The Wedding Night

Melody POV

I was ready to face my past but on getting to the two-storey orphanage home where I grew up, I found it hard to go inside.

Was I ready to face my past? Was I ready to find out about my family?

Those were the endless thoughts that filled my head as I stared up at the building but like always, Lorena encouraged me to overcome my fears.

“It’s going to be okay, I’m always here.” She assured me.

“What about me?” Hope pouted and I found it cute.

“We are always here,” Lorena corrected herself. I smiled at both of them. I was happy I had them because I couldn’t do without them. After Giovanni gave orders that I shouldn’t come to the office, I spent three days recuperating and planning on how I was going to face my past.

“Let’s go in,” Lorena’s voice bought me out of my thought. “è tempo di affrontare il tuo passato, qualunque cosa accada, lo supereremo(it time to face your past, whatever happens, we will overcome it)” it be long since I heard her speak Italian and hearing it again bought a smile to my face.

Its time.

Together with my family, we walked into the orphanage home. The serenity around the place was overwhelming, the children played happily in the playground and it made me remember the past when I played around with sister Mary.

“Hello,” the receptionist greeted us warmly when she sees us. After I came back to Mecianda and visited the orphanage home, I made sure to come to visit once in two weeks. It was my home and I’ll never forget that.

“Hi,” I replied her with a smile. “Where is sister Mary? I need to see her.” I requested. The expression on the young nun’s face soon changes to a sad one.

“Come with me,” she instructed. Lorena and I exchanged looks before following her. She took us to a room I always recognized as sister Mary’s. When she opened the door, the first thing I saw was a body on a bed. It was sister Mary laying on the bed with her eyes closed. “Sister Mary had been sick for a while now. The doctor said it was due to old age.”

“Why didn’t you inform me?” I almost shouted but lowered my voice when I saw sister Mary moved.

“Melody,” I heard sister Mary called my name with a weak tone.

“Sister Mary,” I rushed to her side. “Why didn’t you tell me?” I cried.

“I’m fine my daughter,” she assured me. Her hands found my hair and she caressed it gently like she always did when I was a child. “My beautiful child.”

“Mother,” I cried out and hugged her tightly. “Mother,” I repeated.

Sister Mary wrapped her arms around my neck and we both cried in each other’s arms. I wasn’t ready to let go of her yet. “I’m sorry my child,” she whispered.

A few minutes later, we sat down on the chairs in sister Mary’s room. After our break down, I asked sister Mary about my past. She heaved a sigh before she started the story.

“I knew you will come to ask me about this one day.” She smiled at me and I returned the smile. “It was a rainy day, I saw you outside the gate of the orphanage home. You were trembling. I helped you inside and when I asked about your name, you didn’t remember. ”

“But how? I had a memory of my family getting into an accident. I thought my sister and I lived here and she got adopted. ”

Sister Mary shook her head. “No, I never met your sister. There was one thing I noticed that night.” She said.

“What was that?” Lorena asked.

“You had a cut on your head and you were bleeding,” she answered. “It was as if you escape from somewhere and it was the truth. I did some research and found out that your parent died and you and your sister lived with your aunt. I paid a visit to your aunt to confront her on why she let you out on that day.” Sister mary paused and coughed out. “Sorry, ” she excused herself and coughed again.

“I found out that’s your aunt was a cruel woman, ” she continued. “She was not happy with you or your sister. I later found out that your sister ran away from her home. I reported her to the law but they couldn’t do anything about it because there was no evidence. I tried looking for your sister but I never found her so I presumed she died.”

The story was a sad one because I cried throughout whereas Lorena who I thought to be strong also teared up. “How old was I at that time?” I asked her because I had always I was bought to the orphanage when I was an infant.

“You were just eight years old at that time.” That’s means I stayed with my aunt for three years before running away. I didn’t believe my sister died so I decided to look for the aunt who caused our separation

“Do you know where that my aunt lives?” I questioned.

“Melody, what are you thinking of doing?” Lorena asked.

“I need to meet that cruel woman. I have this feeling that my sister is still alive.” I blurted out.

“Hell no,” Lorena objected.

“You promised to help me out, Lorena. Don’t back out now when I’m closed to the truth.” I begged. Lorena looked away and didn’t bother replying. “Mother, I need to find her. I need to know if my sister is still alive.” I begged.

“Very well then,” sister mary agreed and I couldn’t help but smile. “I hope you find your sister.”

“Thank you, sister Mary,” I sobbed when I remembered she was going to die soon.

“Don’t look at me like that, I’m not dying yet. I need to see you bring your husband and possibly your sister before I passed. ” it sounded like a joke but I knew she was serious about it. Sister Mary was a persistent woman.

