Epilogue
Millie
Ten Months Later
I frowned at the view out the window; my nose almost pressed against the thick glass as I focused on Alessio's family villa. Curiosity had me glancing at my husband, but he simply flashed me a sly grin, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
"I'm getting déjà vu."
His mouth curved wider as he brought my hand up to his mouth, pressing a kiss against my pulse. "Are you?" he teased.
"What are you up to?"
"Patience, amore mio," he chided as the helicopter started its descent.
In a scene reminiscent of last year, Alessio carefully helped me down before guiding me to the back entrance of his family villa.
Francesca greeted us as always. The lines on her face were a reflection of her years, but today, they were split wide in a beaming smile.
Our bags were promptly taken from us, and my husband waited patiently by my side as I chatted with his housekeeper before he took my hand and led me inside.
"So, when is everyone getting here this time?" My brow arched in question as I changed out of my travel attire.
Large hands spanned my waist as he pulled me close, his lips skimming my temple. My nostrils flared at the scent of his addictive cologne and clean soap.
"Later today, actually. Dad, Katherine, and Dante are flying in from Paris, and Giada and the girls are coming from Rome."
"Oh."
I couldn’t hide the little bit of disappointment at this news, even though I was looking forward to seeing his family again. But when we flew in, and I'd seen the lack of cars in the driveway again, my heart leapt in excitement at the thought of Alessio arranging another night alone for us.
Last year, although the gesture was a sweet and welcome one, our marriage had been on the rocks, so I wasn’t able to fully enjoy or appreciate the rare time alone we had.
"C'mon, amore mio. We have exactly three hours to enjoy before my family converges. Whatever shall we do, hmm?"
And just like that, desire quickly replaced my disappointment as Alessio's dark head descended to capture my eager lips.
"It's so lovely to see you again!" I leaned over to give Katherine a tight hug as we greeted each other warmly.
After a magical two hours where Alessio and I made very naughty use of our brief time alone, we quickly showered—which turned into another passionate distraction—before making our way downstairs just in time to hear cars arriving up the long and winding driveway.
"Yes. It has been too long. Thank you again for keeping Dante over the summer. He has not stopped talking about Keating and all the animals he got to feed."
I laughed as I glanced over at Dante, who was begrudgingly playing some hand-clap game that Valentina insisted on.
"It was a joy to have him. I think Alessio had more fun than he did," I quipped.
It was indeed a change to be in charge of a seven-year-old for a month, but Dante had been a dream.
He always felt like such an old soul; so serious and contemplative.
But spending time with his older brother and cousins when they visited showed me a different side of my nephew by marriage.
He was wide-eyed and excited over the littlest things.
He loved playing Guess Who and doing puzzles with us in the evening, and rode his horse most days with either Alessio or me.
It was good practice for when or if Alessio and I decided to have kids. We weren't in any rush since we were enjoying this new season of married life—one where we loved each other deeply, and were not afraid to say or show it.
"Ciao, bella," I greeted Giada next. I kissed her cheeks before my eyes widened in surprise when I spied Gino walking up behind her, his eyes fixated on his wife. “Come stai? Are you okay?" I murmured out the side of my mouth before Gino could approach.
Alessio never mentioned he would be here, and, truthfully, I didn’t enjoy having to fake liking the man. Not after knowing what a neglectful father and blatantly unfaithful and indifferent husband he was to Giada.
I felt my sister-in-law stiffen when she sensed Gino's presence close behind her. Her eye roll was meant only for my benefit. "Just ignore him," she curtly replied before quickly moving away to scoop Lucia into her arms.
Gino's wounded eyes followed his wife as she strolled ahead of him, a look of defeat on his face. He met my wan smile with one that did not quite reach his eyes. “Buongiorno, Millie. Come sta?"
"Er, yes. I'm well, thank you," I stiffly replied. I found it distasteful to ignore guests, but I could not bring myself to fake pleasantries. Not after knowing how Giada caught his infidelity. "Merry Christmas."
I was saved from the conversation when I spied two familiar heads hopping out of a third car. Shock held me frozen before my mouth dropped open, and I swiftly brushed past Gino.
"Mum? Dad? What are you doing here?"
