Modern Romance Collection February 2025, #1-4

EPILOGUE

EPILOGUE

S IENA STOOD IN the quiet churchyard, her hand resting on the arm of the man beside her. They both stood looking down at a tiny grave, its little white headstone nestling between two other graves.

Tears choked her voice as she spoke. ‘Thank you... thank you for coming,’ she said. ‘It means so much to me.’

The man beside her pressed the hand on his sleeve with his own hand. ‘And to me, too. I am glad to be here.’ He paused a moment, his eyes going back to the little white headstone. ‘He’s safe here, isn’t he? With his grandparents. And that is the way I shall think of him and remember him—here, at peace, out of pain and illness. Knowing that you and his new cousin will keep watch over him. And knowing that he will have a brother, soon, who will live to be strong and healthy and with a full term of life.’

Siena heard the emotion rich in her brother’s voice and lifted her face to his.

‘I am glad more than I can say that you’ll be parents again, and that genetic counselling means a healthy baby this time.’ She gave a smile. ‘When they are both older, the cousins, we’ll come and visit you in Australia, I promise. As soon as Bobby’s big enough to cope with such a long flight!’

‘Try him out on short-haul first—to Italy,’ her brother said smilingly. ‘I’m glad you’re happy about living in Milan,’ he added. ‘And that you’re definitely going to be picking up your art studies in Italy—it’s the ideal place for it, after all.’ He patted her hand again. ‘You’re going to Siena for your honeymoon, Vincenzo tells me. Lots of art there—and all with your name on it!’

She nodded. ‘It seemed the perfect place to go.’

‘Well, then, let’s get you married, sis. Come on—time for me to walk you down the aisle.’

They moved away, towards the church familiar to them both from childhood. The three graves marked sadness—but today there was only gladness. It would be a small wedding—just her brother, to give her away, and Megan as maid of honour—and to hold Bobby during the service—enraptured that so happy an ending had come about after such a storm.

They reached the church door.

‘Ready, sis?’ her brother asked.

The strains of the ancient organ struck up.

‘Ready,’ affirmed Siena.

They stepped through and Siena’s eyes went, like a homing arrow, to the man standing by the altar rail.

Vincenzo. The man she loved with all her heart and soul and being.

He turned his head to smile at her. And in that smile was all the love he held for her and always would.

The organ swelled and on her brother’s arm Siena walked beside him. To marry the beloved father of their beloved son and be his wife—his beloved wife—for all eternity.