Make-Believe Marriage (13 page)

- Me too! - She replied feeling comfort
invade her from head to toe.

How are you? - he wondered still close
enough to disturb any woman except Amanda.

- Much better now. - She said accepting
his hand in hers.

They looked at each other for a few
seconds until Tony took her lips for a kiss. Amanda stiffened and was surprised
at his reaction. But ignored the warnings that throbbed in her mind. When Tony
penetrated her mouth with his tongue her defenses fell to the ground. Thirsty
for that comfort she let herself be carried away by the caresses and the light
touch of male hands on her back. Clinging to the virile body, Amanda could feel
all the strength and virility of the man. She wanted him, she knew it. She just
did not know to what extent. On impulse she hugged his neck to savor more
deeply the soft, sweet mouth that devoured her as no man had ever done before. Tony
hugged her strongly in order to end the agony he felt when he was away. He had
two feelings that accompanied him relentlessly during her absence. The fear
that Amanda would falter and surrender to blackmail by her ex-husband and the
fact he deeply missed her. Her sweet and feminine way, little noticed by
herself. And finally, the very unpleasant news that her friend would have to
face a judge to have the right to keep custody of the son she loved. Kissing
her had been the best way to relieve that tension. Maybe it was not the most
rational way, but it was the one that brought her most comfort. After the
explosion, the kiss became tender and calm allowing them to feel the trembling
of their bodies and acceleration of their heart.

- I will not apologize. - He said moving
slowly away from her. He could not apologize for something that brought her
life.

It is not necessary. - She said aware of
her active participation in the kiss. That reaction had not passed Amanda’s
head, but after the contact of their bodies and the kiss exchanged, she felt
more relieved.

- The lawyer I told you about will call
you tomorrow to discuss the path we’ll take. - Tony said moving over to sit in
the chair.

- He sent me an e-mail confirming the
visit. - She informed feeling her face burn at his fixed gaze on her.

- The big guy went to sleep at his
classmate’s home? -  asked Tony averting his eyes off her. She had already been
let herself taken by enough emotion that day.

– Yes. He was so excited that I could
not resist - she said sitting in front of him with her hands folded on top of her
legs.

- He's smart and will know how to
behave. It's good to let him create his own expectations. - He said letting
himself be carried away by the fraternal instinct that he had for the child.

- I do not intend to allow that often,
but I feel that he must already begin to feel free - she said trying to be a
modern and understanding mother.

- Does he already know what his father
did? – asked Tony.

- No. I thought it best to tell him when
he gets back - Amanda justified. - I do not want to worry him.

- You're right. - Tony watched her for a
few seconds before starting on the subject that needed conclusion.

- About the wedding. We must decide soon
because it will be positive for you at the time you are before the judge if we
are married and have a safe and comfortable home for your child. - Tony knew it
was an exaggeration on his part, but he wanted to conclude his desire so much,
as he would make use of this small opportunity to speed up their marriage.

- You're right - agreed Amanda even
though she wished to extend that decision a little longer.

- Shall we have dinner together tomorrow
and talk about it? – asked Tony.

- All right! - Now it would be all or
nothing, there was no way to prolong the situation. Amanda would have to go
through this huge ordeal to get her son and her old life back.

They jotted down plans for
a new life as a couple. Something common among people who wish to be united by
love and affinity, which was not exactly their case, but should have the same
outcome. The organization of the space in which the little ceremony would be
held was by Amanda’s account, since Tony took care of the bureaucratic parts. They
planned how their routine would be after the wedding and their roles before the
people and Amanda’s son who knew nothing about the arrangement of a marriage of
appearances. Everything went as expected, the big day approached and Amanda had
stopped asking herself how life would be with Tony. I would have to wait to see
ahead, because her imagination had already presented her so many possibilities
that she had exhausted choosing one of them, then it would be up to her, to
wait and see with her own eyes, the result of this decision.

Chapter
VII

The big day had arrived
and although Amanda was determined not to imagine how their lives would be
after the wedding and how long that invention would last was not working very
well at that time. The memories of the period in which the agreement was organized
and how to become close during the process were messing with her reasoning and making
her wish that everything was real and they would be happy. These thoughts began
to trouble her, especially after what happened the week before. She and Tony
spent a weekend at Amanda’s parents’ house and the staging needed to be the
best ever. Her parents had a habit exhibiting constant affection and for them
that was extremely necessary in a long relationship. Thus, Amanda had to
pretend to be the most passionate woman of the moment. For Tony, however, the
performance was fine, especially when the night came when they would have to
share the same room. Inside he wasn't so confident as she demonstrated.

-My love, let's go to bed.
-Tony called after Amanda sat beside him and they started talking with her
parents holding hands.

– Whenever you want,
Tony.– She said, disguising her voice. To Amanda’s chagrin, Lucas already had
his room on the farm and would not share a bed with them. The situation had
become embarrassing for her, but there was no way out.

– Go on dear and get some
rest - said her mother cuddling her husband. -It is also time for us to go to
bed my lord. - Everyone was smiling and Amanda wished fervently to find a man
with whom she could share small and beautiful moments of affinity, love and
surrender as those of her parents.

Tony watched everything
with his heart light. There was nothing like seeing a living proof that good
relations existed and they could be rich and strong, when they both worked
together. Amanda accepted the hand that Tony offered her and they went to the
bedroom together.

