2°: Chapter 15

Luna watched TV while eating chocolate. She looked down at her belly and noticed that it had grown a little. She put a smile on her face and stroked it. The same thing had happened to her mother. The first five months she didn't notice it, but one day, out of nowhere, it exploded in size and became present. Luna was about to reach four months, but that day she had noticed a difference.

She didn't know if she wanted two girls or two boys, she'd probably like to have a boy and a girl.

The door rang. Luna stood up and quickly went to it. When she opened it, James was in front of her with a beautiful hanging on a hanger that he was holding in his left hand.

- Will you put this on and come with me? - he asked with a smile. Luna looked at him and walked over to him, planted a long kiss on his lips and as she pulled away from his warmth she spoke.

- Yes. What are you up to, Bexell? - she asked teasingly. James smiled.

- I just want to celebrate you. - He replied and walked into the house. He handed Luna the dress and watched her walk away as she blew him a kiss. He laughed.

_____

Luna closed the door with her foot and looked at the beautiful red dress. She spread it out on the bed to better appreciate it. It was beautiful, it looked like silk.

She put it on in record time, she was anxious to see how it looked on her. It was perfect, James knew her taste perfectly. It was a little scary.

It didn't take her long to finish getting ready. Her hair straightened and her face barely touched up.

She was used to James doing that to her, she had been doing it since Monday. He would give her a dress, she would put it on and then when she came downstairs, he was dressed too.

How would James be this time? She opened the bedroom door and as she went downstairs, she noticed James wasn't there.

- James? - she asked. But there was no sign of him. She walked to the living room but he wasn't there either.

She heard the sound of a car outside and decided to go out to check. When I opened the door, James was standing in front of a white convertible.

- Do you like it? - he asked. Luna nodded and looked him over from head to toe. He was dressed in black dress pants, and a short-sleeved white shirt with a curved Italian collar. He looked simply so beautiful, his hair was delicately combed, but several locks fell perfectly at his temples.

She walked over to him and gave him a tender kiss on the lips. James looked at his watch, 5:29PM.

He walked to the door and opened it for Luna to enter, then turned and stepped inside. Nervousness invaded his stomach.

_____

- Where are we? - Luna asked in front of a large wall made of trees. James walked past her and took her hand as she walked, turned and looked at her in amusement.

- I don't know. - He said as he entered the path through the trees.

The trip had taken 15 minutes and something and the place was a bit far away from everything. There were trees and flowers everywhere and Luna thought that James had probably set up another dinner party.

As she went further in, she could notice how a huge glass-walled room was in the middle of it all. She tried to visualize what was inside, but huge white curtains hanging from inside covered its interior. A bunch of white roses covered the place and Luna looked at everything in delight.

- James, what is this all about?

- Sh, look at me. -She said and put a smile on her face. - Come closer, I'm going to blindfold you. - He showed her a pink silk scarf. Luna looked at him in confusion, but she listened to him. James put the scarf around her eyes, making sure she couldn't see anything, and when he was ready, she took a deep breath. His hands were shaking and he tried to calm them and then shook Luna's hand. He began to walk as he led her towards the back of the room, only a few feet to go. The silence was huge and Luna was getting more and more anxious and nervous.

- Watch out! - James exclaimed and Luna giggled.

James stopped walking and she stood still. He looked up and looked at her. She was standing in that beautiful dress, the pink scarf covered her eyes and her hair fell delicately around her shoulders. James smiled, she looked beautiful. Luna bit her lip in nervousness and James knew it was time.

He walked up to her and stood behind her placing his hands on her shoulders. She felt James's breathing grow heavier.

- You see, every time I look into your eyes, I fall more in love with you. - She said and leaned closer to his ear. - Every time I hear you laugh, I realize that I love you more. My world spins when you smile at me. - He said and began to untie the handkerchief. But he kept it in place as he turned around to face Luna. - You have changed my life, Luna. You've taught me to appreciate more what I have, to be a better father, to stop worrying so much and enjoy the things that happen to me. - He said and slowly dropped the handkerchief. When the handkerchief was off Luna, she still had her eyes closed. James laughed. - Open your eyes.

She obeyed and when she opened her eyes, she felt a sweet sensation in her chest. James's family was off to the side with huge smiles, several people were there, her friends, and her mother, who had a smile on her face. Each of the people were dressed in white, except Portia, who had a beautiful burgundy dress. The place was covered with white roses and Luna felt like crying, it was beautiful.

- James...- she said with a trembling voice.

- Every time I see you, I think it was right to fall in love with you, that you are the person who holds the key to my heart. Before you, I was angry all the time, and I didn't know why. - He said and looked down. - My life was a mess, but you came along and everything got better. I find it hard to believe that it all started in a weird and drastic way, but sometimes the best things are the ones that are just like that, the ones you do without thinking too much. The first time I saw you, I thought you hated me, because you ignored me and the times you looked at me you did it in a bad way, and when I saw you again, you took my heart again and took care of it. I always saw you, you know, and now every time I see you, I think, how can this girl be next to a guy as stubborn and moody as me. That's the question I ask myself the most. Every time I see you, I think... I could spend the rest of my life with you .... and I'm determined to give you all of me. - He said as his voice began to tremble. Luna looked at him with crystallized eyes. - Luna, I love you and you know it, you make me happy, like never before - He said while he put his hand in his pants pocket and started to bend down. Luna gasped and covered her mouth, "I've had an extremely unusual life, and I'm ready to leave it behind. I want to have you with me for the rest of my days, and love you until my last breath, honey, will you marry me?

