EPILOGUE I

I didn't understand why Heitor took three exactly the same exams. I think it was to be sure, in case it was positive.

I opened the door to the reception hospital bathroom stall, which smelled strongly of chlorine. I, the chlorine queen, felt sick to my stomach at the odor. I took a deep breath and tried to stick with the plan of peeing on the “thermometers” inside the boxes. I think it was right to do that in the comfort of home. But since I was very anxious, of course I couldn't wait.

I sat and urinated on the first test. It was written that two red stripes meant positive, i.e. pregnant. One line, negative. And it could take up to five minutes for those stripes to appear.

But it didn't take more than a minute for the two stripes to appear. I stared at it with a feeling I couldn't describe at the time. A mixture of fear, emotion and love without explanation. Ok, Heitor nailed it to bring two more. Really one was not enough.

But my bladder was empty. There wasn't a drop of pee left.

- Hey, rim, I always say proudly that you are in good condition. Don't do this to me now. I need more pee.

Yes, I was the crazy one who talked to my kidney. But then, wouldn't it be a serious conversation with the bladder, in this case?

I got up from the toilet, fixed my clothes and went to the hall to pour myself a glass of water, which I drank until the last drop. I took one more, just in case.

I went back to the bathroom and redid the other two tests, both positive. I smoothed my middle, still without any volume and felt the tears flow, without any permission:

- Salma, as I understand exactly everything you felt for our little one... There's really no explanation. There's a little baby inside me... A life, generated from my life, fruit of the love between me and the disqualified Mor. Malu will have a little brother or sister, my friend.

I took a deep breath, wiped my tears and left the bathroom. I picked up my cell phone and dialed the number by heart:

- Hi, my beautiful!

- Hi handsome. Sorry to go out there like this ... But we have Allan in the hospital.

- I heard... Don't worry. Everything happens to us, doesn't it Babi? Did Casavelha leave it for dead on my wedding day? Damn, that's not very fair!

- Ben... I... I...

- Just a minute, Babi, I'm going to get out of here for a bit because there's a lot of noise...

I noticed that he went to a quieter place and could actually hear him more clearly.

- You can talk... What's going on?

- Ben, I discovered something, very important.

- Oh, my God, don't make me curious like that, Babi.

- I just took the exam. I'm Pregnant.

There was a brief silence on the other end of the line before he said:

- What the fuck! This is magnificent, Babi. Hector must be beaming.

- I haven't told him yet. - I felt the tears come back, such emotion that I felt at that moment. - But I wanted you to know, after all... You're going to have a godson or goddaughter.

- Oh, you want to kill me on the wedding day, right? Casavelha is not enough, do you want another death?

- Ben, he's not dead yet.

- Ah, Babi, but we know this will happen. And I'm sorry... Because I liked the old man a lot.

- He knew about the pregnancy before I did... Allan is simply amazing. I'm so grateful to God... For everything.

- I'll be the best godfather in the world. And I won't say bad words.

- Tell Anon... that he's going to have a godson. Because honestly, I think it's going to be a boy.

- I love you, Baby.

- I love you, Ben. I'm sorry I wasn't there... Sorry.

- Babi, you are in my heart, wherever you go. Our friendship is much more than physical presence and you know it, don't you? And I'm there with you... And if the worst happens, feel my hand next to yours.

- Happy honeymoon. Be happy, my friend.

- We'll be... together. We will never part. I can't live without you, Babi, you crazy girl.

I laughed and hung up. I went back to reception. There were few people around, but I felt completely naked with that torn dress and Heitor's blazer covering my body, but not my legs. I slipped through his clothes and crossed my arms, feeling so awkward.

I saw Heitor coming down the hall. His eyes were sad and he looked like he had been crying.

- Did you take the test? – he looked at me.

- I did all three.

- Did you pee three times?

- Yes... A little bit at a time.

- Damn, how did you do it?

- My kidney is really in good condition. And he is worth a lot, disqualified.

- I don't want to know about your kidney, Barbara. I want to know about the test...

- It came back positive... Three times.

He was speechless, looking at me without saying anything. My heart was pounding so hard I could hear it outside my chest.

- You were happy? – I asked, already uncertain of his answer, such a delay in saying anything.

- Happy? There is no word for what I'm feeling right now, disqualified.

He picked me up and spun me around in the middle of the hospital lobby as if no one was there but the two of us and our baby.

- I love you, Heitor... A lot.

- I love you, you crazy, reason for my life!

It didn't take five minutes and our happiness was interrupted by the news of Allan Casanova's death.

I confess that the news of our baby somewhat eased the pain of losing the man who took my heart completely, my father-in-law and the love of my mother's life, Allan Casanova. He was always good and kind to me. Never judged me, accepting me the way I was. And it seems I always knew that I was made for Hector and he for me. He bet on us when we didn't even know that hate could turn into love.

At the same time, I think we could have celebrated the pregnancy a lot more, but the moment didn't allow it, because we felt sad. It was a moment of life and death, together, walking side by side.

On the way back home, I was surprised by the question:

- Do you think Malu will welcome the news of the baby?

- If I think? I am sure. She will love.

Heitor's personal assistant, a lady already retired from another job, very experienced, bilingual, married, with children and grandchildren, chosen by myself, was instructed to arrange the wake and burial procedures for the great CEO of Noriah Norte, founder of largest beverage company in the country.

We didn't sleep that night, which was the night of Ben's wedding, the discovery of the pregnancy and Allan's death. The father CEO buried, as his wish was not to be cremated.

That late afternoon, in the place where, for me, it was one of the most beautiful sunsets in North Noriah, I looked at the sky, in a mixture of sadness and joy.

I felt a kiss on my cheek and by the good smell I knew it was her:

- Grandmother!

Mandy draped a coat over my shoulders and said quietly,

- Is cold. You need to take care of yourself now.

I lifted my shoulders, feeling a cooler breeze:

- Thank you... For always worrying about me.

- I am going. I don't want to disturb you in parting. - She gave me another kiss.

- I love you. - I said, letting her go.

I took a deep breath and laced my fingers through Hector's. He was looking at the tombstone, so far away that I feared I couldn't rescue him. I let him stay there, keeping silent, squeezing his hand, making it clear I was there.

- Were you upset with my idea? – I asked, unsure of my proposal.

- I... I wasn't upset. But I'm trying to assimilate that my father is dead along with your mother. He gave a confused smile.

- I tried to repair a mistake from the past... I know that they are no longer alive, that they are just bodies ... But anyway, they are side by side. He was my mother's one true love.

- And she is the love of his life... North Beatriz... - He smiled, shaking his head.

- Isn't it strange that the most beautiful sunset in North Noriah can be seen from a cemetery?