The Legacy (53 page)

“What
are
you
doing,
amore
?” Adagio's
loving
voice
breaks through my pondering.
I look up and smile. He is standing before me barefoot
with his hands in his pockets. I silently let my gaze roam over
him a moment, admiring the way the jeans and t-shirt fit his
lean, muscular form. Other than the graying at his temples and
the length of his hair, he hasn't changed.
“Just remembering,” I finally answer.
Sitting next to me on the bench, he draws me into his
arms. I hold one of his strong hands in mine and relax in his
warm embrace. His lips graze my brow. “Good memories I
hope.”
“Very good memories. This house and city are filled with
them.”
“It is always nice to come back.”
“It is,” I agree. Closing my eyes, I snuggle deeper in his
embrace. “But it will be good to get back home.”
He sighs, resting his head against mine. “I miss home as
well.”
“Well, everything is packed, except for what we will need
in the morning.”
“I am guessing the suitcases are probably bursting at the
seams.”
“Just about. But at least I didn't have to sit on them this
time. That's progress, isn't it?”
“That
is
progress,” he agrees with a tired chuckle. “I think
I will turn in now. Are you coming?”
“I'll be there in a moment, okay?”
“Okay.” He kisses me, then stands and stretches.
As I watch him walked away, I am again full of gratitude
for his love. We share the same life force and are connected in
a way that can never be explained. And I don't know where I
would be without him.

Standing in front of the open bedroom window, Adagio
stares up at the stars in the night sky and waits for Cisely. As
always, he has enjoyed their time in Utah, but he really is
looking
forward to
returning
home.
He
reflects
on
their
decision to have Mali come and stay with them for a month
and feels sure they made the right choice.

He hates to admit it, but deep down, a part of him is
angry at Paul for what he has put his family through. Adagio
and Paul have never been as close as Cisely and Wendy are, but
they had been friends. Adagio always enjoyed the times he and
Cisely spent with Wendy and Paul in the past, and he had felt
he knew Paul pretty well. Now, as he contemplates their
friendship, he realizes he didn't know the man nearly as well as
he'd thought. He will never be able to understand how Paul
could leave his family. How could he give up a wonderful life
with the people who loved him so easily? Nothing is worth
that, not even another pretty face, no matter how bad things
are at home. True, Adagio has never walked in anyone's shoes
but his own, and he was never present in Wendy's home to
know what went on in their daily lives, but he does know this:
no one, and absolutely nothing will tear his family apart. He
won't let it. Cisely and their children are his life. And his wife,
the woman who holds his very soul in the palm of her hand, is
worth everything.

“
Siete gioia della mia anima, amore
. You are my soul's joy,”
he whispers into the breeze softly blowing through the window.
“My soul's delight.”

“And you are mine,” Cisely whispers behind him. Adagio
slowly turns and she smiles at him, and he is completely
warmed by the love he sees in her eyes. “
Ti amo
,” she whispers,
opening her arms.

Do
you
two
have
everything
you
need?”
I ask,
straightening the back of Phillip’s collar.
Phillip checks his backpack once more. “I’ve got the
water, sandwiches, and cookies.”
“And I have the cups, napkins, and apples,” Mali says,
closing her bag.
“Then I guess we’re ready.” Phillip puts his arms through
the straps of his backpack.
Following them to the door, I smile and wave as the two
leave for their outing. It seems a picnic in the park every few
days has become Phillip and Mali’s favorite past-time.
Mali has been in Italy for two weeks now and I can
already see marked changes in her. She is thriving in her new
surroundings, and being away from the crowd she hung around
at home has made a definite difference. The young girl’s
countenance has softened, making her even more lovely. And
the smile that now graces her face after being unhappy for so
long warms my heart.
I call Wendy
regularly
to
keep
her
updated on
her
daughter. The few times Wendy has talked to Mali, she can tell
how much her daughter has changed just by listening to her
voice. I know Wendy misses Mali, but having her in Italy with
our family has been worth the heartache. Mali needed this
change. She needed to be away from the problems she’d had to
face daily. And she needed to think about something else
besides her father.
We hope that Mali being here will somehow help her
shed the
unnecessary
guilt
she's
carried around since
the
divorce. She has never said anything, but I can sense her
feelings of guilt, I just have no idea why. As I watch her
blossoming more and more each day, I hope the young girl will
continue on the path of healing. Having faced my own set of
trials growing up, I understand how traumatizing life can be for
a twelve-year-old, especially one dealing with an unstable home
life.
“Where are you,
amore
?” Adagio approaches me from
behind and wraps his arms around my waist.
“I was just thinking about Mali. I was also thinking of
how blessed our children are to have both their parents. There
are so many kids out there in the world facing the same trial
Mali is.”
“It is a sad situation. She seems to be doing a little better
now.”
“She is,” I agree. “I'm so glad she came here. I think it
has helped her more than she realizes.” I reach back and press a
hand to his face. “I want our children to always feel secure, to
know that regardless of what happens in our lives, nothing will
ever tear our family apart.” Closing my eyes, I soak in his
closeness. “They need to know that.”
“They will,” he says with a husky sigh, pressing a kiss to
my ear. He tightens his embrace gently. “I promise you, angel,
they will.” He holds me for another moment before drawing
back and taking my hand. “Come with me.”
“All right.” I let him lead me upstairs.

