01/10 Chapter 611: Improvised Vacation
Today was my day to take care of you and Rafinha while Grandma and Auntie took care of several last-minute wedding errands. At first, I was supposed to be alone with the two of you, but Grandma took a little tumble getting out of the shower today and decided to skip Pilates because she was sore and didn’t want to push herself. So she ended up staying with me, keeping me company and helping me with you two, because taking care of both of you is definitely not an easy job! đ
As for Grandma, thankfully it was just a fall. She didn’t hit her head or break anything, and she was only sore afterward. But we do get a little more worried when something like that happens because when you’re very young or elderly, your bones can be more fragile, your skin can be thinner, and your body can take longer to recover. A fall can also cause fractures or other complications, so at these two stages of life, even a simple tumble deserves a little extra attention and care.
The plan was for me to stay with you until 4 p.m. At 4, we would leave the house, I would drop you both off at Great-Grandma’s house, and at 5 I had my nail appointment for the wedding. It was supposed to take about an hour, and then I would pick you up again and take you home.
Time went by much faster than I expected. We played for a while, watched TV, painted, and before I knew it, it was already 4 p.m. So I took you both to Great-Grandma’s house and went to get my nails done.
Later, when I was already near Great-Grandma’s house, she asked me to come upstairs because she was making a second batch of pĂŁo de queijo for you and it was going to take a little while. So I went up and watched the two of you happily devour them.
She said she made them because you asked for them. Rafinha didn’t want any at first. But once they were ready, he started eating and ended up eating even more than you did! Then you both asked for more, so she made another batch. đ
Every time you go to Great-Grandma’s house, the thing you love most is eating her pĂŁo de queijo. More than chocolate or anything else! It reminds me so much of myself when I used to stay at my grandma’s house and loved having ice cream with all my sprinkles, nuts, toppings, and everything else I could put on it. That was my favorite thing.
And for you, it’s pĂŁo de queijo. ❤️
I think it’s so sweet when you ask to go to Great-Grandma’s house and say that you miss her. And it makes her so happy, too. My grandma was my safe place, and her house felt like my second home. I hope that one day you look back and feel the same way about your Great-Grandma and her house as I did about mine.
After that, we came home, and Rafinha ended up sleeping here too.
Tomorrow, the plan is to go see my friend Miguel, who is visiting from the United States. We’ll see if everything works out! Rafinha will stay with Tayna at the office while we go.
THE WEDDING IS ALMOST HERE!!!!!!!!!! đ❤️
And just like that, our improvised week of vacation from school is almost over!
02/10 Chapter 612: Lean on Me
For the past three days, I’ve been trying to arrange a time to see my friend Miguel, but we just haven’t been able to make it happen. Today was our last chance because he’s only staying in Brazil until Sunday. And tomorrow is my sister’s wedding, so there’s absolutely no way we could meet then.
We first tried to meet on Wednesday, after your doctor’s appointment, but we didn’t leave until after 3:30 p.m., and your dad had a meeting until 5 p.m., so there simply wasn’t enough time for us to get together. We then scheduled lunch for Thursday, but that was canceled because Miguel’s wife’s grandmother, who had been the main reason for their trip to Brazil, had improved and wanted to see her great-granddaughters. So we rescheduled for today, but another unexpected situation came up, and Miguel asked if we could meet at 10 a.m. However, to get to his hotel by 10, we would have had to wake up before 8 a.m., which would have made for a very exhausting and hectic morning. So we decided to leave it for another time, when we could see each other without rushing.
Miguel is a friend I made during one of my very first trips to the United States. I was traveling with my aunt Rosely and my grandma Sonia when I met him at the Apple Store, where he was helping me buy my iPhone. He worked there at the time. I was around twenty years old, and Miguel had met his now-wife, Danielli, just a few weeks earlier. After I bought my phone from him, we started talking, hit it off, and became friends. I was absolutely thrilled to have made my very first American friend!
We used to talk quite a lot back then. I would tell him about my relationship problems, and he would share his own challenges, including what it was like dating a Brazilian woman. And from that point on, we stayed friends. Miguel has always treated me incredibly well, and we’ve always tried to make our friendship a two-way street. Whenever I visited Orlando, he would take me places, give me rides to the theme parks, and on several occasions, he even paid for my lunch, dinner, or breakfast.
Early in his relationship with Danielli, we had just moved permanently to Serra da Cantareira, and our old apartment, where we had lived for almost twenty years, was still sitting vacant. We weren’t renting it out; we just used it occasionally for different things, like when my sister and I were exhausted after college or when we wanted to meet up with friends on the weekend.
