Chapter 44 Grace
GRACE
Ican't stop beaming.
As the clock strikes midnight, there are fireworks over the ocean.
Dante's face is lit up by birthday candles. His sister giggles as we sing “Happy Birthday” to both of them. They blow out the candles together. Ida makes Dante hold the knife with her as they cut into the cake.
My heart is so full right now.
It's their first birthday together after two decades apart. Dante refused to celebrate a single birthday until he found his sister. Two decades have gone by, and now, we're celebrating on a white sand beach in Zanzibar, East Africa. We'll be spending a week here.
Ida hugs her brother. "Happy birthday, Dante."
"Happy birthday, Ida," he replies, holding her close.
There are tears glistening in their eyes when they pull apart. They're smiling now, but they've been through so much.
Someone pops a bottle of champagne and sprays them with it. My sisters are also here with their husbands. All of us have a tan from the snorkeling we did earlier today. And there's nothing weighing down on our hearts anymore. There's not a single thing for us to worry about.
Dante walks up to me with a slice of cake. He holds it out for me.
"Thank you for planning all of this," he says. "Ida loves it."
"And you?" I ask. "Are you enjoying yourself?"
"As long as you and Ida are happy, there's nothing else I need in this world," he says.
And he's not just saying that. He means it.
We sit down in the soft sand.
"I'm so glad I have you all to myself for the next six weeks," I say. "All of you have been working so hard. You deserve a break."
"I can't wait until everyone leaves," he says, glancing at the crowd.
"That's so mean." I shake my head at his bluntness, but I'm smiling. "But I feel the same way."
I take a bite of the cake and hand it to him. He sets it aside and wraps his arm around me.
"It feels so strange not to worry anymore," I say. "Having this deep sense of calm feels so different from what I'm used to."
"I know exactly what you mean," he says, glancing at his sister. "Things started falling into place only after you walked into my life."
He seems to think that I'm his lucky charm. I think it's the other way around.
He's the one who turned my whole life around.
It's because of him that I found the courage to stand up to my mother. He's the reason that I'm excited to wake up in the morning. He's the reason all of my dreams are coming true.
The ocean water reaches my outstretched toes, making me smile.
"I feel like I'm in a movie, Dante," I say. "All these blessings keep falling into my lap, and it's the most beautiful feeling."
He presses a kiss on my temple. "You're happy?"
"So happy," I say.
We're going to spend the next six weeks collecting stamps on our passports.
Dante gave me a limitless budget and asked me to plan a six-week trip.
I was hesitant at first, but then he told me that he hasn't been on a single vacation in two decades.
But I know that he's secretly doing this for me.
I told him once that one of my biggest dreams was to see the world.
And now I get to do it with the man I love.
After Zanzibar, we're going on a safari in Masai Mara, Kenya. After that, we'll spend a week in Jordan before heading to Sri Lanka and Japan.
I truly can't believe that this is my life now.
When we get back from vacation, I plan to enroll in some online classes.
I want to have a diploma. Dante and I aren't planning on starting a family yet, so I've been on birth control since we started having sex.
We'll focus on each other for a few years despite all his talk about putting a baby in me.
His phone rings.
"It's Enzo," he says, picking up.
Enzo's face fills the screen. His smile turns into a frown when he sees that it's just Dante and me.
"Happy birthday, mate," Enzo says, his eyes scanning the faces of the people standing behind us.
I bite the inside of my lip to keep from smiling. He's making it so obvious that he's looking for Ida.
"Hi, Enzo." I wave my fingers at him.
"Hey, Grace," he says. "Oh wow, look at your tan. I'm so jealous."
"It would've been fun if you could have come," I say.
"Next time," he promises.
He's pacing in a hotel room. There are skyscrapers behind him.
I don't know where he is. I don't know what he does for a living either, but I know he's not in the mafia.
Dante doesn't like talking about what Enzo does, but I'm starting to suspect Enzo might be the opposite of a mafia man.
I think he might have a secret government job.
All I know for sure about him is that he's obsessed with Ida.
"So, um, where are you guys?" Enzo asks.
"The beach," Dante says.
"Who else is there?" Enzo asks, rubbing the back of his head.
Dante's face hardens when he realizes who Enzo is looking for.
"We're very busy now. Goodbye," Dante says. He's about to hang up, but I giggle and snatch the phone away from him. I stand and walk toward Ida, ignoring Dante's complaints about how I'm supposed to be on his side.
I hand the phone to Ida, who starts blushing when she sees Enzo's face. She twirls a lock of dark hair around her finger as she talks to him.
"I'm not enjoying this night anymore," Dante exclaims, appearing behind me.
"But look at how happy he makes her," I say. "Have you ever seen your sister that happy?"
Dante huffs and turns toward me.
I stare at his face against the backdrop of the starry night.
"Happy birthday, Dante," I say, getting up on my tiptoes. "I can't wait to celebrate the rest of our birthdays together for the rest of our lives."
Over his shoulder, I see a silhouette in the dark.
I would recognize those red curls anywhere. It's the woman who gave me the tarot reading. Her words had given me strength at a time when I needed it most.
I smile at her. She waves back.
"What are you smiling at?" Dante glances over his shoulder.
I look at Dante, then back to where the red-haired woman was standing. She's not there anymore. I'm not even surprised by that.
I don't know if I'll see that woman again, but she'll have a fond place in my heart for the rest of my life.
"Dante," I say. "Kiss me."
He presses his lips to mine, gently at first, but then rocking my whole world. I see stars everywhere.
I feel love everywhere.
THE END.