Viviane
I was worried, very worried even.
João Pedro was getting more and more insistent about me having to tell João Felipe that Sarah was his daughter.
I didn't really think it was the right time, but according to him, I would never find that moment, always postponing the truth.
Anyway, I wasn't going to tell you now. We were happier together every day, Felipe was loving and very careful with me and Sarinha. I made a point of leaving myself and picking up at work, in addition to our walks together, with or without Sarinha.
Marta loved it when we went out alone, because she kept Sarah just for her and Mr. Rodolfo, as she always made a point of saying. She always insisted that I needed to go out more, that I was young and should enjoy youth better. Now that she was always hanging out with Felipe, she was very pleased.
Just today she complained a lot when João Felipe and I decided to come to the mall and bring Sarinha with us. We just wanted to hang out with her and buy some clothes, since she grew up so fast and was always in need of new clothes.
We were walking hand in hand, as always happened when we went out together, because Felipe always held my hand and I liked his way of expressing to everyone that we were together now.
"What do you think about us going to the food court?" João Felipe asked.
"There are some toys nearby and Sarah will love to stay there a little " I replied excitedly.
We had stopped for a while at this point when someone stopped next to us. I immediately remembered what happened at our dinner, but I was soon reassured that it was Beatrice and not her mean sister.
"Wow, what a surprise to find you two here!" she said looking at us, showing a lot of strangeness, probably because we were together.
"How long, Beatrice? How are you? " Felipe greeted her without changing her expression.
"I've been out of the country since I last saw them, at that Sunday lunch at her house," she explained, greeting us with kisses on the cheek and a hug.
" It's explained then why we didn't see each other anymore," I said smiling, because despite being Alicia's sister and always standing by her sister in her misdeeds, since our last meeting I realized that they were quite different from each other, actually.
"Wow, your daughter is beautiful! She's Felipe's face, Vivi " she spoke, making me dread. " Do you remember when he was a kid and had this little angel face?
Felipe smiled satisfied with the comparison but soon explained:
" Beatrice, I know you'll be confused, but Sarah, that's the name of this little doll, she's the daughter of João Pedro and Viviane. " He smiled as he clarified, and despite the situation, I was glad he had no qualms about admitting it to other people.
She looked at us without understanding anything and Felipe invited her to go with us to the food court and there he explained everything, at least the part that he knew of because the truth was quite different.
After we had a brief snack, they talked about their mutual friends, which many of them I didn't like and didn't even pay much attention to, then. I was nervous that other situations like this might happen again, and I feared that my secret would end up being exposed before I was ready.
Despite my fears, several days passed, until Felipe convinced me to take my things to his room in the family mansion. Everyone had already gotten used to the fact that we were a couple, and not even the media talked about it anymore, because as Felipe had predicted, new scandals arose and we were forgotten.
João Pedro and I had already filed for divorce and as it was by mutual agreement, quickly the process was concluded and now I am single again.
On the same day, we had this news, João Felipe invited me and his parents to dinner out, in celebration of the fact, which I found a little uncomfortable, but I ended up accepting, without further question.
João Pedro was living and working in New York, but arrived that same day as well, taking the opportunity to participate at the moment.
Despite the initial discomfort, I ended up having a lot of laughs at João Pedro's jokes about our situation, as well as everyone at the table.
"When do you go back to NY, son?" Mr. Rodolfo asked.
"I just arrived and you want me away? How much love for the youngest son!"
" There is no fun in this joke of yours, João Pedro " Marta scolded him but had a smile on her lips. " He knows we love our two children equally."
" Knowww. When Felipe spent a year and a half there, you cried every day. Have you ever cried after I've traveled?"
" We never "cried" when Felipe was in New York " Mr. Rodolfo was serious.
João Pedro kept implying with his parents and I looked at Felipe and at that moment he seemed very thoughtful, looking at his brother. When he realized I was looking at him, he shook his head as if to ward off some inopportune thought and smiled at me. I returned the smile and he said:
"Before you run out of our parents' patience, I'd like everyone's attention," he spoke to everyone but looked at me.
I was immediately nervous, as I didn't know what to expect. But soon he said what he intended, without making any more suspense.
" Viviane, I called our family here tonight, and I say ours, because I invited your parents too, but they, unfortunately, could not come, due to the state of health of your aunt, " he explained " why I would like you to answer me one thing.
My heart beat wildly in anticipation and I almost couldn't ask.
"What?"
I think it wasn't until he realized he hadn't asked "the question."
Everyone then smiled and he concluded, "Do you agree to marry me, Viviane?
"Of course I do!"
He then pulled me into a tight hug and pressed our lips briefly.
" Today is the happiest day of my life " he spoke softly, but everyone at the table could hear and applauded.
" Until finally, Felipe! " João Pedro said, " I thought you would continue to roll Vivi for the rest of your life."
Felipe rolled his eyes and replied in the same tone.
"It's not me who's winding someone up at the moment."
João Pedro did not even change and only smiled, neither confirming nor denying the information given by his brother. Their parents, on the other hand, seemed very curious, but they respect their children's privacy and I believe that for this reason, they did not insist on knowing what Felipe was talking about.
The rest of the dinner went on in the same relaxed atmosphere, but I was relieved when it was over and we went home. There was something bothering me and I knew very well what it was.