I remember asking my dad for permission to lend the apartment to Miguel when he was coming to Brazil to spend a few days with his girlfriend. My dad agreed because he had already met Miguel during another trip to Orlando and really liked him. Miguel had also been incredibly courteous and helpful to my parents during their visit to Orlando.
Miguel was extremely grateful and happy at the time. Since he and Danielli were still in the early stages of their relationship, they would have the entire apartment to themselves, a private space where they could enjoy each other’s company. That would have been completely different from staying at her family’s house, with her parents around all the time.
Americans can find the Brazilian lifestyle a little strange, especially the fact that many Brazilians continue living with their parents even after starting or graduating from college, often until they get married. That’s quite different from the typical American experience, where young adults are generally expected to move out and become independent earlier.
Miguel also wasn’t as financially comfortable back then as he is today. So, in addition to not having to stay under the same roof as his girlfriend’s parents, whom he barely knew at that point, he didn’t have to spend money on a hotel or an Airbnb. I even lent them my car, and they were incredibly grateful!
There were many other occasions when Miguel helped me during my visits to Orlando, often with little things that might not seem like much individually but add up to a lot over the years.
There was another time when, in yet another one of my ADHD-related forgetful moments, I left my fanny pack at a Starbucks in New York, near the hotel where I was staying. Inside, I had $300 in cash and my iPhone. I went back to the Starbucks, but the bag was nowhere to be found. My trip with my parents felt completely ruined because I had lost not only all my money but also my phone.
Then, after we returned to Brazil, either the next day or two days later, the person who had taken the phone went to the hotel to return it. You see, I had also left our hotel room key card inside the fanny pack. So the person returned the phone. Yes, just the phone. Not the money.
I like to imagine that this person had a little devil sitting on their left shoulder and an angel on their right, arguing over what to do. The devil was probably saying they needed the money, while the angel was trying to convince them that returning the phone would at least make the whole thing a little less terrible. Maybe they thought that giving the phone back would somehow ease their conscience after keeping my $300. Newsflash: it still makes you a person of questionable character.
Still, I remember being happy that I could get my phone back, even though I had already bought a new one. I could sell the recovered iPhone and make back some of the money I had lost, especially since iPhones have always been ridiculously expensive in Brazil.
The problem was that the hotel emailed me saying they could only hold the phone for a limited number of days. After that, if nobody claimed it, they would dispose of it. Can you imagine how desperate I was? I had finally gotten my phone back, and now I was at risk of losing it all over again simply because I couldn't get there to collect it!
While chatting with my friend Miguel, I told him what had happened. He mentioned that his brother lived in New York and said he would ask him if he could pick up the phone for me. And, thankfully, it worked out! I eventually recovered my phone, all thanks to Miguel.
And that, to me, is exactly what friendship is about: helping one another whenever we can, whenever it's within our reach.
I know that doing favors for other people isn't always convenient. Sometimes it takes patience, time, effort, and even a little sacrifice. It's not always easy to interrupt your own life to help someone else with their problems. But I believe it's worth it, because one day, when we need a helping hand ourselves, those same people might be there for us, too.
And sometimes, friendship isn't about grand gestures or being in constant contact. Sometimes, it's simply about having someone who is willing to help you get your phone back from a hotel in New York when you're thousands of miles away.
It was also through Miguel that I met his friend Mark, who eventually became my friend, too. Mark is a fun American guy who’s a little crazy in the best possible way. We became such good friends that, during another trip to Orlando, he invited me to stay at his house. The only problem was that he lived with his mother. Apparently, Mark didn’t quite fit the stereotype of an American who moves out and lives independently!
I’m naturally shy, so the idea of staying at a friend’s house while his mother was there made me a little uncomfortable. But I accepted because I was practically broke at the time, and not having to pay for a hotel during an international trip was an enormous saving. The trip turned out to be so much fun. I made new friends, even went out drinking one night, and just like that, Mark became another friend in my life.
We’re not nearly as close in touch these days, unlike Miguel, whom I still talk to from time to time, even if we don’t communicate very frequently.
Miguel has witnessed so many different chapters of my life. He knew me back when I was just starting college and was involved with a guy named Gabriel. He was there during the love triangle between Caique, Natascha, and Lucas, and later when I met your dad. And then, eventually, when I had you.
He knows so much about my journey and my romantic history because he was there for many of those moments. He knew all those guys and followed along as my life unfolded.
I think one of the things that brought Miguel and me even closer was discovering that I was pregnant at almost exactly the same time as his wife, Danielli. We were both expecting our first babies, with our due dates set for October. We started talking much more often, sharing our thoughts and experiences as we looked forward to becoming parents. We talked about pregnancy, motherhood, fatherhood, and all the uncertainties and excitement that come with welcoming your first child.
