The Legacy (20 page)

Turning his attention back to his meal, Adagio tries to
ignore the jolt of emotion Cisely's innocent comment stirred.
And why did I just say that?

They continue to eat, filling the silence between them
every now and then with comfortable conversation about life in
general, as well as the various things she still needs to do to
prepare for the baby.

“How much more shopping do you need to do?” he asks.
“Not too much more. I just need to pick up more
disposable and cloth diapers, a baby monitor, bath products.
Just small things like that. I can get the crib and other furniture
next month.”

“Well, maybe we can stop by the
Target
we passed and
pick up some things.”
“You don't mind baby shopping?”
“Not at all. I am actually a fabulous shopper. Been doing

it for years.” He grins and winks, making her laugh, which is
what he'd intended.
“You do seem capable,” she says.
“I have yet to meet a cashier who doesn't want to take my
money, no matter how horrible the tie is I'm buying or how
atrocious the china pattern I've picked out is.”
She snorts. “Are you sure I should be taking you with
me?”
“Of course. I am very good at picking out things.” He
feigns confusion. “Checks do go with stripes, right?” He winks
again.
“This will be very interesting.” Having finished her meal,
she leans back in the chair, rubbing her stomach. “I can’t
believe I really ate it all.”
“I can't either,” he says, popping the last of the burger
into his mouth.
“I still say it was worth the coming heartburn.”
“In this instance, I agree.” Wiping his mouth with a
napkin, he leans back in his chair, studying her content smile.
“So, do you still have room for a sundae?”
“Definitely.
There’s
always
room for
anything
with
chocolate.” She massages her stomach a bit, causing the baby
to shift. “See? Instant room.”
He chuckles. “Well, I guess that's one way to make
room.” After sitting and talking for a few more minutes, he
stands, holding a hand out to help her up. “Shall we go?”
“Yes, I think I’m ready.” She takes his hand.
Looking down at her slender hand in his, he again does
his best to ignore the skip of his heart and the new warmth
filling him. “I am so glad you are doing better, Cisely. It is good
to see you smiling again.”
“Thanks.” For a moment their eyes lock, and then she
shyly lowers her gaze. Squeezing his hand, she says, “Thank
you for being here for me. You have helped me more than you
know. I don’t think I could have made it through if you hadn’t
been here.”
Her words stir him in a way he can't explain. He smiles,
pressing his free hand against her cheek. “You will never have
to worry about that. I will always be here for you, Cisely.
Always.”

Adagio takes me to
Baskin Robbins
for a sundae. Since I
don't think I can eat the whole thing, we ask for two spoons
and share. He laughs as I take a bite, then close my eyes and
moan softly. For a moment he simply watches me, and the look
in his eyes brings back the warmth I experienced earlier.
Smiling slightly, I look away, focusing on a young mother at the
next table with twin toddler girls. She has them both in booster
seats, trying to keep them from making a complete mess. Just
watching them increases my anticipation of my son's birth.

Adagio turns to see what has me so enraptured. When he
turns back to me, his eyes are gentle.
“You are going to be an amazing mother, Cisely. No
child will be more blessed.”
I nod, swallowing hard. “Thanks. I just didn't expect to
be doing it alone.”
He reaches across the table, taking my hand. “None of us
ever get what we expect. But you will never be alone. You have
Jessica, and you have me.”
There is truth in his words, but I can't contemplate it too
much right now. Smiling, I squeeze his hand and we finish our
sundae.

We are loaded down with shopping bags when we arrive
home. Jessica has gone to bed, so Adagio helps me haul
everything up to the baby's nursery. Just as with Ingo, with
Adagio, there is no such thing as buying just a few things. And
I never took my wallet from my purse. Adagio wouldn't let me,
insisting on paying for everything himself. He said to think of it
as an investment in his nephew, and he turned a deaf ear to my
protests. I finally stopped complaining and just went along, and
I had a blast.

We place the bags in a corner on the floor. The room is
dark, but the moon filters through the open blinds. Adagio
walks over to the window and stares out into the night.
“Beautiful view,” he says, looking at the city lights.

I join him. “It is.” He turns to me but says nothing. I
keep my focus on the distant lights, very aware of his gaze.
“Thank you for dinner and shopping. It was really nice of you.
What am I saying? You practically forced me to keep my purse
closed, you brute.”

“I had to be. I was only exercising my prerogative to try
and spoil you more. I hadn't done a sufficient job because you
never let me, so tonight I took matters into my own hands.” He
pauses, nudging me. “Are you mad at me?”

“Maybe,” I answer, nudging him back. “Of course I'm
not mad at you. I could never be.”
“So does that mean I can do this again should I choose to
without you making a scene in public?”
“I did not make a scene,” I say in a huff, poking his chest.
“You did.”
“Just because I tell the woman not to take your money
doesn't mean I am making a scene.” He grins. “Besides, it made
her like me.”
“Oh, really?”
“Uh huh.” He sobers a bit. “But seriously, Cisely, please
let me do these things. I've never had anyone to spend money
on before. I want to and it makes me happy. All right?” When I
don't answer, he repeats, “All right?”
“Okay,” I finally agree, reaching for his hand. “Thank
you, for everything.”
“You're very welcome.”
Squeezing my hand, he pulls me closer to his side,
pressing a kiss to my brow. With my head resting against his
shoulder and his hand firmly clasping mine, we continue to
stare out into the night. Part of me wants to analyze this night,
but I don't.
I can't.

