Love, Evangeline

30.

Song: Frozen by Sabrina Claudio- the song is for later on in the chapter when Domenico takes Evangeline out on a date, I liked it because matched the mood for the setting;).

Three months had gone by, everything was going by so fast. My mom came to visit for a week, bringing back my brothers with her. My dad had work business, so I wasn't surprised when he didn't come along with the others. My relationship with Luca was growing, but I can't remember the last time I held an actually conversation with him. We'd pass each other in the halls, occasionally glancing at at each other, nothing more nothing less. I'd smile at him, but half of the time only received a glimmer of satisfaction in his eyes. I loved it here, Rome was beginning to feel like the home and family I had been taken away from.

Domenico owned several houses in Italy, but I knew he wanted to wait a while before we decided on a house to move into. As hard as It may seem, Domenico was a very patient man when it came to taking care of others. We both knew I wasn't entirely ready to move into a house, so Domenico didn't pressure me when we talked about the houses he owned, as well as the several acres of land he had just recently bought.

I had gotten to know the town more, visited with the children that showed up at the parks daily. I spent more time with Domenico, at his family's house, at ours, in town, and every few nights he'd take me out for dinner. My heart grew for Domenico every day I was around him. I began to notice the darkness slipping away from his eyes, and could feeling his heart beat faster every day. As much as he knew me, and I partly new him, I craved to know more about him. I wanted to know what made him feel at home, what scared him, what mad him livid, and what made his heart beat.

Year after year, I treaded nothing but the day my mother made me cake and my sang to me while my brothers and dad were off for work. I usually kept my birthday to myself, of course my best friends knew but that was mostly it. My brothers would all write me a letter and set it on my nightstand when they got home, surprising me the morning after. The birthdays leading up to the one today were different, this one I felt like it was the same as last years. After all, you only turn twenty once, but again, it didn't feel special at all. I knew that if I told Domenico, let alone anyone, they'd buy me expensive gifts and force every cook and chief in Italy to make it me some big, grand meal.

My mother called me, waking me up to sing to me and wish me a happy birthday. She told me, repeatedly, that she loathed missing my first twentieth birthday. I reassured her it wasn't any different than the last nineteen ones I had. I got out of bed about an hour ago, getting ready for the day. I felt like I needed to spice up my appearance today, after all I turn twenty once in my life. I curled my hair and applied little makeup to my face. Staring at myself through the mirror, a soft sigh left my lips. Unplugging the curling iron, I stood up and walked into my closet. Grabbing a pair of denim jeans, I picked out a light pink long sleeve shirt with a lace tanktop.

The sun hung in the sky, it's rays infiltrated through the curtains. As I walked down the hall, the actual thought of getting married to Domenico and living here in Rome caused my heart to flutter. I've heard many accusations about Domenico, how dark he got, how many people he's killed, what he did for his work, and the many women he'd been with before I came. " Evangeline," Gianna called out. Blinking out of my daze, I turned around to see Gianna walking towards me. " You literally make any outfit look good," Gianna scoffed. I smiled, " you can wear whatever is in my closet, I haven't touched half the things your mother has in there." Gianna took my hand in hers as she said, " my mother would kill me if I ever did that. She said I have enough clothes to last me a lifetime." I chuckled softly as we walked down the stairs, Gianna looked at me, " I feel like today's different." I inhaled deeply, " different, meaning what?" Gianna shrugged, " like it's someone's birthday or something."