We had been friends for almost a decade, and suddenly, we were going through such a special and similar stage of life at the same time.
But the biggest surprise came when you and Olivia, Miguel and Danielli’s daughter, were getting ready to be born. Everything seemed to point toward the possibility that you might even be born on the SAME DAY!
And yet, in an incredible coincidence, you were born on October 19, 2026, while Olivia was born on October 20, 2026, just ONE DAY AFTER YOU. If things had happened a few hours earlier, you and my friend’s daughter would have shared the same birthday and the same age. We almost made it, but we just missed! Even so, being born only one day apart is still pretty historic in my book!
When we first traveled to San Diego with your dad, I managed to squeeze in a quick visit with Miguel at the hotel where he was staying. I got to see little Olivia and Dani, too. It was only a few minutes, but that’s how our friendship works. We’re both incredibly busy, yet we always try to find a little time for each other whenever, by chance, we happen to be in the same city and the same country.
Poor Miguel tried again this time, but it seems the universe was working against us.
He has since had another daughter, Sophie, who has either just turned one or is about to. Time really does fly.
Miguel is a friend I want to keep in my life and in my heart forever. Even though we don’t see each other often or talk regularly, both of us know that if one of us ever needed the other and called for help, the other would be there.
And some friendships are simply like that, especially once you get into your twenties and thirties. You don’t maintain the same level of contact or talk as frequently as you once did. Sometimes, you might go quite a while without speaking. But when you finally see that friend again, no matter how much time has passed, it feels as though not a single day has gone by.
03/10 Chapter 612: Sister Time
I set my alarm and woke up right on time, but while I was getting ready to leave and pick you up from your dad’s house, I received a message from Cris, the hairstylist, asking me to arrive at 10:40 a.m., twenty minutes earlier than our scheduled appointment. I told her I would rush and do my best to get there on time.
Even though she gave me such short notice, I hurried because, honestly, it was practically a squeeze-in for her to fit both you and me into her schedule that day. Cris had managed to switch appointments with one of her regular Saturday clients so she could do our hair, and I didn’t want to push my luck.
I asked your dad to give you a quick shower, washing your body and private parts, because once our hair was done, we wouldn’t be showering again and risk ruining our hairstyles. He complained a little, saying that giving you a bath and moving everything up by twenty minutes hadn’t been part of the plan. But he acknowledged that it wasn’t my fault, and I sent him a screenshot of the hairstylist’s message asking us to arrive earlier. Meanwhile, I took a quick shower myself.
I picked you up and managed to arrive at 10:45, just five minutes later than the time she had requested in her message. So I think I did the best I possibly could under the circumstances.
Cris started with you, and, as always, you were shy at first. She began by washing your hair, and it was difficult to get you to tilt your head back and keep it in the right position while she rinsed it. You just couldn’t seem to hold your head where she needed it to be. In the end, the only way we managed to get you to cooperate was by giving you your phone with your cartoon playing and holding it up in your line of sight so you would keep your head tilted back.
I had imagined that we would sit side by side and have our hair washed at the same time, sharing the experience together. But I had forgotten that Cris doesn’t have an assistant. She does everything herself when she books her clients, so she would have to do our hair one at a time.
To keep you still while she blow-dried your hair and then started curling it, we had to rely on your cartoon again. It took a very long time for a child your age, and you were visibly growing impatient, even with the cartoon playing. I can only imagine how much harder it would have been without it!
I think it took about two hours just to do your hair, and all she did was curl it. She didn’t create a specific hairstyle, nor did she ask me whether I wanted one. I thought the curls alone, along with the hair accessory you would wear, would look lovely. But I was wrong. I’ll get to that part later.
While you were having your hair done, I spent much of the time reading my book until it was finally my turn.
When my turn came, Cris nearly fell over and almost gave me a heart attack when I showed her the hairstyle I wanted. According to her, I hadn’t specified that I wanted an actual updo, so she had assumed I only wanted the curls I usually get done with her. On top of that, I was wearing hair extensions. I had gotten them recently, adding blonde highlights to my brown hair to make the lighter strands stand out. I genuinely had no idea that extensions took so much longer to dry and style.
I had mentioned to her that I wanted to get extensions and was thinking about doing it, but I don’t think I ever actually told her that I had gone ahead with it. And I didn’t even realize I needed to let her know. Well, now I know!
She was clearly frustrated, especially about having to create the hairstyle. I personally didn’t think it was particularly complicated compared with some of the elaborate styles I’ve seen, but I can understand that, regardless of how simple it might look, it would still take time she hadn’t planned for.
