Monica
Family Business
Unexpectedly, Paris and I became friends. Nonno would invite him every Saturday for dinner and he didn't refuse once. Nonno likes him very much that he would treat him as his own grandson.
"Thank you for the dinner, Signor," Paris said to my Nonno.
We are complete around the dining table. Nonno is on his usual spot on the top while Nonna is on his right. Paris sat on the left side and I am beside him, minding my own business.
"No, thank you for not refusing this invitation. I know how busy you are but you still slip this event into your schedule." Nonno said.
"It is an honor, Signor Carluccio. I am a big fan of your business. Monica knows about it." Paris proclaimed while pointing at me.
That's when they got my attention.
"We've been talking about wines and business, Nonno." I played with my fork.
"Oh, that's great. Having the same interest will not be difficult for your relationship in the future."
I didn't understand what Nonno have said.
We continue eating while Paris and Nonno talked most of the time at the dinner table. My Nonna solemnly speaks and she doesn't want to interrupt their conversation so we just stayed quiet.
Only the clinking of our spoon and fork and the plate.
"So Paris, what do you think of my granddaughter?" Nonno suddenly asked.
"I think she's a great person. We have only known each other for one year but she's a nice and very sophisticated lady. We shared the same interest in many things that's why we are comfortable with each other." I just listened to what Paris has said.
"Do you like her?"
I choked by my saliva as to what Nonno have asked Paris. Paris immediately handed me the water that he even poured into my glass. I accepted it and drank immediately. Paris, on the other hand, stroked my back to add to the relief that I was hoping for.
"E una domanda strana, Nonno." I said when I relieved myself from choking.
I just got shocked by the strange question that Nonno asked Paris. He just spits it out of the blue.
"No, it's not. I just wanted to know if Paris is really interested in you." Nonno's stare was focused on Paris.
I just need to clarify this to Paris later.
"Si Signor. Mi piace molto la tua Monica. Da quando abbiamo avuto una conversazione per la prima volta, sapevo da me stesso di essere rimasto colpito." Paris said.
Did I hear it right? Am I hearing a confession about love right now?
"E che progetti hai per lei?" Nonno asked him about his plans for me.
"Nonno, per favore, fermati!" I butted in.
I don't want Paris to feel uncomfortable.
"I wanted to talk about this with Monica first. I don't want to do things that might shock her or make her feel uncomfortable. I don't want her to feel that around me." Paris looked at me with his tender eyes.
Oh, no.
"I just want to know because you see, she's my only granddaughter. One of a kind. I want the best for her." Nonno said pleasantly while looking at me.
We finally finished eating so I took Paris for a walk in our garden. We both have a glass of wine in our hands while we are slowly walking.
I can still imagine to this hour the sudden confrontation at the dinner table. I don't know how Paris will feel the next time he comes home. I'm thinking now about how I'm going to start talking to him about that.
"The dinner was amazing," Paris broke the silence between us.
"Yeah, those are my favourites," I answered while still nervous.
"Yeah,"
"Yeah,"
We both said.
There was silence between us again so I just sipped from the glass of wine I was holding. We just kept walking through our labyrinth-like garden.
"What happened at the dinner table..." I just looked at my hands, "...I hope it didn't make you feel uncomfortable." I said.
"All the words that I said at the dinner table were all true," he declared.
Do I have to hear another confession?
He stopped walking and faced me. He was staring at me intently and I could see in his eyes that he was telling the truth. Using his free hand, he reached for my chin so that I could face him.
"My feelings for you are true. I didn't lie when I said that I like you. I didn't lie when I confessed to your Nonno that I have fallen for you." He leaned in closer.
"But Paris-"
"I know. You don't have the same feelings for me. We can take things slow, and let you adjust. Then maybe your heart can learn to love me too."
But Paris, the heart is not taught who to love.
Don't get me wrong. I like Paris, but only as my friend. I can't give more than that to him. He's a nice gentleman and a caring man to me. If only we live in another lifetime, I might really like him too. But I am not looking for this kind of committed relationship now. I am more focused on my goal. And I don't want anything to ruin that.
