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Epilogue
Annabelle’s birthday was a huge success. The building’s lounge was decorated with pink balloons and banners. With her hair held in two piggy tails by pink barrettes, the adorable toddler in a pink dress greeted her guests with open arms, wet kisses, and non-stop babbling. She spent a good deal of time ripping open her presents and blew out her single candle at least ten times.
His video camera in hand, Rafael shot every one of her moves for posterity. When she’d finished eating her cake alone, Nancy took her for a quick bath, changed her into a comfy romper, and then set her in her playpen with her toys for a quiet playtime, while the adults enjoyed their drinks and finger foods.
In addition to their bosses and colleagues from SAMF, Arianna had invited their neighbor Greg who was already browsing his real estate list for their dream house, Josie Robb, Dr. Mason, Cody, and his girlfriend, Claudia, Joe and Craig, and Nancy.
Before the party, Rafael had asked Arianna not to wear her engagement ring until after his announcement. The first part of the party had been about Annabelle, now he wanted to honor his fiancée. He called Arianna to his side and requested everyone’s attention for a toast.
“My friends, I want you to witness a very special moment in my life. I was lucky enough to meet this lovely woman more than a year ago. She works with me and shares my life, and now we’re raising a sweet, little girl together. Yesterday, I asked Arianna to marry me, and she said yes.”
Arianna smiled, slipped her ring onto her finger, and waved her hand to show it off.
Applause, accompanied by loud cries of congratulations, filled the room. Rafael raised his glass in a toast to his fiancée.
“To you, babe, and to our happiness.”
When the clamor subsided, Rafael announced, “You’re all invited to the wedding in a month or two. You’ll receive our invitations soon.”
The party ended joyfully.
The next morning at eight-fifteen, a nurse from Mercy Hospital called to say that Julio Gomez had died a few minutes earlier.
Leaving Annabelle in Nancy’s care, Rafael and Arianna went to the hospital to take care of the funeral arrangements.
A few days later, dressed in black, Arianna attended the funeral mass officiated by a Latino priest, with Rafael at her side, carrying Annabelle.
“If she asks about her natural father when she grows up, I want to be able to tell her that she attended his funeral.”
Two days later, the CPS caseworker called to say she was coming to visit.
“I want to inform you that Annabelle’s father has died. The CPS should now proceed with a search for adoptive parents.”
Arianna jumped from her seat frowning. “But—”
Josie raised her hand to stop any protest. “However, we have a letter from Julio Gomez stating that in the case of his death, he wants you to adopt his daughter. Ms. Garcia, are you ready to apply for Annabelle’s adoption or should we—”
“Yes, yes. I’ll apply. Tell me how.”
Josie smiled. “I have a form for you to fill out. Also I have another envelope from Mr. Gomez to give you if you adopted his daughter.” She handed Arianna an envelope, labeledfor Annabelle from her loving Daddy.
Arianna opened it and pulled out a few pictures, some of Julio with the baby in his arms and another of Julio and her, taken when they were both eighteen.
“No pictures of her mother? I don’t understand.”
“When he left Annabelle with us, Mr. Gomez said the mother, Carol Bolt didn’t want to keep the baby, but couldn’t pay for an abortion. She gave birth and left. She died of an overdose a couple of months later. The baby was raised by various neighbors.”
“No wonder she was skinny and sick when we found her.”
“You were the best thing that happened to her,” the CPS caseworker said. “Now, please fill out and sign these papers. I’ll file them and call you when it’s time to appear in court for the adoption hearing.”
***
Two months later, dressed in a short, white lace dress, Arianna walked down the aisle of the small church not far from their new house.
Wearing his pilot uniform, white shirt, and navy pants, Rafael waited for her at the altar with Annabelle in his arms, his best man Leo at his right side, and her bridesmaid Claudia, wearing a blue silk dress, on the other side.
When Arianna approached the altar, Nancy stepped forward and carried the toddler to a pew. The priest proceeded with the traditional marriage ceremony and soon declared them husband and wife. Rafael pulled her toward him and kissed her, but a squeal interrupted them. Annabelle ran and stumbled toward them, screaming, “Me kiss. Me kiss.”
