Make-Believe Marriage (11 page)

- Do not worry, he likes
Antônio so much that he will certainly love the house - said her assistant
taking her out of her own thoughts.

– I’m happy to see how
well they get along, but I’m afraid that Breno feels threatened with his son’s
relationship and tries to manipulate him against Antônio. – She knew that this
could, in fact, happen because Breno did not like to share attention with
anybody.

– He’s a smart kid and
will know how to separate things – said Carol to calm her down. – Actually, you
have not told me anything else about you guys. -  complained the girl who was
always informed of the events. – Didn’t you have any more of those hot moments?
– she asked maliciously.

– We are trying to keep
the main focus. Only that matters now. - Carol looked at Amanda looking lost to
hear that. We went to a party this weekend and I think I had too much wine and
was, say, rather sexually aggressive and a kiss happened that could easily be
extended to something more, but since he is very wise he had us leave and when
we arrived at my apartment he did not want to come in - said Amanda recalling
what had happened. - But he ended up coming in not to make me uneasy. But I
could see in his eyes that he wanted to leave right away. - The friend wanted
to make a comment, but said nothing to learn more. - Deep inside, he tensed up.
I tried to find out what was actually going on, but he said nothing. I think he
regretted having entered this game. - Amanda said thoughtfully. - I asked if he
wanted to give up and that if he did, I would not blame him. That problem is
not his. - The young girl said nothing just listened to her friend’s story. - I
also said that I would not blame him for any responsibility, but he refused to
give up. I could feel that he was not well with everything just as I am not. Later
when he took my hand to say goodbye, he looked at me so differently that I
froze imagining that he would at any time tell me that he no longer wanted to
continue with this charade, but he said nothing, just took my hands to his
mouth kissing them and left. - ended Amanda, upset for putting Antônio in that
situation.

- If I had such a man
kissing my hands, I would have given him more to kiss. Throw yourself into this
relationship and see how it goes. - "Why did she hire such a crazy
confidant," Amanda thought. - You do not want to see the truth Amanda and
that's too bad - Carol concluded ruefully.

- I would like to have a
little bit of your madness running through my veins - Amanda confided. - You do
not know how hard it is to experience a situation like this, and in addition
know that Breno decided to stop me on the streets to make threats? - She
finished speaking making Carol look at her with a critical eye.

- I did not! Did you tell
me about it? - complained the girl.

- I guess not. I did not
want to bother you with more problems. - Amanda looked at her friend who
criticized her severely with the eyes. - You have given me a lot of crazy
advice, so I preferred not to talk about it. - Amanda wanted to justify.

- My God! Since when
having fun and loving someone is crazy? I know he is the right man for you,
besides you get along better than many couples I know. - The girl really said excited.

- He's the right man for
any woman; however, we are just
friends
. Please, understand! - Amanda
pleaded knowing that if she kept hearing that kind of talk, she would be
convinced and she could not afford it. The two had been friends for so long
that she could not risk that valuable achievement.

- I hope you do not find
out too late that this is the man you have been looking for. - Carol's argument
stirred Amanda.

- If he finds a good woman
I'll be very happy, he deserves it - she said.

- If you find you're in
love I bet you won’t be happy to see him with another woman - Carol replied.

- I said there is no such
possibility Carol. My friendship with him goes beyond carnal desire, it is much
more than that. - Amanda tried to explain.

- Listen well, Amanda,
being with him this friendship has a chance to remain beautiful, but think
about it! If he finds another woman, do you believe it will be the same thing
between you, never! No woman will let this friendship continue as it is. In the
first meeting between the three of you, she will notice how he looks at you and
will do everything she can to drive you apart. I'd do it without a blink, no
matter how little. - Carol said.

- You are creating
illusions. He does not look at me differently; it is you who are seeing malice
in people without them acting that way - censored Amanda. The girl did not have
time to protest; a customer came into the store ending the conversation.

Amanda and Antônio were
waiting at the school gate when a skinny kid came toward them.

- Hi Tony! - said the
child getting into the car after kissing his mother's face.

- How are you big boy? You
seem to have grown taller. If you go on that way, soon you won’t fit in the
car. - The boy smiled happily bringing enormous peace to Amanda’s heart that
was increasingly convinced of the importance of Antônio in his life.

Along the way several
times she could see the curiosity of her child grow. In the new house he would
have more room and comfort for her child’s playful life. Although she knew that
Lucas would have a best childhood if he lived in a house, for security reasons,
she had always chosen to live in apartments, especially after the separation
and this caused some limitations to the little guy that was certainly eager to find
a new location where he could develop.

- We are here! - said
Amanda turning to see the child's reaction.

- It is so big mom! - He
spoke getting out of the car onto the sidewalk. - It has a huge garden. I’ll
get to play there with my friends.

- It was exactly what I
thought by leaving this large recreational area. - The comment pleased mother
and child. It pleased the boy because he knew he could use the area for his
amusement and the mother for Antônio’s desire to please her son.

- Thank you for thinking
of my son. - She thanked when they were going in.

- My pleasure, dear - said
Antônio hugging her. - Amanda did not mind because her son needed to see some
demonstrations of affection between the two that would do great to his
development.

They showed him all the
rooms, leaving the boy's room for last. They knew that the child was not giving
a damn what he saw. His attention was focused on something that would come. They
reached the front door that Lucas so expected and he opened it visibly curious.
The boy came in and watched the details, marveling at what he saw.

