24. Surprises

JESSICA'S POV

At this moment I'm walking down the street. The truth is that I didn't have the slightest idea where I 'm going, the only thing I know is I needed to get some fresh air. That doesn't mean I got tired of my family, on the contrary, I'm delighted to see them again, but so much information suddenly made me have a headache and I didn't want to worry Santi, that's why I went out. I decided to send a message to Santi, because I'm completely sure he's going to go looking for me and as soon as he didn't find me, he would go neurotic, so it's better to let him know and prevent him from worrying about anything.

Once I sent the message, I kept walking until I arrived in front of the cemetery. The thing is I don't understand how I got here, because I didn't know anything about Italy, well, now at least that's what happened to me, but here I am, in front of the cemetery and not knowing what to do. I decided to go in and walked around until I stopped in front of one of the tombstones, my tombstone to be more exact. I kept looking at it. It's weird to have the opportunity to see your own grave, or that's what I think when I get scared when listening to someone.

"I should stop smoking weed." The man said and I laughed "I think the same, what I don't understand is why you say that." I responded, "I'm seeing dead people." He murmured and I raised an eyebrow trying to understand what he's talking about. "And what dead person are you seeing?" I asked, "You."

"If you're seeing me, I'm not dead" I said smiling, "But you are, I've been seeing your boyfriend for the last four years, well, or that was until a couple of months ago." He murmured the last part, "He was on tour with Carla." I responded "Yes, I haven't seen her in a couple of months too." He said, nodding. "Well, I doubt you'll see them again."

"You're wrong, I am sure Santi will return soon. He can't go on without coming to see you, even if it's just a piece of stone he sees." He responded quickly, "But as I told you, I doubt he'll come, now I'm here." I assured "But…" he started and smiled "Long story."

"So, are you alive?" He asked and again I nodded. "Then why didn't you tell him you were alive?" He questioned "Because I already found him, well, rather, they found me and because I don't remember anything. I don't remember much of my life, that's why I didn't say anything to anyone."

"Ugh...dodgy." He said, "Exactly, it's bad, but I'm fine and that's what matters." I responded with a smile on my face "Then we'll have to get your tombstone out of here, because after all you're not dead." He mumbled and I nodded "Can you, do it?" I asked, "Of course I can, but I will have to tell Santi to know what he wants to do with her."

"Don't call him, I don't want him to come here to see my tombstone." I asked "As you wish Miss Leone. But what do I do with the stone?" He asked "Get rid of it." I said, because in the end I don't need it at all, "As you wish, miss."

"You don't need to call me miss." I said, letting out a laugh, "Could it be Mrs. De Luca?" he asked with a smile on his face "Why should I be Mrs. De Luca?" I asked, a little confused. "Santi was going to ask you to marry him when you came bac from Los Angeles." He responded "Santi what?" I asked, "I think I talked too much." He said, and I denied "No, you haven't, but why do you say that?"

"In these four years he has been telling me a lot about you and told me everything he had planned to propose to you. Please don't tell him I'm the one who told him, he'll kill me." He asked and I denied, because it wouldn't be something I'm going to do. "Don't worry, I won't say anything."

"Thank you, I would appreciate it." He said "You have nothing to be grateful for. Now, when will you have the tombstone taken out?" I asked, "Today if you want." He assured and I nodded, "I would really appreciate it." I sincerely said "It's nothing, just my job." He replied, "Well, let me tell you, you do it very well."

"Thank you." He thanked "Hey before I leave, how did you know I was me?" I asked curiously "How did I know you were Jessica Leone?" He asked and I nodded. "By Santi, I practically know your entire life." He admitted, "It seems like you know him well." I said with a small smile on my face "Not abbot him, he didn't talk much about himself." He said, shrugging his shoulders. "What were you talking about then?" I asked curiously "You. I don't know much about his life, honestly. It's obvious he loved you, well, that's still intact."

"I hope so, now I have to go. I'm glad I met you…" I said "Jordan." He responded quickly, "I'm glad I met you Jordan, I hope you stop smoking weed." I said, now with a big smile on my face "I will, see you later Miss Leone." "Bye" said goodbye.