"Paris... you know that I have always been honest to you since the first day we met. I can accept your feelings for me but I cannot assure you that I can return the same favour to you. I don't think that I am ready for this. "
I stepped back twice so I could create distance between us. His hand, which used to hold my chin, was left in the air.
"I want to think about this even more. I got to be honest that I feel overwhelmed about everything that just happened tonight." I could no longer look at him straight as if I was guilty.
"Good night, Paris," I said before turning away.
I left him in the garden.
I went straight to our living room only to find my Nonno sitting on the sofa. He was looking at me intently as I entered the room. I gave him a small smile. He wants me to sit beside him so he tapped the space on the sofa. One of the maids walked passed and I gave her my wine glass. I barely even drank that. I walked towards my Nonno's direction and sat beside him.
"Did you talk to Paris?" He asked.
"Yes, Nonno," I answered.
"So, how did that go? Did he ask you for marriage?" What?
"No, Nonno! Don't you think it's a little too fast? Besides, I only like him as a friend." I feel so pressured right now.
"It's the same thing, cara. Eventually, you will love him too. The man is sincere. He will be a good husband." Said Nonno.
I know that he is a good man. But I really don't see myself marrying him.
"But I don't want to get married yet,"
He grabbed my hands and tapped them.
"Don't you realize that he can actually help us to regain the right to Carluccio's?"
What? I can't follow.
"How can Paris help me, Nonno? He doesn't even know that we're not the owner anymore." I said.
"That is your advantage. You see, cara... that young man is the only heir of Marchertti's Logistics. And their family is the second-largest stockholder of Carluccio's."
I have long known Marchetti's connection to Carluccio's. I just can't quite imagine that my Nonno will use Paris just for my plan.
Marriage? Is that the only option?
"His influence, his power, his wealth. You can use all of that to your advantage." He said.
"I won't do that, Nonno. He's been good to me ever since. I can't use him." I can't.
"Think about this, cara. Your union can be a foundation for the merger I am planning about. Your marriage to him can bring back the respect that we have lost."
My Nonno is also desperate. I understand what he wants to convey. There's nothing I can do if I argue with him. He is still to be followed. In our desire to get what we deserve, I am ready to gamble everything I have.
"Let me handle this. You don't have to worry about anything. All you have to do is make the marriage happen. And I promise you, we can have the Carluccio's back." Nonno tapped my shoulder.
"Let me finish my degree first. I want to have something for myself before giving myself to others." I said.
"Of course, cara. We can take things slow. To your own pace."
"We will get Carluccio's back. We will take our legacy and the respect that we have lost."
This is for you, Papa. Everything that I will do from now on, I will offer to you.
My last year of college has ended and I got my degree in Agriculture. Paris continue pursuing me since the first day he confessed in front of my Nonno.
My graduation ceremony finished just thirty minutes ago and we are gathering at the dinner table together with the Marchetti's.
"I don't want to be rude to all of you but please, refrain from talking about marriage. I just graduated and we appreciate your kindness in being part of this gathering." I said.
I am not afraid to speak up my mind.
I am just fed up that they still have to talk about that in the middle of my celebration.
"Yes, of course, carissima. Today is your day. We are here to celebrate." Nonno said.
Around the dining table are my grandparents, the Marchetti's and me. There is a lot of Italian food served on our table. Wine glass for each guest, and desserts for after.
"So, Monica, what made your mind to take Agriculture?" The old Marchetti asked.
I put down my cutlery first and drank some wine. Then I wiped my mouth with the cloth on my thighs.
"I took Agriculture because I wanted to improve my knowledge about farming. There's something about this course that I have been stoked with. I get to know the science and art behind Agriculture. It's just so fascinating and I can also learn to better contribute to this livelihood." I explained.
"Did you also take Agriculture because of your business?" He asked again.
"You're right, Mr Marchetti. I have always been in love with vineyards and the process of making wine."
I remembered the day when I first visited the factory in La Union. It was a majestic sight. How I got a friend who shared the same interest in wines and can actually tutor me about farming and harvesting grapes.
"And that's how we actually first met..." I felt my lips curving.