She immediately messaged her next client to ask whether she could arrive at 2 p.m. instead, because she was going to be running late. Cris kept emphasizing that she hadn’t been prepared for this or expected it. She told me that if she had known I wanted an updo and that I had hair extensions, she wouldn’t have accepted the appointment because she had other regular clients scheduled afterward and simply wouldn’t have had enough time.
I was a little stunned and didn’t know what to say. I genuinely thought I had mentioned the hairstyle I wanted, but when I went back and reread our conversation later, I realized that I had said I would get my usual curls and perhaps have her do one other little, simple thing.
But what I consider simple clearly wasn’t what she considered simple, and I need to work on my communication.
At the time, though, I felt so embarrassed that I just lowered my head, not knowing what to say. If there’s one thing I absolutely hate, it’s confrontation, no matter how minor. Whenever someone calls me out on something, I feel awkward and sad, and I tend to retreat into myself.
And now I understand where your behavior comes from.
You’re just like me. When someone calls your attention to something, tells you that you’ve done something wrong, or reprimands you, I sometimes get frustrated with your reaction. But today, I noticed just how much I’m like you.
After all, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
We’re so much alike, my daughter.
In the end, it really did take Cris a little longer to finish my hairstyle, and her next client arrived at 1:58 p.m., two minutes before the 2 p.m. time Cris had asked her to come. That alone was enough to make Cris anxious.
But she finished my hair at around 2:10 or 2:15 p.m., so she was only running a little behind. You can tell right away that she really doesn’t like being late. She’s used to seeing her clients on time, and she feels terrible whenever something throws off her schedule. In fact, when I was leaving, I saw her apologizing to her client over and over again, while the woman kept reassuring her that everything was fine.
Now, as for our hairstyles, mine turned out absolutely gorgeous, even more beautiful than I had imagined!
Yours, on the other hand, turned out... ordinary.
You had curls, but you already have naturally curly hair, so it didn’t look very different from your everyday hairstyle. In fact, it barely looked any different at all. Cris hadn’t put any pins in your hair to hold the curls in place until it was time to let them down, so the beautifully defined curls she had created with the curling iron quickly fell apart and ended up looking just like your natural curls.
The only thing that really made your hair look different was the blue flower crown you wore on your head, with a few decorative strands trailing down the back of your hair. But you didn’t actually have a hairstyle, sweetheart. You just had a flower crown.
Mine, on the other hand, was worth every penny.
I spent R$400 in total, R$200 for each of us, and I genuinely feel that my hairstyle was worth the money. Yours, however, felt like throwing R$200 straight into the trash.
I could have done what she did to your hair myself and saved that money. And at a time when I need to be so careful with every penny, that really stings. On top of that, Cris could have focused all her attention on me and my more complicated hairstyle. She wouldn’t have gotten frustrated with the unexpected extra work, I wouldn’t have found myself in such an awkward position, and you wouldn’t have been so impatient and exhausted after sitting there for so long.
What was supposed to be a lovely mother-and-daughter morning at the hair salon turned into something quite different from what I had imagined.
But you felt like the prettiest little princess in the world, and I absolutely loved my hair. So, for now, I’m not going to dwell on the money. It’s too late to change anything anyway.
We headed home, and the entire way there, you kept worrying about your hair, asking whether the curls had already fallen out. In fact, you had been worrying about it ever since we were at the hair salon.
I know that feeling all too well because when I was little, whenever I had my hair curled, I would constantly worry about whether the curls had already fallen out. And honestly, I still do it to this day!
That’s why, for people with fine hair like you and me, it’s always a good idea to pin the curls up and let them down only when it’s time for the event. I have no idea why Cris didn’t do that today. Usually, whenever she curls my hair, she pins the curls up so I can let them down whenever I want. And that’s not even just for special occasions; she does it for my everyday hairstyles, too. Yet today, for some reason, she didn’t do it.
When we arrived home, Grandma was absolutely enchanted by my hair. She said that out of all the hairstyles I’d ever had for a party, this one was the most beautiful. But she was just as disappointed with yours, saying it was money thrown away and expressing her surprise that Cris had done something so simple for you.
Still, I think that, by the end of the day, Grandma probably hadn’t expected either of us to get an actual hairstyle. She had likely assumed we were both just getting our hair curled, nothing more.
I had arranged with your dad to pick him up at his house at around 3:45 p.m. I know we eventually picked him up at 4:20, which meant we were quite late. But it wasn’t your fault or mine. It was the bride, the bride’s mother, and practically everyone else who was running behind schedule! So we didn’t get scolded. đ
Even so, we were cutting it pretty close. If we picked your dad up at 4:20, it would take us at least forty minutes to get to the wedding venue, meaning we would arrive at around 5 p.m.
