The Body #4: Nico and Cosi

Chapter 2 (Cosi): Falling

Copyright © 2024 by GroveltoHEA

Early the next morning, I tapped on Desti's bedroom door, and she called out for me to come in. She was huddled in bed with her back to the door, puffy comforter almost up to her chin, and I went around the bed so I could see her. Crouching down, I smoothed her hair back from her face, and I could see she'd been crying for a long time.

"Desti, you disappeared last night. What happened?" I asked gently.

"You mean what didn't happen," she said and there was a bite to her tone that I'd never heard before. "And what didn't happen was my engagement announcement that I've been looking forward to for months. I'm going to be seventeen soon, Cosi. Seventeen. You're younger than I am and you're already engaged. Guess I should have settled for a low-level thug, too; at least I'd be getting some diamonds."

Then she burst into tears again, and I handed her some tissues, trying not feel as if she'd slapped me. Since I knew she was upset and hurting, I took a deep breath and refused to let her words sting. Desti would never deliberately hurt me, so I could show her some badly-needed grace now.

"I'm sorry," she cried after a minute. "I'm so sorry. That was really mean of me to say, and I shouldn't have said that. I didn't mean it, Cosi. Honest. Forgive me?"

"Of course. Don't give it another thought, Desti. I understand how upset you are."

I stroked her hair for a minute as she sniffled. 

"Can you talk to your papa, Desti? Ask him why there hasn't been an engagement yet?"

She sat up in bed at that, her face determined.

"I made up my mind to talk with him today. I want answers. How embarrassing to be almost seventeen and not have a signed Note of Promise. No Body man's going to want me if I get much older. Or all I'll be good for is a widower if Papa doesn't hurry up -- nobody cares about who a Body man marries if it's his second marriage."

"Your papa's not going to let that happen. He's going to find you a good man. I know it."

"I hope so. But I still want to know what's going on. This is ridiculous."

"Come on and get dressed," I said, taking her hand and tugging her out of bed. "It's still early enough he's in his office waiting for Mama to make him breakfast. Go ask him now, before he leaves for work."

I braided her hair quickly and then she got dressed.

"Wish me luck!" she said, giving me a quick hug.

"I'll wait right here until you get back," I promised. "Then we can talk about what your papa says."

Nodding, she flew out of the room, and I made her bed and picked up the clothes she'd left on the floor and threw them in her hamper. With nothing left to do, I paced in her room, the minutes ticking by slowly. An hour later, Desti came back into the room.

"Well, what did he say?"

Her smile was blinding. "He said that the two negotiations fell through because they both said some things he didn't like, but he's in negotiations with four -- four, Cosi -- men right now! And he said they're all very strong contenders so he expects the negotiations to go for a couple of months. So maybe...by Valentine's Day! Wouldn't that be romantic, and right before my birthday?"

"Oh, that would be the perfect time! Think how romantic that would be. Valentine's Day is the perfect time to become betrothed!"

"Papa promised me that I'd definitely be betrothed by Easter."

She flopped down on the bed, her hands out at her sides, eyes closed and a happy smile on her face. 

"It won't be long until I have a diamond ring on my finger. Just think, I'll be married in about a year to a high-level Body man."