedul edameet ingorhad
businesstoattendoverseas.On
someoccasi ons,hewoul dmeetwi t
h
hisfamilywithhissecret
arywhoI
foundoutt obet heonewhowas
sleepi
ngwi thAdr i
an.Hernamewas
Mar i
ahWi nslow.Inhonestl
y,shewas
beautif
ul.
Imanagedt oexcusemy selfevery
yearsayi
ngt hatIwasi l
lorIwasbusy
withsomet hing.Theytol
dmet hat
theyunderstood.Itwasar eli
effor
me.Iwasn’ tsureiftheyknewabout
hisrel
ati
onshi pwiththesecretar
y.
Tobehonest ,
Idi
dn’twanttodeal
wit
hmyi n-l
aws.Theywouldwantto
tal
kaboutourmarri
age.Adrianwould
acttobelovi
ngbut,hereal
l
ydoesn’t
wantanythi
ngtodowi t
hme.Al so,
t
heydi
dn’
tknowaboutt
heaf
fai
r.
Today,Iwaswi t
hVictorandNeal at
thei
rnewbusinessbui l
dingt
hatthey
hadboughtaf ewday sago.They
wantedtostartabusinessoncethey
recei
vedthei
rbachelorsinbusi
ness.
Theyboughtar eal
l
ybi gspace.
Theywal kedmet hrought hebui l
ding.
Thepl acesmel tabi tmust yduet o
theplacebei ngclosedf oral ongtime.
Thewal lswer eplainwi t
hdust .Some
windowsneededt ober eplaced
becauset heywerecr acked.Thef l
oor
wascov eredwithdustanddi rt
.
Overall,
thebui l
dingwasagoodsi ze.
“
Isn’
tthi
samazi
ng!Ican’
tbel
i
evet
hat
thisplaceisour s,”Nealsai
dwi t
h
excitement .Vict
orgav ehim ahug
from behind.“ Soam I.Soon,thi
s
placewi ll
bewel l knownacrossthe
count r
y,”Victortoldhim.Theywere
soi nlovewi theachot her
.
Theyhaven’tgot
tenmarri
edy et, but
theyweregoingtogetmar ri
edsoon.
“So,whatki
ndofbusinessar ey ou
twogoingtoopen?”Iaskedt hem.
Theylookedateachother.“Wewer e
thi
nkingaboutanorgani
cr estaurant,
”
theytol
dme.
Iknewit.“
That’
sagreati
dea,”It
old
them wi
thasmi l
eonmyf ace.They
weregreatcooks.Ev
ersi
nceImet
them, theymadedeli
ciousfoods.
Ev er
ythingwasorgani
c.Lastyear
,we
travel
edt oanorgani
cf ar
m where
theygr ewmanykindsoff r
uit
sand
vegetables.Vi
ctor
’sfr
iend,Ar
thur
ownedt hefar
m.
“Art
huriswill
ingtohelpusoutwith
theproduce,
”Neal tol
dme.“Ican’t
waitfort
her estaur
anttobeopen.I
wouldbey ourv er
yfir
stcust
omer ,
”I
tol
dthem.Theygav emeasmi l
e.“I
knowy ouwoul d.Youknownusf ora
l
ongt i
me,”het oldme.
“Iexpectt
oseey ourAsi
anstyl
e
poachsalmonont hemenu,”It
old
them.Theylaughedabit
.“Ofcour
se.
I’
l
l addmyfamousr oastbeefwit
h
wildmushroom saucetothemenu,”
Victort
oldme.Victorwasgreatwit
h
cookingsavor
yfoods.
“Icanhandl ethedessert
s,”Nealsai
d
ashel ookedoutt hewindow.Neal
wasagr eatbaker.Onmybi r
thday
l
asty ear,hehadbakedacakef orme.
Hisfamousbur ntsugarnutcake.The
cakewasdeadl ytomypal et
te….i
na
goodway .
“Bef
oreweopen, wewoul dli
kef or
youtodothetastetest,”Victortol
d
me.Wow….”Makesur ethaty ou
don’
tgiv
emeev er
ythingtot asteon
thesameday.Itwouldbet oomuch
f
ormyst
omacht
ohandl
e,
”It
old
t
hem.
“Ofcour se.Otherwise,wemi ghthave
torollyouout ,
”Neal joked.“Haha
veryfunnyNeal ,”It
oldhi m.Victor
couldn’
tst oplaughing.“Wehav eso
mucht odo.Wehav et opaintthe
walls,r
epl acetheti
les,getequipment,
andcomeupwi thamenu, ”Victor
l
ist
edout .
“Howar eyouguy sgoingtopayf oral
l
that
?”Iaskedt hem.Theydon’ tl
ook
ri
ch.Nealhadasmi leonhisface.
“Aft
ermygr andf atherpassedaway ,
hegav emehi sinher i
tancesinceI
wast heonlyrelati
v eli
vi
ng,”hetold
me.
“Whatdidhedot ohav et hatmuch
money ?”Iaskedhim.“ Hewasa
famousbakerandani nv estor
,”Neal
tol
dme.Thatexpl ainsit.“It
’sl
ikeI’
m
goingtocontinuehislegacy .Mostof
thereci
peswer efrom him, ”hetol
d
me.
Inhiseyes,Icoul dseemi xed
emot i
ons.Oneemot ionstoodout
from t
her est.“
Youl ovedhim so
muchhuh, ”Isaidt ohim.Hegav eme
anod.“ Hewast heonewhot aught
met obemy self
.IfIdon’tlov
emy sel
f,
howdoy ouex pecttomakegr eat
dessertstomakepeopl ehappy ?”he
askedme.
“Yougotapoi nt,
”Itoldhim.Hegav e
meanod.Vi ctorwal kedupt ous.“I
t’
s
almostdinnert ime.Whydon’ tweeat
here?”heaskedus.“ Arewecooki ng?
Orarewedoi ngt akeout?”Iasked
him.“Well,
Iwi shwecoul dmakef ood
but,wedon’thav etheequipment
here.Let
’sdot akeout.I’
l
l t
reatyou
guys,”Vi
ctorsai d.
“Sure.Whatdoy ouwant ?”Neal
askedme.“ Idon’tknow…. ”Iwasn’t
surewhatIwant edt oeat.“Cravi
ng
forany t
hing?”Victoraskedashe
l
ookedt hroughhisphonef ordel
iver
y
service.“Youlookf ordi
nnerandI ’
ll
l
ookupfordesser
t,
”Nealtol
dVi
ctor
andt
ookhisphoneouttoo.
“WhataboutChinese,”Isuggest ed.
VictorandNeall
ookedateachot her
.
“Iguessweareget t
ingf rom Zhen
Mei rest
aur
antthen,
”Vi ctorsaidand
l
ookedupatt hemenu.“ Iwantroast
pork,”Neal
tol
dhim.
Fi
gur
es.
“I
’m getti
ngr edbraisedpor k.What
abouty ouVer a?”Victoraskedme.
“Sinceyou’retreat
ingme.Iwantbeef
chowf un,fri
edr i
ce,andwal nut
shrimp,”Itoldhim.Hegav emea
funnylook.“Forasmal lgi
rl,youhav
e
abi gappetit
e,”hejoked.
“Mybr ainneedsf ood.Notmy
stomach, ”Isai
dt ohim.Helaughed.
“I’
m goingt ogogetsomecr eme
brûléepief r
om thebakerynearhere
thatisfamousf orit.I
tcomewi t
h
someber rycompot e,
”Nealsai
dand
proceededt owal koutthedoor.
“
Thatsoundsgood,
”Isai
dtohi
m.
Theywer
ethegr
eatestf
riendswho
areal
somyguardi
anangels.They
savedmefr
om mymar r
iagesanit
y.
“Whil
ehe’
sout,
let’
sor
derthef
ood,”
Vict
orsai
danddial
edthenumber
.
“
Yeah…I
’
m hungr
y.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~
“Thatwasgood, ”Isaidandli
ckedmy
spooncl eanoftheberrycompot e.
Thedesser thitt
hespotinmy
stomach.Sur pri
singl
y,wefi
nished
everyt
hing.
“Youshoul dgetgoing.It’
slate,”
Victortoldme.Itwas10: 00pm and
rai
ninghar doutsi
de.“Plus,youhav e
fi
nalstot ur
ninsoonandt hen
graduation,
”Neal r
emi ndedme.I
gavehi m asmile.I
’m almostt here.“I
am alreadydonewi ththem andhav e
them readytoturnin,”Itol
dthem.
“
Figur
es.Youar
ealwaysont
opof
y
ourstudi
es,
”Vi
ctorsai
dtome.I
gavehim anod.“You’reri
ghtabout
theti
me.Ireall
yshouldgetgoing,”I
saidt
ot hem andlookedattheempt y
takeoutcontai
nersont hematthat
weusedt oeaton.
“Doy ouguy swantmet ohelpclean
up?”Iaskedt hem.“No.Wecancl ean
i
t,”Neal sai
dandst art
edt oputthe
containersi
nanempt yplasti
cbag.I
gotmybagandwal kedtowar dsthe
door.“Thanky oufordinnerand
congratsont hebuildi
ng,”It
oldthem.
Theygavemeasmi l
e.“
Thanky ou.
Becaref
ulonthewayhome, ”Neal
tol
dme.“Ofcourse.Don’twanttoget
i
nanaccidenti
nt herai
n,
”Isaidto
t
hem.“Don’
tji
nxyour
self
,”Vi
ctortol
d
me.Igav
ethem awavegoodby eand
wal
kedoutofthebui
l
ding.
Quickl
yIgotmykey sfrom mybag
andopenedthecardoor .GoodthingI
havethecarwit
hmet oday.Ibought
thecarwit
hmyi nheri
tance.Icoul
d
haveusedthecredi
tcar dthatAdri
an
gavemebut ,
Ihatetousehi sfort
une.
OnceIgoti nsidethecar ,
Istar
tedthe
engineandsl owly
, gotoutofthe
parkingl
ot.Now, Ihav ealongslow
dri
vet ot
heapar tment .NewYor kCit
y
tr
affi
cwasi nsane.I tcoul
dtakeas
l
ongasf ivemi nut
est ogodownone
bl
ock.
Afterawhi le,
Iwashal fwayhome.I
waitedatani ntersecti
on.Whenthe
l
ightsturnedgr een,Isteppedonthe
gaspedal .Thecarmov edtothe
middleoft heintersect
ionwhenI
heardal oudscr eechasi ft
hecar
wasski dding.
Itur
nedmyheadtoseeat
ruck
comingt
owardsme.
“
AHHHH!
!!
!!
”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~
Adr
ian’
sPOV….
“Thati
soneoft
heeasi
estdeal
sI
havemade.
”
Isatinmyseatandopenedupmy
l
aptop.Myschedulehadbeenpacked
withbusinessmeeti
ngstobuya
propertydowninSanDiegoinor
der
tobuildanewresort
.Iwanted
everythi
nginmynewr esor
ttobe
perfect.
“Lorenzo.Wheni smynextbusi ness
meet ingwi t
hCosmosI ndustry??
”I
askedhi m.CosmosI ndust r
ywaswel l
knownf orthei
rItal
i
anf urnit
ure.I
want edt heournewr esortinSan
Diegot ohav ethemostbeaut i
fuland
authenticfeelforourcost umers.
Knock…Knock……
Il
i
ftmyheadupt
oseeMar
iahatmy
doorwaywi thacupofcoffeeinher
hands.“Imadesomecof feeforyou,
”
shesaidandwal kedtowardsme.
Mariahgav emeabi gsmil
eandset
mycof feecuponmydesk.“ Justhow
youlikeit
,”shet
oldmei nafli
rty
manner .
