13. Chapter 12 (1/2)
chapter
12
some
months passed since monica and andrew had confessed their feelings
and, as time went by, they found themselves more and more in love
with each other. even the tourists didn't miss some tender glances,
secret loving words and discreet caresses, and could easily notice
the loving way the irish angel would look at her beloved friend, who
always treated her with infinite care and gentleness and, most
importantly, with much love.
of
course judith was the happiest one watching how such a beautiful
feeling could emerge from a terrible accident. and she was also
grateful that god had chosen her to be next to them, taking care of
the two as if she was their mother, which had become indeed a fact.
their memory would return with time, she was sure about it, but
regardless of this fact, a deep friendship had already been set in
her heart, something the woman hadn't felt for a long time and
which had given her a new reason for living.
that
week, the trio was making a 4-day-tour in a small city a few miles
away from new orleans, and after a quick stop at a local café,
they were now coming back to the bus that would take them to the
hotel.
monica
and judith were talking near the exit of the café when andrew
tiptoed from behind his beloved friend holding a red rose and
signalled judith not to say anything. a second later, the irish angel
felt a "mysterious hand" covering her eyes.
giggling,
she covered his hand with hers "... i think it's someone i love
very much..."
pleased
to hear it, he uncovered her eyes and placed a tiny kiss on her
cheek, "well, it's definitely someone who loves you very much,
angel!" he said, giving her the rose.
"it's
so beautiful..." moved with every kind gesture from him, she took
the flower in her hands, "thank you!"
as
she turned around and they shared a tiny kiss on the lips, judith
smiled and rolled her eyes playfully, "well, i guess this is a very
good way to finish one more day! it's time to go back to the
hotel."
"well,
the tourists are all in the bus, we are ready to go now!" andrew
announced. and at that moment, a worried look appeared on monica's
eyes. "oh... i... i was wondering if you could wait for me just a
minute more..."
"of
course, monica, but... why?" judith wanted to know.
"well,
because the mocha latte here is wonderful and i wanted to buy one
more cup before we went back..."
her
face was blushing when she said that, as she knew they were now
chuckling at her "admiration" for coffee.
"it's
okay, dear, we'll be waiting for you."
the
irish angel moved away from them and the old woman didn't miss how
andrew followed her with this green eyes, which were permanently
shining with love for her. "hum... is it my impression or 'someone'
here is completely in love for that beautiful young lady over there?"
smiling,
he nodded his head and never took his eyes away from monica, "you're
right, judith. i cannot imagine myself without her. she's... she's
my world..."
"you
have no idea how happy i am to hear this, andrew! you're both like
my children and seeing you together and so in love the way you are
is... well, it's wonderful!"
"yes,
i love her... in fact, there's something i've been thinking about
lately..."
"what
is it?"
"i'm
thinking about asking monica to marry me..."
the
woman couldn't feel happier hearing that piece of news, "oh, my
god, but that's wonderful news, andrew!"
for
the first time, he turned his eyes from monica, who was waiting for
her cup of mocha, and looked at judith, "but this is meant to be a
secret. when we get back home i'll invite her to have dinner and
then propose her."
a
oad, contented smile appeared on her face, "it's okay, i
promise you that i won't say a word about it!"
they
returned to new orleans two days later and, even if she liked the
idea, monica was a little surprised with andrew's sudden invitation
to go out at night. it wasn't their anniversary or any other
special day at all. besides, she thought he would be tired from the
trip and would prefer to stay home watching some tv.
by
seven, andrew was already dressed in an elegant tuxedo waiting for
his beloved monica in the living room, and one could see the
nervousness in his eyes and in the way he paced from one side to the
other. judith watched as he glanced at his pocket watch for the 100th
time, running his fingers through his blond hair. "andrew, you have
to calm down! otherwise she'll notice it!"
he
sighed deeply and looked at the top of the stairs, where there was
still no sign of monica, "i know but i can't help it, judith! i
guess i've never felt so nervous in my entire life!"
"oh,
andrew... i understand that this is a very special occasion but you
should try to stay calm. things will go just fine! everybody can see
how much monica loves you!"
a
contented smile appeared on his handsome face, "do you really think
so?"
she
rolled her eyes, "oh andrew, i don't 'think', i know it!"
their conversation stopped when monica appeared on the top of the
stairs wearing a silk blue dress and pair of pearl earrings, which
matched the pearl necklace she was wearing; both lent by judith, who
knew pretty well how important that occasion would be. and one more
time andrew felt his heart pounding loudly in his chest to see such a
beautiful image coming towards him. she looked like a real angel, a
wonderful dream coming true right before his eyes.
they
were soon hypnotised by each other's gazes and the
ightness in
their eyes became a reflex of their immense love. smiling, he kissed
her hand and gave her another red rose.
"thanks..."
she replied, also smiling at him.
"you're
so beautiful, angel..." andrew said, placing her hand against his
heart and lost in her
own depths.
but
he was not the only one lost loving glances and words: monica was
marvelled at how elegant and good looking he was, "you're
handsome too, andrew..."
"and
it's a shame that such a beautiful couple stays here inside this
house! my car is waiting for you out there, ready to take you to that
restaurant!" judith suddenly interrupted them, eager to see things
moving on a bit faster.
those
words
ought the blond angel back to the real world and he nodded,
"yes, that's true. we should go now, angel."
"andrew...
are we cele
ating anything?" the young angel wanted to know, once
they had left the house. he took her both hands and they stopped
walking in front of judith's car. "yes..."
"and
what is it? it's not our anniversary and... well, considering that
we don't know when our birthdays are..."
overwhelmed
with tenderness, he placed his hands on her upper arms and softly
caressed her white skin, "what if i tell you that we're
cele
ating our love?"
the
irish angel's meek smile caused his heart to skip a beat, "well,
then it's the best reason in the world to cele
ate!"
the
blond angel cupped her chin up and slowly bent his head: their lips
met a second later. feeling her heart beating faster, monica closed
her eyes and tilted her head, savouring that gentle and romantic
kiss, softly taken and which caused her to feel butterflies in her
stomach.
"...
never forget how much i love you, angel..." andrew spoke, when they
finally parted. she touched his face and looked deeply into his green
pools, "never... i'd never forget what i see every time i look
into your eyes or what i feel every time you kiss me... not even in a
million years, andrew... my love for you is too big to let that
happen."
"be
sure that the same goes to you, angel. always." smiling, he bent
his head and kissed her lips softly one more time.
their
dinner was a romantic one; andrew had made a reservation for the best
table in the restaurant, which was beautifully decorated with candles
and had a beautiful view. when they had finished desert, he reached
out to caress monica's face. "so... was everything alright?"
"that
was a wonderful night, andrew. everything was just... perfect." she
said, eyeing him with tenderness. andrew stared at her for some
instants, as if trying to gather all his courage to say something
really important. taking a deep
eath, he took her both hands and
kissed each of them.
"monica..."
"yes?"
"there's