Chapter 14

Nicolas

After hours of studying, I read some verses from the Bible, a little before resting for another day, knelt by the bed and prayed to God, when I finished, I lay down on bed and stared at the ceiling pondering.

With each new moment I spent with Isabella I felt surer how much I wanted her closer and how much she was the person I was waiting for, and this dream that she had with me was certainly a prophetic sign, a small vision of what our mutual life would be in the future, however, I believe it is still early to make a request or reveal what I am feeling, but asking her out was already part of my plans. Being beside her brings me peace, pleasure and joy, it was good to see her smiling and hear her voice. I want more of it, more and more, and I hope she does too.

[...]

I woke up a little later, 8:26 am this time, it was Saturday and thank God no class on Saturdays. I took a shower, got dressed and went down for breakfast. As going down the stairs I heard my mother talking to someone, a female voice, I took a few steps towards the living room and to my full surprise she was talking to Isabella.

Luana: Good morning, son. There is a visit for you she said smiling and looking at Isa who was sitting next to her.

Isabella: Good morning Nicolas she said smiling and merry.

Nicolas: Isabella? good morning, what a delightful surprise seeing you here, I said hugging her and she just smiles with her usual serene way

Luana: are you going to have breakfast with us Isabela?

Isabella: No, no, thanks.

Luana: Come on, there's chocolate cake

Nicolas: I insist! just a little piece of cake with me, let's go, "I said, pulling her to the kitchen.

Isabella: I have no way out, right?

Nicolas: Not really

We sat at the table and soon my mother served her a piece of cake.

Nicolas: so, what do I owe with this honor of your visit so early, Ms. Isabella?

Isabella: I need to buy a Bible and I want you to come with me

Nicolas: really? I thought you had missed me, Nicolas said a little bit dramatically, he was in a good mood

Isabella: So, are you going?

Nicolas: we will, after wolfing down everything here, just a moment I mean literally wolfing down all the food on the table

Luana: Nicolas! Where are your manners boy? My mother said scolding me, and I just looked at her making a sad impression with my face

Isabella: alright

Luana: So you are Marcele and Lorenzo Fercondine's daughter right?

Isabella: yes, the only daughter

Luana: I have known your parents for a long time Isabella, you look a lot like your mother and you are very beautiful too

Isabella: thank you

Luana: have lunch with us today, what do you think?

Isabella: I don't know, I don't want to disturb

Luana: but it won't bother anyone, I'm inviting you, we'd love having you here

In a no time I'll be waiting for my mother to ask a thousand questions about Isa, we finally bought the bible, there was a very good store where they sell everything gospel, we bought Isa's bible and more than that.

Nicolas: all set, let's go home?

Isabella: I feel like eating churros* now

Nicolas: Ok. The problem is where can we find someone how sells churros this time.

Isabella: there is a place in the square next to the mall and the churros are so delicious there.

Nicolas: come on then, but it is already after 11, it's lunch time, I said while looking at the watch in my wrist

Isabella: that’s right, we can buy them and take them home with us as a dessert after lunch, what do you think?

Nicolas: better this way

Isabella: I had never been to that store. I think it's really cool.

Nicolas: it was recently opened, a friend from church took me there to buy some personalized shirts with biblical phrases, and since then I've never stopped buying cool stuff there.

Hi, said Thomas while lying on the couch

Isabella: Hi

Nicolas: this is my younger brother, Thomaz

Isabella: it's my pleasure Thomas I'm Isabella

Thomaz: the pleasure is mine Isabella

Luana: oh, you have arrived, we were waiting for you, shall we eat?

Isabella: yes, let's go

It was a great Saturday, family gathered at the table smiling and Isabella with us, smiling too, apparently, she was comfortable, observing the whole scene made me imagine a thousand and one things in my head.

[...]

Make yourself home, my bed is all yours, Nicolas said as we entered the room

Isabella: thank you, she said sitting on the bed.

Nicolas: I'm going to take a quick shower, okay? I said while I grabbed towel and clean clothes.

Isabella: ok

Nicolas: make yourself at home

Isabella: Okay she said smiling.