The invitation said the wedding would begin at 5:30 p.m., even though the ceremony was actually scheduled to start at 6 p.m. Weddings often list the time half an hour earlier so guests can arrive, get settled, and find their seats before the ceremony begins. That way, nobody ends up walking in after the bride has already made her entrance.
Ever since you arrived at my parents’ house, you were absolutely dying to put on your dress and shoes. You were so excited and couldn’t wait to get all dressed up! Such a little fashionista. You didn’t rest until you were finally wearing your beautiful blue dress.
My dress was also a hit because it was a corset-style dress that revealed just a subtle glimpse of my stomach. All the other bridesmaids’ dresses looked pretty much the same, with only Bianca’s standing out a little because it had a pleated design.
And the blonde hair extensions I had gotten turned out to be absolutely worth the money! They looked simply gorgeous with my hairstyle. The contrast between the blonde and brown strands was perfect, creating exactly the look I love!
When we got close to the church, finding a place to park turned into quite an adventure. There were several cars behind me while I was looking for a spot on the street, so I pulled over to let them pass. And guess what? One of the cars that passed me found a parking spot just a little farther ahead — a spot that would have been mine if I hadn’t pulled over. Ugh, how frustrating!
Parking on the street was metered, and I would probably have spent around R$25, which would have been perfect because the only other option seemed to be parking lots, and they looked expensive. But then, as if by some miracle, I found a parking lot that charged only R$20. Perfect, right? Well, not so fast. When I drove in, it was PACKED. There wasn’t a single parking spot available!
As we were pulling in, we even ran into Rafael getting out of his car with Rafinha and his family. Rafinha was crying because he had just woken up.
We drove all the way around the parking lot, but there was absolutely no luck. It really was full. And honestly, at only R$20, it was such a bargain! It would cost less than two hours of metered street parking, which was exactly what I had originally wanted.
So I started driving up the ramp to look for another parking lot. As I was going up, I spotted an older woman walking down. I immediately turned the car around, drove back down the ramp, and asked her if she was leaving. She said yes!
Yaaaaay! That meant we were about to get literally the LAST AVAILABLE PARKING SPOT in the entire lot!
The woman took a little while to pull her car out, and in the meantime, two more cars showed up. I started getting nervous and anxious because I was afraid one of them would steal my spot before I could get into it. But thankfully, everything worked out, and we finally managed to park.
The church was right across the street, so we just walked over. And the moment Rafinha saw you, he immediately cheered up and stopped crying.
When we arrived, several family members were already there. We were supposedly supposed to arrive an hour early for the rehearsal, but apparently, there wasn’t going to be any rehearsal after all. And sure enough, there wasn’t!
While we waited for everyone else to arrive, you and Rafinha were absolutely bursting with energy, running back and forth and making the most of all the space outside the church. Meanwhile, the bridesmaids, groomsmen, and the bride and groom were taking pictures with the photographer that all the bridesmaids and groomsmen had chipped in to give the bride as a wedding gift.
At one point, the photographer gathered all the bridesmaids and groomsmen together for a group picture. She asked the groomsmen to put their hands on the bridesmaids’ waists, and then asked the bridesmaids to place their hands on top of the groomsmen’s hands.
And deep down, I was hoping your dad would notice the scene and feel something, even if it was just a tiny little spark of jealousy.
I’ve always wanted other men to hit on me in front of him so he could see it and maybe feel something. I’ve tried to make that happen myself before, but it never worked.
I told your dad to go and sit inside the church because the front row had been reserved for him and Bete. I told him to go ahead and take his seat because the procession would be starting soon, and that we would stay with you.
Our biggest fear was that you might refuse to walk down the aisle with the flowers. Even though we had been talking to you about it for days, we knew just how shy you could be. Walking into a church full of people, with everyone looking at you, is genuinely not easy.
I know because I’ve been through it myself a few times. I was a flower girl at least three times when I was little. And even though I wasn’t as shy as you are, I remember that, at Aunt Rosane’s wedding, I only agreed to walk down the aisle if I could walk in front of her. And that’s exactly what she let me do!
Tayna, on the other hand, didn’t want you walking in front of her because she wanted to be the center of attention. After all, a flower girl walking ahead of the bride takes some of the spotlight away from her. Fair enough!
In the end, because we were afraid you might not walk down the aisle on your own, we decided to go against the wedding coordinator’s instructions and have you walk in with Rafinha instead. That way, the two of you could feel more confident together.
Rafinha was the first to walk in, holding a little sign in his hands. He did such a good job, walking in with a big smile on his face! I could only see him from behind because the groomsmen were already lined up, waiting for their turn to enter. But later, when I saw the photos and videos, I could see that he really was smiling the whole time.