Ididn’
trespondtoherbehav iorand
tookasipoft hecoffee.Tobehonest ,
Ili
kedValeri
a’scoff
eebet ter
.
Valeri
a’
scof f
eetastedmuchdar ker
andsmoot heronmyt ongue.
Mar i
ah’
scof f
eetastedgenerictome.
“Arewegoingouttoni
ghtagai
n?”
Mar i
ahaskandsatonmydeskand
closedherl
egs.Shewaspersi
stent
fort
hepastfewdaysaboutusgoi
ng
outondates.Iwasget
ti
ngti
redof
hercompanysurpri
si
ngl
y.
Mywhol efamil
ywasri
ghtabout
Mariah.Shewasn’
tmytype.She
wasn’tthegi
rlwhowoul
dmakeme
happy.
Ast heyear swenton, Ireali
zedt hat
Mar i
ahwasn’ tthegirlforme.Next
thingIknew, Istar
tedt othinkabout
Val eri
aandourmar r
iage.Val eri
ahad
tri
edt obet hebestwi fetome.She
keptbr ingingmebr eakf astev er
y
mor ni
ng.Shemademedi nnerev er
y
nightbut ,Ineveratet hem except
thatonet i
mewher emybr othercame
overwi
thhi swif
e.Val
eri
a’
scooking
wasdeli
cious.Shewouldstayup
unti
lIr
eturnedhomefrom work.
Ireal
izedthatwasaj erktoher .Every
day,theguiltandregretgrewt othe
pointwhereIdi d’
tthi
nkthatour
mar r
iagewoul dlastmuchl onger.But,
Ihopedt hatValeri
awoul dforgiv
eme
andwecoul dtrytoworkour
mar r
iageout .
Istart
edtothinkabouthermor e
oft
en.Attimes,Itr
iedt ocall
herbut,
thecallwouldgostraightto
voicemail
.IsentLorenzotocheckup
onherathome.Hewoul dtel
lmethat
shewasdoi ngalri
ghtorshewasn’ tat
homeatthemoment .Hewoul
dbri
ng
menotesthatshehadwri
tt
enof
wher
eshehadgone.
Valeri
awasmyt ypeofgi rl.I
nnocent ,
sel
fless,andloyal.Herfaceonour
weddingdaywasi mpri
ntedi nmy
mind.Shel ookedl i
keanangel .When
Il
ookedatourweddi ngpicture, I
coulddrownmy selfinthoseey es.
“
Adr
ian.
”
Iputt hecupbackont hedeskand
continuedtotypeaway .“Idon’
tthink
soMar i
ah.Iam busy,”Itoldher.She
tookahol dofmyneckt ieandpulled
met ower sher
.Shel eaneddownand
kissedme.Ididn’treturnt heki
ss.
Ri
ng….
Ring….
Ipul
ledawayf
rom herandanswer
ed
thephone.
“Whati si
t?”Iasked.Al l
mycallswent
thr
oughmyot hersecret
ary,
Franco.
“Si
r.Youhav eani mpor t
antcal
l
comi ngthrough,”hetoldme.“Letthe
cal
l gothrough,”Itol
dhi m.“
Yessir,
”
hesai dandconnectmet ot
hecall
er.
“
Hello.Minet
tiResor
ts.CEOAdr
ian
Minett
ispeaki
ng.HowmayIhelp
you?”
“Hel
l
oMr .Minet
ti
.Thi
sisNurse
Char
lot
tefrom t
heemergencyroom
atPl
azaNewYor kHospi
tal,
”shesai
d
tome.PlazaNewYorkHospital
?
Mygutst ar
tedtotwist
.Somet hingi
s
notri
ght.“Hell
oNurseChar l
otte.
HowmayIhel pyou?Issomething
wrong?”Iaskedherwithli
tt
le
concer
n.
“Yourwi fe,
Val eria,
wasi nan
accidentatani nter
secti
onbyat r
uck.
Shei si
nser iouscondi t
ionandi n
surgery.Wewoul dli
keyoutocome
hereatt hehospi talimmediatelyt
o
tel
lyoui ndet ailofthei
njuri
es,”she
tol
dme.
Fort
hefi
rstt
ime,
myheartstopped
whenIhear
dthenewsaboutmywi f
e.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[
6/24,
00:
11]Ndozv
oo:
ht
tps:
//chat
.whatsapp.
com/
Imj
KmCS
D8w6DzBCJatTfuN

ARANGEDLOVEEPI
SODE13

“
Howar
eyouf
eel
i
ng?
”
“Iam feel
ingalr
ight.Thanky oufor
asking,
”Isaidthrought hephone.
Eli
sabettamadesur etocal lmeonce
everyfewday stogett oknowme
andhearaboutherson.Ir eall
y
gottentoknowherv er
ywel l.We
spendaboutanhourt alki
ngabout
diff
erentthi
ngs.
“
Howi
sAdr
ian?I
shet
reat
ingy
ou
wel l
? ”sheaskedme.I she?“He’
s
treat i
ngmef i
ne,”Il
ied.Hehadn’t
doneany t
hi ngformesi ncethe
funer al.Hisf ocuswashi sworkand
nothi ngel se.Hewoul dbestuckinhis
officeal ldayorbeathi sworkafew
day satat ime.So, Ihardl
yseehim.
Lorenzodi dcheckonmewhen
Adr ianwasathome.Tobehonest ,I
woul dratherhav eAdr i
ancheckon
me.
“Whatdoy ouplantodot oday?”she
askedme.“ Iwasthi
nkingofgoi ng
outtothecityt
oday.Iwasmeani ng
togetanewbookt oread,”It
oldher.
Slowl
y,Iwasf i
ll
ingmybookshel fwit
h
books.“Al
right
.Well,
Ineedt oget
going.Ihav
eameet
ingt
oat
tend
today,
”shetol
dme.
Icoul
df eelreli
efcomi ng.“Alr
ight
.I’l
l
cal
lyounextt i
me,”Itoldher.“Okay.
Bye,
”shet oldmeandhungupt he
phone.Iputmyphonedownonmy
deskandwal kedtothecl osetto
changemycl othes.Thebookst ore
shoul
dst i
llbeopeni fIgett herefast
enough.
Quickly
,Ichangedi nt
omyout door
clot
hesandgotmybag.“ DoIhave
everyt
hing?”IlookedintomybagasI
walkedtothef rontdoor.Mykeycar
d
wasi nmybagaswel lasmywallet
.
“Good.”Ipressedthebut t
ontogo
down.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Myaf t
ernoonwasv er
ybusy .Lucki
ly,
thebookstorewasst i
llopenbyt he
ti
meIgott here.Ilookedov erthe
shel
vesint hecuisinesectiontosee
i
fIcouldfindagoodr ecipebook.
Thereweresomanygoodones.
Intheend,Imanagedt ogetabook
onclassicsrecipes.Thebookdi dn’t
costmet oomuchbecauseIgota
member shipcar d.Icollect
edso
manypoi ntsthatIgot tenadiscount
pri
ceformybook.I nsomecases, I
gothalfpri
ceonast ackofbooks.
Whi
l
eIwasout
,Idi
dgot
othe
groceryst
oretogetsomei ngredient
s
fortheweek.Formydi nner
,Imade
somesi mplepast
awi tholi
veoil,
basil
,cher
rytomatoes,andsome
parmesan.Asusual,IsavedAidan
somepast aeventhoughIwoul deat
i
tthenextdayorthedayaf ter
.
Rightnow, Iwasont hecomput er
l
ooki nguponuni versi
ti
esinmyar ea.
Sof ar,Iwantedtoseeuniversit
ies
thatoffermanyonl i
neclasses.That
way ,Icouldfocusonbeinga
housewi feandattendschool atthe
samet i
me.
Nextthi
ngIknew,
Iheardfootst
eps
comingdownthehal
lway.Usuall
y
Adriangothomearound11:30pm.
Today ,
heseemedt ohavecame
homet hir
tyminut
esearl
y.Icoul
d
hearthatitwasmorethanone
person.
“I
t’
sprobablyAdrianandLorenzo,”I
sai
dtomy sel
f.Asthefoot
stepsget
l
ouder,somethingdidn’
tsoundright
.
Oneoft hesetoffootst
epssounded
muchshar perasifsomeonewas
weari
nghi ghheel
s.
Thatcan’tbeLorenzo.Iknew
Lorenzo’
sfootst
epsv er
ywel l
since
heusuallycameandcheckonme“ on
behalfofAdri
an.
”Iknewt hatwasn’t
tr
ue.Lorenzowasj ustmakingsure
thatAdri
anwouldn’
tgeti
ntr
oubl
eby
hisgrandpar
ent
s.
Soon, IheardAdrian’sroom door
closeandst art
edt ohearot her
noises.Myi nsi
desst artedtoturnand
squeeze.Ican’tbelievet hi
s!Ineedto
getoutoft hisroom.Igotmyl aptop
andaf ewbooksandwal kedoutof
theroom bef or
eIcoul dhearany thi
ng
mor e.
Qui ckl
y,Iwalkeddownst ai
rstothe
l
ivingroom.If el
tthatIcouldsti
llhear
them.“ Whereshoul dIgo?”Icouldn’
t
goout sidesinceitwasabi t
danger ousatnight.Ididn’
tknow
any oney eti
nthecity.So,myoptions
wer
ever
yli
mit
ed.
Iwal kednearthefrontdoorent rance
toseeadoort hatInev eropened
befor e.Ir
eachedthedoor knoband
turnedt oopent oseeanot herhall
way.
Ithoughtt hi
swasacl oset.The
hallwaywaspi tchblack.
Ifel
tforaswitch.OnceIfoundt he
switch,t
hehall
wayl i
tupdiml y
.I
walkedinsi
deandcl osedthedoor
behindme.Iwal keddownt he
hall
wayanddownasmal lsetof
stai
rstoanotherhall
way.Thisplace
hasal otmoreroomst hatIthought.
Soon,If
oundmysel
finfr
ontofa
dooratt
heendofthehal
lway.I
openedthedoortoseethati
twas
emptyexceptf
orabedandadesk.
Theroom di
dn’tseemedtobeinuse.
Rel
ieff
lowedthroughme.Thefeel
wascomf or
ti
ng.
I
’
llmakethismyroom.Atl
eastIdon’
t
f
eell
ikeIcanheart
hem.
Iyawnedandknewt hati
twastime
formet ogot obed.Iclosedthedoor
andsetmyst uf fonthedeskbeforeI
gotunderthecov ersofthebed
withoutchangingintomypajamas.I
closedmyey esandl etsl
eepinvi
te
mei ntothedarkness.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~.
Lucki
l
y,Idi
dn’
tseeAdr
ian,
Lor
enzo,
andthegirlt
henextday.Sti
l
l,Ididn’
t
knowwhoAdr i
anwashav i
ngan
aff
airwit
h.Mychestwheezedf rom
thethought
s.Thesoundswer e
i
mpr i
ntedinmymi ndthatIwould
needtooccupymy sel
f.
“Now,Iwon’
thav
etoheart
hatnoi
se
agai
n.”
Ispentthepastweekmov ingmy
stuffi
ntothenewr oom t
hatwas
fart
hestfr
om Adrian’
sandmyol d
room.Attimes,Iwouldbeinmyold
room sothatnobodysuspectedt
hatI
changedroomsorany thi
ng.
“TothinkthatIhadmar
ri
edan
unfai
thful
man. ”
Icoul
dn’tst
opt
het hought
sgoi ng
thr
oughmyhead.Adr i
anwashav ing
anaffai
rwit
hsomeone.Awoman
whoIknewnothingabout.Ishook
myheadandwal kedtothefrontdoor
toheadoutoft
heapar t
ment .