I went to the bathroom, took a shower, changed right there and then went back to the room.

Nicolas: do you want to drink anything?

Isabella: no, I'm good

Nicolas: want to watch a movie? or play video games?

Isabella: I'd rather watch movies.

Nicolas: just what I thought, anything in mind?

Isabella: this one seems to be nice "The pastor's daughter"

So, I put the film on, and lay on the bed.

Nicolas: you can lie down if you wish Isa

Isabella: I'm good right here she said from the other side of the bed.

I think she was a little bit shy, afterwards I moved to her direction

Nicolas: come here_ I pulled her by the arm and made her lie down on my lap

You are very shy you know that? I said and I notice that she smiled a little shy in silence, but she liked that I hugged her, Can I caress your hair? I asked almost like a whisper in the middle of the movie

Isabella: yes

I can't believe she's going to let me I thought out loud, after a long movie time, while my fingers were playing with her hair

Isa? I called again and once again no answer, I looked over and saw that she was sleeping

I turned the TV down and kept staring at her, Isabella was so beautiful sleeping, I said to myself

With each passing day I am surer that you are the person I have been waiting for all this time. How many nights I knelt by the bed praying to meet you, you can't imagine how many times I wanted to give up because I couldn't stand waiting any longer, asking to have you, but always saying no to myself trying to convince myself to wait a little a little bit longer, not to my flesh because God already had prepared the right time and the right person, and look at you here, it's you, I'm sure, because of all the girls none of them has the glow you have, and something inside me says that you are my chosen one.

I was in such a hurry. And now you're here, all beautiful lying on my lap, who would've known I will take such good care of you princess.

I already love to see that smile of yours, those beautiful eyes, I already like your way so much. And I promise that I will always be by your side

the inner voice continued talking while I kept looking at Isa

I stayed there with her that way hugging her, I even took a selfie.

After a while I slowly lifted her off my lap so as not to wake her, and sat on a chair near the bed, picked up a book and read a few chapters, then went down to the kitchen. I went to the fridge, had some yogurt, and some stuffed cookies.

I was washing my hands when my cell phone started to ring,

Call On:

Nicolas: Hi Dad

Bernardo: hi Son. How are you?

Nicolas: I'm Okay thank God, and how are things going?

Bernardo: it's all good son. Where is Thomaz?

Nicolas: I think he's in his room. Just a minute I went up to the room and he was asleep. Dad He is sleeping.

Bernardo: all right, then I'll call him later

I have good news for you!

Nicolas: yeah, I'm all ears

Bernardo: as you know I always wanted to open a clinic? I bought a lot and it's already under construction. The clinic is scheduled to be opened in a few months

Nicolas: Wow, wonderful news, oh my beloved father, thank God. I am so happy for you, congratulations dad

Bernardo: I want you and Thomaz to be here with me that day.

Nicolas: God willing, we'll be with you on that father day, after few seconds of silence I said: But will Mom stay here alone?

Bernardo: her coming isn't going to cause me any trouble

Nicolas: alright

We continued talking for a few more minutes, I even missed Germany after that call. When I hung up the phone I decided to go back to the room to check on Isa, was just waking up.

Nicolas: Wakey wakey, sleeping beauty.

Isabella: what time is it? Why didn't you wake me up?

Nicolas: I wouldn't, what for, unless you want to leave. plus, we were so adorable sleeping. It's exactly 15:45.

Isabella: geez, she covers her face with her hands. What a shame.

Nicolas: nonsense

Isabella: You should have woken me up she said while getting up.

Nicolas: but I didn't, and i even kept staring at you, I even took a photo I showed her the selfies

Isabella: Nicolas! she said smiling and hitting me with the pillow. i should be going ,

Nicolas: come on already

Isabella: are you kidding? look at the time, it's late I have to go, See you tonight, okay? She said taking what we've bought and her bag.

Nicolas: oh! Okay then, I'll stop by to pick you up.

I took her to the door, said goodbye and went back to the room to study.

*churros: a stick shaped typical Brazilian dessert made of flour eggs and sugar.