The Casa Del Castaneda

Three Months

On the way to the lawyer's office, Paloma didn't say much. The beautiful woman was more silent and looked out the window. The words of his father-in-law, who urged him to refer back to Rafael.

“I have a good reason to reunite you guys, son. Someday you'll find out, but not now.” Rogelio's words kept ringing in his head. Unknowingly, Paloma exhaled a rough breath. He also rubbed his face while muttering softly.

“We have arrived, Paloma,” said Rafael while patting his slender arm next to him.

But beyond the expectations of Rafael. Paloma responded with a very harsh reaction and seemed rude. “Stop touching me!” paloma stared intently at the man. He rushed to open the car door, then just got off without waiting for Rafael.

Meanwhile, Rafael could only shake slowly. He did not want to retaliate for Paloma's treatment. The man then grabbed the files stored in the sling bag, which he had placed on his lap earlier. Rafael went down. He followed Paloma's steps towards the office building owned by Lawyer Ramos.

“Good morning,” welcome Lawyer Ramos right in front of her study. “The divorce papers I've submitted to the court. At the earliest, in four days there will be a call for the two of you to attend the hearing,”. He invited the couple to enter his room.

“That's exactly the purpose we came here.” Rafael responded to Lawyer Ramos' remarks with a beaming face. “We have agreed to cancel the divorce filing," Rafael said. And so is Paloma.

“Oh! That is very good news.” Ramos' lawyer was quite surprised to hear that. But he looks happy. “Then, I'll take care of the lawsuit cancellation process immediately."

“This." Rafael thrust the pile of maps that he had brought earlier. “Who knows, you need a complementary file later.”

“Ah, sure. You're brilliant and reliable, Rafael. I'm sure Paloma won't regret this very good decision,” Lawyer Ramos said.

“Now I regret it so much!” sahut Paloma ketus with a very unfriendly face.

Rafael laughed softly at Paloma's attitude. However, he did not want to respond further. “Can everything be taken care of in a short time, Mr Ramos? I can't wait to start a new life better with Paloma." Rafael glanced at the woman who put on a sour look. Paloma did not even want to see his face.

“Of course. You just need to put an autograph on." Ramos' lawyer took something from his desk. During that time, a woman walked in to make three cups of Mexican coffee on the table.

"Please, Sir. Please, madam," said the woman who was none other than assistant lawyer Ramos.

Rafael nodded with a friendly smile. Paloma did not respond at all. He did not want to make small talk or just show his smile to anyone. Paloma was really angry and upset.

“You can sign here." Ramos' lawyer has returned to sitting on the sofa. He pointed to the bottom right corner of each of the papers that Rafael and Paloma had to sign.

“Alright." Rafael doesn't want to waste time. He immediately affixed his signature on the spot indicated by Lawyer Ramos. Likewise with Paloma, who did the same without saying much.

After everything is done, Rafael and Paloma say goodbye to Lawyer Ramos. Their next destination was the parish church, where the couple made a marriage annulment request.

There, they were again greeted with the same pastor. The middle-aged man was always with an unchanging look and demeanor. “My kids,” her sweep while stretching both hands to the side. “I hope you guys came with good news.”

“Yes. You are absolutely right, Father. We came to deliver good news. My wife and I have decided to withdraw our previous divorce annulment filing,”, Rafael said.

“Yes. We do not want to continue the process of annulment of the marriage. We want to try to start everything back from scratch,” replied Rafael confidently.

“Is that?” The priest immediately turned his eyes to Paloma who was throwing more face. “What do you think, son? I see, your face isn't as happy as your husband?" the pastor laughed.

“Whatever I say, will not be able to change his decision,” said Paloma was not powered. He could not show a stern attitude in front of the religious leaders.

“Do you have any objections, son?” ask the pastor carefully.

“Yes. I strongly object,” Paloma said immediately. His pair of hazel eyes began to glaze over. “I didn't expect to live with him at all. Why is it that when I start to walk the bright and smooth road, Rafael messes things up instead? I have found the love of my life. However, this man destroyed it,” Paloma said. He seemed to have a chance to express all his heart.

Paloma looked at the handsome man sitting next to him with a sharp look. Meanwhile, Rafael just smiled pushyly while throwing a sad look. Again, he did not want to respond to the wife's anger. Raphael preferred silence.

“Are you sure?” ask the pastor again.

“What do you mean? Of course I'm sure! I've never felt this confident in my entire life!” paloma firmly with a high tone. In the end, he could not control his anger. Paloma forgot who she was talking to. Anger has clouded his senses.

“Nak.” The priest smiled gently, then grabbed Paloma's hand. He rubbed the back of the beautiful woman's hand, hoping that her anger would subside. “Sometimes, what we think is the best option, in fact is just one of the many bad choices we have taken in life.”

“Sebastian is not a bad choice. He is much better than Rafael Hernandez!” Paloma withdrew his hand, not accepting the priest's words. “I've been living with this man, and I don't like him" Paloma pointed to Rafael.

The priest was still responding to Paloma patiently. He then switched to Rafael. “How, Son? Your wife seems to object to continuing this marriage.”

“I fully understand Paloma's attitude, Father. I wouldn't blame him. I'm a jerk who has hurt him so much. But this time I realized it all, Father. Paloma is the best woman. I love her.” Rafael seriously said that sentence.

“You know that it's too late!” paloma Sentak.

“Quiet, Nak.” The priest raised one hand. “Please yourself first. It is not good to make decisions in a state of anger, because the devil will play a role in it.”

Paloma suddenly awakened. He took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly. “I'm sorry, Father. I've gotten out of control,” Paloma regrets.

“It's okay. I totally understand." The priest nodded while smiling gently. His shady face, affected Paloma's mood a little. “Everyone has the right to make a decision. However, you must remember that every decision will have its own risks.”

“Either you will choose Sebastian as you said before, or go back to Rafael. There will all be risks that go with it. It does not rule out the possibility that you will live happily with the man of your choice. However, it is not impossible if you also find your happiness with Rafael,” said the Pastor.

“Listen to me, Son. In the meantime, I will suspend your marriage annulment application for the next three months. During that span of time, I asked you to stay together and just the two of you. Interact as often as possible. If after the three months have ended and you cannot find your happiness with Rafael, or if he returns to be cruel to you, then I will immediately process the annulment of your marriage to the diocese. I will not waste any more time if it happens,” explained the Pastor.

“But if Rafael can make you happy and prove that he has really changed, then there is no reason for me to process the cancellation of this marriage,” concluded the Pastor who made Paloma speechless.