The plan was for him to walk back afterward and then enter again with you.
After Rafinha’s entrance, the groomsmen began walking in one by one, until it was finally my turn.
It’s actually quite uncomfortable having everyone’s eyes on you when you’re not the bride. I felt strange walking down the aisle toward the altar. It seemed to take forever. I smiled at a few people whenever our eyes met, trying to make the whole thing feel a little less awkward.
And when I walked past your dad, I didn’t look at him. But I heard Junior and DĂ©bora saying to him, “How could you let this happen? You’re supposed to be up there!”
I heard him agree with them and laugh.
And there I was, still secretly hoping that maybe, just maybe, something inside him would awaken.
Since it was an evangelical church, the wedding party arrangements were a little different from what you might expect. Instead of standing up on the altar with the bride and groom, the bridesmaids and groomsmen sat in the first row of pews just in front of the altar. The bride and groom’s parents sat on the altar with them, also on benches. Honestly, that was a relief because standing in high heels for an entire hour-long ceremony isn’t exactly easy!
As soon as I sat down, I realized I was on the left side of the aisle, which meant I couldn’t see a thing. So I got up and moved over to sit near your dad, who was on the right side with a perfect, unobstructed view of the aisle. I didn’t even care about the proper procedure or whether I was supposed to stay in my assigned seat. I wanted to sit next to him so I could see whether you would walk in, hopefully catch your eye so you could see me and come toward me, and, of course, watch my sister walk down the aisle with my dad.
I nudged Pietra, who was sitting in front of me, and asked whether Rafinha was going to go back and walk in with you. She went to get him, but the wedding coordinator intercepted her and said that Melanie was supposed to walk in alone and that they were talking to her about it.
I was SO annoyed with that clueless woman! It wasn’t her wedding, and my sister had already said that the two of you would walk in together. There wasn’t much I could do at that point, so all I could do was hope and pray that you would manage to walk down the aisle without freezing up.
Since Grandpa was standing behind you, he said something to you and managed to convince you to go ahead. You started walking, but you looked very serious, with absolutely no smile on your face.
And you barely threw any flower petals! You actually made it to the end of the aisle with your basket still practically full. LOL. I think you threw about six petals along the entire aisle! HAHAHAHAHAHA!
You were so nervous and shy, but thank goodness you managed to make it all the way down the aisle, and everything worked out in the end.
Soon afterward, you joined Rafinha on the front bench. He was playing the Tom the Cat game on his phone, and you sat next to him, helping him play and getting completely absorbed in the game.
And to my absolute delight, your dad didn’t complain this time! After all, you weren’t even the one holding the phone. But I was still bracing myself for some kind of comment or criticism, so I was relieved when, thankfully, nothing came.
And then came the bride’s entrance, the moment we had all been waiting for! She looked absolutely beautiful, wearing a princess-style wedding dress, with my dad standing beside her looking incredibly serious. My dad looked like one of those mafia bosses handing over his daughter. đ And, of course, the wedding march echoed throughout the entire church, moving even the toughest people to tears. Since I’m not exactly the toughest person around, I was already crying quite a lot, completely overwhelmed with emotion. Even your dad admitted that he shed a few tears, too. To my surprise, Rafael didn’t cry, and neither did my dad, although he was visibly emotional. I think my dad might have cried if he had been standing at the altar watching her walk toward him, but since he was the one walking her down the aisle, it was a completely different experience.
The ceremony wasn’t nearly as boring as it can be when performed by Catholic priests, although the pastor did spend what felt like an eternity talking about wine, the origins of wine, and blah, blah, blah. đ But when he finally stopped talking, Melanie and Rafinha made their entrance again, only this time they came in TOGETHER! I hadn’t even seen the two of you go to the back of the church to get ready for your second entrance, so it completely caught me by surprise. Rafinha was carrying the wedding rings, and you walked in alongside him. The only problem was that the two of you practically RAN down the aisle! You walked so quickly that we barely had any time to enjoy the adorable moment we were supposed to be watching. đ Rafinha then went up to kiss his mom and dad. When you tried to follow his example and climbed the steps to greet the newlyweds, you stumbled and fell a little. Thank goodness you managed to get back up, and everything turned out fine. The two of you then returned to your seats.
The pastor’s speech was much more interesting and enjoyable to listen to. She talked about the couple and relationships, explaining how she and her husband were very different people but how those differences actually brought them closer together. Your dad turned to me and said that this didn’t apply to us, because in our case, our differences only pushed us further apart. And he was right... After that came the vows. Rafael had written a beautiful speech that made me cry all over again. My sister, on the other hand, very clearly hadn’t written anything down and was speaking entirely from memory. Her speech wasn’t nearly as elaborate as his, but that was perfectly fine. It was still a beautiful moment. And then came the kiss: the groom and the bride, officially husband and wife!
