Chapter 48
Emily
“Ican’t believe you guys are here,” I say to Lucia as I lead her into the back of the van. “Arabella looks like she’s about to drop any second.”
“She is,” Lucia replies, casually … too casually. Doesn’t she realise we’re in the middle of nowhere?
“Is it safe for her to be here?”
She flips her hand. “Dante and I delivered Caterina, so don’t worry, we’ve got it covered if this one decides to make an impromptu entrance into the world.”
I pause, turning to face her. “You delivered your niece?”
She lifts one shoulder like it’s no big deal. “Dante did most of the work, but I helped.”
“Wow,” I say, because I have no words for that.
After we all hugged it out beside the helicopter, Lucia asked me if I had a minute to talk in private, so here we are. There’s a black garment bag slung over her forearm, so I’m presuming she wants to get changed while we’re in here.
“How are you?” she asks, reaching for my hand and giving it a squeeze. “I know we talk on the phone all the time, but I presume that hunk of man beef is always around when we do. So I wanted to make sure you’re good.”
I frown, not understanding where she’s going with this. Has something happened? “I’m good. We’re good. I’m happier than I’ve ever been.”
“I’m glad. I just wanted to make sure.”
“Why do you ask?”
Instead of answering, she lets go of my hand and shoves the garment bag in my direction. “This is for you.”
“What’s this?”
“A dress. Dominic asked me to buy it for you. He picked it out himself.”
“He did? Why?”
“You’re travelling and don’t have a fixed address, so he couldn’t order it himself online.”
“I understand that,” I reply, “But why would he buy me a dress?”
“He wants to marry you?”
My frown deepens. “We’re engaged, so obviously.”
“No sciocca (Silly),” she says. “He wants to marry you right now.”
I gasp. “Today?”
“That’s why we’re here. I don’t doubt he loves and cares deeply for you, but I just wanted to make sure this wedding is what you want.”
“I want to marry him,” I say as excitement bubbles up inside me.
“I can tell by that beautiful smile lighting up your face. You’re glowing, bella (Beautiful).”
“I’m glowing because I’m pregnant,” I blurt.
“Porca miseria (Holy crap)! You’re pregnant? Congratulations. Now it all makes sense,” she says, wrapping me in her arms. “I was wondering why Dominic was so insistent that the nuptials go ahead sooner rather than later. It never crossed my mind that it was a shotgun wedding.”
“Am I really getting married today?”
“Yes.”
“I wish my mum could be here.”
“Hold that thought,” she replies, lifting her open hand and placing it beside her ear. “Do you hear that?”
My eyes widen. “Is that another helicopter?”
She leans in, kissing my cheek. “Your man covered everything. He wanted it to be special for you. Change into your dress, I’ll be right back.”
My hands tremble as I pull down the zip of the garment bag, revealing the white dress inside. A smile starts to spread as I lift the hanger out and turn it to get a proper look.
It’s not an over-the-top gown. It’s simple and perfect for an outdoor wedding. It’s light and flowing. The soft fabric features delicate lace details on the overlay. It is effortless, elegant, and completely me.
I don’t waste a second, tugging the elastic out of my hair, peeling off my clothes, swapping my black bra for a white one, before slipping the dress over my head.
After smoothing it down, I open the cupboard door, turning slightly from side to side as I look at myself in the mirror. My smile widens as I do. It fits perfectly. I can’t believe Dominic has done all this for me.
I’ve seen a completely different side to him on this trip.
He still has the odd moody moment, especially when we get an unexpected flat tyre in the middle of the outback, but his grumpiness is never aimed at his niece or me.
The gentler side of him, the way he is with us, shows more and more every day.
Living in a confined space together all the time, for months on end, would test any relationship, but somehow it’s only managed to bring us closer.
I tug open the storage drawer below our bed, trying to find the perfect shoes to complement my dress, and wincing when the best I come up with are silver flat sandals. It’s not like I can wear heels out here.
I freeze for a second. Are we getting married here at the Bight? Or are we being whisked away somewhere else? I hope not. This place is beautiful, and I don’t want to leave our van or Babooshka behind.
I’m pulled from my thoughts when there’s a knock on the door. “Come in,” I say, standing to full height.
Lucia re-enters with another two garment bags and a small suitcase, dragging behind her.
“Are you moving in?” I ask, amusement slipping into my voice.
“Ha ha. No. I’ve got my bridesmaid dress, Lil’ Peach’s flower girl dress, and everything we need for hair and makeup. It’s not every day a woman gets married, so you need to look your best.”
I plant my hands on my hips. “Bridesmaid?”
Her eyes narrow at me. “I’m your best friend, Emily, so I better be your maid of honour.”
And just like that, my day is made all over again. She considers me her best friend. “If I had a choice, I’d pick you every time.”
“Aww,” she coos, hefting the suitcase up with a grunt and dropping it onto the bed. There’s a genuine smile curving her lips when she glances at me over her shoulder. “That dress is stunning on you.”
“Did Dominic really choose this? Or did he ask you to handle it, like he did with the furniture for the house?”
