The date

Chap.4

exchange of love

Mariane

I woke up, happy and fulfilled, I'm finally a woman, and Eduardo was wonderful, I'm still full of pain.

But I didn't care, just being with my love everything is worth it, so I decided to turn around and stand there admiring my beloved fiancé.

However, I am almost scared to death to see that I am in bed with a complete stranger.

My heart almost had a heart attack, and I jumped up because of the size I was scared.

Without thinking straight, I got dressed and ran out of there.

My thought was just what madness happened!

Not believing the crazy situation I got into, I took a taxi and went straight to the airport, and took the first flight back to São José dos Campos.

As soon as I got home, my grandparents are not at home, and on Monday the neighbor grandpa was taken to the hospital, just last night.

So I took a shower, and then left for the hospital, when I got there I found Grandma, but she was down and told me that my grandfather needed urgent surgery because he had an aneurysm...

However, the chance of him getting a place to operate him urgently was almost nil, due to the poor public health system.

Grandma then says, that nothing else can be done, unfortunately, but I went to the reception and asked, where would I have a specialist to attend my grandfather, in the private network, and the cost of the surgery?

The girl at the reception told me to go to the Samis neurological hospital, I looked it up on the internet, and then I called the hospital itself, and the attendant informed me that the surgery was around thirty thousand, not including the post.

So I roughly calculated a value of fifty thousand.

I asked the attendant to find a place for my grandfather.

Soon after, I called Eduardo and explained everything to him.

Without delay, he sent me a transfer of sixty thousand.

I thanked him, and then told my grandmother that grandpa would be transferred to the private hospital.

She thanked me for my efforts, as she thought she had wandered off to the public hospital.

I didn't mean to worry her, so I let her think that myself.

In less than half an hour, Grandpa was transferred and his surgery would take place in four hours, as he was going to do tests on him beforehand.

I took my grandmother to eat something, and then I took her home so she could take a shower and get some rest.

She didn't want to at first, but in the end she gave in.

I left her at home with Lena, a neighbor, and went back to the hospital.

The surgery was soon after, and it lasted more than three hours.

Everything was on schedule according to the doctor, and now it was time to pray for my grandfather's recovery.

But due to age, the doctor already said that there would be serious sequelae.

I was so happy that he'd escaped the surgery alive, I didn't think about anything else.

I just thanked the heavens.

The doctor then told me that I could go, and that the next morning I could call or come in person for information.

So I went back home, and I told grandma, she soon went to say her prayers of thanks.

The days followed with ups and downs, I didn't even go to work, my head didn't work.

My grandmother was in a state of pity, and barely slept at night, according to her if my grandfather didn't resist she would also leave with him.

My heart was squeezing, and scared to death, until on Thursday, I got the news of her improvement.

It was a relief to finally have good news, however, as the Doctor had said, now that they were going to see how the patient really was, what sequels were left.

My hope was high, and I was always confident that everything would work out.

Eduardo made a point of calling me every three hours, to see if everything was ok, I thanked him for his support, no matter how far he was, they were always present.

My friends were taking turns being with me, and as far as possible in the situation, everything was fine.

Eduardo was coming this weekend, but I didn't have the head to go with him to the Farm, because according to him he would be going there, as he was going to show his father's horses to a friend.

I didn't even pay attention to what he was saying, but in the end it was agreed that we'll see each other quickly, on Sunday night, before he goes back to São Paulo.

Then I went to take my grandmother's dinner, in bed, because she was even weak, I was exhausted to see this situation, grandpa Olavo in the hospital still at the U.T.I.

But now without risking her life, and my grandmother in depression due to my grandfather's condition.

I dedicated myself to her, because I wanted to see her, standing and with strength so that as soon as my grandfather was discharged, she could take care of him.

Jackeline was with me today, and she helped me with a good cleaning of the house, and even went grocery shopping for me.

At the end of the day I would just sleep in the dust.

To wake up the next day and fight again...

