When I return home after my lovely afternoon with my sister, it’s just after three. I’m greeted by a man with an earpiece and holster in a dark suit just outside the front door.
He extends his hand and we shake. “Good afternoon, Mrs. Giannotti. My name is Raj.”
“Hi, Raj. It’s nice to meet you.”
Raj goes on to explain that Giulio hired him and how he rotates eight-hour shifts with two other men, seven days a week. It’s far safer in this house with high end security.
When I step inside and text Giulio a thank you, he replies with words that make my heart swell. A single rose is laid out on the kitchen counter, beside it is a flute of champagne, and a thin gold wrapped dark chocolate. I bring the chilled glass into the bedroom and take a sip of the bubbly livener. The suite is much brighter than our last with the northern sun brightening the dark, but it’s the large midnight blue box placed on the bed that sparks my interest. A card and a white rose rest next to it, alongside another box situated at the foot of the bed.
I take the card on top of the larger box. It has swirls of vibrant crayons and my lips tug up at my children’s masterpiece. In the center, Giulio’s cursive handwriting reads; Happy Birthday to Our Hero!
I open the card.
HAPPY 28th BIRTHDAY AMORE MIO,
Happy Birthday, Lencia! We hope you’re having a beautiful day! Always know that I will risk it all for you. Our journey this year hasn’t been one without grit, but it has led us to this point right here and for that I am grateful. I am grateful to have you by my side. I am grateful for our children. I am grateful for loving you with no boundaries and all of our beautiful merciful vows.
I love you with all my heart. Here’s to your birthday and many more years to come! Here’s to all my infinite years with you. Darling, here’s to our whole lifetime together.
Tonight it is for us. Us and the twins. These pieces are for you—we hope you like them!
We love you and cannot wait to see you! Happy Birthday into infinity (and beyond!) P.S…We can always rely on our kids for the Toy Story reference, I was peer pressured I tell you, haha!
Yours Always,
Oscar, Slonne, Addilyn, and Giulio xx
I chuckle even more at the last part.
P.S.S You’re almost in my club! Can’t wait for you to be thirty and dirty with me in two years…not that we aren’t the latter already! HAHA, the kids are gone and so I’m just rambling. Ahem…can we kindly hide this from their existence? Thanks, darling! Ciao! ;)
P.S.S.S Hi! Hey! Yes, I’m still here giddy about how much I love you. My heart can’t function without you. You’re my air. My cure. My everything. Ti amo tanto.
I open the first box to the most beautiful cream silk dress. Its entire make is divine. A lacy white thong is underneath the dress and I bite my lip with a growing smirk. There is no bra accompanying Giulio’s gifts and so I take it as an indication not to wear one. The silver shimmering Jimmy Choo heels in the second box complement the dress further.
My phone rings as I step out of the shower.
“Happy birthday, sweetheart! Wow, I cannot believe it!”
“Thank you, Mom. I really appreciate it!”
“I’m so happy you’ve both settled everything! I know it’s still a long road ahead to get Addilyn back, but you’re both stronger together and that’s all that matters. Plus, that house is purely sensational!”
Wait a minute.
How did she know about the house?
Well played, Giulio. Well played.
“He hid the surprise well. Everybody knew except me!”
She laughs joyfully “That’s the exact purpose of a surprise. You don’t know how glad I am you have each other again. You complement each other in the best way.”
My mother stating the very words I feel only reaffirms just how much Giulio and I both want this. “Mom?”
“Yes, my love?”
“I just want to say how grateful I am to have you and Dad in my life. Your unconditional love towards each other made me the woman I am today. Although at times I’m not perfect, I think I have found my rhythm. It’s important to me.”
“I see you’re blooming now for the better. I’m so proud of you and love you so much.”
“Love you too, Mama. Oh, is Dad back from Vienna? I tried calling and texting but it’s been switched off and I haven’t gotten a reply yet.”
“The idiot lost his phone the other day and needed to get an emergency one. He has a new number, but it won’t be for long as he’ll be back next week. He’ll be sure to call you soon with these time zones. Such a typical move he’d make. I send him to Vienna to see his brother after so many years and he’s in such a hurry to sustain twin telepathy he loses his belongings. Talk about men driving us crazy!”
I smile to myself. “But we love them for it in the end.”
“That we do. Anyway, I’ll let you go. Enjoy your dinner!”
“How do you know about that?”
“Now, Valencia. Don’t be jealous of our mother and son-in-law relationship. I know more than you think. For example, what exactly he’ll do after dinner.” I gasp but before I can say another word the line goes dead with my mother’s laugh drawing a smile to my lips.
There’s