“He sent me a screenshot and the link,” she replies, crossing her finger over her heart.
I glance down at the dress and somehow love it even more.
My mum steps through the door a few minutes later with Peach perched on her hip. “Mum,” I squeak, moving towards her. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
“I wouldn’t miss my little girl’s wedding for all the tea in China.”
“That’s a lot of tea,” Lucia chimes in.
My mum shrugs. “What can I say? I love my tea.”
I press my lips together to hold back a laugh when Lucia grimaces. “Now I know where your daughter gets her love of tea from.”
My mum gives her a strange look. “They’re Italian, Mum. Coffee drinkers.”
“Ah.”
“Do you want to see your pretty flower girl dress?” Lucia asks Peach.
“Yes!”
“Did Dominic pick that as well?”
“He did.”
“And yours?” I ask.
“That would be a no. There was no mention of a bridesmaid when he called. I just volunteered for the position.”
The excitement I felt in the van while we were getting ready has given way to a flutter of nerves.
My mum has gone ahead to join the others—including my stepfather—but I won’t let that small detail ruin this for me.
Hopefully, being surrounded by three brutish mafia men will be enough to keep him in line.
A celebrant who was on their flight will be officiating the ceremony, and I’m blown away that Dominic managed to organise all of this without me knowing.
Lucia, Peach and I are currently standing around the side of the van, out of sight of the others, as my maid of honour fusses over me, making sure I look perfect before we make our grand entrance.
There’s a small bouquet in my hand, one my mum made for me. The pink and white flowers are artificial—she wasn’t sure fresh ones would survive the two flights it took to get here—and they’re perfect. Lil’ Peach and I each have a few flowers pinned into our hair as well.
I might be a pared-down version of a bride, but the casual setting and simple dress suits me. I’ve always been a no-frills kind of girl. It’s the sentiment behind today that matters more than anything.
“You ready?” Lucia asks as she pulls out the phone she was hiding in her cleavage, and quickly types away on the screen.
When the opening notes of Turning Page by Sleeping at Last drift in a few seconds later, I lift my free hand to my chest.
“I love this song,” I admit.
“Dominic chose it.”
“He did?”
“He originally said we didn’t need music, but I told him you couldn’t walk down the aisle in silence. It took him a week to finally get back to me with this one. He said it’s fitting because he feels like he’s waited his entire life for you.”
Tears burn the back of my eyes. He’s never claimed to be a hearts-and-flowers kind of guy, but somehow this feels more deliberate than anything he could have said outright.
“I-I love him so much, Lu,” I admit.
“I know you do, babe. Let’s get this show on the road so you can finally marry your man and live your happily ever after.”
I inhale a sharp breath and hold it as Lucia grabs Peach’s hand and steps out from behind the van. My feet follow, and the moment my eyes lock on Dominic, everything else falls away as the world narrows down to the two of us.
I start toward him, not even tempted to look anywhere else. He’s standing near the cliff’s edge, with his back to the vast ocean. His hands are shoved deep in his pockets, waiting like he’s always known we’d end up here.
He’s changed out of his T-shirt and jeans into a white linen button-up shirt and tanned trousers. I can only presume his clothes came in the Helicopter with the others.
Our eyes are locked, and although I’ve seen him smile before, nothing could have prepared me for the one he’s sporting as I approach. It starts restrained, like he’s fighting it and losing, before softening into something real and unguarded.
His throat bobs when I’m close enough for him to grasp hold of my hand.
“You look breathtaking, mia tortina.”
As we exchange vows, I realise I’ve somehow made it past every wall he’s ever built without even noticing. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with this beautiful, fractured man.
Two hours later, after a tearful goodbye to my mother and our friends, we’re back on the road.
Lucia offered to take Peach with them and give us some alone time for a few days, but that little girl is a part of us, and we both want her here.
Dominic has booked us into a beachside cabin in a remote, tranquil coastal town on the eastern edge of the Nullarbor Plain, called Fowlers Bay.
He says it’s known for its exceptional fishing, whale watching and immense white sand dunes.
It sounds beautiful, like so many other places we’ve stopped at on our epic journey around Australia. Truth be told, I don’t care where we end up, as long as we’re together.
“Did you notice how my father-in-law wouldn’t even look in my direction?” I ask.
“Hmm,” he hums.
“Did you say something to him?”
His eyes briefly leave the road, flicking to me. “Today? No.”
His answer gives me pause. “What do you mean by ‘today’? Did you say something to him when we visited them on the Gold Coast?”
“Does it matter if I did? That fucker has no right to put his hands on you.”
“Oh, my God. Please tell me you had nothing to do with his broken hand.”
He casually lifts one shoulder. “I shook his hand, Em, it’s not my fault he has brittle bones. For some men, when you reach a certain age, you’re basically held together by optimism and joint supplements.”
I sit back in my seat and bite down on my bottom lip in an attempt to suppress my laugh.
He doesn’t even try to pretend. He’s protective without question, in a way that squeezes my heart. I never have to wonder if I’m safe with him; I just am. And for someone who’s come from where I did, that is everything.