Building My Life

Chapter 57 - Good News

The days went by, and life slowly drifted back to normal. Josias was walking on air, channeling his joy into his work at Seu Romualdo’s construction site.

Romualdo, noticing that Josias was in a significantly better mood, decided it was time for the boy to move up. He paired him with Robson, one of the skilled masons, to learn the art of plastering walls. Uélton, meanwhile, was “promoted” back to the mortar pit, forced to wrestle with the hoe once again. But with Josias’s encouragement and tips, Uélton pushed through the fatigue and managed to keep up with the pace.

During a lunch break, Josias recounted his conversation with Simeon in greater detail. Uélton, however, was stuck on one particular point.

“He wouldn’t tell you who slandered you? That’s a sour note in a beautiful song, buddy.”

“I’m seventy percent sure it was Pamela,” Josias concluded, chewing on a piece of bread with mortadella. “It’s too much of a coincidence. She causes that scene on Friday, and by Saturday, Melissa’s father shows up to forbid me from seeing her.”

“She is the only person in this neighborhood spiteful enough for that kind of basement-level move,” Uélton agreed, tearing into his own loaf of bread. “And then there’s that lunch she set up with the ‘Saint Gabriel peacock.’”

Josias offered a lopsided smile. “I’m still confident I can ground that guy. The way Melissa looked at me when she saw me at her house... it was clear she wasn’t having any fun at that lunch.”

With renewed focus, Josias spent the week learning the trade. Robson, a married man in his thirties, was a patient teacher, and Josias proved to be an eager student.

Curious about the change in his star worker, Romualdo stopped by Teodoro’s boarding house to get the scoop. Teodoro burst out laughing the moment he heard about Josias’s performance on the job.

“Romualdo, our young Rocha is in love,” Teodoro explained between chuckles. “If you let him, he’d probably finish that whole house by himself. Love gives a man a different kind of strength — determination you can’t buy.”

“That explains it,” Romualdo smiled. “But I take it the girl isn’t that one who caused the scene at the site last week?”

“Her name is Melissa. Her father already came by and gave his blessing, kind of,” Teodoro clarified.

Romualdo felt a wave of relief. He hoped this meant Pamela would vanish from the construction site for good. Even though he’d sent Uélton to apologize, he still had a foul impression of her. Troubled girls don’t make for good wives, he thought.

***

Back at the Campos residence, Simeon decided it was time to tell his wife about his meeting with Josias. He was caught off guard by Dora’s enthusiastic reaction.

“Oh, dear, that’s wonderful!” Dora beamed, her hands busy in the soapy dishwater. Suddenly, washing bowls felt like a celebration. “We absolutely need to meet this boy.”

“You really think so?” Simeon took a step back, surprised. “Do you already know him?”

“No, but our daughter speaks so highly of him... much more warmly than she speaks of that Fabrício.”

The way she spat the name “Fabrício” made her feelings perfectly clear. Dora had already decided: if Melissa married Fabrício, she would be the ultimate “monster-in-law,” making his life a living hell. But if it were Josias? She promised herself to be the most loving mother-in-law and the world’s best grandmother. It was as clear as day that Melissa truly loved Josias.

To Dora, the awkwardness at the previous lunch was a divine sign that Fabrício was an intruder in Melissa’s fate.

“I still have an excellent impression of Fabrício,” Simeon insisted, clinging to a losing battle. “However... I admit I’ve cleared up my prejudices against Josias.”

“Excellent. Then go ahead and schedule the lunch.”

“I already did. He’s coming this Saturday.”

Dora was so overwhelmed with joy that she dropped her sponge and threw her arms around Simeon, nearly crying with happiness. She pulled him into a kiss, one that was fueled more by her excitement than his own.

Melissa was just about to enter the kitchen, but when she saw her parents in a romantic embrace, she grinned and quietly backed away. She didn’t want to ruin the moment. She retreated to the living room, where William was sprawled on the couch watching cartoons.

“Looks like we might be getting another sibling,” she teased. “Our parents are getting cozy in the kitchen.”

William made a face of pure disgust. He had zero interest in his parents’ romantic life.

“Don’t be weird, it’s just a kiss,” William muttered. Then his face shifted into a smirk. “When I get married, I’m going to kiss my wife all the time.”

“And I’ll be kissed just as much by my husband,” Melissa said, sitting down beside him, completely unaware of the effect that sentence had on her brother.

William practically bounced off the cushions, looking at her with horror. “Stop it, sis! Who’s the p*****t you’re talking about? Is that annoying Fabrício moving faster than I thought?”

Melissa burst out laughing. “No, Fabrício hasn’t tried anything, and he won’t. Josias is the one, you can count on that.”

“I don’t even know this guy, and I already don’t like him,” William grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest.

Just then, Dora emerged from the kitchen, her face still flushed. “Children, we have news! This Saturday, we’re hosting a lunch for Josias and a few of his friends.”

The news hit Melissa like a symphony. She let out a cry of delight, jumped off the sofa, and hugged her mother, her eyes shimmering with happy tears. William, however, stayed exactly where he was with his arms crossed, scowling at the television.