The Proposal

Chapter One: A Mother's Concern

If there was one thing that Maria Dolores dos Santos Aveiro was tired of doing, it was worrying over her youngest child and son.

Dolores was afraid that one of these days, he'd be found in a ditch or that one of the many women that he slept with would give him something, but every morning when she arrived to check on her grandson.

She couldn't help but look at the top of the stairs in hopes that he hadn't been out drinking the night before when she came to his home.

Dolores set down her coffee and looked at the newest conquest her son had brought home with him, she was checking her make-up in the mirror that was in the hallway so that she looked okay before she went home.

Sitting next to Dolores was her grandson, Junior, who was being feed by his nanny who had her own small apartment just outside the house so that she could be close to the house and could look after the little boy.

Sophia was two years younger Cristiano and was the daughter of a close friend of the families; she had even been close friends with the footballer before their friendship had fallen apart.

Sophia offered Dolores a weak smile as she feed Junior who was oblivious to his grandmother's distress; he munches happily on the soft food, he didn't see a lot of his father and spent more time with Dolores and Sophia than anyone else.

"It's not that bad this time... she's been here twice this week," Sophia said trying to calm Dolores who nodded while the woman continued to fix her make-up; she ignored the two women as if they weren't there.

After Junior had been born, Dolores had been upset to see her son end his relationship with Irina Shayk after dating for a year; Irina had remained friends with Cristiano but his actions seemed to peak after they had broken up.

The footballer was no longer careful of whom he brought home with him and his choice in women hadn't changed; they all shared the same stuck up, snobbish behaviour as if everyone was beneath them.

Sophia wiped Junior's mouth and smiled at the child; she knew that the models that passed through the house wouldn't pay her, Dolores or the infant any mind unless Cristiano spoke to them.

Anastasia Petrova wasn't any different, the Russian model that Cristiano had brought home continued to work on her make-up ignoring the two women.

"Any plans for today?" Dolores asked Sophia who was finishing feeding her Grandson; the blonde looked at Junior thoughtfully knowing that he could do with getting out of the house for a while, he didn't see much of the world since Cristiano wanted him hidden away.

"I was thinking of taking him the park," she said making Junior squeal in excitement, he loved the park and it was his favourite place to visit; even at a year old, it was easy to tell what he liked doing.

Anastasia looked back at the two women in annoyance but didn't speak making Dolores smile softly at Sophia; it was at that moment that Cristiano came downstairs and entered the kitchen.

Anastasia was quick to kiss the footballer making Dolores and Sophia roll their eyes before Cristiano moved to sit next to his mother while Sophia finished feeding his son, his breakfast.

"Manhã," he greeted his mother while glancing at the blonde, he never understood why she had taken the job when she had moved to Madrid from Barcelona; the two barely spoke as it was and they had once been the closet of friends.

"I hope you both have a nice day," Dolores said as she turned her attention back to Sophia, she smiled as she watched Cristiano perk slightly as he wondered what was going on; she had always thought deep down that the two would make a wonderful couple.

Sophia nodded as she picked Junior up and started towards the kitchen sink were she set down his bowl before she slipped out of the room; Cristiano looked at his mother who continued drinking her coffee.

"Let's go out and get breakfast," Anastasia said as she sat down next to the footballer at the kitchen table, she kissed his bare shoulder as she smiled at him seductively.

***

Suzanna Collins had been Dolores's best friend for over thirty years, they had met through their former husbands and had stayed close through Suzanna's divorce and when Dolores had lost her husband to cancer.

The blonde had three daughters with her ex-husband; Jennifer who was now twenty-nine years old, engaged and worked as a therapist, Fiona who was now twenty-seven and in a steady relationship with her live-in boyfriend of four years and worked as a nurse and finally Sophia who had just turned twenty-four and as a nanny.

"I just don't know what to do anymore Suzy," Dolores admitted making her friend nod as they had lunch together like they did every Wednesday; she knew that she could talk to her friend about anything and lately her concerns centred on her youngest son.

"You'll think of something Dolores... you always do," she said making Dolores smile at her and nodded her head, knowing that she was right; the two women sat in silence thinking of their worries for their children.

Suzanna worried for her youngest child just as her best friend worried about hers; Sophia hadn't been the same since her boyfriend of five years had dumped her for her half-sister.

Sophia had sworn off men insisting that she just wanted some time to herself after her long relationship; however a year later, nothing seemed to be changing and it worried Suzanna greatly that her daughter would never move on.

"If only he'd go fall for someone like your Sophia... she's a wonderful girl," Dolores said making Suzanna nod before she froze and looked at her friend as a plan started to form in her head; she couldn't believe that she hadn't thought of this sooner, it was the answer to their problems.

"What if he did?" Suzanna said making Dolores look at her oddly, wondering if her friend had lost her mind; Cristiano and Sophia barely spoke to each other anymore and she knew that there was no way that they could force them into anything like that.

"What if Cristiano married Sophia," Suzanna said making Dolores laugh lightly before realising that the blonde was serious; she stared at her friend, who quickly pulled at the paper that she had in her bag and passed it to her.

"What if we arranged for your Cristiano to marry my Sophia," Suzanna said showing Dolores the article she had read about modern arranged marriages in Portugal.

She had been reading it that morning and it seemed to be the answer to their problems. Dolores quietly read through what Suzanna had given her and smiled as she thought about what her friend was suggesting.

"This could actually work," she said making Suzanna nod her head a she smiled at her friend; she was curious about how all of this would work if they went ahead with this plan.

"It's legal... it's legitimate... you get to stop worrying about him and I get to stop worrying about her," Suzanna said proudly making Dolores nod in approval.

The two women smiled before they quickly started to pour over their plans to make sure that they had everything right.