Throughout the entire ceremony, Rafinha kept letting out random screams while playing his little cat game on the phone. Different people took turns trying to get his attention and quiet him down. HAHAHAHAHA! His screams echoed throughout the entire church. Finally, the bridesmaids and groomsmen returned to the entrance to celebrate the newlyweds’ exit. I jokingly asked where the rice was, only to be told that the church didn’t allow it because it would make a mess. What a ridiculous rule! Throwing rice at the newlyweds is so much fun! When the bride and groom finally walked out, we all cheered, made a huge noise, and took pictures as they exited the church.
After the ceremony, my dad was going to take you, Rafinha, and Bete home. Bete would feed you, get you into your pajamas, and put you both to bed so we could enjoy the wedding reception without having to worry about you. Weddings can be pretty boring for children. There’s usually nothing for you to play with or do to keep yourselves entertained, so you would probably end up spending most of the evening on your phones and feeling exhausted. On top of that, there was an open balcony without any safety netting, which made us particularly concerned about Rafinha. We also thought about the music, knowing how sensitive you are to loud sounds. You would have absolutely hated it! So my dad took you all home in my car and planned to meet us at the reception afterward.
Before that, though, your dad got told off by one of the church employees because he was smoking outside, but still within the church premises. Poor guy! He had no idea smoking wasn’t allowed there, and neither did I. Well, now we know!
My dad drove you all home in my car, while your dad and I got a ride with my mom. The reception was in the northern part of SĂŁo Paulo, which is in our part of the city and relatively close to home, especially when it was time to leave.
And, of course, we arrived when practically everyone was already at the reception, which was pretty embarrassing. LOL! The only table left available was the one with my aunt Cuca and her family. Every other table was already taken. We had wanted to sit with Fernando, his girlfriend, Giovanna, and Victor, who are my closest cousins in age, but unfortunately, that didn’t work out.
Before the reception, your dad asked me where he was supposed to sit because he felt awkward about the idea of sitting alone. And I told him, “You’ll sit with me, of course!” What kind of question was that? đ I would never leave him sitting by himself, feeling left out. That’s not how I treat people, because it’s certainly not how I would want anyone to treat me.
He explained that at most weddings, tables are assigned and have people’s names on them. But I told him that wasn’t the case at this wedding. There were no assigned seats, so we could sit wherever we wanted. And even if there had been assigned seating, my sister would never intentionally seat him with a bunch of random people where he would feel like a fish out of water. And if, by some mistake, she had done that, I still wouldn’t have let him sit alone. Period. I would have stayed by his side and kept him company throughout the reception.
Your dad and I went over to Lilian’s cheese table, which she always prepares so generously, with an incredible variety of cheeses. My personal favorite is brie with honeycomb. She also had cold cuts like salami and prosciutto, different kinds of bread, crackers, assorted spreads, nuts, and so many other delicious things. Honestly, it’s absolutely wonderful!
But the table was PACKED, and the line was a complete mess. People had formed a circle around it, so nobody could tell where the line started or ended. Everyone just joined wherever they could, and as a result, it took FOREVER for the line to move. I’m not even kidding when I say we spent about twenty minutes waiting for our turn. Eventually, everyone started making jokes to lighten the mood. You know what they say: when life gives you lemons, make lemonade!
After we finally got something to eat, my sister arrived with Rafael, and they soon went to dance their first dance as a married couple. And guess what? They danced to MY SONG! The very song she had actually asked my permission to play.
I have always, always dreamed of walking down the aisle to this song or having it played at my own wedding in some way, whether during the ceremony or for the first dance. It’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley, and I honestly think it’s one of the most PERFECT wedding songs ever written.
There’s something about the lyrics that makes this song so incredibly romantic. The idea that some things are simply meant to be, that two people can’t help falling in love with each other, and that love can lead you to willingly give your life to another person. It’s beautiful.
Wise men say Only fools rush in But I can't help falling in love with you Shall I stay? Would it be a sin If I can't help falling in love with you? Like a river flows Surely to the sea Darling, so it goes Some things are meant to be Take my hand Take my whole life, too For I can't help falling in love with you Like a river flows Surely to the sea Darling, so it goes Some things are meant to be Take my hand Take my whole life, too For I can't help falling in love with you For I can't help falling in love with you
This particular part that gives me goosebumps deep in my soul every single time:
“Take my hand,
Take my whole life, too.”
