The Legacy (55 page)

Standing on the lawn gazing at my husband, I find I can't
move. I watch him as he silently walks down the steps, my
heart beating faster with each step he takes, and I am quickly
filled with an intense longing for him, one that is so strong, I
can hardly breathe.

By the time Adagio reaches her, his heart is pounding as
well. Something is happening. He doesn't know what, but
looking into her eyes, he feels it. Maybe that is why he had
awakened. They are so in tune with one another, he can almost
feel what she is feeling. And what he's experiencing now is
something beyond description. Reaching out, he brushes a tear
from her cheek and takes her trembling shoulders in his hands.

With that one softly spoken word, she is in his arms.
They fuse together, almost as if their souls are merging. Their
kisses are frenzied and desperate, each touch of his mouth to
hers stoking the fiery passion that is raging to consuming
proportions. He marvels anew at the taste of her kiss, her
softness and warmth. He finally draws back and again wipes the
tears from her face.

Cisely stares into his tear-filled eyes. “I love you so
much,” she whispers emotionally.
“I love you,” he breathes, lifting her in his arms.
Wrapping her arms around his neck, she clings to him.
Feeling the desperation of her embrace and warmed by the
burning desire in her eyes, he kisses her again and carries her
back into the house.

I thoroughly enjoy my outing with Mali and quickly dub
the young woman a shopping queen. We spend the bulk of our
time in
Coin
department store. I've always thought of it as
Italy's version of
Macy's
because a lot of the name brand
merchandise is discounted. After helping Mali find something
for her mother, I buy Mali a new outfit and treat myself to one
as well. I also purchase a few shirts for Adagio and some gifts
for the rest of the children.

We have lunch at a pizzeria in downtown Treviso. The
beautiful bustling area is one of my favorite places to eat during
the warmer seasons.

I listen as Mali chatters on excitedly about when she will
wear her new clothes. As I take in the innocence of her simple
musings, my thoughts drift back to when I was twelve. For me,
there were no such conversations. There were no worries over
wardrobe or fashion. No sleepover parties or innocent talks
about boys or secret crushes. No hair styling sessions with
friends on the weekends or passing notes back and forth in
class. No such innocence existed for me at that age. I never
really had the chance to be a child. I was forced to grow up
fast, too fast.

Even still, looking at the beautiful young woman before
me now, I feel fortunate to be her friend, and blessed to be a
part of her life, to bask in her innocence.

“Excuse me?” I say as a deep male voice breaks into my
thoughts.
“I was
just
wondering
if
you
ladies
would care
for
anything else.”
“No, thank you. I think that will be all.”
The young waiter smiles, his eyes never leaving my face.
“In that case, I will be right back with your check.”
“Thank you very much.”
After hovering for another few seconds, he finally pulls
his eyes from me and leaves.

Mali watches the waiter glancing back again at Cisely.
“I've really enjoyed today,” Cisely says.
“Me, too.”
“Shopping is definitely one of my favorite things.”
Mali is about to respond when the waiter returns. She

silently watches him give Cisely the check, his smiling eyes once
again never leaving her face. Though she can't completely
understand what he is saying, she does understand his actions.
He continues to turn on the charm as Cisely takes money from
her purse and pays him.

“Thank you. It has been a pleasure serving you.”
“Well, thank you. We enjoyed our meal very much.”
The young waiter moves back as Cisely stands, his dark

eyes raking over her body. He adds in impressive English, “I
hope I can serve you ladies again.”
I bet you do,
Mali thinks.

I am puzzled by Mali’s expression as we walk to the car.
“Are you okay?” I ask, touching her shoulder.
“I’m fine,” she says, lowering her eyes.
“Are you sure?”
Reaching the car, Mali finally looks at me. “Doesn’t it

Where did that come from?
“No, Mali. It doesn’t bother me
because I usually ignore it. The only looks that matter to me are
the ones my husband gives me.”

