The Legacy (71 page)

Adagio presses a light kiss to Cisely's hand as their
children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren gather around
them and sing the birthday song to him. Ninety years is longer
than he'd ever expected to live, and he and Cisely are both
grateful to have the whole family there to celebrate this special
day.

He laughs as the great-grandchildren help him blow out
the candles on the large cake Phillip had spent the whole
morning preparing. Since he's had complete control of the
restaurant for the past twenty-five years, he closes it for the
family celebration. There is food galore covering a long row of
tables. The rest of the tables are filled with Adagio and Cisely's
posterity.

As
Adagio
takes
in
the
various
faces
of
his
family
members, he has to smile. The dream that had engraved itself
in his heart when he was sixteen has come to pass. He has
everything he could ever want. He can't ask for more. He
squeezes his wife's hand, noticing how tired her eyes look.

Cisely nods slightly. “I'm fine, but I wouldn't mind a cup
of herbal tea.” She slowly stands. “Would you like some?”
“No, thank you. Why don't you let one of the children get
it for you.”
“It's all right,” she assures him. “I need to stretch these
old limbs anyway.”
“You are only as old as you feel, angel,” he says, grinning.
“And you are still beautiful.”
She smiles, leaning down and kissing him softly. “Thank
you, my love.”
Adagio watches her walk away, noticing the absence of
the spring that usually accompanies her step. Even at eighty,
she has always remained active and full of energy. This evening
that energy is no longer there. The thought saddens him, so he
tucks it away in the hidden recesses of his mind.

I am leaning against the metal counter stirring my tea
when Phillip walks in. He smiles and I smile back, freshly
amazed by how much he looks like his father.

“You should have let me get that for you, Mama.”
“I didn't mind.”
He touches my face. “You look tired.”
“I am a little tired.”
“Too much partying,” he says with a grin.
I chuckle. “Probably.” Sobering, I look at him quietly for

a moment as various thoughts flicker through my mind, but
one particular thought stands out from the rest. Lifting a hand
to his face, I swallow hard against the unexpected emotion. As
his eyes meet mine, his face blurs through my tears.

“I can't tell you how proud Papa and I are of you. You
have brought us so much joy and happiness.”
He touches my face. “You have been the best parents a
person could ask for.”
“We've tried.”
“And you have succeeded.”
“Thank you. Where is young Adagio?”
“As usual, he's out on the veranda indulging in one of his
favorite past-times, looking through photos of you and Papa.”
“Ah, I should have known. He always knows the way to
my heart.”
“I think you two are his favorite people in the world.”
“We've definitely formed a bond.” I pause, thinking of
my grandson. “He's an amazing man. And I know his interests
are different from yours, but give him time.” I gaze around the
kitchen. “This restaurant is in his blood. He will take over when
it's time. Just be patient.”
“I will, Mama. I think he knows Papa wants him to have
it.”
I nod, satisfied. “Now, I had better get back to your
father before he comes looking for me.”
Phillip waits as I take a couple of sips of the tea, then he
takes my hand and we return to the dining area to be with the
family.

As the evening grows late, I stand by the bedroom
window, taking in the familiar view. I've come to know it so
well, I can close my eyes and remember every single detail.
Looking down into the backyard, I take in the amazing sight of
our posterity as they play and wander about. I love each and
every one of my family members intensely, and I've treasured
every moment I have been blessed to spend with them. But I'm
afraid my time is done.

