Make-Believe Marriage (12 page)

– You didn’t tell me he could be so nice.
– joked Carol.

– I also found his attitude strange at
some moments; I still don’t know why, or I know and do not want to see. – She
felt he seemed to be very confident about her battles.

– It is all bark and no bite. – joked
Carol.

– Sometimes, by believing that, many are
bitten when they least expect. It is better not to take that popular saying to
the letter. – She knew him enough to know that when he felt demeaned, he could
have irrational attitudes.

- If you say so, who am I to doubt, you
are the one who knows him. - Carol said raising her hands in self-defense. Amanda
agreed with her before returning to finish what she had left unfinished due to
the arrival of the ex-husband.

In the late afternoon when they were
preparing to start to organize the store for its closure a well-dressed man
came looking for Amanda.

- Could I speak to Mrs. Amanda Castro
Gonçalves? - He asked. Upon hearing her name she went into the other room.

- What can I do to help? - Amanda asked meeting
him.

- I am a bailiff and have a document for
you. - He took some papers out of his briefcase and handed them to her. She
checked and signed returning them to the man. Amanda thanked him and remained
silent until the bailiff left the store.

- He left here very calmly and
self-confident. - She said looking at the envelope in her hands.

- Did he fulfill his threat? - Her
assistant asked looking doubtful.

– Yes. - Amanda replied looking away
thinking about the next steps. - Now it's working for me so that on the big day
I can put Breno in his due place. - Amanda expected for that news, but having
it confirmed was a bit more painful for her.

- You will win. I'm sure - comforted her
friend.

- That's what I hope Carol. I will fight
for my son – she answered more confidently.

Amanda was looking at the piece of paper
when her cell phone rang. It seemed that her guardian angel knew the right time
when she needed him.

– Hi Tony. – She said trying to smile.

– How are you Amanda? – he asked, happy
to hear her call him the way her son did. Something in the tone of her voice,
however, warned him. – Anything the matter Amanda? – Tony was a very observing
man and he used to notice Amanda’s changes of mood whenever they happened. It
was not normal for her to have these oscillations, but since her ex-husband had
returned, she usually did.

– A bailiff brought news that I didn’t
want to receive. – She said forcing her throat for her voice to come out as
normal as possible.

- If you need a good lawyer I have a
friend who is already familiar with the matter, I have been talking to him
about it. - He had not expected for such a move on the part of the other man so
soon, but Tony knew that Breno was uneasy to realize he was missing his
opportunity to have what he wanted again. He needed to keep up a good player
too so that he and Amanda had the deserved victory.

- I'll take yes – she thanked.

Are you all right? You want me to come
back today? - Tony asked hoping to year a yes, because it would be terrible to
be away from her at a time like that.

- No need to worry Tony. Everything is
fine and we can’t do anything for now, so do not change your plans or I’ll be
upset if you do. - She would not bother him any more than necessary. I would
not also falter for a brainless idiot who did not know the value of what he had
and that now he thinks he has the right to coerce her to live with him.

- All right, if you need me, call at
anytime, got it? - he asked

- I'll call - said Amanda with her
energies better charged.

– Amanda? – He called after a brief
pause.

– Yes. – Amanda felt an enormous joy
every time she heard him say her name. There was such respect in Tony’s voice
that made her warm. That friendship would win the barriers of a fake wedding,
yes, it would.

– He won’t get what he wants. Believe
that. – That caress almost drove her to tears. Amanda kept firm, although her
wish were to fall into his arms and cry. How not to love such a man? Yes, she
did love him to the fullest, where sex and ownership would never understand a
pure feeling such as that between them.

– I do believe. – Thanks for the great
support you have never denied me. You are very special. – she said.

– You and your son are special. –
Hearing him talk about her son, a huge joy took over her. She would be strong
and would act within reason. The child’s well-being was at stake. – Kisses,
take care! – Amanda heard and also said goodbye going toward Carol.

– Isn’t that man too much? – Carol asked
euphoric for the information.

– I never doubted it – defended Amanda. –
She knew well that any woman in her right mind would be totally sure of it, she
was one of those.

– Yeah, but there is nothing to hold
him. - Amanda kept quiet looking at her friend who regretted seeing her sad
look. – I’m sorry, friend. Here you are full of problems and I stand here
criticizing you – she apologized by hugging her. – But being your friend, I am
entitled to tell you this, enjoy that chance you got, analyze your feelings and
do not let yourself be carried away by any foolish fear. Men like Antônio can’t
be found easily and one should not miss the chance when luck grants us with
such a specimen. I can say that because I know how difficult it is to find one.
– The sweetness in Carol’s voice made her happy, but also worried.

– All right, deep down, I believe I do
deserve the scolding. – Hand in hand with her assistant, she confesses. – I
cannot stay here and cry for what Breno did. This is certainly what he wants. I
will get ready to confront him and win this game. – She knew that it would
depend more on her than on her ex-husband, because he would be the victim, not
having his son with him and it was up to Amanda to make him what he already was,
the villain, the bad guy. – I will pay more attention to this relationship, as
well. Maybe I am not the one seeing the obvious, she confessed.

– That’s a girl - encouraged Carol.

After that day energy recharged, Amanda became
less tense and could work more peacefully. When she went to pick up the child
at school her heart hurt again by the likely loss that she could have. Her
child came quickly to meet her and they kissed as usual.