Iwantedtogot ot hebookst or
eto
readandclearmymi nd.OnceIgot
mybag, Iwalkedoutoft he
apartment
.Thebr eezef el
tver
y
refr
eshi
nginmyl ungs.Thesunwas
shini
ngbri
ght l
y.Thest reetswere
normalasusual .
Somethinggoodisgoi
ngtohappen
today
.Ifel
tmy sel
fsmil
e.Happi
ness
wasfil
li
ngmeupt hatIfor
gott
en
aboutmywor r
iesofAdr
ianandthe
aff
air
.Itwasj
ustwhatmybr ai
n
neededri
ghtnow.Atimetorel
axand
thi
nkformyself.
Soon,Igottothebookst oretoseeMr .
Bri
tt
onatt hecashr egist
er.Iwalked
i
nthrought hedoort oseethatthe
pl
acehadaf ewpeopl e.Mr.Brit
ton
gavemeasmi le.“
Hel l
oVer a.Hereto
getabook? ”heaskedme.
Iret
urnedthesmile.“Maybebut
,I’
m
heretoreadforawhi l
e,
”Itol
dhim.
Hegav emeanod.“ I
fyouneed
anythi
ng,I’
mrighthere,
”hetol
dme.
Li
keusual.Iwal
kedov
ert
othe
shel
vesandscannedt
hebookt
it
les.
Iwaslooki ngforsomethingthat
wouldcat chmyey es.Thet i
tl
es
weren’talwayseverythi
ng.Iwould
pull
abookf rom t
heshelfandr ead
theprologue.Somet i
mes, Iwould
scanthef ir
stchaptertoseeifthe
bookcaughtmyey es.
Begi
nnerofAut
hor
s.
Thatl
ooksi
nter
est
ing.
Ipull
edthebookf r
om theshelfand
walkedtoacoucht oreadmybook.
OnceIopenedt hebook,Ir
eadt he
tabl
eofcontentsandthefir
st
chapteroft
hebook.Af t
erafew
pages,Igott
enintothebook.Ishoul
d
buythisbook.
“
Hit
her
e.”
Il
ookedupt oseeaguywhost ood
abovemewi thasmil
eonhi sface.
Hehadbl ondehairwi
thasidebang.
Hiseyeswer ebluewi
thatintof
green.Hisfacehadsharpanglesthat
hi
sov eral
ll
ookmadehi mlookv er
y
attr
acti
ve.Hewaswel lbui
l
tt oo.
Who’
sist
hisguy
?
“Arey ouastudentatManhatt
an
College?”heaskedme.Ishookmy
head.“ Nosorr
y,”It
oldhi
m.Hehada
frownonhi sface.“
Oh.Sorr
y.I’
m
Victor,
”heintr
oducedhimsel
fand
gavehi shandouttome.Ishookhi
s
hand.
“Val
eri
abut ,
callmeVera,
”Itoldhim.
Hegrewasmi l
eonhisface.“Niceto
meetyouVer a,
”hesai
dt ome.He
askedmei fIwasastudentat
ManhattanColl
ege.I
sheast udent
ther
e?Istart
edtogetabitcurious.
Hesatdowni naseatinfr
ontofme.
“Ar
ey ouast udentatManhattan
Coll
ege? ”Iaskedhi
m.Hegav emea
nod.“YesIam.Iam an
undergraduatether
estudyi
ng
busi
ness, ”hesaidt
ome.Isawt hat
hewashol di
ngabusinesstextbook
i
nhishands.
“Ar
eyouatt
endi
ngcol
legeor
uni
ver
sit
ysomewher
e?”heaskedme.
“No.Iwast ryi
ngt ofi
ndacoll
egeor
universi
tythathasmanyonline
classessot hatIcoul
dfocuson
beingahousewi fe.Now,Iam t
ryi
ng
tofindonet hatisatl
eastcl
oseto
home, ”Itol
dhim.
“Wheredoy oul i
ve?”heaskedme.I
gavehim anod.“ Il
iveherei
n
Manhattan,
”It ol
dhim.“Thenyou
shouldappl
yatManhat tanCol
l
ege
then.I
fyoulike,Icanhelpyouappl
y,
”
hesuggestedt ome.That ’
sagood
i
dea.
Igavehim asmil
e.“
Thatwoul
dbe
great
,”It
oldhi
m.
“
HeyVi
ctor
.”
Vict
orlookeduptoseeanot herguy
abouthisagestandingnexttome.
Hehaddar khai
r,browney es,and
sharpanglest
hatwer ealmostsimil
ar
toVict
or.Hewasl i
ttl
emor e
muscularandabitshorterthan
Vict
or.
“HiNeal ,
”Victorsaidhappily.Nealsat
nexttoVi ct
or.“So, whatarey ou
doingher e?
”Neal askedhim.“ Iwas
heretof i
ndabookt oread.Any ways,
Neal.MeetVer a.Verameetmy
partnerNeal,”Victorint
roducedust o
eachot her.
IshookNeal
’
shand.“
Nicetomeet
you,
”Itol
dhi
m.Nealgavemeasmile.
“Nicetomeetyoutoo,
”hetol
dme.
Hesaidpartner
.Whatdoeshemean
exactl
y?Il
ookedatthei
rhandst
osee
asetofbandsontheirf
inger
s.
“Areyoutwoengaged? ”Iaskedt hem.
Theygav emeasmi le.“Yes,wear e,
”
theysaidinuni
ons.If el
tmy selfsmile.
“”Wow.I’m sohappyf oryout wo.
Wheni sthewedding? ”Iaskedt hem.
Theygav eeachotherasmi l
eand
l
ookedatme.“ Inacoupl eyears.For
now, wewanttof i
nishschool and
enjoyli
fe,
”Nealtol
dme.
Howsweet
…
“Yourmarri
edt
oor
ight
?Howl ong?
”
Vict
oraskedmewi
thcuri
osi
ty.Must
havesawmyweddi ngri
ng.“Afew
mont hs,
”Itol
dthem.Theygavemea
smile.“I
shetreat
ingyouwel
l?”Neal
askedme.No!Myhusbandi shaving
anaf f
air
.Hedoesn’tcar
eaboutme.
Hedoesn’ tl
oveme.
“He’
str
eat
ingme…al
ri
ght
,”It
oldt
he
him.
“Verai sgoingt oappl yatManhattan
College,”Victortol dhi
m.Neal l
ooked
atme.“ Reall
y? ”heaskedwi th
surprise.Igav ehim anod.“ Vi
ctor
saidthathei sgoi ngt ohel
pme.I
hopey oudon’ tmi nd,
”Itol
dhim.Neal
shookhi shead.“ Idon’tmi
nd.I’l
lhel
p
too,
”het ol
dme.
“
Thanky
ousomuch.
”
Imademyv
eryf
ir
stf
ri
endsi
nNew
Yor
k.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Timehadwentbysof astthatIhad
forgott
entomakedi nnerathome.
Neal andVi
ctorinvit
edmet oeatwith
them atarestaurant.Theyreal
ly
knewt hebestplacet oeatChinese
food.TheChinesef oodtastedbett
er
thanSanFrancisco.
OnceIgothome,Iplacedmynew
bookonmydeskandl ookedat
mysel
finthemirr
or.Ov ert
heyears,
I
hadbeenthegir
lwhowassel fl
ess.A
gi
rlwhohelpedpeoplearoundher
especial
lyhergrandparents.Neveri
n
herli
fe,shedidanythi
ngf orhersel
f.
Anythingtomakeher selfhappy.
“
It
’st
imef
orachanget
omy
sel
f.
”
Iwalkedt omyv ani t
yandt ookmy
casesofpl asti
cgl assesandt hrew
them inthetrashcan.Fi rststepdone.
Iwalkedbackt ot hemi rrorand
touchedmyhai r
.Myhai rgrewlonger
sincetheweddi ng.Ihadn’ tbeentoa
hairsaloninalongt i
me.
“
Needtogotot
hehai
rsal
on
t
omorr
ow.”
Iwal
kedtothecl
osetandsor
tedout
myclot
hes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“
Woah!Wher
eistheVer
awej
ustmet
afewday
sago!
”
Theywer eright.Iwasn’tthesame
girlwhotheymetaf ewday sago.I
hadgot t
enahai r
cutsot hatmyhai r
wasnowabov emyshoul dersanda
bitwavy.Also,Iworesomebl ue
skinnyj
eans, blackhighheal shoes,
andabr ownl ongsleeveshi rtthat
showedmycur ves.
Ididn’tevenrecognizedmy sel
finthe
mi r
ror.“So….i
sitreall
ybad?”Iasked
them.Theyshookt heirheads.“No.
It
’sjustdiff
erent,
”Victorsai
dt ome.
“It
’sagooddi ffer
ent,”Nealfi
nished.I
gav
ethem asmi
l
e.
“Thanks.IthoughtIneededa
change,”Itol
dt hem.“I”m goi
ngi
nthe
kit
chent omakesomesnacks.Pet i
t
quichesandt ea,”hetoldus.“
That
soundsgood, ”Itoldhim.Vict
or
walkedintohislitt
lekit
chentocook.
Neal gothisl
aptopandgotont othe
Uni versi
ty’
swebsi t
e.“Readyt o
enr oll
?”heaskedme.Iwal kedovert
o
him andgav ehi
m af olderofmy
transcr i
ptsandotherdocument s
neededt oenrol
lintotheUni ver
sit
y.I
feltasmi legrowonmyf ace.
“
Iam mor
ethanr
eady
.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~
[
6/24,
00:11]Ndozv
oo:
ARANGEDLOVEEPISODE15

Adr
ian’
sPOV……
“I’
ll
beonmyway ,
”Isai
dandhungup
thephone.“Lor enzo.Getthecar
ready.Val
eriai si
nt hePlaza,
New
YorkHospital,”Itol
dhim andgotup
from myseat .“Yessir,
”hesaidand
tookhisphoneoutt ocallmydri
ver
.
“
Adr
ianwai
t!
”
It
urnedar
oundt
oseeMar
iahwho
gr
abbedontomyar
m.“
Whatabout
me?”sheaskedwi t
hplead.“
What
abouty
ou?”IaskedherasIt r
iedt
o
getmyarm outofhergri
p.“You
bel
ongtomeAdr ian.Nother,
”she
tol
dme.
Finally
,Imanagedt ogethertoletgo
ofmyar m.“Idon’tbelongt oanyone
butmywi f
eMar i
ah.Tobehonest ,my
fami l
ywasr i
ghtabouty ou.Youare
nott hegir
lwhoi smaki ngmehappy .
Youwer eonlyagi r
lwhowas
satisfyi
ngmyneedsunt ilacouple
yearsago.Ir eali
zedthatIhadbeena
j
er ktomywi f e,
”Iyell
edather .
Mari
ahlookedstunnedatmy
out
burst
.“Val
eri
aistheonl
ygir
lfor
met hemor eIthinkaboutit.Sheis
sel
fless,innocent,andloyal
.Shehad
beent ry
ingt omaket hi
smar ri
age
work.Me?Ihadbeenpushi ngher
away .Maki ngherfeelunwant ed.I
hatetot hinkthatshewant snot hi
ng
todowi thmeonceIseeher ,
”Isaid
toher .
Mar i
ah’stearsfl
oweddownherf ace.
“Now, Imaynev ergetachancet obe
withmywi f
e,”Itol
dher.“Mr.Minett
i.
”
Iturnedmyheadt oseeLorenzo.
“Yourcarisready ,
”hetoldme.
Quickly,Iwalkedoutoftheoffi
ce
withoutlooki
ngatMar i
ahwho
probablystoodmot ionl
essonthe
fl
oor .
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“
Wear
eal
mostt
her
esi
r.