“I’ll bet if Uncle Adagio had been with us, that guy
wouldn’t have been looking at you like that.”
“Sometimes it happens even when Adagio is with me,” I
say, confused by Mali's reaction. “He just smiles when it does.”
“Why?” Mali asks. I hear frustration in her voice. “Why
doesn’t he say something to the guys when they do that?”
I take her hand, keeping my voice gentle yet firm. “Mali,
people have the right to look at others if they want. It’s normal
and it happens every day. Every now and again I do notice
when men look at me, like today, even when Adagio is with me.
But Adagio knows he owns my heart. He’s the only man that
matters to me.”
When Mali’s expression doesn’t change, I decide I will
definitely have to talk to her about these feelings later. She is
holding something in, something very painful. I change the
subject for now. “Would you like to go anywhere else? We can
stop at a few more shops if you’d like, maybe have some
gelato
.”
Mali shakes her head. “Can we just go back home now?”
“If that’s what you want,” I answer. “We will have to do
this again before you go home. We can make another day of
it.”
“Okay.” Her voice is devoid of enthusiasm.

The drive home is silent. When we enter the house, Mali
absently thanks me for taking her, then takes her bags up to her
room, leaving me staring after her pondering what happened. I
wish I understood.
Taking another moment to contemplate the afternoon, I
seek out the children and give them the gifts I bought them.
Phillip tells me their father is at the restaurant and will be back
in a few minutes, so I take the rest of the things up to our room
and wait for him. I place everything on the bed, pausing to
touch the silk shirts I purchased for Adagio. I'm sure they will
look good on him. Of course to me, everything looks good on
him.
Walking over to the large window, I stare out over the
land as thoughts of Mali fill my mind.
It is obvious the waiter’s attention to me had truly
bothered Mali. I only wish I knew what is going on inside the
young girl’s heart. If I could only figure out a way to reach her.
Maybe she will talk to Phillip . . . Probably not.
Mali and Phillip are close, but even as close as they are,
there are still things she isn’t likely to share even with him.
Phillip and I have shared many conversations about Mali. I've
tried to offer him advice and insight, but I am sometimes at as
much of a lost as he is. What I do know for sure is somehow
Mali will be a part of our future, a very important part. I feel it
deep in my heart.
I turn and smile as Adagio enters the room.
“How was your day out with Mali?” he asks, pulling me
close.
“It was great. We had a fun time together.”
“What is bothering you,
amore
?”
How does he do that?
I sigh, shaking my head. “How do you
do that?”
“Do what?”
“How do you always know when something is bothering
me?”
He smiles and touches my chin. “Because I know you.”
“Phillip is taking after you, you know.”
“Is that a good thing?”
“Most definitely.”
Taking my hand, he guides me over to the sofa. “So, tell
me what is wrong.”
“I’m just worried about Mali.”
“Why? I thought she was doing okay.”
“I thought she was, too, but after today I’m not so sure.”
“What happened?”
“Well, it’s not so much what happened, but how she
reacted. We were having lunch and everything seemed to be
fine. The young waiter started paying a little too much attention
to me.”
Adagio grins slowly. “There is nothing unusual about
that, angel. It happens every time we are out together. It can't
be helped.”
I smile, grateful that he thinks I'm beautiful. “Today is
one day I wish it could have been helped.”
“Why? What happened.”
“Well, I ignored it as usual, but the waiter’s attention
upset Mali a great deal. I noticed the way she watched him, but
I didn’t really think anything of it. She commented about it
when we reached the car. I told her it didn’t matter to me what
other men thought and you were the only man that mattered.
After that, she seemed to close up. I know these feelings are
somehow connected to her parent’s breakup.”
“I am sure you are right. Did she say anything else after
that?”
“No. She was quiet the rest of the way home. When we
got here she went straight to her room.” I sigh, tucking a lock
of hair behind my ear. “I just wish I could get her to open up to
me. I think it would help if she did.”
He presses a hand to my cheek. “You will, baby. I know
you will find a way somehow.”
I rest my head against his shoulder and caress his face.
“You have more faith in me than I deserve, my love.”
“Only because I know you so well. You can do anything
you set your mind to.” When I look up, he smiles, kissing the
corner of my mouth. “You definitely have me wrapped around
your finger.”
“As you have me wrapped around yours,” I whisper,
raising my lips to his.