With that I left the cemetery thinking about what the boy had told me about Santi asking me to marry him. Did he really love me enough to ask me to marry him? Just when I thought nothing could impress me more, something comes along that makes me have to withdraw the above. But knowing that, made me feel happier than I would be at this moment. I decided to go back to my parents' house to stay there a little longer, because I don't think I'll be able to clear my head right now, not after what Jordan said, but I wouldn't ask Santi either, if it had to happen, I would say yes in a heartbeat.

As soon as I get home, I see Santi walking back and forth through the front garden talking on the phone. He looked a little angry so I decided to stay outside and wait for him to finish the call, because since we met on the street two months ago, I never seen him like this, so I guess it must be something important for him to get angry that way. Once he hung up the call, he put away his cell phone and stared at nothing. I slowly approach him and leave my hand on his shoulder, causing him to jump a little with fright, I must assume.

"Is everything okay, Santi?" I asked "Yeah, why do you ask?" he returned the question "Because you're kind of angry." I said and he denied "I'm not…" he started to want to deny it, but I stopped him before he could continue "No queue Santi, you know you can tell me." I said honestly, "It's nothing." He assured, "There must be something if he has you like this. Who were you talking to that made you angry?"

"The record company called me to tell me that I had to go today because it seems there's a boy who may have talent and they want me there to give them my opinion." He finally responded, "But as far as I know, that's your job."

"Yes, but they gave me the day off so I could spend it with you and the family and now they want me there." He said annoyed, "If it's about us, don't worry, we'll be fine." I assured him, "But I asked for the day to spend it with you…" he insisted, "Don't worry, you can come home later." I proposed and a smile began to form on his face "Yeah?"

"Of course, after all, we're a couple, right? I guess we already lived together before, so there's no problem with you coming to the house." I said "Miky and Madison won't have a problem with that?" He asked and I denied, because I know they wouldn't. "I'm sure they'll be delighted." I assured "So see you later at the house?" He asked and I nodded. "See you later."

"Are you sure you don't have a problem?" He questioned and I denied, letting out a laugh "Sure. Now go do what you like." I said with a smile on my face "I love you, Jess." He said "I love you too, Santi, I'll wait for you at home."

We kissed and he left, but not before going in to say goodbye to the others. After he left it took us about two hours to go. Carla was playing with the children, while I'm thinking about what Jordan had told me. We were passing through a street that seemed familiar to me, but I stopped dead when I recognized a house, without having any idea why. When Carla realized I stopped, she made both Madison and Miky stop.

"Jess, are you okay?" Miky asked, looking at me. "I couldn't tell you." I mumbled, "Does your head hurt again?" He asked and they both approached me to see how I am, I don't want to worry him with this, because I wasn't feeling bad at all, I just knew I had been in this house, but I don't know when or when. Another thing that surprised me is Carla had a big smile on her face that practically didn't match her face, which made me more confused.

"No, it doesn't hurt." I muttered "Then why are you stopping?" I didn't even answer anymore. I started walking towards the house, because something told me there, I would discover many things that could help me in some way to remember more things. Once in front of the door, I don't know why I looked up at a hanging flower pot and put my hand inside it without seeing anything. When I touched something like a key, I took it out and looked at it for a few seconds, until I decide to put it in the lock and it turns, to the surprise that it opens.

I entered the house, and the first thing I find is the hall with a couple of photos of me and Santi. We looked happy, which I liked. I assume they were taken before this happened. I continued walking, entering the living room, where there were more photos of us and our families. There are a couple of photos in which Santi is with an older woman who I must assume is his grandmother.

"And you don't remember anything?" Carla asked behind me with a smile on her face. "I don't" I muttered without looking at her, "So how did you know where to get the key?" My best friend asked, raising an eyebrow. "I don't know, I just reached in and found the key." I said confused and overwhelmed by everything I'm seeing, "Where are we Carla?" Miky asked behind me. "Jessica's and Santi's house"

"I don't understand how I got here." I said, still confused, "Because you remember, even if you think you don't." Carla assured me and I denied, because I don't remember anything. "But I don't remember anything." I assured, "Your memory won't remember it, but your heart does. That's why you're here."

