Page 119 of My Heart's Doctor

Although William wasn’t very happy about it, that night I met with my friends. Sylvia let us know she would be getting off work very late, so we decided to meet at my apartment. I prepared dinner there and waited for them.

Orson was the first to arrive.

“Tell me right now how it is that you’re going to marry Cavaller!” he ordered, as soon as he entered my apartment. “I don’t understand anything, I’m completely shocked.”

“You’re so impatient,” I said, smiling, as I closed the door and headed to the kitchen.

“Where are you going?”

“To the kitchen to finish making the salad. Come with me and we can chat there,” I suggested, as I started walking and he followed me.

“Spill it already,” he urged me, while opening the fridge, grabbing a small bottle of beer, and sitting on a stool at the kitchen counter looking at me expectantly.

“You knew we had gotten back together and...” The doorbell rang, interrupting me, and Orson made a face of annoyance.

“For crying out loud! Why is Sylvia always so late?” he protested.

“Go open the door while I continue with this.”

“And now you’re giving me orders,” he said, leaving the beer on the counter and going to the door as quickly as he could.

“What do you mean you’re getting married?!” Sylvia shouted as she came toward me to greet me.

“Orson, bring Sylvia a beer and let’s go sit on the terrace because I have everything ready. Take the salad and I’ll bring the chicken.”

“All you’ve done is give me orders,” he protested, but did what I asked.

I had a nice terrace with outdoor table and chairs set up, and that’s where we arranged everything. The table already had everything needed for dinner because I had set it up before they arrived.

“I’m so surprised by the news that I spent all day at work watching the clock because I was dying to be here.”

“Let’s sit down and enjoy this wonderful night. Look how beautiful the moon is,” I said, nodding toward the moon since my hands were full with trays.

“Look what love does! She’s become romantic,” Sylvia said, letting out a laugh. “Since when do you talk about the moon and wonderful nights?” she asked, still laughing.

“Next thing you know she’ll have little hearts floating around her head,” Orson said, looking at me with a frown. “But I warn you, if you start with all that sensitive mushy crap you call romanticism, I’m leaving and you’ll becomenon gratasto me.” He sat down in one of the chairs with a furrowed brow. “The last thing I need is to start hearing you talk about the moon, stars, little hearts, flowers, and butterflies fluttering around. How disgusting!” he exclaimed, making the same face and causing us to burst out laughing.

“Sit there and we’ll serve ourselves. Start the story already because I can’t take the suspense anymore,” Sylvia said.

Under their attentive gaze, I began to tell them how William had proposed to me and his words and attitude regarding my inability to have children. My friends gave me their full attention; I think they weren’t even breathing, only my voice could be heard. At the end of my story, I looked at them, waiting for the comments I knew wouldn’t be long in coming.

“Do you love him very much?” Sylvia asked.

“The love I feel for him is immense. When I fell in love with William, I realized that I hadn’t loved Lino, I just thought I did,” I sighed. “I think Lino showed me a reality very different from what I experienced with my mother and sister, and the affection he gave me was much more than what I received at home and enough for me to think that I loved him and that he loved me. Obviously, I was wrong about both things.”

“If you’re happy, then I’m happy too,” Sylvia said, taking my hand. “I don’t know if I’ve ever seen you so excited and happy, and that’s what you’ve always deserved. Congratulations, friend.”

“Thank you, Sylvia. You guys are my family and I needed to share this with you and know your opinion,” I said, and looked at Orson who was still looking at me seriously, but hadn’t given his opinion.

“Orson, what do you think?” I asked.

“As Sylvia said, you deserve to be immensely happy, and if Cavaller is the one who offers you that happiness, I’ll have no choice but to accept it,” he stated, and brought the beer bottle to his mouth for a long drink.

“And?” I asked, because I had the feeling he hadn’t finished saying everything he felt.

He looked at me and shook his head

“I just hope that man realizes what an amazing woman he has, because if not, I’ll make sure to let him know. You know you can count on me for anything you need, and this time I won’t be as inattentive as I was during your first marriage. At the first tear I see, I’m going to beat the crap out of him. You’re my sister and I won’t let him hurt you.”