- Hi, my darling! How was your class? -
she asked returning the smile received from the child when he let go of her
neck.

- It was cool mom. I did many tasks
today – he said merrily.

- This is good, that way you learn more
and improve your reading. - Mother and son had always been close and she wished
this to continue. Taking his hand, they went their way together.

- Mother do you remember Arthur, my
classmate? - She said yes. - He called me to sleep over his house tomorrow -
said the boy. - I invited him to sleep at home, but his mother said that this
time it had to be at his house because he already slept at ours. May I sleep
over there? - He pleaded more than asked, which left her helpless.

- You know I do not like you to spend
many hours away from home son. - She said realizing he would insist more.

- But he already slept over and it was
really cool. If his mother let him go it is because there was no problem; at
his home there is no problem either mom.

- Do you really want to go, my love? -
She asked knowing what the answer would be.

- Yes I do. He told me he has a lot of
cool toys and we are going to play with them. - Lucas pulled his
wheeled-backpack of the Spider-Man, animated character he loved so much and
sometimes jumped it around little, knocking it to the ground.

- All right. You can go, but remember,
it's not your home and you should behave like a good boy - advised his mother.

- I am a good boy Mommy – he meant it
while Amanda took the lunch box of the same character from his back and placed
it on the back seat, next to his seat.

- I know you are, my love, but it never
hurts to remember, right? - she said hugging him. The boy went in and after
Amanda helped him fasten his seat belt, she went to the driver’s seat and they
left.

At home Amanda called her son’s
classmate’s mother to agree on the night over; then, she prepared dinner while
listening to the child tell her, without forgetting a single detail, how this
adventure would be. Lucas was like her, although sometimes he was a shy boy. He
was determined and intelligent. He had always been one of the highlights of the
classroom. Even in the period when there was the separation of his parents. At
the time Amanda was attentive to his possible changes at school and his mood at
home. In many cases of family separation small children tend to turn aggressive
and aloof. For this reason she watched him closely, but for her joy he only
became more standoffish for a short period of time, but soon came back to life
again. At first, Amanda studied the possibility of having psychological
counseling, but a professional acquaintance of her parents observed the child
and came to the conclusion that he was okay. She should only be attentive to
drastic changes that fortunately did not happen and she could breathe in
relief. After the child fell asleep she went to her room where she showered and
rested as well.

On the following morning, Amanda stayed
home taking care of her son because he would spend the rest of the afternoon
and evening out. She left him at school and gave him the same advice she had
given the day before.

- Do not be stubborn with Arthur’s
mother. Do not eat a lot of goodies and leave everything tidy. - Amanda guided
realizing a spout in the boy’s mouth.

- I know mother. - The boy already knew
every word.

- I'll see you tomorrow dear. - She
hugged him giving him a long kiss on his cheek. It was not very good to demand
a lot of him, there is time for everything. She thought, standing away from the
boy.

- No one will take you away from me love
– she said quietly observing the child going into the school waving at her.

When Amanda arrived at the store, she
found out that Tony had called.

- He called to see how you were doing. I
said you looked good and did not come to the shop today because you were taking
care of Lucas who was going to sleep out, and you as a mother was preparing to
set him free. - Amanda smiled at her comment. Carol was with her always and
knew how attached she was with the child, but for her this was normal. After
all, what woman would not act like this with a piece of herself?

 - I so wanted him to stay with me, but
you should have seen his eyes pleading for me to allow him to go. I could not
deny - she concluded happier for letting her child go.

- He needs these findings. It will help
him grow more independently and you will have more time for yourself – she
advised.

- Time to be alone at home! - she
exclaimed annoyed by the lonely night she would have.

- If you want, you can come over. We can
go to the mall to watch a movie - invited Carol.

- No, thank you. I have many movies and
lots of popcorn at home. - The girl heard it all looking at Amanda with a
negative sign and returning to work.

- I do not know why you insist on being
alone, if it is not Antônio, at least another person. A cool company, who
cheers you up. Just that and you would feel a lot better.

- I can imagine that company. - Amanda
said smiling.

- If you, yourself, are not enough for
you to be well, then, yes, you should look for something pleasurable. There is
nothing wrong with that.

- I'm fine alone. - Amanda said without
much conviction and her friend made a negative sign.

- No, you’re not. Something is missing
friend. - she heard her say in a soft voice and with such certainty that it
messed with Amanda. Would it be so obvious that she was not happy with herself
for some time now? She remained silent reviewing the cash book until the end of
the day.

- If you change your mind call me -
Carol said as she was leaving the store.

Amanda organized her things and went
home to enjoy her solitude. There she took her bath, prepared a quick snack and
watched TV. Since she was not interested in the programs, she sat on the porch
and watched the street until she heard the door bell ring. Concerned thinking
it had something to do with her son she ran to answer.

- Antônio?! -She said surprised. - What
are you doing here, were you not returning tomorrow? - She asked.

- I anticipated some things and could
come back before. - He explained coming in after she invited him in.

That’s good! - said Amanda still
surprised, but pleased with her friend's presence.

Tony waited for her to close the door
and came close touching her face and embracing her. That friendly comfort was
all she needed. She did not miss any ordinary man, as Carol had said, she
missed that friend.

- I'm sorry you'll have to go through
another ordeal. - Tony said in her ear. - I missed you. - He confessed
caressing her nose. - Making her smile.