”
“Dr
ivefaster,
”Isaidi
mpat iently
.Iwas
anervouswr eck.Asmi nutest i
cked
by,manyt houghtscamehopi ngin
myhead.Mostoft hethought swere
herdeath.Ididn’
twantt othinkabout
herdyi
ngwi thoutmesay ingany thi
ng
toher.
“
Wear
eher
esi
r.
”
I
mmedi atel
y,Iopenedthedoorand
gotoutofthecarwithoutLorenzoto
openthedoorf orme.Iwalkedinto
theemergencyunitandwal kedtothe
fi
rstper
sonwhoIsawatt hef r
ont
desk.Thewomanwasont he
comput
er.
“Excuseme.I ’
m Adri
anMi nett
i.Iam
heretoseemywi f
eValeri
a.”The
womanl ookedupatme.“ Hell
oMr .
Minetti
.I’
m NurseCharlot
te.Iwas
expecti
ngy ou,
”shetoldmef ormall
y.
Mypat i
encewasf lowi
ngt hi
n.
“Whereismywi fe?”Iaskedher.She
typedont hekeyboard.“Sheissti
l
lin
surgery,
”shetoldme.“ Forhow
l
ong? ”Iaskedher.“Foragoodhour ,
”
shetoldme.{ Howmuchmor edo
theyneedt ooperat
eonher ?}Iruna
handt hr
oughmyhai r
.
“Iwi
ll
needyout
ofi
l
l outher
paper
workf
ormeplease,
”shesai
d
andgav emethecli
pboard.Itookthe
cli
pboardandwalkedintothewaiti
ng
room.Itookaseatclosesttothe
operat
ingroom.Lorenzosatbesides
me.
AsIl ookedatthequestions,I
real
izedthatIcouldn’
treall
yfil
lout
muchofheri nformati
on.Whati sher
bloodt y
pe?Howt hehell am I
supposet oknow?!Thequest ions
mademer eali
zehowl i
ttleIknew
aboutmywi fe.
Ifi
ll
edoutmuchoft
hei
nfor
mat
ionas
Icould.
“
Arey
ouAdr
ianMi
net
ti
?”
Il
ookedupf
rom t
hecl
i
pboar
dtosee
adoctorinhi
sscr ubs.Somebl ood
wasonhi m.IsthatValeria’
sbl ood?”
Yes.I’
m Adri
anMi netti
,
”It oldhim
andstoodupf rom myseat .The
doctorgavemeanod.“ I’
m Dr .Seel
ey.
Iam oneofthef ewdoct orswhoi s
operati
ngony ourwife,
”het ol
dme.
Sheneedst hatmanydoct orsto
operateonher ?Myf acebegant o
feelpale.“ What ’
swr ongwi thher?”I
askedwi thconcer n.Dr.Seeleyletout
ahadbr eath.“ Shehassuf feredmany
i
njures.Shehasi nter
nalbleeding,
brokenr ibs,fracturesonar m andleg
onther ightsi deofherbody ,a
concussi on, andaspi nali
njury.She
maynotbeabl etowal k,
”het oldme.
Ifel
tmyener gydr ai
nf r
om mybody .
Therewasonequest ionthatI
dreadedt oaskbut ,
Idecidedt oask
anyway s.“Wil
lshehav eamnesi a?”I
askedhi m.Heletoutahar dbreath.
“Thatisapossi bi
l
ityconsiderati
on
theextentoftheconcussi on,
”het ol
d
me.
“Whenwi l
lshebeout ?
”Iaskedhim.
“Thatishardtosay .Ri
ghtnow, Ij
ust
fi
nishedstoppi
ngt heinternal
bleedi
ng.Theotherdoct orsare
wor ki
ngonherr i
bsr i
ghtnow,”hetol
d
me.Igav ehim anod.“ Thankyou,
”I
saidtohim.
“
Youar
ever
ywel
come,
”hesai
dand
walkedbacki nsi
det heoper at
ing
room.Isati nmyseatwi that hud.My
l
egsf eltl
iketheycouldn’
tsuppor tmy
bodywei ght.“Mr.Minett
i.Don’tyou
thi
nkt hatyoushouldcall y
our
famil
y ?”IheardLorenzoaskme.
“Yeah.Yourr
ight,
”Isai
dandpicked
upmyphone.Ideci dedtocal
l
Matthewfir
stsinceheknewValeri
a.
“Hel
lo,Thi
sisMat t
hew. ”“Hey
Matthew.It
’smeAdr ian,”Isaid.“
You
don’
tsoundl i
keyourself.What ’
s
wrong?”heaskedme.“ Valeri
ahas
beeninanaccident.I
t ’
sreall
ybad,”I
sai
dandhel dmyheadwi t
hmyar m
asIleanedforwar
d.
“Vera’sinthehospit
al?Howbadar e
theinjuri
es?”heaskedme.Howbad?
“Enought hatshemaydi eonthe
operatingtabl
e,”It
oldhim.“I
’m on
mywaywi t
hAngela,”hetol
dme.
“Cany oudomeaf av or
.Canyoucall
grandpaandf atherforme.Idon’tI
cant el
l t
hem,”Isai
dhonestly.
“Alr
ight.Seeyouthere,”hesai dand
hungup.Next ,Icall
edSt ephen.
Stephenwast heonl yfami l
ymember
whodi dn’tmeetValeri
ay et.Plus,he
wast heonlymemberoft hefamil
y
whodi dn’tmarryyet.
“Hel
l
oSt ephenMinett
i.HowmayI
hel
py ou?”hesai
d.“Youcanhel
pme
bycomingtoPlazaNewYor k
Hospit
alt
oseey oursi
steri
nlaw
befor
eshepossibl
ypassedaway ,
”I
tol
dhim.“Somethi
nghappened?”he
askedme.
“Justcomeher e.Matthewandthe
othersarecomingov er,
”It
oldhim.I
didn’
tfeell
ikeexplai
ningmyself
again.“
Alri
ght.I
’l
lgetgoingther
e,”he
saidandhungupt hephone.Iputmy
phoneinmypocketandt ri
edtohold
my sel
ftogether
.
“
God.Pl
easedon’
ttakeherf
rom me.
”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I
thadbeenafewhourssi
nceI
r
ecei
vedupdat
esontheoperat
ion.Dr
.
Seeleywentbacki nt
otheoper ati
on
room af ewminutesago.Het oldme
thatValeri
a’
shearthadstoppedt wo
ti
mesont heoperati
ontabl
e.Ri ght
now, t
heywer etr
yingtofi
nishthings
up.
“
Her
e’ssomecof
feesi
r.
”
Ilookedupandr eceiv
edt hecof fee
from Lorenzo.“ Thanky ou,”Itoldhim
andt ookasi p.JustwhatIneed.
“Also,Ihavecancel ledyourmeet ings
wi t
hMr .Bradleyaboutt heexpansi on
i
nt heCal i
forniaNapal ocat i
on,”he
toldme.
“ThanksLorenzo,”Iandt
ookanother
sipofthecoffee.“Havey
outhought
aboutwhaty ouaregoingtosayto
yourfami l
y?”heaskedme.“ About
what?Theacci dent?”Isaidt
ohim.“I
meani s…abouty ouraffai
rwi
th
Mariah,”heaskedme.
Hehadt or
emi ndme.“ Nowthaty ou
arenotgoingtobei nvolv
edwi t
hher ,
shemaygot ot hepressandr ui
nt he
businesssi
r,”hesai dtome.Idi dn’t
eventhinkaboutt hat.Iwipedmy
faceafterr
eali
zi ngthathewasr ight.
“Ifeit
herofust ookher,shecouldsti
l
l
ruinourr eput
ati
onandourbusi ness,
”
het oldme.Ididn’tt
hinkofthat.
“Whatdowedo? ”Iaskedhim.“Isshe
i
nar elat
ionshi
pwi t
hany one?
”he
askedme.
Ihadhear drumor saboutherbeing
withot hermenbut ,Ihadalways
rejectedthem.“ Lorenzo.Iwanty ou
tof i
ndouti fsheisi nar el
ati
onshipor
any one,”Isaidtohim.“ Areyou
planningt oblackmai lheronadeal ?
”
heaskedme.
“Thatdependsonwhatwef i
ndand
makesur ether
eishardevidence,
”I
tol
dhim.Ifshedoeshav eaman,
therei
sachancet hatshemaybe
usingme.“Yessir
,”hesaidand
walkeddownt hehall
way.Ineedher
outofmyl i
fepermanentl
y.
“
Iwonderwhatshewasdoi
ng
out
sideatni
ght?”Angel
awondered.
AsIsatinmyseat,It
houghtof
somethi
ng.Herphone.
Igotupandwal kedt oanursebehind
thecounter.“Doy ouhappent oknow
i
fmywi fehadherphonewi thherat
theti
meoft heaccident?”Iasked.“
I
beli
evethatshedi d.Woul dyouli
ke
met ogetitfory ou?”sheasked.
“Thatwouldbegr eat.Thankyou.
”
Shegotupf rom herseatandwalked
away.“Whyherphone? ”Angel
a
askedme.“ I
tmightt el
luswhoshe
waswi t
hthatnight ,
”Matthewtol
d
her.“
Shedoesn’tseem l i
keaperson
tocheat,
”Angelat ol
dme.
Val
eri
alookst
oinnocentf
ort
hat
.
Thenurseret urnedwi t
hher
cell
phone.Itwasadi ff
erentonefrom
whatIhadgi venher .“Thisisher
phone?”Iasked.“ I
twaswi thher
othert
hings,”thenur setoldme.I
gaveheranod.“ Thanky ou,”Isai
d
andtookherphone.
“Ifyouneedany thingel
se,please
don’thesitatetoask, ”t
henur sesaid
tomeandbackt oherdesk.Il ooked
throughVal eri
a’sphonef oranycl ues.
Goodt hi
ngshedi dn’
tsetapasscode
onherphone.Il ookedathert ext
messagest ofindsomet hing
i
nt eresti
ng.
Vi
ctor
:Heyubusy
?
Ver
a:No.Justr
elaxi
ng.U?
Vict
or:Neal+Igotournewbui
l
ding
yest
erday.Uwanttoc?
Vera:Ofcour
se!Justsendme
address+Il
lbthere.
Who’
sVi
ctor
?
Myst omachtwistf rom thethough
thatshemighthav ehadaaf fai
r.
“Fi
ndanythi
ng?”Mat thewaskedme.
“Shehadbeent extingwi thaguy
namedVi ct
or.Hesai dsomet hi
ng
aboutanewbui ldingandshewas
goingtogothere,”Isaidt ohim.
“
May
bey
oushoul
dcal
lhi
m?”Angel
a
saidtome.Igav
eheranodand
start
edtocal
lVi
ctorwi
thVal
eri
a’
s
phone.
Ri
ng….
Ring….
.
“
Hel
l
o.”
“Hell
o.IsthisVict
or?”Iasked.“Yes.It
i
s.Arey ouVer a’
shusband? ”Victor
askedme.Heknowsaboutme. }”
Yesthisis,”Isai
dtohim.“ Niceto
hearherhusbandf orthefirstti
mei n
fouryears.HowmayIhel py ou,
”he
askedme.
It
oldhim whathadhappenedtoVera.
Hesoundedv er
yshocked.“Wewere
wonderi
ngwhyshewasoutl at
eat
ni
ght,
”Isaidtohim.“
Myf i
anceeNeal
andIwer eplanningtoopena
rest
aurantIsowei nvi
tedhert
ocome
tocheckthepl aceout,
”heexpl
ained
tome.
Hehasaf i
ancee…t hat’
saguy ?Reli
ef
fl
owedt hr oughmybody .She’snot
havinganaf f
airwithhim.“ Wehad
someChi nesef orfordinnerandshe
l
eftforhomeatar ound9: 15pm.We
j
okedt hatsheneededt of ocuson
herstudiesbut ,shewasal readydone
withherf i
nal papers.Shej ustneeded
toturnthem i nbeforeshe
graduates,”het ol
dme.