My mother flung her arms wide in dramatic fashion before gathering me in for a tight hug. "Hello, my darling. Surprise!"
"Er, yes, it is."
"Ask that cunning husband of yours, my dear," my father replied, his cheeks ruddy with joy—and perhaps some holiday wine in the car. "He's had us bound to secrecy."
Alessio's scent enveloped me as his arms banded around my waist from behind. "Surprise, cuore mio."
"But we're seeing you for Christmas. Not that I'm not happy to see you," I rushed to assure them.
My father raised his brow at Alessio. "I say, dear boy, have you not told her yet? You're cutting it a bit fine, don't you think?"
"Yes, thank you, Charles. Always a pleasure," Alessio dryly acknowledged.
I turned around in his arms, confusion swirling through me at all this cryptic talk. "Alessio?"
His eyes softened as he searched my features, not afraid to show the love I knew he felt for me. "Millie." He lifted both my hands and placed a reverent kiss on my knuckles. “Sei l’amore della mia vita.”
My mouth trembled at his words, and I squeezed his fingers. "You're the love of mine too."
He smiled, and a rare sheen glistened in his eyes. "I asked your parents to be here because…well, because I want to marry you again."
The air grew silent as I stared at Alessio, my eyes growing wide. I’m sure I misheard him.
"What?" I breathed. "You want to what?”
The glint in his eye shifted to uncertainty at my stumped response. But even still, he straightened his shoulders and kept his determined focus on me.
"Our marriage did not start off happy, admittedly, through my own selfish actions." His face clouded with remorse.
"I would love to have the chance to repeat a day that should've been happy for you.
You deserve a husband who is proud to stand before family and God and to promise you eternal love, devotion, and faithfulness.
I want to give that to you." He took a shaky breath in.
"So will you? Will you marry me again so we can renew our vows? "
My lips quivered, and I sniffed back tears, even though one or two escaped. "Yes!" I sobbed, half laughing and half crying. "Yes, I'll marry you again."
He cupped my face before stealing my breath with a kiss scandalous enough to make me blush in front of our family. My father cleared his throat, unused to such overt displays of affection.
I pulled back with a gasp as a million and one worries entered my head. "Wait, when—"
"Tomorrow morning, eleven a.m."
My hands flew to my cheeks. "Oh, my goodness, what shall I wear?"
"Giada's stylist should be here soon with dresses from her private collection."
"My hair and—"
"We have a hair and a make-up artist booked." He glanced at me in amusement, his hand stroking my hair away from my face. "And before you ask, I have sorted flowers, a photographer, and a cake and meal here in the villa."
My eyes softened, lit up with love and happiness. I rose onto my toes and stamped my lips on his, no longer caring if we were giving everyone a show.
After a few more lingering pecks and cuddles with my husband, I was swiftly pulled away to Giada and Gino's wing, where her stylist was waiting with a rack of dresses in various shades of white.
"Gino is staying in the garden suite," Giada revealed as she efficiently went through the dresses and selected a few she thought I'd like to try first. "So he won't bother us here."
I hid a wince behind a grateful smile as Giada held a simple cream dress against my body. The garden suite was a small detached cottage, usually reserved for overflow guests. Gino was firmly and literally in the dog house.
In the end, with the help of Giada and Katherine, I picked an elegant yet minimalist sheath dress with a square neckline. By the time we finished up our plans—with a heavy side of gossip and girly chatter—we only had time left for dinner and bed.
Despite Giada's protests, I fell asleep in my husband's arms and woke up still wrapped in them. After making love to me slowly and so passionately I felt tears prick my eyes, we reluctantly parted for our eleven a.m. vow renewal.
And so, in Alessio's childhood backyard beneath a wedding arch wrapped in peonies and eucalyptus, we reaffirmed our love and commitment to each other.
In all the excitement of his surprise, I'd forgotten to write my vows—but it didn’t matter.
I spoke from the heart, my voice sure and confident, with only a waver in my tone.
It was a testament to the elation of our renewed marriage.
"I love you through our good times, and I will love you harder through our bad ones."
By the time Alessio spoke his vows, there wasn't a dry eye amongst our family—including my husband. Wetness clung unashamedly to his cheeks as he promised me the world on a platter.
