23. THE RECONCILIATION

But as soon as she got out of the car, Nina came out to meet her, and to her surprise, she hugged her and, on the verge of tears, whispered to her.

“Mom, I'm sorry!”

Laura did not know how to react or what to answer. She hugged her sad daughter and remained in an emotional silence. “Yes, she has forgiven me!” She thought, attempting to avoid crying too.

Nina was still hugging her mother when her father arrived, who had contemplated the emotional scene. He approached them, put his hands on Nina's shoulder, and whispered in his ear.

“Nina, daughter, you see that your mother loves you. I'm glad you have forgiven her. We've all made mistakes…”

Nina turned, surprised to hear her father's voice.

“Dad, you're here with mom! What happened?”

“Nothing, Nina, only that your mother and I have reconciled. And it was thanks to you!”

Sofia and Nano had also contemplated the joyful reunion of mother and daughter. Still, they feared that this momentary happiness would have a bitter end when dealing with pregnancy's painful subject.

When the parents and daughter calmed down from the emotional meeting, Sofía intervened, inviting them to go inside the house.

“It has been a wonderful reunion, and you do not know how happy I am that Nina has overcome her disaffection for you, and you are a united family again, but now you must be realistic and face the pregnancy of your daughter. I have called a family-friendly gynecologist to examine her and tell us how her daughter is doing. It won't be long in coming. Luckily for you, although somewhat irresponsible, the father is here and will not impede the decision you make regarding his daughter.

Nano felt alluded to and wanted to apologize to Nina's parents.

“Yes, I am the culprit of Nina's pregnancy; I have not behaved as I should, sorry, but I will agree with what they decide about her.”

Nina listened to that false accusation without avoiding a deep feeling of guilt for having asked Nano to assume her pregnancy.

”Nano, you must love our daughter very much,” replied Nina's father, “because you are willing to assume paternity for which you are not responsible.”

Her father's response disturbed Nina.

“What do you mean,” Sofia asked in amazement.

“That Nano is not the father, but Marc, her music studio partner. They gestate the night of Nina's triumph at the piano-bar. We heard Marc himself say it.”

Nina couldn't help crying at the discovery of her deception, and she exclaimed between sobs.

“Yes, dad... I asked him to do it ... I do not want Marc to know about my pregnancy ... because I want to abort... and I am afraid that Marc's parents put up some impediment ... Nano is very brave ... I have asked him.

This unexpected revelation amazed Sofia, and she quickly apologized to the confused Nano.

“I apologize, Nano, I could not believe it. You are a grand friend and a great person!”

The timely arrival of the gynecologist ended that dramatic confession.

“What is it, Sofia? Who is sick? Is she your daughter?”

“No, she is not from my family; she is the daughter of these friends of mine. I want you to examine it and tell us how she is.”

“She's pregnant,” Nina's mother said.

“This girl pregnant?”

Nina wanted to cry again and hugged her mother in shame.

“These things happen ...” commented Sofía conciliatory.

“Okay, can we use a room?”

“You already know the house. Use the guest bedroom.”

“Come on, little girl. We will see how this pregnancy is.”

Nina was trying to calm herself and did not seem to want to detach herself from her mother's arms.

“Go, daughter, accompany the doctor,” the father insisted. “It is better that we know how you are before returning home.”

Nano also suggested that he accompany the patient-doctor.

“Now it's your turn to be brave!”

Nina detached herself from her mother's arms and, drying her tears, accompanied the doctor resignedly.

“Fear not, girl, I will not give you an injection or prick you for a blood test. Let's just see how that pregnancy is.”

When they left the room, Sofia asked Nina's affected father:

“Have you thought about what you will do?

Nina's father exchanged a significant look with Laura, who seemed confused.

“We don't know what to do. It is a very complicated situation. Nina is too young to be a mother, but an abortion could cause trauma for life. What would you do in our place?”

“I don't have the answer either,” answered Sofia confused. “It is a terrible dilemma that I would not want to find myself in.”

They kept a significant silence in which everyone seemed to reflect on a possible answer.