Shewasinschooltoo?Val
eri
awasat
l
eastkeepi
nghersel
foccupi
edwi
th
othert
hings.“Thanky
ouVi
ctorf
or
tel
li
ngme, ”It
oldhim.
“Nopr oblem.Pl easecal lortextt ol
et
meknowhowshei sdoing,”hesai d
tome“ Wi l
ldo.By e,”Isaidandhung
up.“Whatdi dtheguysay ?”Mat t
hew
said.“Shehungoutatherf ri
end’s
newbui l
ding.Shehaddi nnert here
andl eftforhomel ate,
,”Iexplainedto
him asIl ookedt hroughherphone.
Inherphone, Isawpi ct
uresofher
withtwoguy s.Ihadaf eeli
ngthatit
washerf r
iendsVi ctorandNeal.
Somepi ct
ureswer eself
iesandother
pict
uresofthingst hatshesaw
aroundNewYor k.Somephot os
showedheri
nthecl
assr
oom
study
ing.
Shei
ssupposet
ogr
aduat
esoon…
Inal
lthepictures,shedidn’tlookl i
ke
thegi
rlwhoImar ri
edf ouryear sago.
Herhairwasshor ter.Shedi dn’twear
herpl
ast i
cglasses.Shedi dn’twear
herusualclothi
ng.Hercl othesl ooked
ti
ghtthathercur v
esshowedi nallthe
ri
ghtplaces.Shewasn’ tthel i
ttl
egi r
l
anymor e.
Shewasabeaut
if
ulgoddess.
Pi
ng……
Itur
nedt ot
hedoorandwat
ched
them open.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~
[
6/24,
00:11]Ndozv
oo:
ARANGEDLOVEEPISODE16

Val
eri
a!
Iranuptohersi deast hedoctors
andnurseswheel edheroutoft he
operat
ionroom.Herappear ance
mademyhear tbreakintopieces.The
doctor
shadbandagedherr ightarm.I
assumedt hatherrightlegwas
bandagedt oo.Shehadacastar ound
herchest.
Herheadwasbandagedupbut ,her
hairwasst i
lli
ntactandwet .Shehad
aoxy genmaskon.Herf acehad
somebr uisesandscr at
ches.I
reachedov ertoherfaceand
caressedhercheek.Herski nfeltabit
cold.Valer
ia.Shewasbr eathi
ng
steadil
y.
“Wearemov inghertorecoveryri
ght
now.Excuseus, ”anur
sei nf
ormed
me.“WhencanIseeher ?”Iaskedher
.
“We’l
lgetyouonceshei ssituat
ed
i
ntoherroom, ”shetol
dmeand
walkedawaywi ththedoctors.
IwatchedValeri
adi
sappearata
cor
ner.“See.Shemadeit,
”Matt
hew
tol
dme.Bar el
y.Myhandsclosedina
fi
st.“Mr.Minett
i.
”It
urnedmyheadt o
seeDr .Seel
eyandtwootherdoctors.
“ThisisDr.BachandDr.Fl
etcher
,”he
i
ntroducedthem tome.
Ishookeacht heirhands.Matthew
andAngelashookt hei
rhandst oo.
“Adri
anMinetti.Mybr otherMatthew
andsist
erinlawAngel a,
”Iint
roduced
ustothem.“I
t ’
sni cetomeety ouall,
”
Mr.Bachsaidt ous.
“Howisshe? ”Angelabeatmet oit.
“Sheisdoingv erywell
.Sheisst
able
but,i
ncri
ticalcondit
ion.Shehas
sustai
nedacer t
ainamountofspinal
i
njury,
”Dr.Flet
chertoldus.“What
doest
hatmeanexact
ly?
”Iaskedhi
m.
“Shemaynotbeabl etowalk.Wewil
l
onlyknowwhenshewakesup.I fshe
showslegmov ements,shecango
i
ntorehabili
tat
ion.Sheisexpect
edto
gointorehabonceshehas
recover
ed,”Dr.Flet
chertol
dus.
Gr
eat
…anot
hert
hingt
owor
ryabout
.
“Whataboutherconcussion?”
Matthewaskedthem.“ Fr
om looking
atherbrai
n,t
herewassomesi gnsof
tr
aumat othehead.Sheismostl ikel
y
wil
lhavememor ylosswhenshe
wakesup.Hopefull
y,hermemor y
l
ossisnottoosevere,
”Dr .Bachtold
us.
“Howbadcanhermemor yl
ossbe? ”I
askedhim.“
From lookingatherbrain
fr
om theMRIscan, Ihavetosaythat
i
tcouldbefrom Lacunarto
Retr
ogradeamnesia,”hetol
dme.
Lacunar?Ret
rogr
ade?Whatt
hehel
l
i
st hat
?
Dr.Fletchersensedmyconf usion.“I
f
youlike,yout hr
eecancomet omy
offi
ceandIcant ell
youthedet ai
lsof
herheadi njury,
”hetoldme.“Iwould
l
ikethat ,
”Itoldhim.“Fol
l
owme, ”he
saidandexcusedhi msel
ffr
om t he
otherdoct ors.
Wefol
lowedhi
mt ot
heel
evat
orand
i
ntohi
soffi
ceatt
he
psy chi
atr
ic/
neurologydepartment
.
“Hav easeat,
”hesai dtous.Wesatin
frontofhisdesk.Lookingaroundthe
room, hewasoneoft hebestdoct
ors
i
nt hefiel
d.
HehadhisDoct or
atesinneur
ology
andpsychi
atr
ic.Also,hedegr
eesin
bi
ologyandli
fesciences.Hehad
got
tenmanyawar dsandhi swork
wasknowninsev eralmagazi
nesand
medicalj
our
nalsacr osst
heworld.
Dr.Bachtookhisseatandst art
edt o
typesomethingonhi scomputer.“Let
mepul l
outherMRIscan, ”hetoldus.
Afterafewlongmi nutes,
heshifted
thecomputerscreent owardsus.It
showedVal
eri
a’
sbr
ain.
“Youcanseeher et hatithasswol l
en
abit,”hepointedoutt ous.“ She
didn’thaveany t
hingbr okenont he
skullright
?”Mat t
hewaskedhi m.
“Luckilynobut,shedoeshav ealarge
bruiseonherhead.Sheal sohas
somesi gnsofheadt r
aumaduet o
herheadbei ngsl ammedagai nstthe
steeringwheel andt hedoorwi ndow,”
het oldus.
Whendidshegetacar ?Iknewt hatI
neededt
ol ooki
ntoeveryt
hing.“You
sai
dsomet hi
ngaboutdif
ferenttypes
ofamnesia.Canyoutel
lusindet ai
l
ofeachoneofthem?”Angel aasked
Dr
.Bachki
ndl
y.
“Cert
ainly.Thef irsttypei st
he
l
acunaramnesi a.Basi cal
ly,aperson
l
oseamemor yaboutonespeci f
ic
event.Thesecondt y
pei ssource
amnesi awhi chi st heinabil
i
tyto
rememberwher e, when, orhow
previ
ousi nformat ionhasbeen
acquiredev ent hought hepersonwas
abletor et
ainf actual knowledge.Iam
goingt otel
l your ightnowt hatIhope
i
t’soneoft heset wo,”het oldus.
Wor r
yst artedt
obuil
d.“
Why ?”Iasked.
Dr.Bachl etoutadeephardbreath.I
couldtellthati
twasn’
tgood.“The
othertypeswoul dr
equi
remuch
pati
enceformemoryr
ecover
y,”he
tol
dus.“Whataret
heothert
ypes?”
Matthewasked.
“Thef ir
stonewoul dbepost
traumat i
camnesi a.It
’stheinabil
it
yto
recallmemor iesmoment sbeforean
ev entsuchasanacci dent
.Also,the
per sonmayl oseknowl edgeofwho
peopl eare.Dependingont heinjury
tot hehead,itmayt akeal ongti
me
foraper sontor emember ,”hetoldus.
“Thesecondonewoul dbe….”Ireal
l
y
wantedtoknowt heotherones.
“Retr
ogradeamnesia.I
t’
stheinabil
it
y
torecal
lmemoriesbeforetheonset
orbeginni
ngoftheamnesi a.A
personisabletor emembergeneral
knowledgebut ,
notspecifi
cs.Al
so,
overti
me, ol
dermemor i
eswil
lbe
easiertorecal
lthannewermemor ies.
Ifthepersonisexposedt o
somet hi
ngf r
om theirnewermemor y,
thatmemor ymayr et
urn,
”hetol
dus.
“Inot
herwords,theconditionis
temporar
y,”Angelasaid.Hegav eher
anod.“Thelastonei sAnterograde
amnesiathatist
hei nabil
i
tyt ocreat
e
newmemor i
es.Aper sonmayhav e
memor i
esoftheirpastbut, arenot
ablet
ocreatenewones, ”het oldus.
Ibegantofeelmoreworri
ed.What
happensifshehasthatamnesi
a?I
woul
dn’
tbeabl
etomaket
hingsr
ight
.
“Al
so,shecanhaveacombi
nat
ionof
amnesias,
”hetol
dus.
“So, whichtypedoy outhinkshehas
then? ”Iaskedhim.Hel ookedatme.
“Wewon’ tknowunt i
lshewakesup, ”
het oldme.Gr eat.Morewaiti
ngwi l
l
kil
lme.Igav ehim anod.Mat hew
placedhi shandonmyshoul der.
“Youshoul dgoandseey ourwife.I
f
youhav eanymor equest i
ons,I’
l
l be
here,
”het oldus.“Thanky ouDr.
Bach,”Isaidandmademywayoutof
theofficetoValeri
a’sroom.The
hall
way swer efi
ll
i
ngwi thnursesand
doctors.
Valer
ia….
wil
lyourememberme?I
conti
nuedtowalktowar
dsthe
recov
eryward.
“
Adr
ian.
”
Itur
nedmyheadt owardsmybr other
andhiswi f
e.“Youshouldgohome
andrest.Youhavebeenf orhours,
”
Angelasuggestedtome.Ishookmy
head.“Iwanttobeherewhenshe
wakesup,”Itoldher
.Iam notleaving
hersideagain.
“Matthew.Ithi
nkheshouldstay.He
al
readyfeelsguil
tyenoughfornot
bei
ngathersi deforfoury
ears,
”
Angelasaid.ThanksAngela.
Matthewgav eheranod.Wewal ked
thr
oughthehall
waysandfound
oursel
vesatt
herecover
yward.
“I
’l
lgoaskwhereherr oom is,
”
Mat t
hewsaidandwal kedawayt o
fi
ndsomeone.Angel astayedwithme.
Ipacedbackandfor t
h.PleaseGod.
Pleasehel
pme.Pl easehelpValeri
a.
“God.What’
staki
ngMat t
hewso
l
ong.”Iwasgetti
ngi mpati
ent.
“
LookwhoIf
ound.
”
Iturnedmyheadt oseeMat thewand
Stephen.Howdi dhegether esofast?
Stephenopenedhisarmsandgav e
meahug.“ Hey
.Howar ey ou?”he
askedme.Ipulledawayandbr ushed
myhai rbackwithmyfingers.
“Howam I ?I’minahellofworr
yri
ght
now.Howdi dyougetheresofast
?
Aren’tyousupposetobei nHong
Kong? ”Iaskedhim.Hegav emea
smile.“Iwasbut,Igott
oSan
Franciscotwoday sagotobewith
mygi rl
,”hetol
dme.