"Oh, my son?" I heard Mrs Marchetti utter.
I came back to my senses when I heard her voice. I didn't know what to answer so I looked at my Nonno as well as Nonna. I don't know why I said that even though I'm not referring to Paris.
"That- ah ... I mean-" I don't know what to say.
I looked at Paris who was also waiting for me to say something. He was just looking at me but his eyes were questioning.
"W-We shared the same interest in wine. That's how we met." I said.
"Oh," The Marchettis' laughed.
I will be remembering this embarrassment.
We continued chatting but this time, Nonno lead the conversation. I wanted to exit the dining table so bad because I just finished eating. I'm not even part of the conversation so what's the point of staying? They are not talking about marriage but they are talking about their business. What a great way to disguise a topic.
"Want to get out of here?" Paris suddenly whispered.
"Where to?" Where are we going?
"I'll show you something in the garden," he said.
"Like, now?"
How are we going to get out of here without interrupting the old people?
He didn't answer my question but held my hand. He told them that we need to excuse ourselves and just stood up. He didn't wait for their approval and just grabbed me by my hand and dragged me out of the dining room.
We were laughing when we get out of that room. We ran all the way to the garden while I was still thinking about the thing he would show me.
"Have you seen their faces? They were surprised that we talked back!" He said while laughing.
"I know! They didn't get to say something because we ran!" I answered.
You know that our garden mimics the small labyrinth. Since we already know the way, we didn't have to get lost all the way.
"We're gonna get in trouble when we got back,"
Finally, we're here.
But there's nothing here. I even roamed my eyes all around but nothing, really.
What is he really going to show?
"Paris, there's nothing here. Are you sure you have something to show me here?"
I even approached the plants pretending he was hiding in them but nothing really. He doesn't answer me. I searched again but I still received no answer. I turned to him and it was as if I just regretted what I had done.
He's on his one knee! We both know what he will be doing.
"My surprise was not in those plants. It's in my hand." He said.
I gasped slightly into thin air when he opened the small red velvet box in his hand.
There's a ring! A freaking diamond ring!
"Paris-"
"I know that I'm not listening. You don't want to talk about this tonight but I just really can't wait to do this."
Is he really going to propose?
"I know that our marriage will be just for the convenience of both our families. But my feelings for you are real, so I wanted to properly propose for real."
"Paris-"
"Monica Patrice Carluccio... will you marry me?" He asked sincerely.
I don't know. Should I say 'yes'? It's not like I am still against this union. Nonno made sure that I will agree to it. But is this the right time to say 'yes'?
"Yes?" I said. But questioning.
He still smiled at my answer. He got up on his knees and approached me. He grabbed my left hand and slid the diamond ring onto my fourth finger.
I am not gonna lie that my hand does look good with this ring. It was like the missing piece of my skin that made it so perfect when I looked at it. I can't help but smile.
"Grazie, Monica. You made me the happiest man tonight." He kissed my forehead.
I'm supposed to be happy right now. Finally, there is a man who proposed marriage to me. I would like to be happy but in the wrong situation.
"Paris, I don't want to rush things." I kept repeating it to him.
"I know, bella. You can take your time. The last thing I want for you to feel is being uncomfortable with me." He said.
He's true to his word. He lets me use all my freedom and still have my privacy. He's been this way for almost three weeks now and I like it. I am not stressed about the wedding and they are not rushing me.
But everything turned when my grandfather was rushed to the hospital. He didn't tell me about his illness, I just found it out now. The doctor is explaining about my Nonno's illness. With my Nonna holding my arm, crying silently but cannot hide her true feelings.
"Signor have macular degeneration. It is common for old age especially that they are gradually losing their vision. Age-related macular degeneration usually begins at age fifty-five or older. Related to the examination we did, he has wet AMD, abnormal blood vessels develop under the retina in a process called choroidal neovascularization-"
"Cosa significa?" Nonna was impatient because we both don't know what the doctors are telling us.
"The cause of Signor Carluccio's fall from the stairs is his eye illness. Patients with AMD have a damaged vision in the middle of their retina."
