Epilogue
Ella had one last look at the Christmas tree in front of her, the tree she and Rocco had chosen and put up the week before.
She closed her eyes and smiled, reliving the memory of them decorating it while baby Louisa Isabella had watched with lively interest from the baby bouncer, her pudgy legs kicking merrily away, mesmerised by the lights on the tree.
How could life possibly get more perfect?
She was married to the man she adored, a guy who never tired of showing her just how much he adored her right back.
They had married before their daughter was born, without fuss on a fine spring day.
First in the church in the village where she had grown up, and then a blessing in a rather more formal ceremony in Madrid, a ceremony worthy of a Mancini.
Like adversaries learning to circle one another, she and Rocco’s parents had begun the journey towards communication without resentment.
The house they had chosen to live in was close enough to London for Rocco to comfortably commute but sufficiently far out for a garden big enough for fruit trees, a vegetable corner and enough space for all the equipment Rocco was looking forward to buying.
She heard her name being called and she hurried off to the kitchen where the smells of Christmas lunch made her stomach churn. She knew what she would find and she was already smiling at the thought of it.
And sure enough, as she entered the kitchen, there they all were—her beloved family.
Rocco and her dad were busily cooking together, which was a terrific achievement, because his original plan had been to have the entire meal catered by a top chef and delivered in style to the house.
He laughed when she’d shot that idea down in flames and had told her he hadn’t thought for a minute that she’d agree.
Baby Louisa was sleeping peacefully through the chaos, her baby bouncer on the kitchen table. Ella thought she was probably worn out at having to witness her dad and granddad getting in each other’s way in the kitchen although, it had to be said, the outcome looked excellent.
She and Rocco had invited his parents, but they had declined, although without rancour. Ella had thought she’d seen the older woman actually stifle a smile of resignation at the formal luncheon they would be obliged to host, as they had done for decades.
In three days, they would fly to Madrid and celebrate on a much smaller scale. The wedding had thawed them but it was the arrival of their granddaughter that had really done the trick and now, a year later… Yes, there was definite light at the end of the tunnel.
Throw another baby into the mix and who knew? BFFs was her hopeful thought, not least because she could see how much Rocco’s relationship with them was changing as they came to accept how much their son loved her.
Another baby…
Ella smiled and thought of the night that lay ahead and decided, tonight looks like a good night to conceive…
Keep reading for an excerpt from GREEK BOSS TO HATE by Michelle Smart.