Irai
sedaney ebrow.“Who?Dana? ”
Hehaddat edsomanygi r
ls.Hislast
rel
ati
onshi pinvol
vedwithagi rlname
DanaPar edeswhowasamodel fr
om
Cali
for
nia.Imethert hreey earsago
whentheycamet omyof fi
cef ora
shortvi
sit.Shewasmor ewor ri
ed
aboutherl ooksandimaget hanher
rel
ati
onshi pwithStephan.
Stephenshookhishead.“ Shehas
beenoldhistor
yfortwoy ears.I’
m
dati
ngagi r
lnameEugeni aBal est
ra.I
thi
nkshe’stheone,”hesaid.
Mat t
hewhadasmi rkonhisface.
“Yousaythattoeverygir
l youdated,”
hetoldhi
sy oungerbrot
her .
“I
’m seri
oust histi
me.Shei sdifferent
fr
om t heot hergirlswhoIdat ed, ”
Stephensai dt ome.“ Howdi dy ou
twomeet ?”Mat t
hewaskedhi m.“ We
meti nIt
alyatacaf e.Shewasa
waitr
esst her e.Ifellinlovewithher .
West arteddat ingsi nce,”hetol
dus.
Veryunli
kehim.}“Any
ways,f
orour
anniv
ersary
,ItookhertoSan
Franci
scotomeetgr andfat
herand
grandmother.Theyapproveofour
rel
ati
onship,
”het ol
dus.“Sowhereis
shenow? ”Matthewaskedhi m.
“She’
satahot elnearhereri
ghtnow.I
tol
dhertowai tformethere,
”hetold
him.
Mat t
hewgav ehim anodandl ooked
atme.“ Anursesaidthatsheisin
room 411,
”het oldme.Quickl
y,I
walkeddownt hehallwayunti
lIfound
theroom She’sinhere.Qui
etl
yand
slowly,
Iopenedt hedoor.
Theroom wasdar
kbut,
Icouldsee
thef
igur
eonthebed.Sl
owly,
Imade
mywaynexttothebedtoseeValer
ia.
Thehear
tmonitor
edshowt hather
hear
twassti
ll
beating.Shebr
eathed
i
noxygenfr
om themask.
Ipull
edachai randsatdown.Looki
ng
atherlefthand,Isawbrui
ses.Gent
ly,
Iheldherhandt hatl
ookedvery
fr
agile.I
nstantl
y,If
eltl
i
keIwantedto
breakdownbut ,Ihadtobestrongf
or
her.Iwanttobet hemanwhoshe
wasgoi ngtodependon.
Footstepswereheadbehi ndme.I
forgotthatmysibl
ingswer ewithme.
“So,thi
sismyot hersist
erinlaw.”I
tur
nedmyheadt owardsSt ephen
whowasmeet ingValeri
af ort
hefirst
ti
me.“ Yes.Thi
sisher,”Isaidtohim
andtur
nedmyat
tent
ionbackt
omy
wif
e.
Angelawal kedar oundtheotherside
ofthebedandl ookedatVal eri
a.“I
hopesher emember sus,”shesai d
wit
hwor r
y .Mat thewwal kedupt o
Angelaandwr appedhisar msar ound
hi
swi f
e.“She’sgoi ngtobef ine.Don’
t
worry,
”het ri
edt oreassurehiswi f
e.
Stephenst
oodnexttome.“So…what
happenedtoher
?”heasked.That
’s
ri
ght…Idi
dn’
ttel
lhi
m.
“Shegoti
ntoacaraccident.Atruck
ranthr
ougharedlightandhithercar.
Shewasonherwayhomef rom
seei
ngsomefriendsofhers,”I
expl
ainedt
ohi
m.
“Whati sshelike?”heaskedanot her
question.Great….Howam Igoi ngto
answert hatquestion.“Shei s
self
less,innocent,andloyal.Sheisa
greatcook.Shemakesgr eatpast a
andt hebestcof f
eet hatIhaveev er
tasted,
”Isaidt ohim honestly.
That
’sal
lIknowabouther.
“IhopeIgettoeatsomeofher
cooking,
”Stephensai
dtome.I
noddedmyhead.
Ri
ng…r
ing……
Itookmyphoneoutt
oseet hat
Lorenzowascal
l
ingme.Ianswered
thephonecal l
.“Didyoufi
nd
anythi
ng?”Iaskedhi m.“
Yesbut,
beforethatIwantt ol
etyouknow
somet hi
ng,”Lorenzosai
dtome.
Whatcoul
dhewantt
otel
lme….
“Whati sit?
”Iasked.“ I
tseemst hat
yourwi f
ehasbeenusi ngoneoft he
room downst airs.Theoneatt heend
ofthehal l
way .I
thasherl apt op,
clothes,andsomeot herper sonal
i
tems, ”hetoldme.Ther ooms
downst air
swer ef orguests.Ihadn’t
fi
nishedf urni
shingmanyoft he
roomsexceptt hatroom.
“
Doyoumindi
fyoucanbri
ngher
l
apt
opher
e?Iwoul
dliket
oseewhat
shehasbeenupt o,
”Itoldhim.“Of
coursesir,
”het
oldme.“ Now,what
didyoufindonMariah?”Iaskedhi
m.
Ireal
lyneededheroffmyback.
“I
tturnsoutt hatshehadbeenseeing
anotherCEOonday swhereyou
aren’tspendingti
mewi t
hher,
”het ol
d
me.So…shewasseei ngsomeone.
Ont opoft hat,
it’
sanot
herCEO.“ Do
youknowwhot heCEOis?”Iasked
him.
“Youaren’tgoingt
oli
ket hename.He
i
soneofy ourcompetit
orsand
enemies,”hetoldme.“Justtel
lme
thename. ”Iwasgett
ingimpatienti
n
myseat .“Dari
oNazari
.CEOofNazar i
Hot
els&Resor
ts,
”het
oldme.
Nazar iHotels&Resortshadbeena
bigcompet i
torandenemyt omy
fami l
yforyears.Theywer eal
so
try
ingt ooutcompet eusinprovi
ding
agr eatIt
ali
anexper i
ence.TheCEO
tri
edt ooutbidmef ortheproper
tyin
SanDi egor ecent
ly.
“I
sthereany thingel se?”Iaskedhim.
“Yes.From l ooki ngintoherthings,
it
appearst hatshehadbeenconspi r
ing
withNazar iont heSanDi ego
propert
y ,
”het oldme.“ Ikindof
fi
guredt hatconsi deri
nghow
i
nterest
edt heywer eont ryi
ngt o
outbi
dme, ”It oldhim.
“
Andther
eissomet
hingel
se,
”het
old
me.
Het
oldmesomet
hingt
hatIcoul
dget
Mar
iahi
nhel
l.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~
Fewday
slat
er…….
.
Inev erthoughtt hatIwouldhav eto
l
iveliket his.Ihadbeenl i
vingi
nt he
hospi t
alf orthepastf ewdays.My
si
bl i
ngscamet ov i
sitint
he
afternoonst ocheckonus.They
broughtmecl othestochangeintoas
wel l
assomeessent i
alssothatI
couldf r
eshenmy sel
fup.
Mypar entscamet wodaysagot o
seeus.Iexplainedtothem ev
erythi
ng
abouttheaccidenttomybehav i
or
withmywi fe.Theywerevery
disappoi
ntedwi t
hmeandwoul d
thinkaboutwhatt odowithmeas
wel l
asmyposi tioni
nthecompany .
Myf at
eint
hecompanywer
eint
hei
r
hands.
AsforValeri
a,shewasshowi ngl i
tt
le
si
gnsofimpr ovement.WhenIhel d
herhand,shewouldgi vemyhanda
squeezeattimes.Doctorssai dthatit
coul
dbej ustimpulsesfrom the
nerv
es.Iconvincedmy selfthatshe
wasrespondingtomyt ouch.
Anur sewouldcomei nt
ot heroom
andcheckonVal eria’
sv i
talsaswell
aschangetheI V.Thenur seshowed
mehowt ostr
etchVal er
iasot hather
muscl e’
swouldn’tbecomest i
ff
.Iwas
carefulont
ohur tValeri
aint he
process.
Rightnow,Iwasinmyof f
ice
expecti
ngMar i
ahtoshowup.
Mat t
hewandAngel awer ewatchi
ng
Valeri
aforme.Itol
dt hem myplan
andtheyagreedtoletmedowhatI
neededtodof orVal
er i
a’
ssakeand
mine.
Ri
ng……Ri
ng….
.
It
ookt
hephonef
rom mydesk.“
Yes.
”
“Mr.Mi nett
i.MissWi nsl
owi sher
eto
seey ou,”Lorenzoinformedme.Right
ontime.Ti met ogett hi
sonceandfor
al
l.“Sendheri n,”Itol
dhim andhung
upthephone.Il ookedatthedoor
andwai ted.
Thedooropenedt orevealMari
ahin
herusualbl
ackofficesuit
.Herhai
r
wasneatlyputint
oabun.Shewor e
deepbredli
psti
ckandf akeeye
l
ashes.Hersti
lett
osincreasedher
height
.Shewasmor eli
keamodel
thananemployee.
Shewal keduptomydeski
na
fl
ir
tat
iousmanner.“
Hell
oAdri
an.I
knewt hatyouwoul
dcomebackto
me,”shesaidt
ome.“ Haveaseat,
”I
gestur
edtotheseatinf
rontofme.
Shesatintheseatandcrosseher
l
egst oshowalotofski
n.
“So,whati
sthi
sabout?
”sheasked
mewi t
hasmi l
eonherface.Whati
s
thi
sabout?Iopenedmydeskand
pull
edoutmyweapon.
Isl
ammedt
heev
idencei
nfr
ontof
her
.
“
Thi
siswhati
t’
sabout
.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~
[
6/24,
00:11]Ndozv
oo:
ARANGEDLOVEEPISODE17
(
Semi
final
e)
“
Whati
sthi
s?”
Ishowedt hepi cturesofherwi t
h
Nazar iatdifferenthotels,
mypl ans
thatsheshowedt oNazari,and
fi
nancialsr ecordst hatshowedt hat
thelargesumsofmoneyusedt oai
d
Nazar ionlar gepr oj
ects.“
Idon’t
know.Yout ell
me.Af t
erall
,youare
theonewhohadbeenbet rayingme
andt hecompany ,”It
oldherand
crossedmyar ms.
Shebl
i
nkedherey
esf
astandl
ooked
nervous.“I
…Idon’tknowwhatthese
are,
”shesaidmeasshet ri
edbrush
thi
ngsof f
.Islammedmyhandsont o
mydesk.“ Youhadbeenconspi r
ing
withNazariforthepastt
woy ears.
Theexactsamet i
mewhenIst arted
tobecomedi ssati
sfi
edwithyou,
”I
tol
dher .
“Thatisri
dicul
ous!Iam l oyaltoyou
andonl yyou.Iwoul dn’
tdot hi
stoyou
Adrian.Il
ovey outoomuch, ”shetr
ied
toconv i
nceme.Lov emet oomuch?
“Youknowwhat ,may beIbecame
dissati
sfi
edwi t
hy oubecauseIf elt
l
ikey ouweren’tbeingsatisfi
edwith
me, ”It
oldher.
Herey
eswi
denabi
t.
“Whatdoyoumean? ”sheasked.
“Whati
sitthatNazar
idotosatisfy
you?Wastheresomethingt
hathe
coul
dgivetoyouthatIcan’
t?Gift
s?
Money?”Iasked.
Sheshookherhead.“ NO!Didyou
evert
hinkwhyIbecamecl osetohi
m?
Iwast r
yingtogetintohiscompany
sothatIcouldfindoutwhathewas
upto!IthoughtthatIcouldhel
pyou
bybeinginthere!”shesaidtome.
