The Legacy (50 page)

Sadie and I were ecstatic about the move, and Adagio and
Peter were equally happy because they knew how close we had
become. I insisted that they have the wedding at our home and
the couple happily accepted. Peter told us about the home that
came with the practice. They would only live thirty minutes
away from us. And the thought of actually having family close
brought me a joy I couldn’t describe.

Velma was a little saddened to see Sadie move so far away
after just developing a relationship with her, but she and Ted
promised to visit, which meant we would get to see them again.
Adagio surprised them with tickets to come to the wedding.

Adagio kisses my hand just as Sadie and Peter share their
first kiss as husband and wife. The love radiating from them is
so tangible you can feel it, and we know the feeling well.
Finding the person who makes you whole is everything.

Cisely turns to Adagio and smiles, and he can see a
peaceful glow radiating about her. She is so beautiful and he
never tires of looking at her. Almost seven months along now
in her pregnancy, she can’t get around as well as she could with
the other pregnancies because she is larger than usual. This is
due to the fact that she was carrying twins.

They couldn’t believe it when her midwife told them.
Cisely told Adagio that when she was younger, her father
mentioned there were several sets of twins in his family, but
she’d never had reason to think about it and had actually
forgotten. Adagio never imagined they could be so blessed. It is
a dream come true.

After the festivities are over and everyone has gone, we
relax on the veranda.
“It was a wonderful wedding,” I say as Adagio takes my
hand.
“It was. I can tell they will be very happy together.”
“So can I. And it’s truly amazing how many miracles
we’ve been able to see this past while.”
He smiles. “And to think, some people say miracles don’t
happen anymore.”
“Well, if those people were to spend a little time with our
family, they would know different.” I ponder a moment on all
the wondrous things we've witnessed, meeting Adagio's quiet
gaze. He presses a kiss to my hand.
“I have always believed in miracles,” he says. “I have seen
too many to doubt them. And now I am married to one of
those miracles.” He leans over and kisses me, caressing my face
softly. As he draws back, I take in his handsome face and
flawless masculine features, still convinced that
I'm married to
the most beautiful and amazing man in the world, and I am the
most blessed woman.
I yawn as the day's festivities catch up with me. Adagio
stands, holding a hand out to me. “Come,
amore
. Let’s get you
to bed.”
“You always take such good care of me.”
“And I always will.”
When I stand, he lifts me, cradling me against his chest.
“You know, sometimes I feel like I’m married to Mr. Universe.
I feel like I weigh a ton and you lift me without so much as a
grunt.
You
sure
you’re
not
hiding
a
body
building
title
somewhere?”
He chuckles. “Hardly, angel. I just never pass up an
opportunity to sweep you off your feet.”
“You definitely do that,” I agree as he carries me inside
and up to our room.
“I will get the children settled for the night.” Placing me
on the bed, he leaves to take care of the boys.
After changing into a gown, I slip beneath the covers and
flip through a magazine, waiting for Adagio to return.
“You are
supposed to
be
sleeping,
amore
,” he says,
entering the room. He begins to undress. “You need your rest.”
“I know. But I wanted to talk to you about something.”
“All right.” He slides under the covers next to me and
props his pillows up. “Now, tell me what is on your mind.”
“Well, Phillip came to me a few days ago and asked me a
question. His exact words were, “Are you and Papa still mad at
Gladys?”
“Really?”
Adagio
says,
surprised.
“What
did you
tell
him?”
“I told him no. I said that despite what she did, we had to
forgive her. And do you know what he said?”
“No,
amore.”
He touches my face. “Tell me.”
“He said he was glad we weren’t upset with her anymore
because . . . because there is still good in her, and she only acted
the way she did because . . . she had
forgotten
how to be good.”
Adagio rubs his eyes. “I cannot believe it,” he says,
reverently.
“Don’t you see, my love. To have him come through
such a terrible ordeal feeling this way–to have a child that loves
so unconditionally is more than I could have ever hoped for.
And just think of the strength he will bring to our family and
his own when he’s older. What a legacy of love we will have!”
“And to think that strength started with you and your
willingness to forgive your father. Despite all the hurt and pain
you endured, you forgave and never looked back.” He smiles.
“You will always be my inspiration.” Lying down, he pulls me
into his arms.
“I love you Adagio,” I breathe, raising my lips to his.
“I love you, too, angel,” he whispers against my mouth.
“And thank you for sharing that with me,” he adds before
deepening the kiss.
“You’re welcome.” Resting my head against his chest, I
snuggle against him and quickly drift off to the feel of his gentle
fingers in my hair and his lips against my brow.