"Oh mio dio, mio marito..." Nonna can't help herself from sobbing.
I just thanked the doctor before he left. We entered Nonno's room. He was awake but his head was bandaged because of the wound he had received from his fall on the stairs of our house. He saw Nonna crying so he pulled her closer to him and hugged her. His kisses and caresses soothed.
I wish that my husband would be like my Nonno or my Papa. They are my standard for a man. Loving, caring, protective... a man that would make sure you are safe. A man that would make sure that you are feeling loved. A man that doesn't need a reason to make you smile and to see you.
"Why do you have to hide this from us?" Nonna asked him.
"I never intend to, amore. I just don't want you to worry about me because I don't want to see you cry." He wiped my Nonna's tears.
"That's not the right excuse, Nonno. We will worry about you because we love you. Whatever happens to one of us, we will still stick to one another because we're family." I said.
"I'm really sorry, cara." He opened his arms for a hug.
I approached him and hugged him. It was there that I cried when I buried my head in his chest. He kept his condition a secret because he didn't want us to worry. All the hiding he did was for us. With the number of problems we face today, he prefers to keep it to himself.
I feel guilty. He's a selfless man like Papa.
I want to get him back because I don't want to lose a loved one again. And the only way I could make up for it was for me to continue the marriage to Paris. That way, I can make him happy. He will not worry about it. It will lessen his suffering.
I called Paris that night when we got home. I told him that I am ready to be married and we should arrange it as soon as possible. He did not question me but he just agree. The next day, he spent the whole day in the house contacting and planning the wedding with me. We have so much to do; the venue, the guests, the band, the catering and more. But one thing that I didn't agree about was the media being invited, and he removed it from the list, willingly.
"If they make you uncomfortable, we will not invite them." He said.
Sunday was spent at church. We attended the mass and got invited to the Marchettis' villa. We spent the afternoon at the dining table eating lunch and talking about the preparation. It exhaust me, to tell you honestly but I had no choice. I can't back down now that I just gave them my approval.
They were all excited about this union that they even talked about having a grandchild.
I coughed from the shock that I spilt the water on my clothes.
"Oh dio mio, are you okay?" Lady Marchetti asked me.
"I'm fine-" I said while wiping my clothes with a tissue, "-I was just shocked about the topic." I laughed awkwardly.
"Oh cara, you should get used to it. The men will keep talking about it until they have one."
What? Are they in a hurry?
A typical wedding ceremony occurred and I just can't still believe that I am tied now. Still looking at the classic ring on my right fourth finger without a smile on my face. There's no turning back for real. It's too late.
"The reception ceremony exhausts me. Are you not tired?" Paris asked.
We were both locked in our hotel room. It will be our first night as a married couple.
"I'm also tired. I just can't wait to remove this dress from me. It's weighing me down!" I complained.
I sat on the edge of our bed and tried to remove the button of my dress at the back.
"Here, let me help you." He offered.
Before I could decline, he's unbuttoning it with his two hands.
Were both silents while waiting for him to finish. I don't have my bra underneath so he will be seeing my bare back. And just by that idea, my face heated up.
I could feel his hands caressing my shoulders and it sent disgusting shivers to me. I closed my eyes and prayed. So this is it. No backing down.
He kissed my nape!
And I am trembling while forcing my tears back.
"I-I'm sorry Paris. I am not... ready for this." My tears fell.
A moment of silence but I could still feel his hands on my shoulders. But it's not moving.
"I wanted a son, Monica. I wanted to give my father a grandson." He whispered.
"But I can't-" I sobbed.
I accepted that this is my fate. But please, not now.
"I understand,"
"I told you that I will not rush you. I will not do it unless I have your approval. I will not do anything that will make you uncomfortable."
"But I'm not gonna wait too long,"
He removed his hand from my shoulder and put his white coat on it instead.
"I will be giving you six months. To think. To find your purpose. To be free. We will not be doing honeymoons until then. We will sleep in a separate room. But after that, you have to accept that we must produce an heir so this union will have a better outcome. We don't want to upset the elders, right? I will not receive any refusal after that. "