“Thathast oinvol
veyougoi
ngint
oa
hotelwit
hhi m andsl
eepi
ngwith
him!”Iyel
ledather.“
Iwasdoing
whateverittakestomakeyour
companythebestev
enifIhadt
o
sacr
if
icemysel
ftohim,
”shetol
dme.
“Evenify ouhadtosacrif
iceyour
vir
tuetohi m.”Ir
ephrasedwhatshe
meant .Inthemedia,peopleassumed
thatIsleptwithmanygi r
lswhoI
datedint hepast
.Thef actwas…I
neversleptwithanyone.Inevergav
e
my sel
ft oanygir
l.
Growingup,Iwast ol
dtowai tunt
il
t
heweddi ngnight.Matt
hewt oldme
t
hatitwaswor thwaiti
ng.When
MatthewandAngel areturnedhome
fr
om thei
rhoney moon,Icoul dtel
l
t
hattheyhadthegr eatti
meoft hei
r
l
if
e.Theyspentmostoft heirti
me
i
ndoors.Icommit
tedmysel
ftowai
t
wit
hMar i
ahbut,
itwoul
dnever
happen.
“Youknowt hatIam al laboutbei ng
fai
thful andloy al!Backt hen,Imeant
everythingincludi ngy ourbody
becauseIt houghtt hatoneday ,I
wouldbeabl etodi vorcemywi f
eand
mar r
yy ou!”It oldher .Wedi scussed
abouti tmanyt imes.Tobehonest ,
wenev ersleptt ogether .Weonl y
wentf arashav ingmakeout
sessionsbecauseIt ol dhert hatI
wantedourweddi ngni ghtt obe
special.
Shegotupandwr
appedherar
ms
aroundme.“ AndIstilldowantt o
mar ryyou,”shesaidwi thtear s
sli
dingdownherf ace.Ipul ledher
awayf rom me.“ No.Iwaswr ong
abouty ou.Youcoul dn’tevenkeep
yourlegscl ose.Youar enotani deal
woman.Youar eapr osti
tutewho
want snothingbutmoney ,”IsaidasI
gri
ttedmyt eethsothatIwoul dstop
yell
i
ngoutt hatsomeoneout si
de
couldhearusdespi tet her oom being
soundpr oof.
Shefellonherkneesandwr apped
herarmsar oundmywai stwit
h
desperati
on.“Pl
ease.Ibegofyouf or
for
giveness.Iwantyouback.Please,
”
shebeggedme.Ir emov edherarms
ar
oundmeandtookast
epback.She
l
ookedv
erypi
ti
ful
.
“Youaren’tri
ghtf ormeandt he
company .Ifyouev ershowyourface
hereagain,I’
l
l t
akey outocourtfor
thedamagest hatyouhadcausedon
thecompany ,”Isaidandwalkedout
oftheoffi
ce.Lor enzowalkedupt o
me.
“Makessuresheleavewithnothingin
herhandsandhavethesecurity
guardsmakesurethatshenev erstep
footint
hecompanyev eragai
n,”I
i
nstruct
edhim.“Yessir
,”Lor
enzo
saidandst
oodnexttomyof f
icedoor.
Ibet
tergetbackt
oVal
eri
a.
“Whenwi l
lyoubereturningsir?”I
heardLorenzoaskme.Ist oppedand
l
ookedathi m.“Honestl
y ,Idon’tknow.
ImightnotbetheCEOoft hi
sbr anch
soon,”It
oldhim.Lorenzogav emea
nod.Iwalkeduptohi m andpl aceda
handhisshoulder
.
“IfIdon’
t,
Iwanty outotakecareof
thenextCEOl i
key oudidtome,”I
toldhim.“Thanky ousir,
”hesaid.He
l
ookedabi tsad.Igavehim asmi l
e.
“ThankyouLor enzof orassi
sti
ngme
andmyf ami ly,
”Isaidtohim.Hegav e
meanod.
Inoddedinr
eturnandwal
kedoutof
thebui
ldi
ngthatImaynev
erstepi
nto
agai
n.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Coupl
emont
hsl
ater
…….
“
Ithi
nkt
hat
’senoughf
ort
heday
,”
IrestValer
iaonthebedandpul l
ed
thecoversuptohershoulder.The
nursehelpedmest r
etchValeri
a’
s
muscles.Shebegant odevel
opsome
soresonherskinsowehadt oplace
extracushi
onsaroundhertokeep
hercomf ort
abl
e.
“
I’
ll
bebacklat
ertocheckhervit
als,
”
t
henur
sesaidandwal kedoutofthe
r
oom.Ipul
ledachairandsatdown.I
t
ookmylaptopandstartedt
oread
somenewsar
ti
cles.Onestor
ywas
wasthet
opst
oryinthepastfew
days.
AFai
thf
ulMan!
Adr
ianMi
net
tiki
cksWi
nsl
owOut
!
MariahWi nsl
owwasseendr agged
outofMi nett
iResortsInternat
ional
USAbr anch.Accordingt osome
sour
ces, Adri
anMi nett
i hadcutoff
Mariahwhenhef oundoutt hatshe
hadsecretlyreveal
edbusi nessplans
toDarioNazar i
,CEOofNazar iHotel
s
&Resor t
s.
Nobodyhasbeenabl
etointerv
iew
theCEOduetohiswi
feinthe
hospi
tal
.Hewasseenrushingint
o
t
hehospit
alt
oseeher
.Itwast
he
f
ir
stpi
ctur
eofhi
minthemedia.
Surpr
isi
ngl
y,hi
swi
fe’
sident
it
yis
unknown.
That’
showIli
kei
t.ForVal
eri
a’
s
prot
ecti
on.
Ilookedupt oseeVal eri
a’
shand
twitch.I
nstantl
y,Ipl
acedmyl apt
op
ont henightst
andandhel dherhand.
“Valeri
a?”Icouldseeherey ebal l
s
mov i
ngfrom underhereyelid.“Can
youhearme? ”IaskedasIbr usheda
l
oosehai rawayf rom herface.
NextthingIknew, sheopenedher
eyesslowly.She’
sawake!Quickly
,I
rantothedoor .“
IneedaDoct ori
n
her
e!”Iyel
ledoutandr anbackto
Val
eria.“
Valer
ia.It
’smeAdr i
an.Wake
upformehoney ,”Isai
dtohersoftl
y.
Iheardfootstepsbehindme.“Mr.
Minett
i.
”Iturnedmyheadt oseeDr.
Bachbehindme.Imov edawayand
l
ethim dohi swor k.Hetookhi
ssmall
fl
ashli
ghtandshi neditonhereyes.
“Mrs.Minetti
?Cany ouhearme?”he
askedher.
“
Yes.
”
Herv oicesoundeddryandweak.I
gotagl assofwat erwit
hast r
aw
from thetablenearby.“
Heredrink
this,
”Isaid.Iplacedt
hest r
awinher
mout h.Shet ookasmal lsi
pofthe
water
.Icoul
dfeelt
hereli
efonmy
shoul
dersandthewor
riesstar
tedt
o
meltaway.
Afterawhil
e,shewasabl etoopen
hereyesful
ly.God…Imi ssedthose
eyes.“Doyour ememberwhoy ou
are?”heaskedher .“
Yes,”she
answered.“Doy ourememberwhohe
i
s? ”hepoi
ntedt owardsme.
Valeri
alookedatme.“ Yes.He’
smy
husband,”shesaid.Asmi l
egrewon
myf ace.Sheremember sme.“ Doyou
rememberwhathappened? ”heasked.
Sheshookherhead.“ Iremember …we
had…ourweddi ng,
”shet ol
dhim.
“
Whenwast
heweddi
ng?
”Dr
.Bach
asked.Shewasdeepi
nthoughtf
ora
minute.
“
Yest
erday
.”
Myhear
tdr
oppedt
omyst
omach.
Yester
day !“Dr
.Bach.”Ibecame
concernedabouthermemor y.“
Mrs.
Minett
i.I’
m goingtoneedt ohave
yourbraincheck.Ibeli
eveyouare
suff
eri
ngf rom amnesia,
”hetoldher
.
Shelookedconcer nedandnodded
herhead.
“I
’l
lbebacki nafewminutes,
”hesai
d
andwal kedoutofther
oom.She
l
ookedupatme.Isatonherbedand
heldherhand.“Youwereinan
accident.Youwereonyourway
homef r
om seei
ngyourf
ri
ends.You
don’
tremember?”
Sheshookherhead.Ihat ethis.
“Whatdoes….hemeant hatIhave….
amnesia?”sheasked.Ishouldt r
y
getti
nghermemor iesback.“We’v e
beenmar r
iedforfouryears,
”Itold
her.Hereyeswiden.“F.
.fouryears?”
Shewasv erysurpri
sed.Iguessshe
real
lydoesn’
tremember .
“Don’
tthi
nkabouti ttoomuch.
Every
thi
ngwi l
lbealr
ight.Ipromise,
”I
saidtoher.Shegav emeanod.I
gaveheraki ssonthef orehead.That
youGodf orhearingmypr ay
ers.Iwas
veryt
hankful t
othebigman.
Dr.Bachreturnedwi
thsomenur ses.
“Wear egoi
ngt owheelhertogeta
MRI,”hetol
dus.Igavehim anodand
l
ookedatVal eri
awhowasabi t
confused.“
I’l
lbeher
ewai t
ingforyou.
Okay.”Shegav emeanod.
Dr.Bachandt henurseswheel edher
outoftheroom.Ibet t
ercal lev
er y
one
.Igotmyphoneandst artedtocall
Matthew.“Adrian.Di
dshewakeup? ”
heaskedmewi t
houtsayinghello.A
smilegrewonmyf ace.“Shewokeup
afewmi nutesago,”Itoldhim.
“Howisshe?
”heaskedme.Iknew
whathemeantbythequest
ion.Il
et
outadeepsi
gh.“
Sheonly
rememberst heweddi
ngandnothi
ng
aft
er,
”Itol
dhi m.“
Soundsli
keshe
hasret
rogradeamnesia,
”hetol
dme.
“Yeah.Thatsoundsr ight.Any ways,
cany out ell
ever y
onet hatshewoke
up.I’
llcallwhent hereisanyot her
news.Val eriaisgetti
nganMRIdone, ”
Itol
dhi m.“ Wil
l do.HeyAdr ian.
“What ?”Isaid.“Thinkoft hi
sasa
secondchancewi thher.Maket hi
ngs
ri
ght,
”het oldme.
Thanksforr
emi
ndi
ngme.Asecond
chance.
“
Iknow.Iwi
l
l,
”It
oldhi
m andhungup.
“
Iwi
ll
makethi
ngsright
.”Il
ookedat
myweddi
ngbandandkissedi
t.
Iwi
l
l.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“
Mr.Mi
net
ti
.”
Iturnedmyheadatt hedoort osee
Mr .Bach.Qui ckly,Iwalkedupt ohi m.
“Howi sshe? ”Iaskedwi thconcer n.
Hisf acialexpressiondidn’tshow
hintsofhappi ness.“I
tseemsl ikeshe
i
ssuf f
er i
ngRet rogradeAmnesi a,”he
toldme.
S-
-t
!
Shejusthast osuff
eroneofthebad
ones!“ Sheisabl
etor ecal
lmemori
es
from chil
dhoodbut,sheisunabl
eto
recal
l memor i
esaboutthreet
ofour
year
spri
ortotheacci
dent
,”hetol
d
me.Shewon’tremembert
heaffai
r
andourwholefai
li
ngmarr
iage.
“But,
itshoul
dbet emporar
y.Ifyou
exposehertoplaceswhere
memor iesweremade,sheshouldbe
abletorecal
lthel
ossmemor ies,
”he
tol
dme.Igav ehim anod.“Whenwi l
l
shebeabl et
ogohome, ”Iasked.