Anyway, Sunday arrived, and so I had to get ready, because Eduardo was demanding, and he always says I need to be perfect!

So I left my grandmother with Julia, and went to meet Eduardo, when he saw me at the entrance of the restaurant, he apologized for not having gone to see my grandmother at her house, but later he would explain why.

I said I understood, and that Grandpa was still stable in the hospital and couldn't have a visit yet, and Grandma didn't react to anyone anyway.

So we continued walking to the table, when we got to the table I was startled to see the man I slept with the week before.

He then gets up, and Eduardo introduces me as his boss!

I almost fainted, such was my shock.

Eduardo immediately supported me, and made me sit down, he then explained to his boss, that Henrico Katisoure, that I was with my grandfather in the hospital.

That's why I must have been sick, he says.

"Little does Eduardo know that my shock was for having found his boss!"

Embarrassed, and mortified, and at the same time with the stress level sky high, I try to calm down and give the American a forced smile!

Eduardo then starts talking and saying that the food at the local restaurant was great for Henrico, but that it wasn't sophisticated.

Henrico then said that everything was fine, that he was a man of simple habits.

Is that even, knowing the best restaurants in the world, he would eat anything.

Their conversation was very lively, I stayed there, listening and sometimes I looked into the eyes of this Henrico, because he was staring at me.

So Eduardo said he was going to order a typical Brazilian birth, which served up to four people.

I wasn't even able to drink water, let alone eat something.

Not very successful in my attempt to appear calm, and the perfect bride.

I ask Eduardo's permission, and his companion, and go to the bathroom that is far away on the side of the restaurant.

I actually wanted to go to the bathroom to wash my face, let out a scream or even just stay there for a while alone.

To recover from the shock of seeing the man who took my virginity, and who seemed to pretend not to even know me.

How crazy, when would this end.

I entered the first shower stall in the bathroom.

Sitting on the toilet with my head resting in my hands, I stayed there for a while.

Without the slightest idea, and mortified with embarrassment.

But soon I hear the sound of the bathroom door being locked, and I'm scared getting out of the box I was in, to see what was happening when I finally see him, and I understand why the door is locked.

Then he says:

— Hello Mariane, I finally got to meet you! - We need to talk!

But I know that this is neither the time nor the place, and Eduardo could come looking for you at any time, so I'll be brief.

I want to meet you!

— Hey Mr. Henrico, I don't want to have contact with you, I appreciate it if you leave me alone!

And please get out of here, because at any time someone might want to enter a restaurant customer.

"I think you'd better accept my suggestion that we meet soon, or else I'll go right now to your precious fiance and tell him we slept together the Friday before!"

“Oh! Do not do this.

— Yes I will, and I'm sure Eduardo won't like to know that his sweet bride is no longer the virgin maiden he boasts so much of having!

— Please, Mr. Henrico, don't say anything, Eduardo is a wonderful man, he doesn't deserve what we did! — I agree to speak with you, just say where and when!

- Good, my beautiful, now we are understanding each other. — Write down my phone number, and text me, I'll save your number, and as soon as I can, I'll call you.

- All right.

— Now let's eat the food that Eduardo asked for, because the sooner we finish the better!

Then he leaves, and I wait a bit and leave too!

My head was aching, and my mouth was sour.

I went back to the table, and the food order arrived was a steak on the grill with accompaniment.

I tried to pinch a little, but I couldn't, I just turned the plate.

Then came a passion fruit souffle for dessert.

I just tasted it too, Eduardo smiled and told me I could relax with the diet, and I explained that I wasn't hungry because of everything.

He then took my hand, drawing the attention of this Henrico who looked at me with possessive eyes.

Thank heavens, it was all over and we said goodbye, I left in my car, and Eduardo followed with his boss.

I was nervous, but I was going to talk to Eduardo's boss, as soon as I got home my phone rang, it was this Henrico.

He asked to meet me at a hotel in the city center...

Author: Graciliane Guimaraes.