- Wow! So many cool toys -
he exclaimed. - Look Mom those dolls that I wanted and you did not buy because
they were too expensive to take the whole collection, now I have them all. The
boy saw the other toys lined up on shelves, the new computer and the beautiful
quilt with children's drawings matching the curtain. In the bathroom he
continued his pilgrimage through the decorated environment.

- My room is all
beautiful. I want to live here today. Can we mother? asked the euphoric child.

- Calm down my son! -
Amanda hugged him. - Soon we will come. Right? - She said letting him go to
make room for him.

- Come with me Lucas -
called Antônio who was watching the scene, with a feeling of achievement. The
boy took his hand and they went outside the house, to the side of the house.

- A swimming pool for me. -
The child was beaming. - There's another big one, too. It is for you and Antônio
and Mom. – He said.

- You needed not bother Antônio. We
could go to a club as we always have. - She said gratefully. On a previous
visit Antônio had not taken her to the outside part leaving the surprise for
both.

- Now you will have two options. - He
said. Amanda could not question his goodness and smiled gratefully.

After the long tour through the house
they decided to leave. They were in the car coming back when the child, for a
brief time, paused his long dialogue with Antônio about the house, and Antônio
decided to give Amanda some news.

- Amanda. I’ll have to go on another
trip to Goiânia for an event and will visit a client that will take me all
week. I must return on Saturday or Sunday. If you need to talk to me I'll be
here at this hotel and on the mobile phone. - he finished handing her a card.

- All right! - Amanda answered.

- When I come back, we'll talk more
about the wedding process. - His dedication that all would go well was immense at
Amanda's eyes. Something that pleased her but also worried her.

- All right. She agreed.

- If you have any idea in the meantime I
would like you to tell me - asked Antônio stopping at the sign on Avenida
Presidente Vargas. He turned to face her and Amanda almost swallowed. She had
never seen Antônio as at that time. He wore dark glasses over his well shaped
nose, over the fleshy and manly mouth. The sun contrast catching on him made
him extremely sexy in her eyes that turned her attention to the movement on the
sidewalks. “Something is not fitting here," she thought.

They paused the conversation a little
and soon arrived at the small building where Amanda and the child lived.

- Bye Tony! - Lucas said while Antonio
put his hand on the boy's head messing up all his hair.

- See you in a few days big boy. -
Antônio replied pretending to organize the child's hair again.

- See you Tony - Amanda spoke in jest.

- I think from now on I prefer you call
me like Lucas does, Tony, the name was very beautiful spoken by you. - The two
of them smiled at their cynicism and Tony left.  

- Mom that house will really be ours? -
asked the confused boy.

- Yes, honey, and soon we will move
there. – One more problem came up to her. Her son had fallen totally in love
with the new house and he wanted to live in it right away. – Let’s go my
darling. Today, we’ll have a nice and big lunch for you to grow strong. –
Mother and son went along hand in hand.

On the following day Amanda was about
her chores at the store when Breno came up.

– Good morning, princess. – He said
coming in.

– Howdy Brian. – Amanda greeting him
ignoring his fake kindness.

- Would you like to spend the weekend
with me on my family’s farm? - Invited Breno approaching her.

- Lucas will be happy if you invite him.
He loves farms. - She replied with critical tone because the invitation was
made in the singular.

- By inviting you I'm including my son -
defended Breno with the usual shattering-heart smile.

- You do not have to invite me and
extend the invitation to your son, but rather the opposite, right? – went on
Amanda, drily.

- You seem a little nervous today
Amanda. I do not remember seeing you that way when we were together. - The
comment almost made him laugh if the situation was not so sad.

- You had very little time for my
problems and I did not like to bother you with mine. Did you understand? - she
said trying to stay calm.

- Are you still wearing that ring? -
Breno criticized her changing the subject.

Of course I am. I'm getting married so
I'm wearing it. - His insistence toward the jewel was making her tired.

- When is the wedding? - He asked
politely.

- In about a month and a half. - She
didn’t have an established date yet, but it would be around that period.

- It's a shame to use your name in a
scam. - He wanted to find evidence that their relationship was not true because
whenever he spoke about that subject he watched her closely.

- Why do you say that whenever you talk
about my marriage? - Amanda wondered indignant at his distrust.

- I know you do not like him, I see it
in your eyes, so why go on with it. - He was sure of his words. He seemed to
know her more than she did.

- Even if I did not love Tony, which is
not true, that would be just a detail, because surely I would learn to love him
and this would not be difficult, which usually does not happen with couples who
marry for love and over time this feeling ceases to exist and will never be the
same. - She was certainly one of them.

- Your point of view is bright, but actually
it does not work as well as you make it sound. - Breno did not understand the
first thing about clean relationships or those without ulterior motives which
made his arguments invalid.

- Did you learn anything about feelings
while you were traveling Breno? - The criticism made him approach her quickly.

- A lot, dear, and I'm dying to show
you. – He wanted to kiss her, but was prevented by Carol who came from inside
the store.

– How are you Breno? – She greeted him
politely.

– Better, impossible, Carol. And you? – He
didn’t seem pleased with her presence.

– I’m great, thanks. -  she said,
leaning on the counter and making it clear she would remain there.

– I’m glad to hear it – said Breno
turning to Amanda. – Gotta go. You’ll hear from me. – He said greeting both
with a slight head gesture.