"I don't understand anything Carla." Miky said, just as confused as I was. "You'll understand when you're older, Miky." Carla responded "I'm older now!!!!" He protested and the first one laughed "Moreover, why don't you take a look around the house Jess? Find what you're looking for." She said and I turned around trying to understand what she's talking about "And what am I supposed to be looking for?" I asked and she smiled "Answers."

"Carla is right about that, surely here you can find the answers you are looking for." Miky said excitedly, "Of course I'm right, dwarf." He answered this "Santi won't be bothered?" I asked, "No, I think you will rather brighten up his afternoon. Meanwhile, I'm going to the kitchen to give these little devils a snack. Come on guys."

With that, they went to the kitchen, leaving me alone in the living room. I spent a couple more minutes looking around until I decided to go upstairs to continue searching for whatever it is I'm looking for in this house.

Once on the upper floor, I opened doors and there's nothing that could interest me or catch my attention, or at least until I found a fairly large room with what seemed to be a sound table, canvases, a fairly large desk, spacious, and I entered. The first place I went is to the sound board when a long-ago memory came to me.

Flashback (Narrator)

A couple of years ago, Jessica and Santi had gone to live together in a house they bought together. They've been together for eleven years now and the convivence is good. Like every couple, they had their arguments, but nothing they couldn't solve between them.

At this moment they were in the studio the two shared. In it there was a study table, a desk, canvases and paint everywhere. Santi was working on a song for an artist while Jessica was looking at some papers. In the last couple of years, she managed to raise a lot of money and with her representatives and accountants Jessica decided to open a place where families without resources could go, people who needed it or so that children from families with few resources could go and play there.

Jessica was so deep in her thoughts she didn't even realize Santi approached her from behind and hugged her, causing her to get scared, but she ended up smiling when she realized it was Santi.

"You scared me, Santi." His girlfriend protested, putting her hand on her chest to emphasize what she said, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. What is it that has you so focused, my beautiful girlfriend?" He asked, giving her a kiss on the temple. "I'm trying to start this before I go to Los Angeles." Jessica responded without looking away from the papers, "What?" Santi questioned, doing the same as his girlfriend. "Didn't I tell you?"

"I don't think so, I'm sure you forgot with everything you've been doing these last few days." Jessica's boyfriend responded with a smile on his face "I think so, you want to know?" She asked and Santi could see the emotion on Jessica's face, and with that simple gesture of hers, he knew it's important to her and something good, so it also made Santi very excited.

"It seems exciting." He looked at this and Jessica nodded. "It is." She assured and ended up getting up from her chair to grab some plans from the shelf behind them. Soon work would begin on the social building she was planning to build. Sant's girlfriend moved everything off the desk with Santi's help, and as soon as they had it all empty, she stretched out the plans on it so Santi could see them.

"A building?" The young man asked confused and his girlfriend nodded. "Why do you want a building?" He asked curiously, "I don't want it. Do you remember what I told you a couple of years ago about helping people?" She questioned and Santi nodded, because he remembered how much Jessica liked to talk about the subject. "Of course, you were excited about the idea."

"Well, that's what I'm going to do. I have enough money to do it." Jessica said, shrugging her shoulders as if trying to make light of the matter. "Is that what was keeping you so busy these last few days?" The man asked curiously and a smile starting to form on his face. "Yeah"

"You could have told me and I would help you." Santi protested, "No, because you have to focus on the song you have to make for that boy, I didn't want to bother you." Jessica responded, "But that's the least important thing to me, I just want to spend time with my beautiful girlfriend, and what better way to do it than helping her with her project?" he asked flirtatiously "Thank you love, but it's not necessary, really. I'll be fine. I'm sorry if I haven't paid enough attention to you these days."

"Do not worry I understand. What matters now is you get it over with and can help a lot of people like I'm sure you will." Santi assured "Thank you love. Now why don't you show me that song you have to make for the boy?" Jessica asked with a big smile on her face "Okay, come on."

Santi helped the girl pick up everything from the table, put it in its place and then they went to his sound table so he could show her the work he had been doing.

End flashback

I didn't have the slightest idea what he meant by that, I only know I went to the desk drawers to start opening the drawers and take out papers and read them, I wanted to find out what I was going to do and carry it out. It had already been stored in a drawer for four years, it couldn't continue like this and I would take care of that myself if necessary.