THAT PART RIGHT THERE.
It gives me chills just thinking about it. And I think it’s so perfect for a wedding because, when someone takes your hand and puts a wedding ring on your finger, they’re not just taking your hand. They’re accepting you as a whole person. They’re taking your life, your history, your baggage, your experiences, your flaws, your dreams, and everything that comes with you.
It’s not just a hand they’re holding. It’s a life they’re choosing to share.
And that’s what makes those words so powerful to me. A wedding ring represents an eternal commitment, but those lyrics go even further. They express the willingness to give someone your entire life, not just a moment, not just the easy days, but everything.
That’s why I think this song is absolutely PERFECT for a wedding!
While Tayna was dancing to my song, I found myself unable to watch. Even though I had already made peace with the fact that I probably wouldn’t get married and that this song might never be part of my own wedding, seeing her dance to it still hit a little too close to home. So I walked over to the bar to ask for a drink because, honestly, I needed one.
Of course, the bar wasn’t even open yet! I was told I would have to wait another twenty minutes. I actually tried to argue my case, explaining that I needed a drink right then, for that particular moment, but unfortunately, there was no getting around the rules. đ
Eventually, the drinks started being served, and I finally got to have a little something and enjoy myself. I think I had two or three glasses of champagne, followed by a delicious coconut-based cocktail that tasted almost like a milkshake, except it had vodka in it. It was so good!
After that, I stopped drinking. As the hours went by, I gradually became sober again, and besides, I’ve never been much of a drinker anyway. When I realized I’d had enough, I started feeling nauseated, so I took an Engov (a Brazilian over-the-counter medication commonly used to avoid headaches and other discomforts associated with post-drinking). Thankfully, after a while, I started feeling better.
Your dad and I spent quite a while on the dance floor. They were playing American songs from our teenage years, including “Can't Get Over You” by Casino and several other songs we used to listen to back when we were teenagers. So we stayed out there, moving to the music, talking, singing, and enjoying ourselves.
A little later, we also spent quite a while chatting with Juninho, Mayara’s husband, and Mayara herself. Your dad talked to them for ages, and in the meantime, the wedding party was invited onto the dance floor to dance in pairs to a particular song.
When it was my turn to dance with Arthur, one of Tayna’s groomsmen, who had been paired with me for the dance, he took my hand so we could dance together. And guess who happened to walk past at that exact moment? Your dad!
I LOVED ITTTTTTTTTTTTT! đ❤️ I have no idea whether he actually saw Arthur holding my hand, but it would have been pretty hard for him not to notice.
And this wasn’t even the first time that evening your dad had made a comment that sounded a little jealous. Earlier, while we were chatting, he suddenly said, “What a shame I’m here, right? Otherwise, you could even be having fun with the groomsman.”
I just made a dismissive gesture with my hand, something along the lines of, “Oh, shut up! As if!” But HE was the one who brought it up in the first place. Which makes me wonder whether there was a little bit of jealousy behind that comment. Nothing too intense, perhaps, but a little something, don't you think?
Anyway, after the dancing, I spent some time away from your dad while he chatted with other people. Eventually, I noticed him sitting alone at a table, so I went over, sat down beside him, and asked whether we could leave yet because it was getting late.
He said, “No, go have fun! Go over there and hold the groomsman’s hand.”
I honestly didn’t know what to say at first, but I explained that it was simply part of the wedding party’s dance. Then I turned toward him, leaned closer, and playfully touched his nose with my finger while asking:
“ARE YOU JEALOUS?!?!?!”
He didn’t answer.
And that was the second time that evening he had given me an opening like that. Both times, I pretended not to notice, even though I absolutely did. But this time, for the first time, I actually let him know that I had picked up on his little hints of jealousy.
That made my heart so happy. I had always dreamed of something like that happening, and IT FINALLY DID! Another guy held my hand right in front of him HAHAHAHAHAHA! And the best part was that I didn’t have to ask for it or try to make him jealous. It happened completely on the guy’s own initiative.
Anyway, we never brought it up again, and we ended up spending over an hour at the table debating food, different ingredients, healthy eating, the impact of food on our lives, and all that sort of thing. And that’s when I lost my enthusiasm. We just can’t seem to spend an evening having fun, singing, dancing, or talking nonsense without those same old topics inevitably coming up, no matter how many times I call him out on it.
In the end, I dropped him off at his house. As he said goodbye, he once again told me that I looked nice. When I got to Bete’s house, you and Rafinha were already asleep. You were wearing your pajamas, while Rafinha was still wearing his party outfit. The next day, I found out that he had insisted on sleeping in his party clothes and absolutely refused to take them off, no matter what anyone said!