"I give you my heart, my soul, my respect, my care, and my fidelity. There is no one for me but you. Ti amo, vita mia.”
"Oh, it's all so dreadfully romantic." My mother sniffed as she congratulated us after. She dabbed at her eyes with a monogrammed handkerchief. "See, dear, didn't I tell you that it's best to sort out these marital tiffs on your own?"
I smiled in amusement as I cast my mind back to that fretful time in our early marriage. The person I was—that desperate young wife who had all but given up on a love marriage—was a far cry from the young woman I was today, happy and bolstered by the love my husband had for me.
And that wasn't the only change in our lives.
I watched on with pride as my husband greeted Katherine with a kiss, his smile wide as they conversed with ease.
Cesare approached his son, clasping him on the shoulder before pulling him in and placing two kisses on each cheek, the pride beaming from his face as he held Alessio's between his hands.
They laughed together before Alessio wrapped an arm around his father's shoulders, kissing his head in affection.
A few weeks after Alessio and I declared our love for each other, I risked popping our happy bubble by broaching the subject of a reconciliation with Cesare.
I had not forgotten his concern for his son when he thought I was playing fast and loose with his heart.
I stressed to my husband how much he cared for him, and how I was utterly certain that Katherine adored Cesare as much as I loved Alessio.
"I know," my husband confessed, looking slightly uncomfortable. "My father has spent a great deal of time with me, making sure the transition was smooth. Katherine visits often, always with lunch or tea, and she makes sure he's eaten and taking his blood pressure medication."
A soft smile touched my lips at hearing this little titbit. I bet it cost Alessio a lot of swallowed pride to admit that he had been wrong. "They love each other."
"Hmm," he dryly agreed. "It appears so. Although if you ever showed up at the office with rabbit food for lunch, I would… Well, I would eat it," he gruffly conceded. "But I would stop for a burger on the way home."
"You've never eaten fast food in your life," I admonished.
White teeth flashed at me before he drew a line under our conversation with a kiss.
But since our talk, Alessio has been rebuilding his relationship with his father, and, by extension, with his father's wife. They visited often when they were in London, and Katherine and I had become very good friends.
Strong arms wrapped around my waist, and I automatically covered Alessio's hands with mine. "My love." I breathed him in, tipping my head back to rest on his chest.
"How long do we have to stay here with these people?"
I grinned at his grumpy tone. "These people are our family, and need I remind you that you planned all this right down to the themed cocktails?"
"I was only shown the menu and pointed to what I thought you'd like."
I turned in his arms and slid my hands around his neck, my fingers tangling in his hair. "All of it," I said. "I like—no, love—all of it."
His smile was smug and sure, his thumb drawing patterns around my waist as he held me close. "I'm glad, amore mio. Only the very best for you."
Our lips met in a lazy kiss, our tongues tangling as we pulled one another into a tighter embrace. His mouth left mine as he planted small kisses along my jaw, that tingling spot behind my ear, and down my neck. All the while murmuring passionate declarations of love in Italian.
“Sei la vita mia.”
“Non posso stare senza di te.”
“Ti amerò per sempre.”
“Sei la mia ragione di vita.”
Each murmured word, spoken like a tattoo across my skin, was savoured and stored deep within my soul.
My head tilted back, and I raked my hand through his hair as firm lips met my décolletage.
A low throaty moan escaped me as I bit my lip to hold back more mewls of pleasure.
My leg climbed his hip, and he grasped my thigh, holding me in place while he continued his pleasurable assault.
The hum of a low-flying plane pulled me out of our open display of affection. My wide eyes met blue skies, and I gasped as I moved back from my husband's wandering hands. He growled his disapproval as I searched the property, my cheeks flushing with guilt.
Instead of the embarrassed and disapproving stares from our family, I was met with emptiness. How long had we been canoodling for?
"Where is everyone?"
"Hmm?" He checked his watch. "Probably in the dining room, cracking open several champagne bottles in our honour."
"Should we join them?" My feet made no moves to follow.
"Absolutely not." I gave a delighted shriek as I was swept up, bridal-style, into his arms. "In fact, they'd probably be disappointed if we did."
I grinned widely and held on as my husband turned and walked us away in the opposite direction, ready to start our lives anew.