COMPLICATED.

CHAPTER 33

MY PERSON?

<< Don't forget honey, eyes wide open, the mom will be here in a few minutes. I want to make a good impression! >> daddy told me softly. I grinned as an accomplice, I couldn't wait to see Mom's reaction to the surprise party we'd been throwing her for weeks. Everything was ready, the house was so bright and decorated that it looked like the one of Santa Claus. Mom's whole family was fighting over where to put the birthday cake and where to put the presents. Everyone was perfect and precise just like her, that's where she gets it! My dad and I were the least nervous, even though this whole party thing didn't seem like such a good idea in the first place. A fixed thought was always present in my little head...
<< Dad, mom's waiting for baby Paul at any time, don't we scare him too? >> I whispered worried while I was checking all the details and looked disgusted at the colored trumpets.
My father made one of his rare laughs, took me by the hand and made me turn on myself making move my very large pink tulle.
<< You look just like me, you hate surprises. But your mother loves them so we have to do it, she will be very happy and so will your future little brother. >>
I pretended to smile so as to please him but the worry wouldn't leave me until I saw her reaction. We suddenly heard the roar of a car entering into the parking lot. All of them looked out in front of the thousand windows, pushing among themselves to see better and I looked at them confused. I was the only child into a bunch of adults, as always. Nick had a fever, and his dad was throwing up, so his mom stayed home to take care of them. I offered to help her, but Nick had strictly forbidden it, because he said I shouldn't missed it for any reason. It was mom's birthday and I was her little girl, I had to be there no matter what.
<< She's coming! Quickly, everyone in your seats, somebody turn off the light! >> my aunt said panicked. She was the general of their family . I was worried about my mother, she was so much worse!
My father stealthily took a little red box from his desk, put it in his pocket then he grabbed my hand and dragged me behind the big couch. I made sure everyone was hiding in the right place.
After that I turned again to him and he gave me the sign with the index to be silent. His face was so funny that I laughed a little and had to shut my mouth immediately with my hands. The door opened slowly and the steps were rather slow and well premeditated, knowing her she was certainly wondering why no one was home. The others nodded at us and as agreed we all stood up and finally shouted in chorus the usual shouting word in these cases. Mom opened her eyes and carried both her hands on her belly as if she had to protect even the child from the shock, but after a few seconds she realized what was going on and a huge smile appeared in her perfectly made-up face. My aunt and grandparents were the first to embrace her, followed some of her colleagues and childhood friends. After much confusion my father and I approached her in small steps towards her direction, the moment she saw us she cried of joy. She held us as if she never wanted to leave us, continuing to thank us for all this and saying that without us she wouldn't know how to live. The usual dramatic ! But I knew in my heart that it was the same for me. I immediately stepped aside so that Dad could hug Mom better. After he wiped all her tears from his pocket, he took the box, put it in her little hands and then held them gently.
Mom smiled and,without waiting even a second, she opened it raising in the air a beautiful bracelet all in silver with pendants visible: a girl and a boy holding hands and on their side a little girl and a little baby. It was us, I was the little girl, Paul was the baby and the girl. The boy and the girl were mom and dad. We were a family.
They held hands just like them and kissed passionately for what seemed an eternity.
<< Soon this bracelet will come true. >> mom promised while staring us intensely in the eyes. In a second moment she bent his legs to reach my same height and to whisper something in my ear.
<< I'll tell you a secret my little girl, if one day you find someone who will do all this for you you will have the confirm and the knowledge that you have found the person who wants you happy and loves you. That will be YOUR person forever. >>