Page 95 of Abigail's King
“I’m sure the twins will be fine, Bonita. After all, they have an amazing dad. Nathan…well, just look at him.”
I managed to duck in time to stop the slap that was heading in my direction as Nathan tried to hit me. I pulled both Abigail and Kelsey out of the way so they didn’t inadvertently get hit in the process, thus causing Nathan to fall on the floor in a heap.
“See, no coordination at all?”
All three of us stood there laughing. Even Nathan joined in for a while. We stood there catching up on everything until I heard my cue to start putting everything in motion.
“I think it’s about time that we get the prodigal son to come and join us on stage, don’t you, folks? Ricardo, get up here now.”
Davi was always the one to put on a show. I looked over at Abigail, and she just smiled and nodded her head. I gave her a quick kiss on the lips and headed up onto the stage with the guys. I could already feel the nerves starting to build as I sat down at the piano and placed my fingers on the keys. It had been years since I had done this in front of a crowd, and I was starting to wish I had given myself time to calm my nerves with a cigarette beforehand.
We started to play a few songs, and after a while, I felt as though I was back as part of the band. I sang a couple of the songs I used to sing all those years ago and Davi sang a few he used to sing, but hadn’t for a while, as I hadn’t been around to play the piano.
I gave the guys a signal that the next song would be the one I had planned to sing with Abigail. I could feel my heartrate starting to increase as we finished the song we were currently playing. Partly because we had not practiced this as a group, and partly because of what I was about to do. As the guitar chords started, I looked over at Abigail, and her eyes immediately met mine and then turned away as Davi walked up to her. I was internally praying that she would agree to come onstage. None of this would work if she didn’t.
I started playing the piano; the guys had nailed it and sounded perfect. I could see Davi trying to convince Abigail to come up just before I started to sing. As I started, though, Abigail’s eyes met mine. I may have been singing with a hall full of people listening, but I was only singing to one. My Bonita. She made her decision as soon as she realised that and allowed Davi to guide her up to the stage, with the hall erupting into cheers and applause. Davi gave her a microphone, and with perfect timing, she started to sing just as she walked over and sat next to me like we had done so many times in the apartment.
We were no longer in a hall full of our friends and family. At that moment, it was just the two of us, pouring out our souls to each other. We continued to sing through the song just to each other, almost oblivious to what was going on around us. The band could have stopped playing for all we both knew. It was just us, together, at that moment. When we stopped singing and the song came to an end, the whole hall erupted again into cheers and applause. I looked up to see Davi with a huge grin on his face. He gave me a nod of approval to confirm it was time.
I could feel my heart going into overdrive as I took the microphone from her.
“Just stay there a moment please, Bonita,” I whispered into her ear so only she could hear.
I got up from my seat and walked to the front of the stage. I needed to calm everyone down so I could do what I needed to do. I was also worried that the noise would wake up the twins and I didn’t want Mateus to have to deal with two grumpy babies all evening because they didn’t get their afternoon nap. Holding my hand up to get the crowd to calm down slightly, I started to speak.
“If I could all get you to calm down for a second, I have something important to say. I won’t keep you a minute, and then we can all go back to celebrating Cali and Tomás’ christening.”
The crowd duly calmed down, and the hall went silent. It was now or never. I walked over to where Abigail was sitting and kneeled in front of her, holding the box containing her ring in front of me. The whole room would have heard the gasp she made. I looked up into her eyes, the ones that I had gotten lost in months ago, and started to speak.
“Abigail, my Bonita, you are one of the most important people in my life. You taught me that I could be loved and that I deserved love. You were my light in times of darkness, and although for a while I was lost to everyone, it was the thought of losing you that brought me back. You made me realise that I could accept God back into my heart again. You saved me from myself and gave me the gift of two beautiful children, who I love with all my heart. You have made my soul complete. I could go on with all the things you have given me when all I have done is given you myself. There is only one more thing that I can ask you to give me, as you have already given me your heart. Abigail Clark, my Bonita, will you give me your life as my wife?”
I could hear a few of the ladies in the hall crying at my declaration of love for Bonita. She too had tears pouring down her face. I was worried that I had gone too far and perhaps I should have waited until this evening when we were alone. She raised her hand and placed it on my face, which I immediately leaned into.
“Ricardo. Kye. You have given me more than you ever know. You have trusted me with your heart, something you have never done before. You too have given me the gift of our twins and completed my soul. You may think I saved you, but I know that you saved me. I will give you my life as your wife if you will give me yours as my husband.”
I looked at her as she waited for an answer from me. I could feel the tears falling down my face. There was only one answer I could give her.
“Always, Bonita.”
She smiled and leaned down to give me a kiss on the lips. “Then yes, Kye. I will give you my life as your wife.”
The whole room erupted again in cheers, applause, and wolf whistles. I placed the ring I had bought her on her finger, and it fit perfectly, as though it was made especially for her. I pulled her into my arms and kissed her, not quite as PG as it should have been in front of everyone, but I didn’t care. My Bonita had agreed to become my wife, and that was all that mattered to me. Davi walked over to us and placed a hand on my shoulder, breaking our moment together.
“Thank fuck you said yes, Abigail. I’m not sure I could have dealt with all that again if you’d said no. Congratulations, the pair of you. The first moment I met you, Abigail, I knew you were perfect for Ricardo. I’m sure you will live a long and happy life together.”
“Thank you, Davi. I’m sure we will too.” Abigail gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
I could never be jealous of Davi or my brother again. I knew how much they all loved each other, more like brother and sister. It was similar to the relationship I had with Kelsey and Sienna. Davi took my hand and shook it.
“You just need to get your finger out of your arse and marry Eva before she gets bored with you. And you never know. In twenty years, we could be attending the wedding of our kids.”
“Don’t wish that on me. I’m not sure I could stand you being related to me in any way.”
I slapped Davi on the shoulder as he walked away laughing. I turned back to my Bonita, who was gazing down at the ring on her finger.
“I love you, Bonita, soon-to-be Mrs. Carvalho.”
“And I love you, Mr. Carvalho.”
We shared one last kiss before we went to celebrate with the rest of our guests, not only the christening of our children but also our engagement.
