When Stars Align

Meeting the son.

The door swung open and Luca stared at the empty space where a person should’ve stood in surprise. A tiny gasp made him turn his gaze downwards, there a little boy with a mop of raven hair stood at the entrance. His face broke into a smile as he stared at Amanda with a look of utter joy. He flung himself at her and clung to her legs.

“Mummy you’re back, I’ve missed you so,” he exclaimed. Amanda chuckled and held him to her with equal fervour.

“I’ve missed you too sweetheart.”

He let go of Amanda and stared up at him in bemusement. Luca’s eyes welled up with tears as his blinked up at him. This was his son, his own flesh and blood. He had icy green eyes just like him, with his aquiline nose and olive skin a shade darker than his. He was his exact replica save for the darker skin tone. His heart swelled and he itched to pull the boy to him. He glanced at Amanda and she cleared her throat.

“Uhmm Sandro, let’s go in.” She said to the boy and they went into the apartment. Luca closed the door behind him and walked into the living room. He heard the boy whispering to his mother as they walked ahead of him and casting curious glances at him.

The living room was a grand space filled with bursts of colours that screamed Amanda. He hadn’t expected anything less from her. There was a two-seater sofa with polka dot prints and colourful scatter cushions on it, another three-seater sofa was placed opposite it with a glass coffee table in the middle. A recliner was placed near a wall at the far side of the room with a footstool in front of it. An armchair was directly opposite it at the other end of the wall with a pot plant beside it, a huge flat screen TV hung on the wall with a standing sound system and a docking station on a glass table underneath the TV.

Different abstract art hung on the walls and a few pictures of Amanda and an old man– that must be her father– and a few of her son’s. There were two closed doors at the end of the hall and a corner with a glass opening that led to the veranda. Brown wooden stairs led to to the upper floor of the apartment, an old man with salt and pepper hair came down the stairs with a smile on his face.

“Amanda my darling,” he said as he approached her.

“Good evening papa.” She greeted him with a hug and a smile.

“How was your journey?” he asked.

“It was fine papa,” she replied.

“How is your leg now? I’m so glad you’re back home safe and sound. I was beside myself with worry when Devon called.”

“Its almost healed, it just aches once in a while,” she replied and he pulled her into a hug again.

He seemed to just notice him standing there and he glanced at him with curiosity. “And who is this fine young man you brought with you?” he asked. “Have a seat please.” He directed at Luca and he complied.

He took a seat on the two-seater while Amanda, her father and his son all sat together on the three-seater. It felt like a court proceeding and they were the jury. He could feel sweat pool on his brows despite the cool atmosphere in the room. Amanda cleared her throat and glanced at him nervously, he gulped. Her nervousness only further heightened his. Surely, her father would chase him out of the apartment once he finds out his identity.

“Luca, this is my dad and your son, Alessandro. Alessandro, that’s Luca, your father.” She introduced calmly. Her father said nothing, he just shook his head and smiled. Luca got up to move to his son but the boy clutched tightly to his mother’s arm and hid shyly behind her.

Disappointed, he sat back down. His heart felt heavy, he knew the boy wouldn’t immediately take to him but he hadn’t expected the boy to shy away from him touch. The room was filled with an awkward silence as they all stared at each other not knowing what to say. Suddenly, his phone rang, breaking the palpable tension in the air. He excused himself and moved to the veranda to pick the call.

“Hello.” He greeted immediately he picked the call, it was his twin brother.

“Luca where are you? Padre is furious with you, the news of your illegitimate son is the new topic in town.”

“I know.” He sighed.

“You know? So it’s true?” Ricardo asked.

“Yes it’s true, I just met him.”

“Wow!” his brother exclaimed.

“I know right?” Luca couldn’t help but grin. Despite the earlier disappointment, he was elated he finally met his son.

“When are you bringing him to meet the family? You have to come talk to father soon, he’s been in a temper ever since he heard the news. Grandmother would be happy when I tell her.”

He smiled at the mention of the proud matriarch, his grandmother had always wanted grandchildren; one of the reasons she had forced him to marry Lucia.

“I don’t know, I just met him. I still have to get to know him first before introducing him to the family.” He replied.

“Alright but come home soon.” Ricardo said and ended the call.

Luca turned to head back inside and collided with Mr Edewor just as he walked into the veranda.

“I’m so sorry sir.” He apologized.

“Its okay. I actually came out here to talk to you, man to man without the interference of my daughter.” He said and Luca steeled himself. He knew this was coming sooner or later.

“Now that you’ve finally showed up to acknowledge your son, what are your intentions with my daughter and grandchild.” Mr Edewor asked, his gaze unwavering as he stared him in the eye. Luca felt unfazed by his attempt to intimidate him, he replied with an unshaking voice and starred back unflinchingly.

“I have nothing but the best intentions for them sir. I wasn’t aware I had a son all these while or I’d have been here sooner. Now that I’m here I plan to be active in both of their lives.”

“And does this plan of yours include marriage?” he asked and Luca stared at him at a loss for words. How was he supposed to tell him he was in love with Amanda and had every intention of marrying her and spending the rest of his life with her but he was already married to another woman.

“Yes, I do intend to marry your daughter and I also intend to take my son back with me to Italy to meet my family.”

Mr Edewor nodded his head in thought, he placed one hand on Luca’s shoulder and patted him. “You’ll have to take that up with his mother but come into the dining, dinner will soon be served.” He said and left the veranda. Luca took that as a sign of approval, he just had to inform Eku of his plans.