Chapter 40: Chapter 40

I’m standing by a lake, the fog is thick and it heavily pools around my bare feet. The night's air is crisp and cool, sparkling stars scatter across the nights' sky.

“Nessa, I’m so happy you came.”

I turn around to see a much more mature Celeste. She's walking towards me with her hands out and the moonlight cascading upon her.

“Celeste?”

I rub my eyes in disbelief. It cant be, I rub my eyes to make sure It’s her I see. She's wearing a long flowing nude nightgown, I swear she looks just like an angel.

“Yes, it’s me...I’m so sorry you had to find out like this.” She takes my hand and I quickly snap it back.

Confusion and pain suddenly wash over me.

“How could you, how could you leave me like that? You promised that we would always be together. You said... ‘Us Maddison girls have to stick together but you left.”

Tears flow heavily down my face, my chest rising and falling vigorously.

“I know and I’m sorry. I thought I had no other choice.” She wipes my tears. “I regret it all, I truly do. I left the three most important people to me behind. I should've fought harder and because I didn’t I lost a sister, a lover and my Daughter." Tears sting her eyes. "Because of me, Giovanni has never been the same. He drives his anger towards his career leaving his family in danger. My poor love has never claimed another woman as his wife because he lives a sad and lonely life. My dear Rosalia needs you in her life. She needs you to show her how to be a strong beautiful woman Nessa.” She pulls me in for a hug.

When she pulls back she looks me up and down with a huge smile on her face.

“You are beautiful” she pulls me in for another hug, the painful anger I was feeling leaves my body in a big gush. But it's soon replaced with sadness and affection.

“You can talk? Your stunning.” I pull back from our hug and look out towards the lake.

“I want to be there for Rosalia. I want to get to know my niece.” I look back at Celeste. “But things are complicated now...I...I don’t know how to take this all in.”

Celeste places a hand over my stomach.

“Luca.” She looks at me with an arched brow.

“Yeah.” I sigh deeply and she removes her hand.

“He has always had his eye on you, my beautiful sister. I remember the day Giovanni teased him singing ‘Luca and Nessa up the tree k-i-s-s-i-n-g’ rhyme. I'll never forget the rage radiating off his body as he charged full steam ahead at Giovanni knocking him on his ass. I'd never seen Giovanni look so shocked and proud all at once. He had been teaching Luca how Tackle for his next rugby game, the poor kid could barely nudge Giovanni out of place. But, that day... the look in his eyes was indescribable. I think he took it upon himself to take you under his wing and protect you. He always spoke to me about the little shows you did in the waiting room at the doctors. The kid had it bad for you then and I don’t think it’s dampened after all these years.” She slowly turns from the lake and starts to walk.

“He lied to me,” I say as I walk next to her.

“No... He was protecting you. He may have not told you about Rosalia because it was not his place. But I do have to give it up to the man. All those years watching you grow and evolve into a woman must have been hard for him.  To have stood back and kept his distance while watching Rosalia grow wouldn’t have been easy on him. Or on Giovanni, with each passing day, she would have reminded them of us Maddison sisters.” She stops and looks at me.

“Forgive him and move forward Nessa, life is too short to dwell on the little things. You need to stop protecting yourself from getting emotionally hurt. You and Luca need to be open and have faith that this could be the real deal for you both. And if you ARE carrying his child... I do not doubt that he will let you out of his sight so easily. He WILL tie you down and it will be for all the wrong reasons. He needs to stop resisting... you both need to stop resisting your true feelings.”

I put my hand on her elbow to stop her and she looks back at me.

“I told him I loved him, it’s the biggest mistake I’ve ever made.”

I look down at the fog still pooling thickly around my feet, ashamed about my feelings for him in such a short manner of time knowing him.

“Silly child.” Celeste places her fingers under my chin lifting my face to look at her.

“It was the bravest thing you have ever done. All these years of being alone with only Chrystal to rely on would have made any sane person insane. But you... you never gave up, you never let the worse get the better of you and you became a teacher in one of the cities most elite Academy's!” She says in admiration.

“I drove myself to become you. I thought that if I did all of this that mum and dad would finally be proud of me. They didn’t even bother to come to my graduation or send me a text congratulating me. I had never felt so alone until that day Lester. Chrissy’s dad threw a combined surprise party for us both and I didn’t have a single member of my family there to show me any support.” My heart quietly aches in the memory shared.

“I’m sorry Nessa, all of this that has happened to you... I should've never allowed it to happen. You were my responsibility too. As the eldest sibling, I was meant to be there to protect you and I failed to cause you nothing but grief.” Her voice breaks with sadness.

“I am so proud of the woman you have turned out to be Nessa. No words can explain the joy it brings me to be able to stand here with you as a woman and take a look at how you have grown. I admire your courage and independence. Forget about Mum and Dad, they are a lost cause...”

We both jump at the sudden flock of birds flying circling above our heads frantically squawking.

“No... I’m not ready to say goodbye just yet. Please...please just a few more minutes..” Celeste yells at the flock of birds pleading with them. A crack of thunder lashes out and lightning flashes across the sky. She looks back at me and quickly says.

“Follow your heart, Nessa! Don’t be afraid to listen to it as it is the second most powerful organ in your body. Your mind isn’t always right...  I should know... look where I ended up.” Taking my hand she clasps it tightly placing it over her heart.

“Rosalia is my heart take care of her and show her that she is a strong Maddison too. The stubborn Venturi blood flows through her veins graciously, you need to tell her of me, Nessa. Tell her about you and I. Please.... she doesn’t know enough about us.....” A big hurl of wind knocks us over and separates us.

“Celeste... Celeste..” I scream frantically trying to pull myself up from the ground as the wind continues to crash over me roughly.

“No.......”

I throw my hand up towards the sky hoping... hoping that she will take hold of it and I’ll wake up with her standing beside me after pulling us both out from my nightmare...