Sitting on the veranda, Adagio and I cuddle our two
month old babies and enjoy the beautiful sunset, while Ingo
and Phillip play happily in the distance.

Phillip is doing well and thriving again. There will still be
hidden emotional scars for a while, but he is young and will
have a lot of time to heal.

I gaze down into the cherubic face of our little girl. After
a month of strict bed rest, Isabelle and her brother, Ian, were
born healthy and strong with no problems during labor or
delivery. In fact, the midwife was amazed at how smoothly
everything went, especially having been on bed rest. She said I
must have an angel watching over me. I said there were
probably many.

As Adagio gazes down into little Ian’s face, he marvels at
the blessing of having these two new precious additions to their
family. Life could not be better. Turning his gaze to Cisely, she
smiles, as if she’d read his thoughts.

“My heart is so full,” she says, looking into his eyes. “I
didn’t think life could be any better, but it does get better with
each passing day.”

“It takes a valiant heart and a strong spirit to see the good
in life after all you have gone through in yours, and you possess
both,
amore
.”

“If I am strong, it is because I have you as my husband. A
lot of my strength comes from you.” She reaches for his hand.
“You raise me up, Adagio. Every time I feel like I’m falling,
you’re always there to catch me. Whenever my heart is heavy,
you know, and somehow you always seem to lighten it.”

As I melt under my husband’s kiss, I relish the warmth of
love that surrounds us, and the wealth of heavenly favor
radiating like a Venetian sunset.

I know I am young, but I do know what true love is. My knowledge
doesn’t come from any experience of my own, but it is the result of the
lessons ingrained in my twelve-year-old heart from watching my parents.
Their love is real; it’s what heaven is made of. I’m grateful that my father
has set the example for me to follow.

With
my husband's arm around me, I kneel on the
cool grass
and place
a
large
bouquet
of
red and white
carnations next to the tall granite headstone. The morning sky
has been cloudy, the weather dreary, but now the sun’s rays are
bursting forth and the day is starting to warm. Adagio gives my
arm a comforting squeeze as I reverently brush my hand across
Jessica’s name. It has been four years since she passed away,
but kneeling in front of her grave now, it feels like it was only
yesterday.

I had been devastated when I received the call from a
mutual friend and was told that Jessica had a stroke. Adagio
immediately made arrangements and our family flew back to be
with her. Sadly, our time together was short. Jessica died a week
later and I was crushed.

Jessica’s family flew in from Australia and helped me with
the funeral. I've kept in touch with them through the years and
was glad to see them. Since Jessica had informed her family
years ago of the contents of her will, everything was settled.
Still, nothing could, or will, ever compensate for her loss.

We decided to sell Jessica’s clothing boutique. Since our
home is in Italy, it would have been too hard to try and keep it.
Wendy Wang, a friend I'd made while working at the boutique,
bought the shop. I was happy with the way things turned out,
and I couldn’t think of a better person to buy the business.
Wendy worked for Jessica for years and loved her very much. I
knew the shop would be in good hands.

In the week that followed, we boxed up most of Jessica’s
personal belongings and sent them to her family. I kept some
things that were very sentimental to me. I also kept the house
because I couldn’t bear parting with it. There were so many
wonderful memories for me there, I couldn’t possibly sell it.
And now I'm glad I didn’t. Every time we come back to the
beautiful old home, I feel closer to Jessica, and the memories
we shared in the home always warm my heart.

Wiping my tears, I sigh as my thoughts return to the
present. “Oh, how I miss you, Jessica! I love you so much. You
brought more joy to my life than you could ever know.” I
smile. “Then again, you probably do know.”

When Adagio stands, he helps Cisely up and she moves
into his arms. Holding her close, he blinks back tears of his
own. He still misses Jessica too, and often reflects on all he'd
learned from her. He will always love her and be grateful for
her mothering ways.

Pressing a gentle hand to Cisely’s face, he brushes back a
wisp of her auburn hair, continually in awe of her beauty. She is
thirty-six now and hasn’t changed at all. Her brown skin is still
satiny smooth, and there isn’t a line on her face. “Are you all
right?” he asks softly.

She looks into his loving eyes and smiles. “I’m fine.”
Keeping his arm around her, they walk back to the car.
As he opens the door for her, Cisely turns and gazes across the
cemetery once more at Jessica’s grave.