From Rome with love (Book 4)

A family now

*Tom*
"Mwana". I hold out my arms to the little girl as she squeals happily and run towards me. I catch her, lifting her up, to hug her and kiss her cheek, before looking at my mom. "Has she been good ?"

"Of course she has Thomas, she is a delight to have". My mom say smiling with all the pride of a grandmother.

I smile at the little girl on my arms. "Are you ready to see Your mummy Maddie again ?"

"Yeah daddy.. miss her". She say clapping her hands. "See mommy, see mommy".

"It won't be long Mwana". I tell her. I can't wait to see Maddies face. I had thought about doing the reveal at the wedding, but decided it might be to much.

My mom gently puts a hand on my shoulder. "I have to say that what you did here, both for Maddie and for Anele.. it shows Your true heart. I am so proud to call you my son".

I swallow, fighting the tears. "Aww mom, don't make me start crying already. And you raised me, what I do is a reflection of you".

"I did my best, but you are something special my dear, something rare... and I am not talking about Your looks or you talent, even though you have been blessed. I am talking about the light within you. Something like that is not taught, it is part of Your soul". She say softly. "See you in there, I better go join the others".

I watch my mother as she leaves. I have always appreciated my parents, especially my mother. But I suddenly have a whole new way of seeing her and the feelings are almost overwhelming.

"Did you have fun with grams ?" I ask Anele. She arrived 9 days ago, but not to spoil the surprise she has stayed with my mom until now.

She nods with a smile on her face. "Yeah.. so much new.. and you visit".

I have had to make up different stories so I could go visit Anele a couple of hours at least every day. Maddie has luckily been so focused on wedding and work that she hasn't noticed.

"So in a minute we are going to go in there, to surprise mummy. There will be a lot of people, but just focus on me and mummy okay ?" I say softly, brushing a dark curl behind her ear.

She nod, but squeeze me a little tighter.

*Maddie*
Dahlia gets up, grabbing the microphone. "So before we start with the dinner. There is something I like to show you all".

"Shouldn't we wait for Tom". I say nervously, he had disappeared shortly after we arrived, mumbling something about needing something and he hasn't come back. "I don't know where he is".

"It's okay.. it's mostly for you anyway. I'll just go turn it on". Dahlia say, going to a computer.

Logan shows up beside me. "Soo that is Your maid of honour, Dahlia right ?"

"Yeah.. no no no don't even think it". I say as I see the way he looks at her. "I know she is an absolute knockout, she is also very much married, very happily married. And that right there is her husband with their little daughter".

Logan glances at Zac. "Duly noted, definitely not a guy I want to get in trouble with".

"Actually he is sweet as a puppy, but maybe not if you made a move on his pregnant wife". I say with a chuckle.

"She is pregnant ? Oh wow.. awkward then". He shakes his head.

Dahlia has turned on a video, that is protected up on a screen. "This first part is from me and Maddie was in Africa".

The guests uhh and Ahh as pictures and small videos from Africa runs over the screen. And I can't help smiling. Part of me misses it.

"We gained so many friends.. not only each other.. but friends from all over the world". Dahlia say. A picture of me with Anele right after she arrived shows up. "This is a sweet little orphan girl called Anele that Maddie grew very close to".

I swallow, looking at the pictures of me with Anele, I know Dahlia mean well, but it is pulling at my heartstrings. I still feel really bad for leaving her there.

"This next part is filmed about two months ago.. Maddie has never seen this photage". Dahlia say, and her voice gives her away, she is fighting tears.

I look up, seeing Tom on the screen. When have Tom been in Africa ? Then a picture of him and Anele comes up. I gasp, clasping a hand over my mouth. Tom's mom shows up beside me supporting me.

A video run over the screen, Tom with Anele in his lap, he holds up a picture of me and the little girl smile brightly and point to it. "Maddie.. me miss Maddie".

"He went to visit her ?" I have started sobbing. I am not sure how to feel. I mean I am happy to see she is doing good and that she remembers me. But why didn't Tom bring me ?

"He did.. but he did more than that sweetie". She gently pad my hand. "Breathe Maddie".

The picture changes again. Tom walking down a hallway with Anele on his arm. It doesn't look like Africa.. it looks like.. everyone turns as the door opens and Tom walks in with Anele on his arm.

I am blinking furiously, trying to breathe as I shake my head in disbelief. I simply can't wrap my head around what I am seeing.

"Hi..". Tom say softly, looking more nervous than I ever saw before. "Sorry I lied to you, but I wanted it to be a surprise".

I am still blinking, trying to make the world start spinning again. The words sounding like it's someone else talking. "You managed that, believe me you did".

"Maddie.. mommy". Anele is suddenly reaching for me, trying her best to get out of Tom's grasp. "Mommy, mommy".

I reach for her, gently taking her into my arms. She is hugging me fiercely. And I just hold her. Unable to say anything. Actually I am quite shocked I am still standing on my feet.

We just stand like that for five minutes, everyone else forgotten. Then I smile at her. "Hi Mwana, did you come to visit me ?"

She nod, smiling at me.

Tom clears his throat. "Actually she isn't visiting. I.. I adopted her.. she is ours now.. as soon as you sign the papers".

I feel myself breathing to shallow, the floor spinning. Adopted her ! He went to Africa and found her because I told him that I missed her and adopted her ? My brain nor my heart can comprehend it.

Tom's mother gently takes Anele from me, and I squat down. Tom instantly beside me, rubbing my back. And Dahlia comes running with a glass of water. "You adopted her ?"

"Yeah.. I.. I thought you would be happy". He sounds so weird and I look up, realising he is scared that I am not happy. "Maybe I should have asked you first".

I grab his hand. "Oh Tom I am happy.. so happy. It is just very overwhelming".

"Mommy, mommy". Anele is fighting to get to me, and when Tom nods, his mother puts her down. She runs to me and put a hand on my cheek. "Mommy don't cry".

I gently pull her into me. "It's okay Mwana, mommy is just so very very happy. You and daddy has made mommy the happiest person in the world".

"So.. I stay here ? With you ?" She looks at me.

"Yeah of course, you stay here with us". I look at Tom, who has tears streaming down his face. I reach out for him and he steps closer, pulling us both into his arms. "We are a family now".