The Legacy (34 page)

Sighing deeply, I gaze out at the beautifully colored sky,
grateful for these times of reflection. I need to remember where
I've been and how far I have come, and even though the past
had been painful, I will never let myself forget. I can't, because
every trial I overcame served to bring me here, sharing my life
with a man I love more than life–a man I can't imagine not
being with, one that I could
never
be without.

I turn and smile as the object of my thoughts comes
through the doors.
“I knew I would find you out here,” Adagio says, leaning
down and kissing my lips. Grabbing a chair, he pulls it close to
mine, then takes my hand.
“You know, I think Italy has the most beautiful sunsets in
the world,” I tell him. “I know I haven’t been all over the
world, but I still think so anyway.”
“I think you are probably right. However, any sunset I get
to look at with you is beautiful.”
I smile, squeezing his hand. “Thank you, my love. You
know, you should be a poet. You always say just the right
things. I could see you doing greeting cards.”
“Sure,” he says with a chuckle. “Whatever you say,
amore
.
If I say the right things, it is only because you bring out the
romantic in me. Besides, my words of love are reserved for you
and you alone.”
“I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

Adagio gently pulls Cisely from her chair onto his lap.
Holding her close, he closes his eyes, resting his forehead
against her chin. He never tires of being near her, never tires of
touching her. He sometimes feels like he was born to love her,
the feelings are so strong. Breathing deeply, he inhales the soft
scent of her perfume.

There are no words to describe Adagio's feelings for his
wife. She has become a part of him, a part of his very soul. So
much so that whenever he is away from her for one thing or
another, he literally feels like he is missing a part of himself.

Adagio's thoughts shift to Ingo. He still misses his friend,
even after all this time. He will always miss him. But would he
change anything if he had the power to go back?

No, he wouldn't.
Not if it meant he wouldn't have Cisely.
It had been Ingo's time to go, and things worked out the

Adagio knows he shouldn't, but sometimes he wonders if
the love he and Cisely feel for one another ever pales in
comparison to what she and Ingo shared. He briefly wonders
who she loves more. If Ingo were still alive . . .

He
quickly
steers
his
mind away
from the
'what
if'
thoughts. None of it matters. Cisely is his wife now. She's
his
.
Cisely’s silky voice draws him from his thoughts. “I’m
really looking forward to the wedding.”
“I am as well. Velma deserves to be happy.”
“She is definitely reaping the blessings. I’ve never heard
her sound so alive. I could hear in her voice how much she
loves him.”
“Well, he must be a great guy. I look forward to meeting
him.”
“Me, too.” She places her hand on his cheek, letting her
fingers travel over the soft stubble covering his jaw. “If he is
even half as wonderful and amazing as you are, she’s got it
made.”
“Now who should be writing greeting cards?”
“I was just returning the earlier compliment.”
“Thank you,
amore
.”
“You're welcome. And speaking of cards, we should go
shopping this week for one, and wedding gifts.”
“We can go any time you want.”
“Maybe I’ll even pick up a couple of new outfits for the
trip. Would you mind?”
“You don't even need to ask. Buy anything you want. Do
you need a dress for the reception too?”
“No, she’s having them made.”
“Well, I hope she doesn't have them made too pretty,” he
says with a sigh.
“Why do you say that?”
Smiling slyly, he answers, “Because we wouldn't want you
to outshine the bride. Then again, it really doesn't matter what
you wear, because you won't be able to help it.”
She grins, kissing him. “You really are amazing, you know
that?”
“So are you, angel.”
They sit for a few moments longer, watching the sun
slowly sink into the horizon and Adagio ponders his earlier
comment. Holding his wife in his arms, the sunset truly is more
beautiful because he is watching it with her. Her presence
always enhances his enjoyment of even the simplest things.

Adagio and Cisely spend some time with Ingo and
Phillip before getting them ready for bed. After stories are read
and they are settled for the night, Adagio heads over to the
restaurant for a few moments to speak with the manager on
duty about their upcoming trip. His staff is very capable of
handling things without him and he usually never worries about
anything when he and Cisely need to leave.

As Adagio sits behind the desk in his office, he can’t help
speculating a little about their upcoming trip back to the states.
He had taken the family to North Carolina for a vacation a
couple of years ago and they visited with Velma while they
were there. During the weeks of preparation for that trip, he’d
kept the hope that maybe Cisely’s family’s hearts had softened
and he would finally get to know them, but his hope had been
futile, just as hers had been. He couldn’t believe how they
shunned her, despite her efforts to reach out to them. It
angered him to see her hurt, and watching her strive to make
peace with her family had been very painful. Not only would
they not talk to her, they wouldn’t even acknowledge her
presence. He just couldn’t understand how a family could be so
cruel and heartless.

Remembering the sadness that filled Cisely’s countenance
when she could make no progress with them causes his heart to
ache for her all over again. Adagio has always thought it a little
sad that he doesn’t have family living himself, but having family
members who don’t even want to associate with you is much
worse. He hated to see his wife in pain, and though she put on
a brave front while they were there and tried to hide it, she
couldn’t hide it from him and it broke his heart.

