Liz: It's been exactly three years and a month since Dominic and Samantha rescued me. Since then, I've been living a princess-like life surrounded by people who protect, care for, and above all, love and respect me. When I dealt with those who caused me so much pain, I thought I would have overcome everything in my life, but I haven't. At the construction company where I used to work, there was a day when a coworker, one of the few I had allowed to get close to me, misunderstood our relationship and kissed me while I tried to pull away, his hand inappropriately touched my bottom, which sent me into panic. I kicked him in the groin and ran to Lais's office in desperation; my body was shaking, and the memories resurfaced powerfully after three years. It took me two weeks to be able to leave my room, and that was only possible when Ethan came from Oxford. He's the only one I can truly express my feelings to, the only one who can pull me out of the darkness and into the light. It goes without saying that Ethan took care of the guy, and I haven't returned to the construction company since, now working only from the fortress. I snap out of my thoughts and call for my mother, wanting to discuss something I haven't shared with Ethan in its true depth, despite it consuming me. "Mom, may I come in?" I ask, knocking on the door of her office at our house before peeking my head inside.
Isis: "Of course, my dear, come in," I reply, watching Liz enter hesitantly.
Liz: "Is Dad here? I didn’t see him arrive," I say, approaching him. He kisses me on the forehead, and then I move to hug my mother.
Vincenzo: "I need a shower. I'll be upstairs if you need me," I say before leaving.
Isis: "Come here," I motion, sitting on the sofa and patting my lap. Liz lies down, resting her head on my lap, and I start to stroke her hair. "Now, tell me what’s troubling you."
Liz: "Mom, there’s something I’ve felt for a long time," I start, and she looks at me, signaling me to continue. Taking a deep breath, I proceed. "I think I love Ethan the way you love Dad, and it’s overwhelming me, especially after being apart for so long. It's been eight months since I've seen him."
Isis: "Wait, aren’t you two dating?"
Liz: "No, we’ve never been anything more than friends, maybe a bit more, but we’ve never crossed the line beyond hugs and affectionate gestures. Ethan has always been there for me. Since we started talking on the phone, my feelings for him have been quite different from those I have for you and my brothers," I sigh deeply.
Isis: "But?" she prompts, sensing there is more I want to say.
Liz: "I’m afraid to tell him and find out he doesn’t feel the same. And what scares me the most is not being able to advance physically, to kiss him, to be touched by him. I’ve dreamed of it, and in my dreams, I can’t manage it," I confess, as a tear rolls down my cheek.
Isis: "First, you have to confront your fears. Let things happen and face the obstacles without giving up. Nothing is bigger than your will and your desire. Don’t let fears and your body's negative reactions take control of your life."
Liz: "Thank you, Mom." We continue to talk about it for a while, and all I wish for is that my fears and traumas could be as easily resolved as our conversation. However, ever since that guy touched me, the nightmares have returned, plaguing me night after night with memories of my past. Only Ethan knows about this; whenever I have these dreams, I call him, and just his voice is capable of calming me down.
In England…
Ethan: My phone rings as soon as I get home, and I answer it to hear the voice I love so much. Seeing Liz at her fifteenth birthday party only confirmed what I already knew, that I love her with all my soul. But Liz is still just a fifteen-year-old girl, laden with traumas and pains that I intend to heal, one by one. "Hey, little one," I say as I pick up the call.
Liz: "Are you busy? I miss you," I say in a whiny tone. It's been exactly six months since I last saw Ethan because he was on an internship, and in the end, he and the others are coming to Italy for good. I drift back to the present upon hearing his voice that for so long was faceless, making my heart flutter.
Ethan: "I miss you too. Today was busy, but it was my last day at college. Now we just need to get organized and we'll be there in two days."
Liz: "I'm looking forward to it. How’s our brother Henry? He seemed off when we spoke earlier today."
Ethan: "Little one, we’re just sorting out our things, it’s been hectic. I need to hang up; I’m in the shower," I lie.
Liz: "Oh, sorry." I feel nervous upon hearing he's in the shower, imagining his body and feeling a warmth I always feel near him. "I’ll wait for your call, bye," I say, quickly hanging up, nervous.
Henry: "Why don’t you just propose to her already? Though I guess with her, you’d need to start with dating," I say to my twin, who has been quite distracted lately.
Ethan: I let out a defeated sigh, realizing I need to take the next step. Since first speaking to Liz, she has become my world, and I haven’t looked at another woman in three years and 26 days, not that I'm counting. But the calluses on my hands from self-pleasure serve as a reminder with each shower of how much Liz has grown over time, making me desire her more each day. "Yes, it’s time, and I’ll do that today, though I'm not sure how it will pan out."
Henry: "You'll need to be patient, that much is clear. But I believe that won’t be an issue for you, who have changed so much since meeting her. I don’t know if I could be as patient. You remember how insatiable we were at eighteen, surrounded by women. I can tell you I’m still the same, while you're knocked out. But, as our father says, love is well worth it. I’m just praying my love takes a long time to show up because I still want to enjoy life." I hear my cousin laughing from an armchair nearby.