-I'm sorry to put you in
an embarrassing situation like that, Tony. - She apologized looking at him
embarrassed when they went into the bedroom and closed the door.

-Let’s take that as a test
since we will need to go through this for our wedding. – He advised.

-You're right, I'll do
that - said Amanda going to the nightstand to remove her accessories and try to
sleep. Tony went away breathing deeply and went to brush his teeth.  

That night, Amanda had
experienced the most diverse sensations she had ever had in life. A mixture of
fear, lightness and pleasure came over her throughout the entire period in
which they were together on that bed. The unintentional touches at each other. The
warmth and the muffled breathing against the pillows. All had contributed for
that night to be somehow marking for Amanda. Now she felt adrift and all those
thoughts were results of the occasion. There was no doubt. Amanda sought to
justify to herself. -Every woman gets more fragile and with the most romantic
thoughts during this period. It is a stage for which she has always been
prepared, since they were small, so these misplaced illusions went through her
head while she dressed up for her wedding. This would be the only way to
understand what was happening.

Tony looked at the mirror
again. Today his great wish would come true, which he had kept to himself for a
long time without allowing that to ruin the friendship between him and Amanda. He
had never imagined that he would get married under those conditions, but still
he was happy, because he would have a chance to bring forth the love between
them. It had not been his intention to take advantage of Amanda to create that
lie. It had just appeared at the right time and he thought he should take advantage
of it. This way, he would be helping his friend and have the opportunity to
invest in something real between them. Although he was certain of that
possibility, Tony knew it would only be up to Amanda to decide whether or not
she wanted to make that joke real. He also knew that if she said no, this would
be his last chance to have it the way he had always wanted and thus would seek
to accept that their relationship wasn't supposed to be. Being rational
sometimes was painful, but it would have to be, to stop dreaming about
something that was not shared between both, love. However, something told him
that there was a small flame, waiting for help from a gentle wind to make it
grow. Tony believed that greater coexistence would help unleash that spark. Amanda
had something to offer, although she seemed determined not to give in, because
of the friendship she valued between them, but Tony needed more, he wanted to
have her friendship, her love, her body and her love.

– May the winds be in my
favor as of today. And that good vibes come with it. - He said under his
breath.

Amanda observed the
beautiful dress on her body. It was simple, elegant and perfect, but it was
bothering her a little.

- The dress is very tight
around the waist, it is hard for me to breathe normally - she complained
looking in the mirror. Amanda used a pear-like, strapless dress that went down tight
to the waist as if it had been sewn right there. A little farther down, it
opened out to a beautiful silk skirt and small embroidery.

- There is no problem with
it – said Carol who helped her. - You are beautiful - she affirmed arranging
the small frills on the tail of the dress.

Amanda looked at herself
again, and concluded that her complaints were due to nervousness, time was over
and she needed to go. She took her little bouquet and went to meet the driver
who was waiting for her. Her assistant and her son were in the car she had gotten
from Tony.

Along the way, Amanda felt
a little dizzy just to imagine how their lives would be after the ceremony. They
would continue as they were, friends, who helped each other but nothing more
than that. So many questions went through her head and no answer was given. There
was also the possibility of discovering each other’s faults and that beautiful
friendship could be tarnished to the point of ending the marriage and their
great affinity. Amanda hoped that nothing bad happened, because she would
suffer a lot if she hurt the man who held her hands whenever she needed him,
and when she did not need as well.

When she arrived the few
guests and Tony were waiting. Watching him from a distance when she got out of
the car, Amanda felt great pleasure, she really admired that man. His posture
down the hall left her cold, the beauty of his full and black hair. The emerald
color eyes and a presentable body made her undecided. She had been watching
Tony lately coming to notice a small mark on his jaw as she took her time to
look at the oval face with a serious and conscious expression as he spoke on
the phone. In no time during all the time that they knew each other, had she
behaved like that, observing the man and not the friend at her side. Would she
resist if he tried to seduce her later? She stopped in the aisle trying to get
hold of herself and could see a brief movement made by Tony in her direction. “He
would be noticing her indecision between the friend and the man who was in
front of her," she thought tense.

Tony saw Amanda getting
out of the car as beautiful as he had never imagined possible. Amanda gave him
a loving smile as he walked toward her who appeared nervous leaving him even
more anxious. When she stopped in the aisle, the ground seemed to be missing at
his feet as he thought she would give up; Amanda would back down on the
decision to marry him. “That was the only reason she failed to move on to the
altar," he thought. Tony had a hard time getting hold of himself and not
to go get her. After seconds that seemed like eternal minutes she continued the
journey bringing new life to the groom.

The aisle was filled with
various kinds of flowers on the sides, in the center a beautiful red carpet
stretched up to the altar. Every step she took people and the beautiful flower
arrangements ceased to exist, because her vision was focused only on the altar
where a magnificent man was waiting to marry her. Amanda approached realizing
nervousness in the hands of her friend.

- You look beautiful - he
praised her as she held out her hand. - You should dress as a bride more often.
- Amanda smiled, delicate and beautiful. Tony was mesmerized by her beauty. He
had not imagined that Amanda could become even more beautiful, but she was and
would soon be his wife, which was making him fully happy.