I turn from the window at the sound of Adagio's soft
voice.
“Are you coming to bed,
amore
?”
“Yes.” I slowly walk over and remove my robe. When I
am finally settled in bed, I turn to my side and face my
husband. “It was a good day,” I say with a sigh.
He smiles, pressing a hand to my cheek, letting his eyes
roam over my face. “It
was
a good day,” he agrees.
I then quietly study his face, taking in the lines around his
beautiful eyes, the result of years of laughter and living life to
the fullest. I smile as my eyes move up to his full head of white
hair and matching brows. Even with all the changes of old age,
he is still the most handsome man in the world to me.
Fighting the light-headiness that is slowly descending
upon me, I stare into his eyes again. “It has been a good life,” I
say softly.
Adagio reads in my expression and voice more than I've
said. Continuing to caress my face, tears fill his eyes. Then he
smiles. “It has been the best,
amore
.”
Satisfied, I turn out the light and moved into his frail
arms. “I will be yours forever, my love,” I whisper against his
face, resting my hand against his heart.
“I know,” he whispers back with emotion as his tears wet
my cheek. “I know.”
I'm yours forever, my love
, my mind echoes once more as I
slowly
give
in
to
the
peaceful weightlessness–my
spirit
separating from the body in which I have experienced so much
joy and happiness.

Hundreds of guests attend Cisely's funeral. The massive
old church is filled with friends and acquaintances whose lives
she touched, as well as her large posterity. The day is not one of
grief, but joy as everyone remembers this remarkable woman
and the wonderful life she lived.

The next week, all of the children return to their homes,
leaving
just
Phillip
and his
family.
Though
everyone
is
concerned about Adagio, it is Phillip and young Adagio who
are
most
worried.
They
know
more
than
anyone
how
desperately the father and grandfather loved his wife. Phillip is
concerned, but he can't help being amazed by the strength his
father possesses. Instead of the family comforting him, he
seems to comfort them.

Young Adagio spends as much time as he can by his
grandfather's side, offering comfort and absorbing the love that
has always been so tangible between them. He misses his
grandmother terribly, and he knows he will lose his grandfather
soon. It is only a matter of time.

Phillip helps his father out to the veranda to watch the
sunset. It has been a little over a week since the funeral, but the
daily ritual his father once shared with his mother has not
stopped. He imagines his mother there, unseen, taking her
place in the chair next to her husband during these times.

Squatting down by his father's chair, Phillip asks him if he
needs anything.
Adagio looks down at his son, studying his graying waves
and the lines etched around his eyes. Pressing a hand to
Phillip's face, he stares into his eyes intently. “I am fine, son,”
he finally answers.
Phillip holds his father's hand to his face, sharing his pain,
yet admiring his courage and strength. “I love you, Papa.”
His father smiles and slowly leans forward, pressing a kiss
to his son's forehead. “I love you too. Never forget how much.
You and your brothers and sister have all made me and your
mother so proud.”
Swallowing hard, Phillip stands to go back into the house.
As he reaches the veranda doors, he hesitates. Overcome with
fresh emotion, he moves back to his father. Leaning down,
Phillip takes his face in his hands and kisses his cheek, saying
with love and reverence, “I will always take care of things,
Papa. Don't worry, all right?”
“I will not worry, son.” Adagio's voice is soft. “But please
be patient with young Adagio.”
“I will, I promise.”
Rising and moving to the door again, Phillip pauses a
moment to look back at his father's tired and weary form,
sitting alone and taking in the sunset. He knows his father is
desperately longing to be with his mother again. It is only a
matter of time.

Adagio focuses his gaze on the colored horizon, his
thoughts with his wife. His life with Cisely had been more
wonderful than he could put into words. She had given him
everything, had
been
everything to him. How he misses her now.
He's only been without her for a little over a week, but he
misses her with a painful intensity that reaches deep inside and
threatens to tear his heart apart.

He has done well at being strong for his family, but right
now, again participating in this familiar ritual without the
woman who had been a part of him for so long, the pain is
magnified, becoming almost unbearable. His vision of the
sunset blurs as warm tears filled his eyes. He blinks them onto
his lined face.

“Oh,
amore
,” he whispers, “I miss you so much.” Closing
his eyes, he raises his face toward the heavens. “Please come
for me soon.” He returns his gaze to the horizon as the sun
slowly lowers. Looking down at his hands, he smiles as he
pictures Cisely's light brown hand in his. He had never been
able to resist touching her, and if he didn't have her in his arms,
her hand was usually in his. She had become such a part of him,
he had felt incomplete whenever she wasn't with him. He feels
that way now.