Vitor: "If I were you, I'd keep quiet," he chuckles. "You might end up even more patient than your twin."
Jade: "You guys are ridiculous. I can't wait to see each one of you head over heels just like my Lorenzo, Dominic, and Johnny. Now, take care of the kids; I need to rest."
Henry: "And you, Samantha, Elizabeth, Eva, Laura, Luana, Victoria, and Jenny. You’re all just as ridiculously in love as they are," I admit, feeling a genuine sense of missing the others.
Jade: "I feel it too. We might be growing apart, but we’re still happy, and that’s what matters. Now, excuse me while I rest during our flight. I give Lorenzo a kiss and head to one of the plane's bedrooms."
Ethan: With Jade gone and left to deal with the energetic little ones, my brother content with his family, and Lorenzo and I as different as Henry and I are identical, yet he also shares a likeness with our brother Dominic, it strikes me how none of us, not even our sister Elizabeth, really resemble one another completely. "Are you sure about moving to Sonho Verde next week?" I ask Henry.
Henry: "Yeah, Sonho Verde is just a two-hour drive, and I’ve heard there are some newcomers there," I say, winking at him.
Ethan: "Mom is going to kill you; behave yourself. Remember when you were sixteen and got involved with several women there? She found out and thought you were only interested in women," I laugh.
Henry: "Don’t remind me," I chuckle. "Dad gave me a serious punishment, and you were no saint either, being involved with all the female soldiers at the mafia headquarters and in the residential complex. We were terrible. The only saints among us were Lorenzo and Dominic, who married the only women they ever loved."
Lorenzo: "And I have no regrets. I am a very fulfilled man with Jade and our two little ones. I’m sure Dominic feels the same."
Ethan: We talked for hours and only stopped when the tires of our plane touched the ground. Upon disembarking, we were greeted by the proud looks of our parents - literally, Vincenzo, Vitor, John, and Raul. My nieces, Anne and Pietro, rush to their grandparents. Soon we're arriving at our homes; we all have our own, except Liz still lives with our parents. Dinner will be at my father's house. The last time I was here was when we lost our grandmother, two months after losing our grandfather. None of the four are with us anymore; Grandmother Amelia was the first to leave us, then Mateo. Perhaps the ones who suffered the most from the losses were our uncles, Paola and Vitor; to them, each loss was an unparalleled blow, and it took them a long time to smile again. I'm pulled from my thoughts by Ryan entering my room.
Ryan: "Let's go for a walk. Dinner will be at my parents' house, it'd be suspicious at yours with Liz around." I hope you two make it official today. To be honest, I always thought you two had something going on, but it wasn't until that jerk grabbed her that I realized there was never anything between you.
***
Liz: "Have you seen, mom?" I shout from the top of the stairs, where I remembered my phone. I know how long these dinners can take and I don't want to fall asleep before hearing Ethan's voice. I go downstairs and leave with my parents. I don’t know why, but as we get closer to my Aunt Lais's house, I feel nervous, my heart racing. Before the doors open, I hear the bustling sounds. "Mom, have they arrived?" I ask, and she shrugs. I hurry through the door and, when I reach the gourmet area, there he is, muscular, with his wet hair falling over his forehead. He smiles at me and I at him. Breathless, I follow my instincts and run, jumping into his arms. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming?"
Ethan: "If I had told you, it wouldn't be a surprise, little one," I say, trying to control my body. Liz had never jumped around my waist like that before.
Mateo: "Hey, what about us? Don’t we get a hug?" I say, pouting.
Lis: "Oh my God, I'm so sorry," I apologize, hugging all my cousins and siblings. Silence was an impossibility among us, not just because of the many children, but also because we adults chatted, catching up on everything. The wonderful dinner that Sara and Paola prepared with Lais’s help was fantastic. Our godmothers are exceptional cooks and they love preparing meals for the family. I make my rounds saying goodbye to everyone. "Ethan, could you walk me home?" I ask, and he readily agrees. We head towards my, in a way, our house.
Ethan: "Liz," I call her almost in a whisper, gathering courage to start a conversation that would change the course of our lives.
Liz: "Yes," I say, sitting down on the couch next to Ethan. He turns to me and holds my hand.
Ethan: "Liz, I never told you but three years and a month ago, I made a call to the person who would become my everything, the most important person in my life. My other half. Unfortunately, this person had too many wounds and at that moment, I couldn’t declare my feelings; I needed to help her above anything else. But today is the day to declare my love for you, to tell you how much I love you, and it's not like a sister or a friend. I love you like a man loves a woman, just as my father loves my mother. I stand and, holding your hands, I kneel, opening a box with a ring inside, and say, 'Liz, will you be my girlfriend?'"
Liz: My heart misses every beat, leaving me breathless and trembling. "Yes, I will." With great effort, I hold his face and kiss him.
Ethan: Our kiss is calm, perhaps the most innocent kiss I've ever received from anyone, but it's at the same time pure and filled with love. My hands were eager to explore her body, but I restrained them, knowing I have to take things slowly.
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