I watch her closely. I understand how this must hurt her. Her little brother has found love before her. Given the bad luck she’s had in relationships, it must sting for her that I got it right the first time. But I waited so long for this. This might have fallen in my lap at just the right time, but it doesn’t mean I deserve it any less.
“You’ll find a man who is worthy of you someday, but they broke the mold when they made you, Bianca. You just have to wait for a man who can handle you, the way I waited for a woman who could handle me,” I say, kissing the top of Lydia’s head. “Our family is always going to be a complicated one, mafia or no mafia. But someday a man will realize you’re the best thing for them and it’ll be worth the wait. And when it happens maybe I will or won’t understand how you fell in love so fast and with such certainty, but I promise to trust your instincts the way you’re choosing to trust mine now. Thank you.”
Bianca nods nervously. She glances at Lydia with a small smile. “Lydia...I’m sorry for everything. I guess you’re not used to the kind of drama our family seems to dredge up.”
Lydia smiles back. “I think I’m learning to handle it now. Don’t worry about it, Bianca. I’m just glad you’re here. Now we can all be a proper family.”
“Is it...is it true what you said the last time I saw you? You’re pregnant? I’m going to be an aunt?”
Lydia touches her stomach gently. “I’m not showing yet, but there’s a baby in there. You’ll get to meet her soon after Christmas if our due date is right.”
Bianca’s cheeks flush with color. “You have no idea how happy that makes me. I think it’s too late for me to have a child of my own...but to have a baby in the family.”
Then Bianca does something that shocks me to my core. She reaches out and pulls Lydia in for a hug. Lydia’s eyes widen, but she hugs her back and it makes me so happy. Seeing them together like this just proves that this whole thing was worth the wait, it was worth the uncertainty and the ache of missing my sister, because now that she’s here, everything is perfect again.
Bianca turns to me, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. She steps toward me and takes my hand in hers.
“Now that I’m here, if you don’t have someone already. I’d love to be your best man.”
I smile back. “Bianca, I’d love nothing more. And I think you’re dressed perfectly for the occasion.”
She chuckles a little and it feels like old times. It’s been a little rocky, the road to get this far, but now I know for sure that it’s going to be okay.
I allow Bianca to walk me down the aisle to begin the wedding. She whispers good luck to me and I stand a little nervously, waiting for Lydia to make her entrance. As the guests rise, I turn around and see her, looking completely perfect as she walks toward me. She’s glowing. She’s so goddamn beautiful and she’s mine forever. How did I get so lucky? The woman who could have anyone chose me. She saved me from the life I didn’t realize was destroying me slowly. And now, we get our fresh start.
This is all I need and more.
EPILOGUE
Lorenzo
Our honeymoon is spent in Sardinia, exploring the beautiful coastline and the various historical sites. Today is our final day and we’re lying on the beach together, holding hands and just quietly enjoying one another’s company. We don’t need to say much just to enjoy each other’s company. We’ve had time to get to know everything about one another these past few months, and now we’re so comfortable with one another that silence is peaceful so long as we’re together. With the waves lapping against the shore and the sun bronzing our skin, it feels like we’re in paradise.
“This place is so beautiful,” Lydia murmurs, glancing at the open water. “I could stay here forever.”
“So let’s do it,” I say, drawing her in close for a kiss. “We can be wherever we want to be, tesoro.”
She rubs a hand over her stomach. “Do you think it’ll be a good place to bring up the kids?”
I nod. What better place to start a family than on a beautiful island surrounded by all this incredible scenery?
“I think it’s kind of perfect, we can teach them English and Italian. And bring them to the beaches on the weekend. We can give them a childhood exploring the outdoors and away from the pollution of the big cities, it truly is perfect here. But we have time to explore more if you want. There are so many places to see. I want everything to be perfect for you.”
Lydia smiles. “I don’t care where we go as long as we’re together. But you’re right, this place is pretty incredible. I can imagine us having a life here.”
She lays back on her towel, smiling. It’s hard to believe we’ve only known one another for a few months. I still find it crazy that she chose to be with me over anyone else. But this whole new life is something I could get used to. Away
