Free The Legacy by J. Adams

get your travel
plans made, because you’re my best man.”
“It's about time you finally admitted I am the best.”
“But of course,” Ingo agrees with a snort.
They talk a little longer and Ingo shares more about
Cisely, wanting Adagio to understand just how special she is.
Before hanging up, he gives Adagio the date of the wedding
and Adagio assures him he will be there.
    Treviso, Italy
Hanging up the phone, Adagio rakes his fingers through
his tousled hair and smiles. He can’t believe his friend is finally
getting married! Ingo is never far from his thoughts, and he is
happy the man he’s come to think of as a brother has finally
found someone to share his life with. At times it still amazes
him that he and Ingo are so close, and the connection between
them is unexplainable. It's as if they have known each other all
their lives. Having grown up an only child, Adagio treasures the
close relationship he shares with Ingo. True, he has other
friends, coworkers and acquaintances, but Ingo is definitely a
kindred spirit.
Adagio lost his mother when he was sixteen. His father
died before he was born and there were no other relatives to
speak of. When his mother died, she left him money she'd
saved through the years from cleaning houses, and he used the
money to fulfill his dream of becoming a chef and opening his
own restaurant.
Five years ago, Adagio traveled to America and opened
an Italian restaurant in Salt Lake City. A couple of years later,
an arsonist burned the place to the ground. He had suspected it
was a disgruntled employee he’d fired, but he couldn’t prove it.
In any case, the person was never found. Disappointed and
saddened, Adagio moved back to Treviso, the place of his
birth, which is only twenty minutes away from Venice. He
bought a villa, opened a restaurant in the right wing of the
home, and invested in stocks. The years have been very good to
him as far as finances go.
He smiles once more as his thoughts return to Ingo’s
good fortune. Chuckling, he heads over to tell the guys at the
restaurant. They are not going to believe it!

Fourteen
    During the week of the wedding, Ingo and I help
Jessica prepare the extra five bedrooms for our expected guests.
I've never seen Jessica so excited. She hasn’t seen her family for
almost a year and is eagerly looking forward to their reunion.
    Taking a break to sit and visit for a bit, Jessica and Ingo
talk about the family and speculate what they are up to, but my
own
longing
for
family
brings
an
unexpected sadness.
I
continue to smile, attempting to blink away the tears that have
come unbidden, but Ingo notices and immediately comes and
sit on the sofa beside me. Jessica joins us.
    “I’m sorry, love,” he says, squeezing my hand. “I know
this is hard for you.”
“I’ll be okay,” I assure him with my brightest smile.
“After all, I have you and Jessica now.”
“And you always will,” Jessica says, then moves back to
the chair across from us. “Since we have a few moments, this is
the perfect opportunity to discuss something very important
with you. I was wondering, have you two discussed where you
will live after you are married?”
Ingo and I glance at each other. “Well, we kind of wanted
to wait until we got back from our honeymoon before we make
any decisions,” he says.
“I’m glad, because that is what I wanted to talk to you
about.” She looks from Ingo to me. “You know, since I was
never blessed with children of my own, both of you have been
like my children. Ingo, you come to see me regularly and I
don’t need to tell you how much I enjoy our visits.”
Ingo smiles. “You know you’ve always been my favorite
aunt.”
“I know. I love the fact that you come here to escape the
rest of the family.” He grins sheepishly and Jessica and I laugh.
“And then there’s you, dear,” she says to me. “The day I
met you was the most fortunate day of my life. You have
become the daughter I’ve always dreamed of having,