Memories

Memories
AMBROSE POV

The sunset seemed to have chosen the perfect time to illuminate the vineyard, and the view was spectacular. It was one of the reasons I used to miss Italy despite moving to America.
After the operation, I lost myself, and everything felt foreign to me.
I didn’t even know my own name.
I only recognized people through the pictures shown to me.
In my previous life, I was married to the love of my life, Katherine, a tourist who came to explore the vibrant culture of Italy, and she captured more than pictures.
She won my heart.
I haven’t seen her since I returned from the hospital.
Mateo has always promised to share the truth with me when the time was right.
Katherine and I had a son together.
His name was Nolan, and he was married to a woman in New York, and they had a daughter together.
I didn’t even know my daughter's name, and I’ve never seen a picture of her.
I was carrying two buckets filled with grapes when I saw Mateo at a distance. He was talking to a woman, and beside her was a little girl who looked familiar.
I’ve seen her somewhere.
My eyes locked with the woman, and I felt something stir deep within my soul.
Her blonde, short hair framed her face perfectly as tears filled her eyes.
She looked like she had seen a ghost.
“Ambrose?”
I didn’t know her, but somehow, she knew my name.
I snapped out of the trance when I heard the little girl scream.
“Grandpa Ambrose!” she yelled, and a smile curved my lips as I put down the buckets and walked past the woman.
She was my granddaughter from New York; that explains why I felt like I knew her from somewhere.
She ran into my arms and hugged me tightly.
She pulled back, touching my white beard, and pouted.
“You look like Santa Claus,” she teased, and I chuckled.
“Well, you look like one of my elves, Alessia Marie.”
She huffed.
“I am not an elf.”
I nodded quietly.
“What are you doing in Italy? The school year isn’t over.”
She sighed softly, pointing behind me.
I turned, looking at the woman, who was now looking guilty.
“You should ask Mommy; she had a big fight with Uncle Nolan, and now they’re getting divorced.”
I was puzzled.
“Alessia,” the woman warned.
I ruffled her jet-black hair.
“We’ll talk later, sweetheart. I would like to have a word with your mom.”
She nodded quietly as Mateo took her inside the farmhouse.
We were finally alone.
I walked towards her, offering my hand.
“I think this is the first time we’re meeting. My name is Ambrose.”
She hesitated.
“Ben,” she finally said and grasped my hand.
I cocked a brow at her.
“Ben?”
She let go of my hand.
“Benedykta.”
I nodded quietly.
My hand was still tingling.
“Have we met before?” I finally asked.
Her eyes met mine briefly before she looked away.
There was something about her that I couldn’t explain.
“No, we’ve never met,” she muttered coldly, crossing her arms over her chest.
Did I do something wrong?
We began walking towards the vineyard in awkward silence.
“Are you and Nolan really getting divorced?”
She sighed softly.
“We’ve been married for eight years, and he accepted my daughter as his own. I really love Nolan, but a bigger part of me still loves Alessia’s father, and I just can’t turn those feelings off.”
I nodded quietly.
“And where is her father? Why weren’t you two together in the beginning?” I asked curiously.
She sighed deeply.
“Our relationship was complicated, and none of our families approved of it. When I got pregnant, things just spiraled out of control, and my family disowned me…and he got into an accident. I thought he was dead.”
I blinked in surprise.
“Dead?”
“The police couldn’t find his body, and I just thought of the worst…but I recently found out that he’s been alive this whole time and has a new life in Italy.”
Was her story too much of a coincidence?
“So, you came here to find him?”
She nodded quietly.
“I wish things had worked out between you and my son because you seem like a very intelligent woman, but I can’t force you to be with him. I hope you find Alessia’s father and reunite.”
She gave me a small smile.
“I just hope he hasn’t forgotten about me…or Alessia.”
We began walking back to the farmhouse, and Ben offered to carry one.
After she narrated what was going on in her life, it felt like I knew something about Alessia’s father.
I felt like I had all the answers she was looking for.
Once we reached the farmhouse, Ben went to check on Alessia.
I nodded quietly.
Once she was gone, I went to look for Mateo, and I found him in the kitchen warming our dinner.
“Can we talk in private?”
He looked nervous.
A few minutes later, we went to my study.
“What’s going on?” I demanded angrily.
He gave me a puzzled look, playing dumb.
“Who is Benedykta to me? I want the truth.”
Mateo looked conflicted.
“It’s not time, Ambrose…the doctor warned me not to overwhelm you.”
I glared at him.
“All of you have to stop treating me like a fucking child, alright? I know for a fact there’s something between Ben and me. These feelings can’t come from nowhere…it’s driving me crazy.”
He looked guilty.
“Alessia Marie is your daughter…and Ben is the woman you fell in love with after Katherine’s death.”
There was a constant ringing in my ear, and I winced in pain.
Then it all came rushing back to me.
Mateo looked concerned.
“Are you alright, Ambrose? Should I call the doctor?”
I slumped on my knees, shaking my head in disbelief.
I have a daughter?
The explosion.
Seeing Nolan at the hospital, and I made the ultimate sacrifice.
I gave up the love of my life.
All this while, I always felt like something was missing.
It was her and Alessia.
My little girl.
Tears filled my eyes when I realized that Ben was divorcing Nolan because she came for me.
She still loved me.
She came to look for me.
Was my sacrifice all in vain?
I wanted to embrace her and kiss her passionately, but the mere thought seemed selfish.
I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
I wanted Nolan to be happy, even if it meant that Ben and I couldn’t be together.
I had to let her go and continue pretending like I didn’t know her.
It was for the best.