Make-Believe Marriage (18 page)

– Let’s go home, darling –
he said, finding it hard to be apart from her.

– I’ll end up getting used
to making love with you at these unheard of places. – She said caressing his naked
chest.

– That would be wonderful.
– Tony sat up and returned to the driver’s seat. Amanda then went to the
rider’s seat.

They went into the house
together, but not touching each other. The bad atmosphere had returned between
them. Tony seemed worried with her silence. Amanda stopped at the bathroom
door, thoughtful. After a brief sigh, she turned and called him.

– Come! – He watched her
silently, without any reaction, but when she raised her hand, he followed to
the bathroom trying to disguise his thrill.

– Do you know what you are
doing, Amanda? – He asked, in anguish.

– What am I doing Tony? – She
pretended she did not understand the question, opening his pants.

– You must have noticed
that I want you a lot. That I have always wanted. So do not tempt me, girl – he
threatened with his eyes on fire.

– Show me how much you
want me – she asked in her hoarse voice.

Tony took the soap and
began to scrub it down her body slowly stopping at some curves to get close to
her private parts. When he touched her, he abandoned the soap brushing his hand
against her soft skin covered by a small amount of hair. Amanda moaned when she
felt the strong touch on her private parts and offered herself for him to take
her. Without waiting for another submission gesture of hers, Tony had her
feeling the pleasure of water falling on the moving bodies. The dance took
place for a few minutes until he wrapped her in a towel taking her to the bed
where they continued to make love until total climax in that passion that
consumed them more and more. Sleep dominated them and they slept embraced.

When she woke up, Amanda
saw him asleep beside her. Since she had been touched by him, Amanda found
herself a new woman. No reservations or shyness, she gave in to the man she
never thought she would come to love. Her body hurt to his touch and her mind
did not prevail when she was close to Tony. Was she falling in love with him? She
wondered when she realized he had woken up.

- Are you sorry? - He asked
watching her.

- No - she said with
conviction. - Just confused, I think this is normal; after all, we remained so
long as best friends and now only a spark is enough for us to be in each
other's arms.

- Do not worry so much
dear. We are adults and there is nothing to prevent us from being together,
then why not try? - He mentioned.

- What if all this does
not work at all. What will happen to us? - She asked looking at the ring he
touched in her hand.

- Let it happen. Do not
worry about something you cannot control. - He kept touching her hand giving
her comfort. - Forget this fear that is blinding the possibilities. - Tony was
aware that she, unlike him, needed time to accept the recent events. He always
knew what he wanted and why he married her, since Amanda had only one goal to have
such an agreement and he would wait for her to be ready, as he had always done
so far.

- I only wish that none of
us gets out of this relationship hurt. - She said knowing it impossible not to
get hurt; Tony treated her like she always wanted to be treated by a man. He
respected and loved her. Now she was fully aware of what her friend Carol meant
when she said that he was perfect for her. Tony was not perfect just for her
but for any woman who wanted real love.

Tony, who was sitting, lay
down again beside her, at her request, and they remained there for a long time.
He knew she wanted him, but it would only be up to Amanda to decide their
relationship.

The next day, when Amanda
arrived at work, Carol handed her an envelope.

- It came yesterday – she
informed. Amanda opened the mail reading its contents.

- There will be a hearing
next week. We will solve the pending issues now in the morning as I will
probably not return in the afternoon - said Amanda to her employee picking up
the phone to call her lawyer.

Chapter
X

Days before the hearing
Breno was back bothering Amanda. He seemed to notice when she was alone to put
his plans into practice.

— Hello! - he said getting
into the store.

- Breno, you decided to fulfill
your insane promise right? - Amanda was upset by his reaction. That was the
first time she met him after the news.

- I warned you I would do
it, Amanda, if you did not cooperate. - His tone of voice was natural and
peaceful as if everything was in perfect order

- You know you will not
win this. You’ve gotta be very foolish to believe that you can have custody of
a child to whom you were never actually a father. - She was very upset and so
did not mind her words.

- Just tell me you’ll be
back and I’ll withdraw the process. - Breno approached the counter where she
was. - We have a lot to live yet, my love. Do not throw away that chance we're
having. - He got close enough and got hold of her arms, holding her. - If you
do not come back to me I'll make your life so miserable you never imagined
possible, you know? - he threatened with anger in his eyes.

- Feel free you
irresponsible disgusting being. You did not know how to value what you had and
now think you have the right to come and get it back as if nothing had
happened. - Amanda tried to pull away, but failed. - I simply do not keep you
from seeing Lucas because unfortunately you are his father and even though this
does not make a whole lot of difference, I need to respect that, but do not
push me because I can change my mind. - He still held her, but she would not
surrender as he seemed to expect.

- You will not endure my
presence and soon he will leave you, I'm sure. You’ll come running back to me
and I will accept of course, because you’re mine and always will be. - Breno
bent over to kiss her, but before it happened Amanda managed to get loose and
slapped him on the face. - I love brave women. You should have done this before
and I would be in love long before. - He smiled stroking the place that had
been red.

- Where's your self-esteem
Breno? Did you throw it in the trash as you did with our marriage? - Amanda was
surprised by the man's lack of character. He seemed to get worse and worse.