- James...- she said and let out a sob- yes.... Yes, yes, yes, yes and, Yes!

-

The white light twinkled radiantly in Portia's ring, who had practically a face full of white chocolate. She looked around, taking in every detail of everything. For a child, Portia knew exactly how much work it had all taken for her father.

Everything was in its place, perfect. Her cousins were running around the place as if they had no other chance to do so, and the others were enjoying every dish with the utmost delicacy.

The sweet aroma of the food and the fresh atmosphere created a pleasant atmosphere. Their Nana was laughing about something or other while James continued to talk, making her guffaw all the more.

Luna, Luna was looking at everything with charm, she was totally in love with everything. It seemed like the sweetest gesture. Portia saw her eyes to Luna's hand, where the precious ring glittered lovingly. She looked down at her hand, and noticed the ring her father had bought her the same day as Luna's. Further to the left, Luna's mother Stella was smiling as she looked at everything, watching Luna with a look that exuded sadness but still hid it with the smile.

Portia walked a few feet away when she noticed her father turn and head towards Luna. He took her gently by the arm and approached her face.

James, on the other hand, held Luna's hand as he opened his mouth to speak. He said:

- Have you seen your mother, honey? - I asked with utmost interest. Unlike him, Luna simply shook her head.

She didn't get along with her mother, and to tell the truth she still wondered how James had gotten in touch with her. The truth was, she didn't know how to approach her without feeling bad. They had had little contact in the last few years, Luna only communicated with her by email, after that, communication was nil.

- Why don't you go and talk to her? She's anxious to talk to you, Luna. - He responded by dropping a minimal amount of guilt on Luna's shoulders. She shook her head and then placed a smile on her face.

- She's fine. - She finally replied. She let go of James's hand and moved in to place a soft kiss on his lips, felt her heart enlarge and then pulled away to go to her mother.

As she turned around, she noticed how the woman was looking at her with charm but as always, with a hint of sadness. Luna started walking quickly to speak to her, finally.

Her mother continued to stare at her until the young woman was finally in front of her. She opened her mouth to speak, but her daughter's voice interrupted her.

- Hi, Mom. - She said in almost a whisper. The woman let out a sigh.

- Luna, honey, how are you feeling? - she asked with a smile. Luna couldn't help but feel good about it.

- I'm fine, too fine. And you?

- I am, I'm fine. I didn't think you wanted to see me, Luna, I'm so happy for you. - She confessed. Luna felt a pleasant warmth invade her chest.

- Thank you, I'm very happy too, Mom. - She replied.

An awkward silence made Luna frantically think about how to continue the conversation. She hadn't seen her mother since they argued three years ago.

- James is a lovely boy, Luna. I'm proud of you, and I wish you all the luck in the world for your family. - She confessed lovingly. Luna widened her smile and felt melancholy.

- It is, thank you. It's going to be twins, did you know that? - she asked excitedly. Her mother laughed.

- Of course, they'll be lovely. - She made a funny face. -- What do you want them to be, honey?

Luna looked down at her hands and raised her head to stare into her mother's emerald eyes.

- I'd like, a boy and a girl. But at the end of the day, all I care about is that they're healthy.

- Right. - He nodded. - Your father would be proud of you, Luna.

Luna's skin crawled and she noticed how her mother's smile faded.

- I've missed you so much. - She finally said. Stella looked up and a sincere smile made Luna smile too.

- Me too, Luna, I thought you would never want to see me again. For a while there I thought you were going to slowly but surely cut me out of your life completely. - She confessed seriously, but without losing her tone of sweetness.

- I would never do that, I know I might be bad to you, Mom. But my plan was never to walk away from you.

- I know, honey. But with time anything can happen. - He said giving way to a silence not as uncomfortable as the previous one. He spoke: "Anyway, I'm so happy for you, Luna.

- Thanks, Portia. - She replied charmingly. Her mother wrapped her hand gently around her hand and gave her a homely smile, which Luna longed for.

- I love you, sweetheart. Don't ever walk away from me like that again, okay? I don't want to miss this new stage of your life. - He asked warmly. Luna nodded with a teary smile and then giggled.

- I love you too. - She said and threw herself into her mother's arms, who was smiling hugely.

- Can you hear that? - he asked. Luna nodded in delight, it felt even more beautiful to see it and feel it at the same time. - It's his heartbeat, it's completely healthy. - She said with a smile. James looked down at Luna's belly, and it was no longer flat. It protruded noticeably.

- They are perfect. - Luna exclaimed, looking at the screen. She had made it to seven months.

The big question was, two boys, two girls, or a boy and a girl. The first few months James had begged to know the sex of the two babies, but then they had decided to wait until delivery to find out. That decision didn't last long, though, because as soon as they could, they decided to find out. And so, a boy and a girl, their wishes had been granted. James had celebrated to his heart's content, obviously the most important thing was his health, but he was very happy about the news. She was happy too, very happy.

Portia, for her part, celebrated the possibility of continuing to be daddy's princess. Of course, she would have to share the throne someday.