“Ifev
erythinggoeswel lwithher
recovery,shecanber eleasebyt he
endoft hemont h.But,shewi l
lneed
tocomebackf orrehabi fsheshows
signsthatshecanmov eherl egs,”he
toldme.Wor r
ymeltedawayabi t.
“
Thanky
ouDr
.Bach,
”It
oldhi
m.We
shookhandsandwentoursepar ate
ways.Iret
urnedtoValer
ia’
srecovery
room toseeherinthebedwithatray
offoodinfrontofher
.Sheturnedher
headtowardmeandgav emeasmal l
smile.
Ireturnedt hesmi l
e.“
Howar ey ou
feel
ing? ”IaskedasIwal kedupt oher
bedandsatdownont hebedf acing
her.“Fine,”shesaidtome.Igav eher
anod.Gent ly,
Itookhersmal lhandin
mine.Herhandf el
tdeli
cateandfitt
ed
i
nmyhandper fect
ly.
“Youreal
lygavemeascar e,
”It
old
her.Shefr
ownedabi t
.“I
’
m sorr
y,”
sheapologi
zed.Ishookmyhead.“It
’s
okay.It
’smyjobtobewor r
iedabout
you.I’
my ourhusbandaf
terall
,
”Itol
d
her.Shegavemeanod.
“So…youdon’ trememberany thi
ng
from ourmar ri
age?”Iaskedher .She
shookherhead.“ Idon’tremember
anything,
”shet ol
dme.Iwasf eel
ing
mi x
edf eel
ings.Iwasdebat ingifit
wasagoodt hi
ngorabadt hingthat
shedoesn’tr ememberany thing.
One,shewoul dn’
trememberourl ast
conversat
ion.Two,shewouldn’
t
remembert hatIwashavinganaff ai
r.
Three,shewouldn’
tremembert hat
wedi dn’
thaveanactualhoneymoon.
Thesewer eallt
hebadmemor i
es.
Themosti mportantthi
ngwas, I
couldredothememor i
es.Icould
redothebadmemor i
esandmake
them int
omemor abl
eonesi nthe
processofgett
inghermemor ies
back.Iknewjusthowt odoi t.
Icaressedhercheekwi t
hmyot her
hand.Undermyt ouch,shemov ed
awayabi t.Right,sheisnotusedt o
myt ouchesy etinhermi nd.“Don’
t
worry.I’
l
lhelpy ouregainthose
memor iesandmakenewoneswi t
h
you.Onememor yatat i
me,”I
assuredher.Shel ookedabi thesit
ant
andshybut ,shegav emeasmal l
smile.
I
’
m goi
ngt
odot hi
sri
ghtev
eni
fit
t
akesmeali
fet
ime.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“
I’
m home.
”
Everyonewasi ntheliv
ingroom
havi
ngwi ne.Mat thewstoodup.“How
i
sshe? ”heasked.Thei reyeswereat
mel i
kelakers.Itookmyj acketoff
.
“Shehasr et
rogradeamnesi a,
”Itol
d
him andsetthejacketont hecouch.
“S-
-t,
”Stephensaidashebr ushedhis
hairbackhishisfi
nger s.Agi rlnextto
him gavehim aglare.“Wat cht he
l
anguageSt ephen,”shescol dedhim.
Immedi at
ely,
hegav eheran
apologeti
clook.“
Sor rylove,”hesai d
andl
ookedatme.
“Thisi
st heloveofmyl ife,Eugenia,
”
heintroducedhert ome.Shedi dn’t
l
ookt oobad.Shehaddar klonghair
withblueey es.Shehadanav erage
buil
tforaf emale.Lookingather
clot
hes, shewasdr essedv erywell.
“Nicetomeety ou.I’m Adr
ian,
”I
i
ntroducedmy self.Shegavemea
smi l
e.“I
t’
snicetof i
nall
ymeety ou.
Stephentoldmesomuchabouty ou,
”
shet ol
dme.Ismi rkedabi t
.
“Hopefull
ygoodt hings.Nothi
ng
embar r
assing,
”Itoldherandsatona
couch.
“
Ver
yni
cet
hings,
”shesai
dand
l
ookedatSt ephenwi t
hlov e.Itur
ned
myat tent
iont omyMot herand
Fatherwhower elookedlikethey
wantedt otalktomesomet hing
i
mpor tant.Icouldfeelmyhear t
raci
ng.
“Adri
an.Ihavebeenthi
nkingabout
yourfut
ureinthecompany ,
”hetold
me.Igav ehi
mt henod.“Ihavet
osay
thatIam di
sappoint
edinyouofy our
acti
ons.Isawrecentl
ythatyouhave
cutoffti
eswiththatgi
rlMari
ah,
”he
tol
dme.
“Yessi
r,
”Iresponded.Hel
etouta
deepbreat
h.
“
Ithi
nkf
ornow…y
oushoul
dtakea
breakf
rom t
hebusi
nessandspend
ti
mewithyourwi
fe,
”fat
hert
oldme.
Huh?Iwassurpri
sedbyhi
sver
dict
.I
wassurethathewasgoi
ngtofi
reme
orsomethi
ngworse.
“Iseethatyouarewill
i
ngtochange
foryourwife’
ssake.Iwoul
dhav e
donet hesameforyourmot her,
”he
toldme.Mot her
’ssmil
egrewonher
face.Mybr ot
hersnoddedtheirheads.
Ahugewei ghtwaslift
edoffmy
shoulders.
“Thankyouf
ather,
”Isai
dtohim.He
gavemeanod.Mot herwasvery
happy.“
Youshouldwashupand
havesomerest.Webroughtourcook
tomakey ousomefood,
”Mot hertol
d
me.“Ithi
nkhewouldwantVer a’
s
cookingt
hanLucy’
scooking,
”
Matthewsaidtomother
.
Igotupfr
om couchandwal
ked
towardst
hebathr
oom i
nmyroom.
“Ibet
tergetev
ery
thi
ngreadyf
or
Valer
iatocomehome.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~[6/
24,00:
11]Ndoz
voo:
ARANGEDLOVEEPISODE18
FI
NAL

"
Readyt
ogohome?
"
Veragav emeasmi l
e." I
'
mr eady
,"
shet oldme.Igaveherasmi l
eand
helpedt oontoawheel chai
r.I
twasa
l
ongf ourmonthsinthehospital
.Her
doctor sgavehert
het humbsupt obe
dischargedfrom t
hehospi t
al.
Herr ecoverywasgoi ngverywell.Dr
.
Bachbel ievedthatshewoul dbeable
tost artr
ehabili
tat
ionnextmont hin
ordert orebuil
dhermuscl einher
ri
ghtar m andleg.Herribsstil
l
neededt imet oheal.I
twasbestf or
Verat ocont i
nueherrecoveryat
home.Asf orhername, afterafew
day s,shetoldmet ocallherbyher
nickname.
Iwalkeduptoherbedandgotr eady
toli
fther
."Ready?"Iaskedher."Yes,
"
shesaidtome.Iwr appedanar m
aroundherwaistandunderherl egs.
Shewaspr ett
yli
ghtbut ,t
hecasts
addedasomewei ght.Ipl
acedheri n
thewheelchai
r.
Knock.
..
knock.
..
.
Wet urnedourheadt othedoort o
seeLor enzo."Lorenzo?Whatar ey ou
doingher e?"Iaskedhim.Iexpect ed
himtobeatt heof f
ice."
Yourf at
her
gavemeper missi
ont obewi t
hy ou
andy ourwifeunt i
lyoureturn,
"het ol
d
me.Igav ehi m asmi l
e."Great
,"Itold
him.
Lorenzost oodbehindthewheelchai
r
togetr eadytopush.Inudgedhim
away ."Iwil
ldoit
,"Itol
dhim."Yessir
,"
hesai dwithasmi l
e.Lorenzowalked
overtot hedoorandopenedi tf
orme.
"Thanky ou,"Ver
atoldhim.
"YourwelcomeMr s.Minet
ti
,"hetol
d
her.Wewal keddownt hehallwayand
i
ntot heel
evator."
ShouldIdr i
vethe
cartotheentrancesir?
"Lorenzo
askedme." Thatwouldbeagood
i
dea,"Itol
dhim." I
'
llwalkaheadthen
sir
,"hetol
dme.
Oncetheelevatorr
eachedt
helobby,
Lor
enzowal kedaheadofus.Once
out
side,
Ilookedupt oseet
hesun
shi
ningbri
ghtl
y.It
'sagreatday."The
weatheri
snicetoustoday ,
"Veratol
d
me."Iti
s.I
sn'
tit,
"Isai
dtoher .
Iturnedmyheadt oseet hecar
comi ng.Oncei twaspar kedinf ront
ofus, Iopenedt hebackdoorand
l
iftedVer a."Watchyourhead, "Itold
her.Iplacedheri nthecar ."
I'
llputthe
wheel chairbacksir,
"Lorenzosai d
andpushedt hewheel chairaway .I
closedt hedoorandwal kedaroundt o
theot herside.
Igotinsidemy sel
fandputmy
seatbelton."
Whati sourhomelike?
"
sheaskedme.Igav eherasmile.
"You'l
lsee.It
'sasurpri
se,
"It
oldher.
Shegav emeanodandlookedoutof
thewindow.Lor
enzor
etur
nedtothe
caranddroveushome.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"
We'
rehome.
"
Thedoor sopenedtorevealourhome.
I
twast hesameasi fIbroughtVera
heret
hef ir
stti
me.AsIpushedher
wheelchair
,Veral
ookedar oundthe
housecur i
ousl
y."
Your ememberour
home? "Iaskedher
.
Shelookedupatmeandshookher
head.Ifel
tsadandarel
iefthatshe
di
dn'trememberourl
if
eher e.I
pushedhertowardst
hewi ndowthat
wascov er
edbythecurt
ains."Hol
don
foraminut
e,"Itol
dherandwal
ked
overt
othecurtaincont
rol
s.
Ipr essedthebut t
ont hatopenedthe
cur tai
ns.Infrontofher ,
thecit
ywas
rev eal
ed.Ast hecur t
ainsopened,her
ey eswi deninamazement .Asmile
grewonmyf ace." Wow."Shelooked
from onesi deoft hecitytothenext.
Iwalkedupt ohersideandwr apped
myar msar oundhershoul ders."You
l
ikeit?"Iaskedher ."Il
ovei t
,"Iheard
hersay ."
Yout hinkthatyouwi l
lli
keit
here?"Shel ookedupatmeandgav e
measmi le."It
hink..
.I'
m goingt olov
e
i
there,"shet ol
dme.
Igav
eherasmi
l
eandl
eaneddown
andkissedherforehead."Onceyou
getbett
er,I
'
m goingt oshowy ou
ever
ywhere,"Isai
dmyi nt
enti
ons.She
gavemeanodandl ookedbackat
thewindow.Iwatchedhercl osel
y.
Maybethi
sisasi
gn.Godhasgiv
en
measecondchancetodothi
ngs
r
ightwi
thher.
"
Whatar
eyoul
ooki
ngat
?"
Icameoutofmyt houghtsandsaw
Veralooki
ngupatme.Mysmi legrew
wider."
I'
mlookingatmybeaut iful
wife,
"Isai
dtoher.Sheblushedf rom
mywor ds.Soinnocent.Icaressed
hercheeksandbentdowncl oset o
her.
"Iloveyou,
"Itol
dher.Shelookedup
atmewi t
habeauti
fulsmile."Il
ove
yout oo,
"shetol
dme.Wi ththat,I
kissedher.Imadeav owwi ththat
kiss.
Mylovef
ory
ouwi
l
lbeev
erl
ast
ing
l
ove.
THEEND
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~