Some years later
Cecilia
- Mommy, happy birthday!
I am woken up by the sweet voice of my daughter wishing me a happy birthday. The years have gone by so fast, although I still love to hold my daughter in my arms, she is now a big girl, but for me she is still that little baby who loved to be in my arms.
- Oh my love, thank you so much! Mom, I love you very much, what's behind you?
I was lying down when I was surprised by my little one, she was trying to hold behind her back a bag in that fumbling way that every child has. But there was something else with it, and that's when she handed me a black rose and a book about the history of India. My brother says that she is super gifted like me but I see that always having read to her during the last years has helped her to cultivate a taste for reading and to develop faster than children of her age.
- How lovely, my love, I really liked the surprise, now come here and give me a kiss on the breast because I really miss smelling that delicious smell of yours.
Our life is quiet, I tried to make Melina have the most normal life possible even living in the shadow of organized crime, I did not want her to be influenced in a negative way so that I as well as Luana decided to ask Romeo to avoid subjects about the Mafia in the house so that the children do not grow up in the middle of it.
Speaking of Luana, she is every day more in love with my brother, including after giving birth to our little angel Miguel, things only got better, after the pregnancy, my brother and she ended up getting too excited when Luana got pregnant again with little Leandra.
Both deserve this happiness, Luana suspects that she is pregnant again, the children are still small but with the help of mama Emilia and Conceição, my sister-in-law is managing to reconcile the life of wife and mother, it happens that my brother is a rabbit and does not let my friend breathe, in his words the heat of their passion has always been lit.
The funny thing about all this is that Luana doesn't mind having gotten pregnant in such a short time, she says that it will be good for the children to have the same age group because they will be able to grow up together, learning to take care of each other, that in our world it is quite normal for the older ones to take care of the younger ones.
- Mama, I'm hungry, let's go downstairs.
- I need to get ready, my love, you can go ahead because mommy will be down in a little while.
Melina kissed my cheek once more and went away singing and smiling as she always does. The house having three children is sometimes crazy but I would not change it for anything in this world, in the last year I decided I wanted to study and started studying administration and with the time I got fond of taking care of my brother's companies that are in a legal position and I can even consider myself a successful businesswoman but for safety I chose to work at home, I no longer fear the past as before but I know how dangerous it is and can come back to torment my life.
- Ah my love, you are so missed!
I take the portrait of Tomas and I together during Melina's pregnancy and wonder what would have happened to me if Tomas hadn't saved me? I don't like to think about it any more than I feel comfortable reflecting on the past and what's in it.
Dario Albertini is the most famous Don that ever lived, by my brother's words, the subject of him is forbidden in this house as well as Caetano, but once I heard him talking to Camillo and I heard this quote. God has been so good to us, that that man during these last years never came here to take away our peace even though I don't feel safe.
Working at home was a choice for my protection but much more than that, being here I can take care of my daughter with attention and affection something I was deprived of during the years living in the Ferraz mansion and then imprisoned to Dario, what I experienced I never want again for myself or for my little daughter.
I go downstairs to the dining room, I see several brightly colored balloons and all those I love singing Happy Birthday to me, even the abusive Camilo was there smiling like a fool in my direction. Some time ago, he confessed to be in love with me but I immediately told him that I couldn't be more than a friend.
He seemed to understand but I know that if he really has this feeling for me, it wouldn't be an unspoken word from me that would make him give up. Miguel and his sister were clapping their hands while my brother held him and Luana was with Leandra in her lap, they came to me wishing me well, my brother as always gave me something very extravagant as a gift, it was a diamond ring, he always loved to give us gifts of jewelry but also since the day I came to live here, my brother buys several books and puts in my library, although I am not a fan of reading, he always tries to please me.
Today I can say without any doubt that we are best friends, he is someone I can trust not because he is my brother but because he takes care of me.
- Don't tell me that I didn't need it, that this ring is expensive and other things! Understand, nothing is expensive when it comes to pleasing you, my Moon and the children.
- I know that, but the books I brought last week were gifts enough! However, I loved the ring if you say it pleases you, my brother!
Bernardino smiled while Miguel messed with his hair, my brother always liked to have long hair, even after the babies that are always messing with it the first opportunity they get. Luana arrived with little Leandra who, although she is still so young, is very charismatic and wins over everyone who looks at her.
- Let's eat, after all, breastfeeding your nephews makes me very hungry, if I am really pregnant, I have to be well fed, right?
Everyone starts laughing, even Mama Emilia, and Camilo makes a point of sitting next to me as always, even if I don't want him to.
- My present is later at the restaurant where we are having dinner tonight, black rose!
- Abusive!
I elbowed him in the arm laughing at his abuse, we are friends and as such I enjoy having outings with him. Nothing that is hopeful for him as I have never kissed him or had intercourse as I know that might give him false hope, something I never wanted.
A few minutes later, Sergio appeared in the dining room with a serious expression, it seemed that something very wrong had happened, he wished me congratulations but when I invited him to sit with us, he declined the invitation with a shy smile giving me to understand that something wrong had happened.
- Sorry to disturb the celebration but Mr. Bernardino, I need to talk to you in private!
A silent alert was lit in the enclosure, living in this environment we have learned that nothing stays in peace and quiet for long, Sergio's expression showed that the news he brought was something very important and serious. Romeo came up to me kissing my hand and then kissed my daughter's forehead in a clear sign that he would have to leave.
- I'm sorry, sister, duty calls, could you come with me, Camilo?
- Of course, dinner is still on, Mrs. Cecilia Bernardino!
Romeo kissed the children and his wife leaving us at the breakfast table, Luana did not hide the look of fear on his face and mom realizing was soon consoling his daughter, a certain time my sister-in-law finally had the courage to tell what happened years ago, mama felt guilty and cried a lot but then there was a moment that understood that the only guilty was Caetano, having told the truth was certainly the best decision that Luana took.
- Little daughter, don't be like that, it's no big deal, you know you can't be nervous, bambina. You can dry up your milk!
- I know, but it is impossible not to be nervous, I am so afraid of losing everything we have achieved!
We have a good and happy life, despite everything that has happened to us and the daily conflicts that are normal in every family, with the difference that both Luana and I have always had an aversion to the Mafia and everything that is involved in it. However, in an ugly fight we had with Romeo he made a point of putting us in our "place".
"Do you think that this huge house we live in like the clothes you and the children wear are from honest gain? Wake up! Everything you are and everything you have comes from dirty mafia money, I love you but you need to understand the places you occupy, I am not an abusive brother since I never forced you to remarry to get advantages in the mafia, you know very well, Cecilia that this is normal in the mafia. I have never cheated on you, Luana but you know that this is quite common. You both know the bad side of our environment but I am different from the blue bloods, I won't accept having to discuss this matter with you again, I have already promised that I won't touch on Mafia matters in front of the children and that I will try to solve things outside the house but understand that this is our world!
After this discussion we decided not to touch the subject, we love Romeo and we are aware that this is his world and being next to him we are part of it, there is no changing that.
- Mama, why is Auntie Lua nervous?
- It's nothing, my love, it's because Auntie is worried about your uncle's work, that's all.
I wish it was just a silly worry, but I have a feeling it isn't. Sergio wouldn't get in the way of a birthday celebration if it wasn't something very serious. I have a feeling that we will have problems ahead, I really hope I'm wrong.