When they enter their bedroom, Adagio pulls Cisely
across the room to face the large, gold framed family photo
hanging over the fireplace in the sitting area. He moves behind
her, wrapping his arms around her waist. Pressing his cheek
against hers, he says, “Each and every time I look at this
picture, I am freshly reminded of my goal, and that goal is
forever,
amore
.” He points to the picture. “This is everything to
me, Cisely. Everything. Nothing with ever stand between me
and my family. Nothing but death will ever separate us, and I
hope that will not be until we are old and gray. And even then,
I hope the separation will not be very long. I mean, I know
realistically, I will probably go before you, being almost ten
years older, but the separation would still be hard. It is hard to
even think about.” He presses his face into her hair, inhaling
deeply the floral fragrance of her shampoo. “I need to be with
you too much.”

Closing my eyes, I absorb my husband's words, my heart
taking hold of the promise in them. “I think God knows we
wouldn't be able to stand being apart. He knows I would be
lost without you.”

“And I would be lost without you as well.” He tightens
his embrace, and pressing his lips to my ear whispers, “You are
mine forever, baby. It is what I want more than anything. It
always has been and it will never change.”

Turning in his arms, I echo his sentiments. He kisses me
then, and all other thoughts are abandoned as I am swept away
in the security of his arms and the safety of his love.

Phillip and Mali sit underneath an iron gazebo in the
park, eating their lunch, watching people come and go. The sky
is
a
brilliant
blue
and the
warm weather
is
the
perfect
temperature. A slight breeze fans their faces, rustling the leaves
on the trees. They couldn't have picked a more wonderful day
for a picnic.

Mali says, brushing her hair back from her face.
“Neither can I. Time is passing pretty quickly.” Phillip
pauses, smiling. “You are having a good time, aren't you?”
She smiles back. “Oh, yeah. I can’t remember ever having
so much fun. And I really love visiting Venice and going on the
gondola rides.”
“So do I.”
“I think by the time I go back home, I will know lots of
Italian.”
“I bet you will, too,” Phillip agrees, not wanting to think
about her going home just yet.
In the two weeks Mali has been in Italy, she and Phillip
have grown very close. They share a love for both reading and
food, as well as music and dancing. Mali occasionally spends
time with the rest of Phillip's siblings and they have become
good friends, but there is a special bond between her and
Phillip, a connection that is unexplainable.
Every
now
and then,
Phillip
can
sense
when
Mali’s
thoughts are on her father, and at those times the sadness
inevitably returns. He is perceptive to her feelings and within
minutes, he usually has her smiling again and thinking about
happier things. Mali told Phillip she has never had a friend like
him before. And until Mali, Phillip never had anyone he could
truly call a friend besides his brothers, his sister, and his
parents. For this reason, he hates the thought of her leaving.
He will miss her more than he can say.
When the two finish their lunch, they take a walk through
the park. After a few minutes, they stop, pull some bread from
Phillip’s backpack and feed the pigeons. This is another one of
their favorite things to do.
“So, are you excited about going back to school?” Phillip
asks, breaking another slice of bread into small pieces.
“Not really.”
When Mali says nothing more, he asks, “Why? Do you
not like school?”
“I like it okay, I guess. But I would love to have tutors at
home like you guys.”
“I'll admit I love it too. It is the only thing we have ever
known. But what about your teachers?” The sudden darkening
of her eyes catches him off guard. “What is it?” he asks,
touching her arm.
“Nothing.” She shakes her head slightly. “I will have new
teachers this year, so everything should be fine.”
“What was wrong with the ones last year?”
“Nothing,” she says, dropping her eyes to the grass.
Deciding not to press the issue, he changes the subject.
“Mama and Papa have decided to throw a barbecue for you this
weekend.” He smiles when a wide grin lights her face.
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Your mom and dad are so cool!”
“They are. I'm pretty lucky.” As Mali's head lowers,
Phillip lifts her chin with his finger, adding, “So are you. You
have a great mom.”
“I know. And I feel really bad about the way I treated her
before.”
“I think she knew you were having a hard time.”
“I know. But I still should have been nicer.”
Phillip squeezes her hand trying to offer what comfort he
can. “You can tell her that when you get home. And tell her
you love her. Since you can’t change the past, all you can do is
start now.”