- Listen to what I say
Amanda. There is not a man who loves you more than me. If you do not do as I
tell you willingly, it will have to be some other way, my love, and do not want
to see you suffer, understand that. - He came up again.

- Get out of here or I
will not answer for myself. I’ll go to court and demand that you keep your
distance. - She threatened him.

- You would not do that to
the father of your child. - He stood still analyzing her.

- Pay and see what
happens. You're starting to push the boundaries of the acceptable and I will
not allow it. You must respect me, understand? - He rushed to her and pinned
her to the wall holding her neck.

- Your luck is that I want
you too much and so I cannot harm you, but I can change, one never knows. - He
kissed her and when he least expected it, Amanda bit on his lip. - This way,
I'll love you even more my beautiful. - He let her go and when he saw, Carol
was coming hastily.

- Let her go, Breno! Or
I'll break your face. - The girl approached him without fear.

- I thought you had an
employee and not a security guard, Amanda. - He said, walking away.

- Whatever I am, know that
if Amanda is not in court to make a complaint against you, I will go myself and
will even tell her husband that you are harassing her. Then, I want to see the
macho man there take the hit. Are you willing to continue the harassment? -
Carol remained serious as Amanda had never seen. - You know what a husband is
capable of when another man starts to upset his wife. If I were you, I’d get
smart. - Breno looked at her pretending superiority, but she saw doubt in his
eyes.

- We were just talking. You're
too dramatic Carol. - He remarked smiling.

- Wise up Breno. You have
lost your space. Find another fool to deceive. - The man looked at her
seriously and left without saying goodbye.

- Your luck is that he is
nothing but a coward, but be smart Amanda, put this guy in his place.

I have put up with him so
far because of my son, Carol, but I will put him in his place. Enough playing
the good girl.

– Will you tell Antônio
what happened here? – Carol asked still seriously.

– No. He needs not to
worry about it. Let’s leave it as it is and in case I need to, I’ll talk to him
and go to court. For now, I think it was enough for him. This will be the last
chance I’ll give Breno. – She said confidently.

– I do hope so because it
is the second time that he threatens you. Even though he is weak, it’s best not
to give him space. – Her friend said, worried.

– I won’t, Carol. – That
was the limit and Amanda would no longer think about her son’s father. Breno
did not deserve so much.

Chapter
XI

Amanda and her attorney
were talking when Tony came in.

– You did not have to
leave work, Tony. We’ve made quite some progress with our defense – she said
thanking for his dedication.

– I would not have much to
do, so I left earlier – Tony said and greeted his friend. – How are you
Henrique? – The attorney greeted him back friendly and they moved on with the
discussion.

– What have you got to
tell us about this case, Henrique? – asked Tony.

– I can assure you I see
no reason for Amanda’s ex-husband to have filed a custody request, his chances
are next to none. – Amanda was more relieved with the attorney’s comment. – The
child is very well taken care of, has good examples at home. What would have
led him to this? – questioned the attorney.

– We believe it was to try
to force Amanda back living with him - informed Tony.

– An emotional blackmail.
Interesting. We can use this in your favor in court. The judge will understand
that he wants you and uses the child as a tool to get what he wishes. The
attorney made all due notes and they continuing setting up the argument that
they would present so that Amanda kept the custody for good.

That week, Tony and Amanda
had no time for the two of them. He did not come for her so she could quietly
settle the issue on the custody and so she would have time to think about them.
Amanda observed the intention and thanked him for the gesture. She was in no
condition to settle two such complex issues at the same time. Her son was a
priority, but she always found time to think of both. Breno had left her alone
as she wished and all went well.

On the day of the hearing,
Amanda arrived on time to avoid unnecessary talks with her ex-husband. However,
when she arrived, he was already waiting near the entrance.

– There is still time,
Amanda. It only depends on you. – He added with a calm and self-confident
voice.

– We shall talk inside
Breno. – She said turning to the attorney who resumed the subject they were
debating.

They were summoned and
during all questioning that the judge made to the father, she saw a man that
reminded nothing of the man she had lived with. He behaved like a caring and
worried father about the child. Amanda did not make use of low tactics with
Breno, but her arguments were sufficient to provide her with the final custody.
As she expected, the judge knew Breno’s family and did not want to issue his
final judgment affirming that a social assistant would be visiting the house
where the child lived, as well as the father’s house, and then provide a final
sentence. On the way out, Breno tried to talk to her, but when he saw Tony
approaching, he skidded away.

– How was it, honey? – He
asked, embracing her.

– It is all in my favor;
yet, the judge preferred to decide after a social assistant visits our house
and Lucas’s father’s house. – Tony picked up a folder she had in her hands and
took it with him to facilitate walking together.

– It is a normal attitude
when it comes to the well-being of a child. It shall certainly be favorable to
you. – He said kissing her forehead.

- The lawyer said it is won
already, but we should wait for a response until who knows when, troubled. -
She said hugging him.

They said goodbye to the
lawyer and went home together. That night, like the previous ones, Tony did not
reach out to her, he was aware that she would not feel like it. He would let
her decide when it would be time for the two of them.