EPILOGUE II

He laughed:

- I don't think the most beautiful sunsets are seen from here.

- Are you going to say it was your coverage?

- Of course – he wrapped me around the waist, snuggling to his body – Without drinking death, disqualified.

- OK. Especially because... I think these two have a lot to celebrate away from us. – I looked at the clear photo of my mother, as if I saw her in front of me.

Heitor picked me up, surprising me:

- I already rescued a drunk in this exact place. And I was crazy about her. I remember every detail of that day.

- Who knew that later... There would be four of us and no longer two fleeing feelings...

- Deep feelings... - He laughed, giving me a kiss on the cheek.

I wrapped my hands around his neck, and he followed me on my lap along the way to the car:

- You're going to get tired... I'm overweight...

- I'll take her to give birth to our son in my lap. - The green eyes met mine.

- I'll charge it, disqualified.

Once we got to the car, he said, sighing:

- Anon is missed.

- Fuck, it's going to be seven days. He deserves.

We look at the security guard meters away, in another car, watching us.

- He looks like an infiltrator.

- I agree... - I started to laugh.

We got in the car and it started, while the second car would follow us every step we took until Anon returned from his honeymoon.

- The good part is that by the time they get back the elevator will be up and running.

I put my legs up, feet high on the car's dashboard.

- It hurts my soul... My Maserati being mistreated. He looked in my direction.

- Damn, you gave a lift as a gift to your personal security and complain that my pretty little feet are on top of your car dashboard?

- It's just an elevator, honey.

- I think it costs almost the price of the apartment.

- They deserve it... They are my best employees.

- And my best friends. ' I lightly tapped him on the leg.

- I'm a little nervous to tell Malu about the baby.

- Relax, Hector. She will love the news.

- What about my father's death?

- I called the psychologist. She said we need to tell her the truth. Before talking about life and death, in a simple way, so she can understand a little. We should also encourage all the good memories she has with her grandmother. And give her time to take it all in.

- You... Did you talk to her psychologist?

- Of course, Hector. I had no idea how to act. And I don't trust Mr. Google so much anymore.

- First we talk about the death of grandpa or the baby that will be born?

- First death, after life... - I touched my belly.

- Bárbara, it's surreal to know that our baby is inside you. Not long ago I had a vasectomy...

- And I the small percentage of being a mother... Anyway, our miracle, Heitor. Another.

We got home and Nicolete was trying to convince Malu to take a shower. As soon as she saw us, our daughter ran to us, jumping into her father's arms.

- I think dad deserves a clean, bathed daughter. - I tried.

She frowned and shook her head.

- Maybe you take a shower and then we have a serious conversation? Hector looked into her eyes, steadily.

- He would be? - She asked.

- A surprise. - I spoke.

- Bath... - She moved her legs and got off Hector's lap, running into Nicolete's arms.

Nicolete left with her in her arms, towards the dormitory wing. I went in the same direction. I took a long shower and got into bed.

Like me, Nic also didn't want a nanny to take care of Malu. But at the same time she assumed that role. He didn't let go of the girl for even a minute. And so she helped me, a lot. In no way did she resemble that woman who had once been harsh with me. Today I saw in the woman who raised Heitor and today took care of my daughter the mother I lost so early. Yes, because I think that if Beatriz Novaes were alive, she would be exactly like Nic.

The bedroom door opened and a Maria Lua came running in, wearing colorful unicorn pajamas and no socks. I took her hand as the little one climbed onto the mattress, snuggling up to me, lying with her head on the same pillow.

- These pajamas Great Mandy gave you are beautiful. - I spoke.

She smiled, her bright white teeth visible.

Heitor came out of the bathroom, wrapped in a white towel, his chest bare, his hair damp. A direct view of Olympus. My eyes focused on his perfect abdomen and I was confused about what to think or say at that moment, just thinking about showering him with wet kisses, using the tip of my tongue to explore every inch of that soft, scented skin.

- Are you all right, disqualified? – He asked ironically.

- Trying to resist.

- "Cassified"! – Malu repeated – Be “cassified”.

- Why does she insist on calling the cat disqualified? – I asked.

- She thinks it's an affectionate nickname – he explained – Which it is, isn't it?

- Ok, you completely changed the meaning of my word. - I pretended to be angry.

- Where is Be, Malu? – Heitor asked, lying on the bed beside his daughter.

She held up her little hands, confused.

- Nic said that Be has been running away during the day. There's a cat in heat nearby.

- Do we break the news that the kittens will be born before the baby? Hector lifted his head.

- Of course not... Maybe we don't even know his children.

- We can follow the cameras.

- You've got to be kidding.

- Drinks? – Malu asked, raising her head.

I took her hand and placed it on my stomach.

- There's a baby in here, very small... This size – I showed him with my finger – And he will grow and be born. And Malu will have a little brother or sister.

She narrowed her eyes, her small hand lightly squeezing my stomach. Then he looked at me and Heitor and returned to my belly:

- Hi baby. - We heard her voice followed by a smile.

Hector placed his hand over mine. Lately, I confess that my life has had many more happy moments than sad ones. In fact, since Hector came into my life, everything turned upside down... Or rather, I've always lived upside down. But I felt like we matured together. It was as if our meeting had been arranged long ago, by fate.

I asked myself so much if God really existed. Now I understood that He was everywhere in the world at the same time. But at that moment, I felt God right there with us, placing His hand on Hector's, blessing our life, our family that was born from nothing, the love that united us so intensely.

Times ago I regretted that maybe I couldn't be a mother. Some time ago Heitor, by his own decision, decided not to be a father. Some time ago, my best friend decided to choose who would be her baby's father. Some time ago, some man, who we would never know, had a child in Salma. Long ago, I had a daughter, on the exact same day I lost my best friend. A day ago, we lost a very important person in our lives... And on that same day, we found out that I could indeed be a mother, and that Heitor no longer wanted to be a man alone, so he reversed the vasectomy. Times ago we didn't know exactly who we were or what we wanted... Today we knew everything that united us... The bonds of love, whether blood or not.

My cell phone rang. I picked it up and looked at the display:

- Sebastian? What does he want at this hour? – I asked, curious.

- Disturbing our moment – Heitor sighed.

- Hi, beautiful brother!

- I have a surprise.

- Do you swear? Me too.

- Mine is better. He guesses? Milena is pregnant.

I looked at Heitor and I couldn't help myself, starting to laugh.

- What happened? Hector asked me.

I put it on speakerphone and asked:

- Malu, tell uncle Bastian what's inside mommy's belly!

- A baby. - She said, immediately, smiling.

- Lie! – he laughed – I can't believe it, we're going to have our children together, Babi… That's…

- Amazing! – I replied.

- Sebastian, you envious person, I can't believe you made a son in Milena on the same day I did in Babi.

- Hey, congratulations, Sebastian – I said – Baby, I think I'm having the first wish. I looked at Hector.

- What wish? Hector immediately lifted his head from the pillow.

- I want you to say that you love Sebastian...

- You must be crazy. He arched an eyebrow.

- Come on, say it soon or the baby will get mad.

Heitor was silent for a while, then he said:

- I love you, Sebastian.

I heard Sebastian chuckle on the other end of the line.

- Brother, your nephew or niece wants you to tell Papa Heitor that you love him.

- Nor dead. – Sebastian assured.

- Ok, I'll call Milena and say that you refused to fulfill your sister's first pregnancy wish. – Blackmailed.

- Heitor... I love you, man. And your whole family.

I started to laugh, while Malu imitated me:

- On the line, Sebastian, I'll call Ben and Mandy on this conversation. Everyone needs to know that you and Heitor love each other.