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“Oh, Dad …” Lorena blushed.
“Oh, Dad, nothing. Thomas and I had a good, sound talk. We both know how the future will unfold. Now there are only three questions left.”
Thomas's smile melted, and his eyes morphed into worry mode. “What are those, Mr. D’Augustino?”
“Yes, Papa. What?” Lorena sat at her father’s feet.
“Well, let’s see. Number one. When will the mating ritual take place? The public one, of course. Number two. How soon can I expect grandbabies? And number three. Thomas, when will you drop the sir and mister and start calling me father?”
Alfredo’s eyes twinkled, and he reached for both of their hands.
“Oh, Daddy. Well, the ritual will happen as soon as you’re discharged from the hospital and your doctor says you are well enough to attend the happy event. Grandbabies, my goodness! Maybe let us get settled first. And as for the third …”
Thomas’s eyes welled with tears. “Yes, sir, uh, yes, Father. From here on out, you are my family too.”
The three fell into a group hug. Tears welled and dropped on the old man.
Alfredo took Thomas’s hand and Lorena’s. He placed Thomas’s over hers and made a declaration. “I bless both of you and proclaim that our families are one here and now. Our hearts are fused with the mighty aura of love, and nothing and no one can rip our union apart. Thomas, Lorena, I wholeheartedly congratulate you on your mating. This is the best treatment an old man like me could have.”
“Now, Dad, we must go. I saw one of your nurses give me the evil eye and point to her watch. They still want you to rest. And we want you to rest, so you’ll get out of her as fast as possible.”
“Oh, those nurses. They’re a murder of crows, they are. Always lurking around. They never let me have any fun around here. Fine. Off you two go. But now, it won’t be long before I bulldoze my way out of here. They can’t keep a good man down.”
Alfredo raised his clenched fist mightily, which trembled a little bit. Alfredo was jubilant but tired. Thomas and Lorena knew it was time to go.
“Daddy, I love you. And yes, you’ll break out of this good jail in no time.”
“Father, please rest. The more you do, the quicker you’ll be strong and out helping me continue the pride restoration.”
“Yes, you two, stop fussing. I will rest. See you both real soon. And Thomas …”
“Yes, Father. I know. And I will.” Thomas held Lorena close to his side and lightly kissed her on the top of her head.
Thomas watched the old man lay back and slowly close his eyes. Alfredo was deep in a sound sleep, with a smile affixed on his lips well before they left his door.
Chapter21
Lorena
Lorena’s heart had never felt lighter. Not only was her father recovering at a steady, healthy pace, but she had gotten to speak with him after what seemed like ages.
It all felt surreal, but she was so happy that it wasn’t just a dream this time.
Things were starting to turn around.
She looked at Thomas as they headed back from their hospital trip to “their” home.
Butterflies fluttered in her stomach as she thought about how optimistic her future had become in such a short time.
The man who had literally been her savior was now going to be her husband. They have gone from acquaintances to friends and now to lovers. It wasn’t what she had expected at all when she had first accepted Sonny’s offer. And even though hell had followed her since making that decision, it seemed like everything worked out for the greater good.
She chuckled to herself when she thought about the cliché, God works in mysterious ways.
“What’s so funny?” Thomas asked, noticing her smiling reflection in the car window.
“Just thinking about how things played out for us, that’s all.”
“All good, I hope,” he said, keeping his eyes on the road.