As June rushes in and the weather goes through its
changes, so do I, in more ways than one. With less than a
month until my due date, I am doing better emotionally and
eagerly anticipating the birth of my son.

Jessica and Adagio are excited as well. They help me
decorate the nursery and get everything ready. They shop with
me for baby furniture and accessories, making sure I have
everything I need. Adagio even assembles the crib and rocker,
and I am grateful I don’t have to tackle the job. I am not handy
with tools in the least and probably would have put everything
together backwards.

My heart full of gratitude for these two amazing people.
Jessica has truly been a mother to me, showing me all the love
and support I could ever need. Sometimes I muse that I was
probably sent to the wrong family and should have been hers.
But deep down, I know it isn't true. I needed to go through the
trials I'd been given, and Jessica is in my life now. I often think
back to the day I met her at the motivational seminar and the
instant friendship that formed between us. At the time, I could
never have guessed how much meeting her would affect my
future. I don’t know where I would be without her.

Then there is Adagio. He is my lifeline, and there is
nothing he doesn’t or won’t do for me. Even though he lives
downtown, he always manages to be here and see to my every
need, and I never have to ask for anything. He gives so much
of his time and sacrifices so much of himself. He has helped
me to know I'm not alone, that I will never be alone. He is an
amazing friend, and I thank God every day for sending him
right when I needed him. We are now connected in a way that
can't be defined.

My thoughts never stray far from Ingo, but the memories
are not as painful, and the bittersweet moments have lessened.
I still miss him and I know a part of me always will. He taught
me so much about life and love. He also helped me to grow
and become the kind of person I've always wanted to be. I will
forever treasure his love, as well as my memories of him and
our life together.

Adagio observes the changes in Cisely, and as happy as he
is about the strength she has gained, there are also changes that
have taken place in his own heart–changes he never expected
to experience. They have happened slowly.

Adagio spends more and more time with Cisely and longs
to be with her whenever he is away. He thinks of her constantly
and even tried staying away a couple of times, just to see if
these feelings would leave him if he didn’t spend so much time
around her. But he couldn’t go a whole day before giving in to
his need to be near her.

Every
moment
he
is
in
her
home,
Adagio
watches
Cisely’s every move. He takes in her every expression and
wonders what she is thinking at a particular moment. When she
leaves the room he counts the minutes until she returns, and
when she does his heart always skips a beat. Just a look from
her or the feel of her hand in his sends a warmth through him
that is almost overwhelming at times. He now craves her touch,
and just holding her is no longer enough.

He loves feeling her softness against him, loves the
fragrance that radiates from her hair when he presses his face
into it. He has grown accustomed to the way her body fits
against his side and his arms often feel empty when she isn't in
them. He loves the way her eyes sparkle whenever he comes
through the door and the silkiness of her voice when she says
his name. It is like a caress, so warm, so familiar. Being with her
is like coming home. He has never felt anything like this before.
It is a need that both thrills and scares him.

He remembers the moment he truly accepted that things
had changed. It is a moment he will never forget, and because
of it, his world is no longer the same.

One week ago.
Adagio looks for Cisely to tell her lunch is ready. Approaching the
doorway of the living room, he finds her standing in front of the large
window staring out at the city. She is wearing a knee-length, form-fitting
yellow sundress. The silky material hugs the curve of her abdomen, the
color of the outfit enhancing the tone of her beautiful brown skin perfectly.
Her hair, which has grown even longer during her pregnancy, is swept up
and away from her face and hangs down her back in loose curls. Barefoot,
her toes don red nail polish.
He memorizes her every detail, and hard as he tries, he can't pull
his eyes away. Gazing at her profile, he is unable to move, like some
unseen force is keeping him bound to this spot.
She’s so beautiful!
he breathes inwardly.
Oh, angel, you’re so
beautiful!
And at this moment he wants nothing more than to take her in his
arms, kiss her irresistible mouth and never let her go. He can’t believe the
thoughts now swirling in his head or the intensity of his feelings. He’s felt
the emotional changes for a while now and has fought them the best he can,
but in this moment, he is overwhelmed. Suddenly the words from the ballad
playing softly in the living room leap from the speakers, echoing through his
mind.
All I know is when I think of you I’m not alone,
I just simply close my eyes and sing my song,
And I am home,
Loving where I belong.
The lyrics pierce Adagio’s heart, stirring his emotions so, he finds it
hard to breathe. He continues to gaze at her as a beautiful, terrible longing
fills him, making him oblivious to everything but her presence. The
emotional pull is more powerful than anything he's ever felt in his life. Oh,
how he wants her for his own at this moment! How he needs her!
Adagio doesn’t know how long he's been watching Cisely and
doesn’t realize he is holding his breath until she turns and smiles at him.
He releases it slowly as her eyes hold his.
Oh,
amore
. Can you not see what you are doing to my
heart?
Cisely has suffered and endured much in her life. And now here she
is, smiling at him, a new light present in her beautiful eyes, her very gaze
intoxicating him.
“Lunch is all ready.”
Jessica’s voice startles him and heat rises to his face. “That is what I
came to tell you,” he says to Cisely after finding his voice. He wonders how
long Jessica has been there. When he glances at her, she gives him a
knowing smile and heads back to the kitchen.
“Are you coming?” Cisely asks, brushing by him and giving him a
smile that again makes his heartbeat skip.
“Yes, I will be in right after I make a phone call.” It is just an
excuse and he knows it. Watching her walk away, he closes his eyes as
guilt quickly assaults him. He heads upstairs to the guest room that is his
whenever he needs it. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he drops his head in his
hands.