“I think I will make coffee, or do you prefer a beer?”

Everyone approved the coffee, and Sofia left the room, leaving Nano alone with Nina's parents.

“Nano, Laura has told me you are a brilliant guitarist. Have you and Nina made plans for the music?” Nina's father asked the affected Nano.

“Yes, we had thought Nina would compose enough songs to record a compact ... Nina has a great musical talent ... but ... ” Nano stopped because he did not want to admit that perhaps Nina was too young to take risks and new situations that could be created in the face of success.

“But what, Nano?” Laura asked.

“I'm afraid Nina is too young to face success ... I think it would be better to let some time pass. Also, now with her pregnancy, she will have to forget about all the plans we had made...”

“Yes, I'm afraid,” said the father, “I also think that Nina is not emotionally prepared to assume that responsibility. Have you thought about what you will do about Nina? Are you more than just friends?”

“Don't worry about me ... Nina is not in love; she only admires me as a musician. She will soon forget about me…”

Sofía arrived with the coffee interrupting Nano's painful statements. Moments later, Nina and the doctor entered the room. To everyone's surprise, Nina appeared smiling and hugged her confused mother again.

“Well, doctor, how is our daughter”?

“I had never examined a patient in better health. Your daughter is perfectly fine!”

“And her pregnancy?” Laura asked, without leaving her amazement.

“What pregnancy? Your daughter is not pregnant!”

“But the symptoms ...!”

“Ah, the symptoms! Her daughter has suffered from what we call medical pseudocyesis, a psychological pregnancy. She was so afraid of getting pregnant that she caused the symptoms herself. But do not be concerned, there is no such pregnancy, but she can be when she wishes because she has an excellent physical condition for motherhood. When the time comes!”

“Yes, mom, I'm not pregnant!” Nina exclaimed, elated with joy.

“Thank God everything has been a scare!” Nina's father said, not hiding his joy at the joyful news.

Nano was also shocked and felt deeply relieved. Nina approached him and confessed excitedly.

“I will never forget your noble gesture, but I think you were right, I am too young for what we had proposed! It has been a wonderful dream, but I have to wake up, and you have to think about yourself and your career. You are a great musician, and I think you shouldn't sacrifice yourself for me!”

“What are you planning to do, Nina?” Nano asked, trying to contain his sadness.

“I don't know, but I need to feel part of my family, now that my parents have reconciled. I will need some time to rethink music. I just want to go home to my parents. I can't think of anything else.”

“I understand.”

“And what do you plan to do?”

“Ah, me; I don't know either, but I think I'll take advantage of a scholarship to study contemporary guitar in London. I have been notified that I have been admitted to a reputable musical institution…”

“How interesting!”

Nano tried to smile, but his bitterness kept him from it.

“Don't be sad, fate may unite us again, but now we have to separate ...

“Yes, I suppose it must be like that ... I won't forget you either. Fortunately, I have your songs left...”

Nina kissed Nano and reunited with her parents.

Sofia approached the heartbroken Nano and suggested that he stay at his house until he decided what to do or where to go.

“I understand your state of mind, I know that you love that girl, but life takes many turns. Who knows what destiny will bring you! Now Nina needs a family. Music can wait…” Nano nodded with a resigned nod. “You can stay at my house until you decide what you want to do.”

Nina's father also approached Nano and offered him a check:

“Nano, I want you to accept this help because Nina has made you lose your job, and you will need it to continue your music studies.”

“Thanks, but I can't accept it; It was my idea to run away.”

“No, it was mine! I asked you to run away! Accept what my father offers you!

“Well, I think the sad parting time has come,” said Laura. We have to go now.

Nina took Nano's arm, and they went out into the garden together.

“I will never forget you because whenever I look at the sea, I will remember you, because ... “Your eyes are the color of the sea” ...

“And your caresses like the waves that come and go,” continued Nano.

Soon after, he saw Nina drive away from her mother, who greeted her with an energetic goodbye gesture. Sofia approached him and commented:

“Two years ago, I was also saying goodbye to a loved one, but he never came back!”