Maybe things will be different this time,
he hopes silently.
Miracles do still happen.
Thinking about Cisely produces a sudden strong need to
be with her. He quickly finishes up and heads back.

I am sitting at the piano playing a soft ballad when
Adagio returns. He takes a seat next to me on the bench and
watches my fingers as I play. After finishing the tune, I ask,
“Did you get things taken care of?”
“I did. And I am sure everything will be fine. I think they
are used to our little trips by now.”
“I'll have to find something else unique to bring back for
those guys.”
Adagio chuckles. “You mean, more unique than those
cans of potted possum you brought them the last time we
went.”
I snort. “They were pretty surprised, weren't they?”
“Surprised is an understatement. The reactions varied
from Sam's
'Awesome!'”
words
of
'Hmmm,
interesting,'
to
Alonzo's

“I know. I'll definitely have to think of something good
to top that.”
“I am sure you will come up with something.” He presses
his hand to my face, brushing my hair back, exposing my neck
to his soft caress. “So, did I ever tell you how beautiful you
are?”
I smile shyly because he asks me this frequently, and it
never fails to remind me of how lucky I am to have him. “Yes,
but if you want to tell me again, it’s okay.”
He leans closer, softly brushing his lips against mine. “
Sei
bella
, baby, and I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Drawing me closer, our mouths merge as we drink in the
flavor of one another, our instant passion and longing for each
other growing steadily. After a few minutes of drowning in his
heated kisses, I finally pull back a little and read the burning
desire that is almost always present in his emerald eyes. He lifts
me in his arms and I continue to kiss him as we make our way
up the stairs to our bedroom. As soon as the door is closed, we
let passion have its way.
Afterward, I lay with my head against Adagio’s chest,
looking into his eyes. For me, the intimacy we share is always
indescribable, the emotional intensity never fading.
He caresses my face softly and smiles. “I told you on our
wedding day I would never tire of making love to you. I still
feel that way.”
I touch his lips, sighing dreamily. “So do I.” Looking at
him quietly for a few moments, I marvel at the emotions
churning inside me. Even after all this time, they still feel new.
Everything inside me desperately wishes I could tell him how
completely I love him, how the strength of it burns within me,
but I again come to the conclusion that there are no words to
describe my feelings. No words are good enough. I continue to
stare into his eyes.
He returns my gaze in silent adoration, and the complete
love in his eyes brings tears to my own. It is almost more than I
can take.
“Promise me we will always have this. Promise me that
no matter what we go through in this life, we will always have
these times, these moments, and they won't ever fade.” I touch
my fingers to his lips. “Promise me.”
Adagio silently stares into my eyes for another moment,
then presses his mouth to mine and kisses me with so much
passion, I melt in his arms. Clinging to him, my love borders
desperation. When he parts his lips from mine, the same
emotion is there in his misty eyes.
“I promise, Cisely,” he finally says, resting his forehead
against mine. “We will always have this. With everything in me,
I promise.”

Looking across the reception hall, I watch Velma and
her new husband shaking hands and hugging their guests. The
two absolutely glow as they accept heartfelt congratulations
from friends and loved ones. Since neither Velma nor Ted have
parents present, they decide to forgo a formal receiving line and
just mingle and greet everyone, and the place is full of well
wishers. The hall is decorated in ivory and peach colored hues,
from the floral arrangements adorning each table in the hall, to
the beautiful four-tiered wedding cake. Everything is lovely and
romantic.

It has been a glorious morning for the newlyweds. Their
wedding ceremony in the gardens behind the reception hall was
wonderful, and Velma and Ted make an attractive couple.
Velma is breathtaking in her silky white gown. Her shoulderlength, black hair is styled in deep waves. Her facial features are
similar to mine, as well as her figure, but she is three inches
shorter than my height of five-feet-ten. Her skin tone is a shade
darker, but it is still easy to tell we are cousins. Ted is equally
attractive, though his complexion is closer to mine. He is tall
and lean with short, neatly-trimmed hair, and his big brown
eyes sparkle every time he gazes at Velma.

We have enjoyed the time we've been able to spend
getting to know Ted during the last couple of days. And even if
I hadn’t already known where he was from, I could have
guessed he was a New Yorker the first time he spoke because
his upstate accent was so prominent. We learned that Ted is
also the only member of his family to ever move away from
New York. His parents and his sister were saddened by his
decision to settle in North Carolina, but they still supported
him, and they fell in love with Velma the moment they met her.
Ted’s parents couldn’t come for the wedding because his
mother recently had heart surgery and isn’t well enough to
travel. His sister is a nurse and needs to be there for their
mother. Under the circumstances, I'm even more grateful we
can be here to support the happy couple.

Once the reception is underway, I seat myself at the
grand piano on the stage in front of the reception hall, and the
members of the band I've practiced with for the last few days
move to their instruments. I was thrilled when Velma told me
she asked a few of her talented friends to play backup for me.
I've never had an opportunity to sing with any accompaniment
other than the piano, and I was very pleased with the way the
rehearsals went.