We spent more time with her in which Lorena made sure she avoided me. When we left the orphanage home and got home, I decided to confront her. “Are you mad because I said I was going to look for my aunt?” I questioned her.

“Don’t be ridiculous Melody. That woman abused you. She might do the same again.”

“But you would be with me right?”

“What?”

“You promised we will always be together so I need not be afraid because I have you and Hope. ”

Lorena burst into laughter and pulled me into a hug. “I can’t stay mad at you for a long time. I’m going to help you find your sister. If your stupid aunt tries anything stupid, we will kick her ass.” She joked and I found myself laughing at her dry joke.

In times like this, the one person I trust and have confidence in was Lorena. She had always been my rock. I found it strange that we had a strong connection but You can’t question how life works.

*****

Giovanni POV

“Your idea sucks. If we follow your plan then it going to be the end.” Kendra argued.

“You think yours is better.” Lorenzo glared at her.

“Sure. I’m the brainy one here. You are just….” She scoffed and looked away.

“What are you implying you, redhead lady?” Lorenzo retorted.

“All I’m saying is that your plan sucks. You have a problem with that green eyes boy?” Kendra fired back.

“Enough!” I shouted at both of them. “Please try to be civil both of you.” I pleaded because I was getting tired of their useless conversation.

“Your brother’s plan sucks and I’m trying to help him realize that.”

“As if yours is any better,” Lorenzo retorted and their argument started all over again.

I heaved a sigh and looked at Dennis who just shrugged his shoulders. I stood up and paced around my office. Its been three days since I was discharged and since I last saw or heard from Melody. For those three days, I made sure Dennis was secretly around her and my daughter. I just wanted everything to end so I could reunite with my family again. I wanted to make everything right so I invited Kendra and Lorenzo to help with the plan in taking my father down. Now that we knew that he was the attacker, we needed a plan to stop him but Kendra and Lorenzo weren’t helping. Ever since I introduced them to one another, they had always been on each other’s throats. “Guys!!!!” I shouted to gain their attention. They both stopped talking and faced me.

“Stop arguing!” I yelled again. “If we keep arguing, it won’t get us anywhere.” Kendra and Lorenzo both looked at each other and quickly turned away. “We need a plan to bring my father down,” I said to both of them. “Lorenzo, we can’t just hand him over him to the police. We have no evidence and Kendra,” I turned to face her. “Your plan is good but it’s not exactly the best.”

Kendra raised her brows and folded her arms. “So Mr smarty pant, what is the plan?”

“Here is how it going to be,” I explained to them. “He is surely going to attack again. The man is a maniac so we go with that plan.”

“That’s a good plan” Kendra commented.

“confronting him is like a death sentence. You don’t know what that man is capable of. ” Lorenzo also commented. “I think your plan is great Giovanni but if we are going to go by your plan, we need to make sure no one gets hurt.”

“I understand you and I promised that no one is going to get hurt.”

“Alright, that’s enough.” Kendra said, “when is it going to be?” She asked.

“Tomorrow night. After that, I’ll need you and Lorenzo to work together in trailing my father. I need…..”

Kendra interrupted and pointed to Lorenzo. “You want me and him…” She eyed Lorenzo and then turned to face me. “I’m not during this with him.”

“Do I look like I want anything to do with you, ?” Lorenzo fired back.

“Enough!” I shouted. “Please, it is just a plan and once everything is over, we can resume our normal lives. Please,” I begged.

They both looked at each other before slowly nodding in agreement. “Thank you.”

“What about Melody? Is she not going to be aware of this plan?” Kendra questioned.

She was right about letting melody about the plan but I didn’t want her to be involved in my family mess. I needed to settle this between the family. “I don’t want to involve her in anything,” I replied.

“I agree with Giovanni,” Lorenzo agreed earned a slap on the back from Kendra. ” This is our family business and involving her will put her in danger.”

“I’m ready to help you all anytime.” Kendra pointed out.

I smiled at her and instead of returning it, she glared at me. “What?”

“Can’t believe you just smiled?” She said in disbelief. “You remind me of someone.”

“A boyfriend?”

“Eeew, ” she said in disgust. “He is a friend and also a family.” She smiled as she talked about him. “He is just like you. Acting strong but deep down, he is lonely and hurt,” she said and I thought about it.

Was I lonely and hurt?

I cleared my throat and looked away when the tension was getting high. She was right when she said that I pretend to be strong.

“Coffee anyone?” Lorenzo broke the silence.

“Yes please,” Kendra was the first to reply. “Iced Americano please,” she smiled at Lorenzo.

I thought about the plan and if it works out then Melody and I can be together again. I was going to make sure the plan works