THE FOREVER LIFE

CHAPTER TWO

Vincent Matrone had asked for Roselyn Carozza's hand in marriage when they were twenty-two. He was raised as a respectable Italian man, and so he proposed in a respectful manner. But since Roselyn was fatherless, he asked permission from her mother.

Sarah eyed this dark haired young man in suspicion. Would he hurt her daughter the way so many had done? She had brought them into their home. She could do nothing for her daughter if Vincent turned out to be a predator, too. For Roselyn wouldn't be under her roof anymore. It's not like her roof was safe, her choice of man tainted it too often. But no, Vincent she had known for seven years. His parents were middle class and well respected. Often, her and Roselyn would visit them, when her choice of man was throwing tantrums in the house. Vincent and his parents were their safe haven. Never had Sarah seen them argue, let alone raise a hand.

A gracious smile replaced Sarah's apprehension as she agreed to the union. When she hugged Vincent, she felt the safety that was waiting for Roselyn in this brawny young man. He had befriended Roselyn five years before they began dating. Too many times, he had fended off Sarah's bad choices from Roselyn. He was her protector. This was why he asked Sarah now for Roselyn's hand; in six months, he was being shipped off to the United States Navy. He had enlisted. There would be no one to protect Roselyn in Mayfield, Ohio. He had to bring his Rose with him.

Vincent had carefully planned each detail of the proposal. He would surprise his love with a three course homemade candlelit dinner. The salad was spinach, walnuts, and cranberries with a sweet balsamic vinaigrette dressing. The main course was her favorite, chicken marsala with steamed vegetables salted and peppered to taste. Cannolis with a glass of blackberry wine would be their dessert. A one-carat diamond ring would be sitting at the bottom of the glass, awaiting her discovery.

After leaving campus for the day, Roselyn knocked on the Matrone's front door. Vincent's parents had gone to dinner in Cleveland, giving their son the privacy he desired. Vincent opened the door to a smiling Roselyn. Containing the joy she felt when she was around him was impossible, as he was the one male in her life she could wholeheartedly trust and love.

Her smile faded as she took in his attire. He was clad in black dress slacks and a white button down silkened shirt with a tie striped in red. His dark brown hair was slicked and brushed back. Had she known how polished he was, she would've stopped home and freshened up. Or she could've brought a change of clothes to Cleveland State University, because Larry was with her mother today.

She frowned at her tight-fitting jeans. At least her pink blouse was a bit formal. But who cared, she was getting a night alone with Vincent and he told her he was cooking for her. What they were wearing really mattered none, as long as they were together.

The young couple hugged and then shared a kiss before Vincent stepped aside to let Roselyn inside. He closed the door. She noticed instantly the shades drawn on every window.

"What's going on?" she asked.

Darkness wasn't her friend. Many of her mother's bad choices had crept through shadows for her bedroom. Innocent intentions weren't why they sought her out, which led Roselyn regularly begging Vincent to spend the nights with her. At first, he was naive as to why she asked so much, but he learned the truth after an encounter. The bad choice promised not to tell her mom about Vincent, as long as they kept quiet about his roaming. Many bad choices made this deal with them. Vincent always returned to his own bed, before his parents woke in the morning.

"Since college for you started four years ago, and I've been busy on construction sites, we haven't spent as much time together, like when we were in high school," Vincent stated.

Rosleyn nodded her agreement.

"I'm leaving for the military in six months, so I want to spend as much time together as possible." He took her hand, leading her out of the foyer towards the kitchen but into the dining area. On the family dinner table lay a white tablecloth with two candles flickering, reflecting off sea-blue and soft-pink flowered china plates. Silverware rested in a folded pocket of each cloth napkin and empty wine glasses sat next to ones filled with water. "And I want each moment to be as special to you as you are to me," he finished.